Cyclobenzaprine and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2015

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "My doctor prescribed 10 mg Flexeril three times per day for a painful and crippling muscle spasm in my lower back. The dosage helped relax my back, but it also relaxed everything else in my body. I had difficulty controlling my extremities, as if they were detached from the rest of my body. Sometimes I didn't have enough control of my tongue to speak clearly. Sometimes I felt weak and uncoordinated, for example, I had to take my time going up and down stairs. I felt generally sleepy and spaced out most of the time, and felt thirstier than usual. I also needed more sleep than usual, 10 hours. Overall effective for helping my condition, but the side effects were a little frightening."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2015

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "My doctor prescribed 10 mg Flexeril three times per day for a painful and crippling muscle spasm in my lower back. The dosage helped relax my back, but it also relaxed everything else in my body. I had difficulty controlling my extremities, as if they were detached from the rest of my body. Sometimes I didn't have enough control of my tongue to speak clearly. Sometimes I felt weak and uncoordinated, for example, I had to take my time going up and down stairs. I felt generally sleepy and spaced out most of the time, and felt thirstier than usual. I also needed more sleep than usual, 10 hours. Overall effective for helping my condition, but the side effects were a little frightening."

• TYK...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2019

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "I was involved in a rear-end collision, experienced extreme neck, shoulder, and arm pain. Ibuprofen 600 mg and 10 mg Flexeril for my neck sprain, then told to stretch the muscles to keep them from locking up. I took my first dose last night, I don't even remember going to sleep, but I didn't have the pain anymore. I woke up today feeling like I have a hangover, dizziness, and my mouth was extremely dry. So, I tried to avoid taking the meds this morning for a couple of hours. Now, it is midday and the pain hasn't stopped, so I took another pill. In my opinion, Flexeril is a good pill for relaxing your muscles, especially if you're going to physical therapy. I don't recommend driving or doing anything while on this medication."

• Aan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2019

For Muscle Spasm "This is the only muscle relaxant out of the ones I tried that really works for my muscle spasms, and a bonus is it also helps with my anxiety. But the side effects are so annoying and off-putting that I can't take it regularly enough to relieve the problem. It makes me VERY dizzy and groggy, even throughout the next day. I constantly feel like I'm gonna fall asleep or lose my balance when I stand up. There is also just a general tired brain fog feeling. If you really need it and are really in pain, then it will do the job. But beware of the side effects and don't expect to be very productive the next day unless you force yourself to push through it."

• Mys...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2019

For Muscle Spasm "Went to urgent care because my stiff shoulder muscle was causing pain/headaches. I was prescribed cyclobenzaprine 5 mg three times a day. Overall, it worked, but made me very tired the first few days. On days one and two, I slept most of the day. So, if you have work to do, it can make things difficult. Days six and seven, I had dry mouth and dizziness when standing. It took away pain I had been trying to massage out for months, and I’m now pain-free. Therefore, I would still recommend this medication despite the side effects."

• Wav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2019

For Muscle Spasm "I started taking this for back pain, and yes, it did relieve it, but the side effects were tough on me. I would wake up with dizziness, dry mouth, and sometimes I couldn't get out of bed at all! I would take it at night and literally sleep the whole next day!"

• Jbi...
• December 20, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "This stuff is brutal. Helps me sleep with all of my neck and shoulder stiffness and pain, but I'm exhausted, lethargic, dizzy, off balance, panicked, and confused for 2 days after. I can't take this anymore. I feel like I'm in purgatory when I take this stuff."

• Jbi...
• December 20, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "This stuff is brutal. Helps me sleep with all of my neck and shoulder stiffness and pain, but I'm exhausted, lethargic, dizzy, off balance, panicked, and confused for 2 days after. I can't take this anymore. I feel like I'm in purgatory when I take this stuff."

• SJC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2015

For Muscle Spasm "Went to Dr. last night for back pain lasting 2 weeks after a fall. Prescribed this medicine 3 times a day at 10 mg for 3 weeks, along with Naproxen and physical therapy to start next week. Cyclobenzaprine surely helps with the spasms, but I can't stand up without almost passing out from the dizziness."

• Pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 24, 2014

For Muscle Spasm "I went to the doctor this week for what I thought was a pinched nerve that caused shoulder pain. She determined that it was muscle strain (trapezius) and prescribed 10 mg to be taken twice daily as needed. I took one in the afternoon on Thursday and another Wednesday morning. I ended up sleeping the entire day (except for getting up to make lunch for the kids). Later in the evening, I started to feel very weak in my limbs (sort of like when you're getting over a really bad flu where you've been laid up in bed for days). I also started to feel impaired - dizzy, lightheaded, just out of it. The next day I didn't have the limpness, but I still had the lightheadedness, and my calves were achy - maybe from too much sleep."

• Dav...
• December 6, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "This drug is horrible. My doctor recommended I take one 5 mg tablet for 7 days before bedtime for neck and trapezius muscle pain. I feel a loss of balance. I feel like I'm going to pass out. At the time of writing this, it is 18 hours after I took this drug. I can't function at all. I can't work because I feel like the room is spinning, and I'm also getting these severe headaches that come off and on during the day. I will not be taking this anymore. I'll stick to my ibuprofen and moderate exercise for my neck and trapezius muscle pain. And PS, if you're a coffee drinker or like your sodas, those will enhance all these effects even worse. I recommend not having caffeine at all!"

• Mec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2023

For Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed cyclobenzaprine 5 mg and naproxen 500 mg for lower back pain. I took the medicine at night, and immediately I felt heavy, I could not think clearly, like a heavy weight on my body and head. I did not like this feeling! The next day I felt dizzy and groggy, not clear thinking. This medication is not for me."

