larkspur Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 (edited) I have been reading a bit about orphenadrine, which is a muscle relaxant that is a close cousin to some familiar psych meds (it was derived from diphenhydramine, better known as Benadryl). There is some evidence that it has antidepressant effects, which interests me. It's also used to combat EPS from antipsychotics, and I think the anticholinergic effect might help me with my drug-induced tremor.I have myofascial pain syndrome, which is a muscle pain disorder. I have already tried the following:Zanaflex/tizanidine - did nothing, even at doses up to 12mgbaclofen - did nothing but made me feel drunk and woozy at higher doses ~60mgSoma/carisoprodol - did nothingFlexeril/cyclobenzaprine - did nothingValium was the only thing that worked as a muscle relaxant for a while, but I get tolerant to benzos very quickly and require higher and higher doses to achieve pain relief, so they can't be a long term solution.Does anyone have experience with Norflex (orphenadrine) for muscle pain? I'd love to hear your experiences. Edited June 7, 2015 by larkspur Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 I have had experience with orphenadrine, and it worked for skeletal muscles but it didn't really get rid of/help with tension headaches. It did help a little though. It was not as strong (IMO) as other muscle relaxers. No side effects from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larkspur Posted June 7, 2015 Author Share Posted June 7, 2015 I have had experience with orphenadrine, and it worked for skeletal muscles but it didn't really get rid of/help with tension headaches. It did help a little though. It was not as strong (IMO) as other muscle relaxers. No side effects from it.Do you recall it having any effect on your mood? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissaw72 Posted June 7, 2015 Share Posted June 7, 2015 I have had experience with orphenadrine, and it worked for skeletal muscles but it didn't really get rid of/help with tension headaches. It did help a little though. It was not as strong (IMO) as other muscle relaxers. No side effects from it.Do you recall it having any effect on your mood?No effect on my mood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IcePrincess88 Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 I've taken every muscle relaxer except the one your asking about. But if I may ask, is this a chronic everyday pain? Or does it come and go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larkspur Posted June 8, 2015 Author Share Posted June 8, 2015 Chronic everyday pain. I carry a lot of anxious tension in my body to begin with, couple that with myofasical trigger points and it's no fun. I'm looking for something to take daily and reduce my overall pain level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IcePrincess88 Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 Chronic everyday pain. I carry a lot of anxious tension in my body to begin with, couple that with myofasical trigger points and it's no fun. I'm looking for something to take daily and reduce my overall pain level.I have chronic pain as well. Have you consider pain patches? I have one, and it last for a week. It does a pretty good job. I def don't have to take so many Norco with it. Pain patches offer a more long term solution, even though I still have to take pain pills, I'd be taking a hell of alot more without the patch. There are a wide range of different kind of pain patches too. I'm on the Butrans patch, which delivers a steady dose of buprenorphine into my system. It's only a Schedule 3 drug, where as my pain pills(Norco) is a Schedule 2. Just something I thought you might want to look into. I know it helped me a great deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larkspur Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 I was actually on fentanyl and Percocet before, and the withdrawal from that fentanyl patch was NOT worth it. My pain tolerance now is much reduced, to the point where the blood pressure cuff at the doctor's office makes me cry, it hurts so bad. I want to avoid opiates if I can. I'm glad Butrans works for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IcePrincess88 Posted June 9, 2015 Share Posted June 9, 2015 A fentanyl patch would be way too strong for me. And Percocet, ugh! For some reason, every time I've been prescribed that(after surgeries), it always made me throw up. Hydrocodone is much nicer to me. I understand wanting to avoid opiates though. I avoided them as long as I could, but eventually the pain got so bad I had no other choice. Muscle relaxer never worked for me. Have you taken Tramadol? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larkspur Posted June 9, 2015 Author Share Posted June 9, 2015 Tramadol is contraindicated with serotonergic drugs due to the risk of serotonin syndrome. I already take lithium, Adderall, and two antidepressants. Tramadol is a no-go. Hydrocodone makes me vomit profusely. Oxycodone is just fine for my stomach. I much prefer oxy to Vicodin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IcePrincess88 Posted June 10, 2015 Share Posted June 10, 2015 That's so odd. It's the complete over way around for me. Oxy makes me vomit profusely and Hydro is fine for me. Ok, one last suggestion. Have you tried Neurotin? I was on that for nerve pain for a couple months, and from what I've learned here, it's also used for mood stabilization. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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