Anyone tried to stop FLEXERIL after long term use?

[Sassisu]

I have been prescribed Flexeril for over a year, as a muscle relaxant for long term back and neck pain...  I was told it was a 'safe' drug, and not to worry about it - it was not addicting. Now, after taking it for this long, I have re-read the patient information packet, and see that it is only for short term use, and I cannot find information on how to titrate off.

I get migraine headaches whenever I stop taking it for any length of time, as well as other symptoms...  Can anyone help me with their experience, referrals to information sources, or even to experts who have the infomation I seek?

thank you in advance,  Sassisu

[patdean]

I am a 48 year old woman who has been taking flexeril for approximately 4 years, 10mg each night to help me fall asleep.  I switched 3 days ago to 5 mg to self-ween and I have had the most HORRIBLE MIGRAINE and facial numbness.  I cannot go through another day like this, I may start taking it again tonight and see if it takes away my headaches.  Does anyone have an estimated time that these withrawal symptoms go on?  PLEASE HELP!  The physicians and the pharmacists do not have a lot of info, and if I call the manufacturer, they won't either.

[Chattanooga]

I was prescribed a low dose Flexeril 10 mg 6 years ago and took it q pm for fibromyalgia pain. It was great for that and it took me only 3 weeks to get over the sluggish feeling in the am. However, I am in the medical field and recently read where it may possibly cause liver problems after prolonged use so I stopped it suddenly on Nov 2. and then because of traveling with other people around on that weekend I had 3 Soma's with me so I took one of them each night until I could get home on the 6th. Then I used Advil and Tylenol for severe headaches and then had N & V for 2 days. There is absolutely no doubt this feeling of malaise and the HA and etc is from the Flexeril withdrawal, I have chalked up the pain returning to not having the Flexeril in my system. I do not know what to do now.                                           Chattanooga

[mummy3too]

I also took flexeril for quite some time and had no ill side effects when I stopped. Hope you will be as lucky!

[Plipsen]

My mother had been taking Flexeril for 17 years when her new doctor took her off of it with no tapering.  She has been going through severe discontinuation syndrome (withdrawl).  Everything from anxiety to headaches to rapid speech, disassociation and confusion to catatonia.  Everything but the Flexeril withdrawl has been ruled out through extensive testing.  When you are on it a long time it is certainly possible to have a dangerous withdrawl.  Tapering would be advisable.

[jamlws]

I was on it for a long time and the only problem I had when I stopped was trying to get to sleep cause it would always make me tired and with out it I had to get use to going to sleep on my own. I would lower the doses alittle at a time and see if that will help.
Good luck to you,
Jamie

[llbcherry]

Oh my gosh. I also have been prescribed flexeril 3x a day for back/neck muscle spasms due to scoliosis and other unknown problems. I don't take them all of the time, but I do go through periods where I take them 3x a day for a week or so. This might be the reason for my EPIC headaches!! I had an 18 day headache, followed by a 5 day headache.

When I take it regularly, and then stop, I become VERY anxious. I have anxiety and am on medications for it, but the cessastion of flexeril makes it SO bad, that I usually just take one to make it stop.

I know it isn't a controlled substance, but I do think you can acquire dependence to it. The same with anit-depressants (ssri's in particular), as I have experienced sheer hell from stopping Paxil. I will never be able to get off of SSRI's as I have been on them since I was 10 (in 1994)...

Anyway, thank you for all the info and expiriences, it was very helpful.

-cherry