Sam_I_Am Posted July 3, 2019 Share Posted July 3, 2019 (edited) I was prescribed Flexeril on Monday for acute neck/back spasms. (I had breast reconstruction surgery in early May due to Hx of breast cancer, and the new “girls” are throwing my body out of alignment because they are bigger than the real ones and I was flat for awhile.) I am prescribed to take one 10mg tablet up to 3 times daily (and can break it in half if the 10mg is too much) over the next couple weeks to try to get these spasms under control. I took one pill on Monday after work around 6pm, and it made me “slighly” tired but still functional. I took another yesterday around the same time after work, and it had no sedating effect that I noticed. So, because my neck has still been bothering me, I decided to take 1/2 a pill (5mg) this morning at work around 8:30am to try to be proactive about the pain. I figured it was a smaller dose and, even if I even got a little tired like I did on Monday night, it would wear off before time to drive home. OMG! Around 9:45 or so, I was finishing an intake with a client (I’m a clinician at an IOP) and starting feeling “off”— very dizzy and lightheaded, and then I noticed my hands and fingers feeling weird and tingly (especially as I was typing and signing things). I finished up with him as quickly as possible in case I passed out or something. Then I started to feel disconnected and dissociative (things not feeling real, feeling “floaty”), which then led me to feeling panicky. I did some coping skills in my office to reduce the anxiety as much as possible and then had to go run groups for the next 3.5 hours. When in groups and engaging with clients, I felt a little more connected but still a bit “off.” Afterward, when I wasn’t so busy and was just in meetings or doing paperwork, the dissociative feelings came back, and I also became aware again of tingling in my hands, fingers, feet (while at the same time feeling they were disconnected from me). Walking felt weird. Driving home felt weird. I took my BP at home, thinking maybe it was low and making me dizzy, but it was actually high (143/96), which sometimes happens to me when I’m stressed, but my normal is around 110/70. I still feel pretty dissociative (though less anxious bc I’m at home) and I took it almost 11 hours ago. Has anyone ever had a dissociative and/or anxiety reaction to flexeril or other muscle relaxers? I was on it another time about 5 years ago and never experienced this, even taking it during the day. The only other med change I’ve had recently is Prazosin was added 2 weeks ago for PTSD-nightmares, so I was wondering if it could even be that or an interaction? I have NOT taken my PRN klonopin since Sunday before I was prescribed the flexeril, so those couldn’t be interacting (which I know dissociation can be a side effect of benzos but, for me, it helps with dissociation). I’m wondering also if all (or some) of the above is a delayed dissociative reaction (like a PTSD-symptom) to having EMDR therapy yesterday. A lot of what I was processing yesterday was my frustration about my dissociative tendencies— specifically my difficulty remembering specific trauma memories during certain of years of my life due to dissociation. Of course, my head is/was spinning now with all the possibilities, so I’m trying not to dwell. Just concerned/curious. What does everyone think? Any similar experiences? I plan to stay away from “Dr Google” because that’s just a further anxiety spiral waiting to happen. Thanks! Edited for: shitty grammar/spelling Edited July 3, 2019 by Sam_I_Am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notloki Posted July 4, 2019 Share Posted July 4, 2019 I may be misunderstanding the sequence of things but Klonopin can have a long half life so it takes up to 9 days to clear your body. It sounds like you were on both Flexeril and Klonopin at the same time. Flexeril has this warning: Quote Flexeril may enhance the effects of alcohol, barbiturates, and other CNS depressants. So Flexeril potentiates Klonopin (a CNS depressant). I would suspect it works the other way around, too. Flexeril is closely related to the TCA antidepressants and shares side effects with them. Sedation (CNS depression) and being strongly anticholinergic are 2 examples. Strongly anticholinergic drugs can cause confusion and other cognitive effects. I would allow more time between taking these two meds. Many find Flexeril very sedating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearhead Posted July 4, 2019 Share Posted July 4, 2019 Do you take the rest of your meds in the morning? I take Flexeril sometimes, and it makes a big difference if I take it with my morning meds or in the afternoon, before my P.M. meds. I notice some weird interactions. Sedation. Feeling spacey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam_I_Am Posted July 4, 2019 Author Share Posted July 4, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, notloki said: I may be misunderstanding the sequence of things but Klonopin can have a long half life so it takes up to 9 days to clear your body. It sounds like you were on both Flexeril and Klonopin at the same time. Flexeril has this warning: So Flexeril potentiates Klonopin (a CNS depressant). I would suspect it works the other way around, too. Flexeril is closely related to the TCA antidepressants and shares side effects with them. Sedation (CNS depression) and being strongly anticholinergic are 2 examples. Strongly anticholinergic drugs can cause confusion and other cognitive effects. I would allow more time between taking these two meds. Many find Flexeril very sedating. Thanks for the feedback. It’s just strange that I didn’t find the flexeril sedating the first or second day I took it (and and that was closer in time to the last Klonopin... I also don’t find Klonopin sedating at all anymore). I didn’t really find the flexeril sedating during the day today either, more dissociative than anything. I’ve also been on some more heavy duty short-term meds (various opiates, additional benzo) with the klonopin while in active chemo or for surgery recovery, so if I didn’t have overly sedating reactions to those, I would find it surprising that flexeril/Klonopin combo (especially when not taken the same day) would be the one combination that would ever do that to me. I think it’s something about the flexeril itself. I know it would be ideal to wait 9 days post Klonopin (based on the half-life) to take the flexeril, but it’s prescribed for an acute condition which is causing issues now. So it’s not realistic to wait. Although I’m terrified to take it now again anyway. Edited July 4, 2019 by Sam_I_Am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam_I_Am Posted July 4, 2019 Author Share Posted July 4, 2019 1 hour ago, Gearhead said: Do you take the rest of your meds in the morning? I take Flexeril sometimes, and it makes a big difference if I take it with my morning meds or in the afternoon, before my P.M. meds. I notice some weird interactions. Sedation. Feeling spacey. I take Lamictal in the morning, trazodone and prazosin at night. Klonopin is irregular/PRN, and I don’t have a regular pattern with the flexeril since it’s new and only short term. From what you’re saying, it sounds like it’s better to take it with other meds, whether it’s AM or PM, than by itself? I think I probably won’t take it in the daytime again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearhead Posted July 4, 2019 Share Posted July 4, 2019 No, I meant don’t take it with your other meds. Sorry about the confusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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