• Anonymous
• November 11, 2011

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed 10 mg Flexeril after pulling an abdominal muscle, which led to spasms. The Flexeril made the pain and spasms stop, but gave me severe dry mouth and made me so dizzy I couldn't get to sleep."

• lmo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2024

For Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed 10 mg of this as needed by my doctor for the horrible calf cramps and lower back spasms that I get fairly often. I've put off taking them because honestly I'm scared of new medications, but while on a trip this weekend, I was struck with horrendous calf cramps while cramped in the car. I took one of the cyclobenzaprine pills and within 20 minutes, the cramping was letting up and I was able to relax and fall asleep for the rest of the ride. I did have some sleepiness, dry mouth, and very slight dizziness as side effects, but it 100% did what was intended."

• Anonymous
• May 20, 2009

For Temporomandibular Joint Disorder "Helps relax muscles while I sleep, so I don't clench my teeth and wake up with pain. Unfortunately, leaves me feeling off balance and hungover the next morning. I'm going to talk to my doctor about lowering the dose to see if it is still effective."

• Shi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2023

Cyclobenzaprine "I've tried Flexeril before and could hardly move, my muscles seemed so weak. However, my doctor prescribed it again. I just had a knee replacement and have been doing extensive therapy, but I'm still in pain. Plus, because of my slipped disc and spinal stenosis, I could only stand for a few minutes or walk much. I only take the medicine once in a while at night, but I can't wake up the next morning, and when I do, I am dizzy and exhausted. I'm 75 years old, and once before, I received a letter from Medicare telling me that, at my age, I should not be on a muscle relaxer. I definitely slept through the night on the medicine, but know not to take it if I have to go out the next day. It does affect my breathing because of my asthma."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2021

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed Flexeril 10 mg after a car accident and injuries. The first time I took it as prescribed, said three times a day, and my first dose was on my way to class at 5 PM. I parked, took my Flexeril, went to class, and within an hour, I had to leave. I felt so dizzy and nauseous, I don't know how I drove home, but thank the Lord I made it. I then took it only at night, which doesn't help when your pain is all day, but doctors refuse to put you on anything that actually helps with pain, like a narcotic that you only take as needed and not three times a day or whatever the directions are. I have gone to pain management a few times throughout the last five years since my accident. I have been given every muscle relaxer they make, and Flexeril and carisoprodol are the only two that help, but they don't recommend taking for longer than two weeks. What option does that leave daily pain patients? I didn't get the mood swings with Flexeril like I did with amitriptyline or Cymbalta. I'm on the fence with Flexeril."

• Ter...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2021

For Muscle Spasm "Took 15 mg at like 9:30 Monday morning, slept all day until 5:30 PM. It’s Tuesday afternoon, and I’m still hungover from it. Just crazy tired and in a daze, a little dizziness as well. Hopefully, I sleep it off tonight. My point is, start out with 5 mg and see how it goes, maybe you can bypass the hangover with 5 mg. Be prepared to be unproductive and sleepy for the next two days if you’re taking 10 mg or more. Great for sleep and relaxing the muscles, though, just don’t plan on functioning for the next two days."

• Anonymous
• July 25, 2008

For Muscle Spasm "I was rear-ended in an auto accident. The second doctor I saw for the whiplash injury prescribed cyclobenzaprine as well as 800 mg ibuprofen. The two work quite well together. I'm able to move with more ease during the day. It also has helped quite a bit with muscle spasms at night. The only side effects I've had are dry mouth and some minor dizzy spells."

• Joa...
• March 2, 2017

For Muscle Spasm "I feel better today than I did yesterday, that's for sure. I still have pain, but now can move certain ways without it hurting so badly! I took it close to 10 PM and didn't fall asleep till like 11:30 PM and woke up for work at 7 AM. I felt dizzy and foggy-minded and excessively tired till about 10 AM. I definitely could not stop yawning while at work. I hope it's not the same for tomorrow because tonight I took it close to 8 PM, so I'm hoping I'll be okay."

• Pet...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2023

For Muscle Spasm "Absolutely useless, and has lots of side effects. I was dizzy, short of breath, anxious, restless, and nauseated. The restless feeling it gave me made my back spasms more intense. My rating is a negative 10. Not only was it ineffective, but it also made the problem it was prescribed to ostensibly fix worse. Horrible drug."

• Mai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 12, 2022

For Sciatica "I had sciatic pain that put me in the ER. They gave me one Valium tab the first night and Flexeril to take the next day. I took one at 2 PM, one at 4 PM as instructed to do if I felt nothing, then one at 8 PM before bed. I slept 13 hours. Today, though, it felt like I had mild vertigo. My head feels thick; if I turn it, look up, or look down, I feel ill. Gross. Not the vertigo with feet in the air sensation, but nasty enough to ruin my day. All day. Even now, 27 hours after taking the last one. The good news is the sciatica is back down to a low roar and never got over a 5 on the pain scale today! I hit 10’s prior. I start oral steroids in the morning. One website says Flexeril affects people 60 and older stronger. I’m 60. Would I take it again? If my sciatica hurts like it did, I sure would. Gross feeling is better than that awful pain!"

• rub...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2016

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "Very helpful for spasms of the lower back. A little occasional dizziness, the only side effect, plus some drowsiness early in the course of treatment."

• Jef...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2013

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "I broke out in a bright red rash on my face. Was very irritable and dizzy. Was extremely hot and suffered a lot of confusion."

• Dan...
• October 28, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed 10 mg for back spasms, has increased my flexibility and reduced pain but added dizziness. I wouldn't plan on driving anywhere unless you know exactly how your body will react."