Can You Get High on Flexeril?
You might get the sneaking suspicion that you’ve heard of Flexeril before, or at least something quite like it. Chances are you’re correct, as the brand names Flexeril, Amrix, Fexmid, (and a few others) all refer to the drug Cyclobenzaprine.
It’s a muscle relaxer that is widely employed to treat pain and injuries, but it’s also been moonlighting as a recreational drug providing a unique high to those that respond positively to the drug.
What Does Flexeril Do?
Muscle relaxers like Flexeril go to work on the nervous system, blocking nerve impulses and, by extension, pain signals going to the brain. They can cause the body to relax, and this sensation can be quite pleasing.
Flexeril, and other drugs that refer to Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxer that physicians prescribe to help with muscle and skeletal pain, usually following an injury.
Combined with other therapies (like physiotherapy) it is capable of helping individuals recover from the injury and get back to normal functioning.
What use could a muscle relaxer have as a recreational drug? For some, it’s rather potent. Chasing a Flexeril high isn’t prohibitively expensive, provided you have a prescription, as the drug typically costs less than $50 for a bottle of ninety 10 milligram pills.
By-and-large, Flexeril is legal to own. It is not a controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. But, it does require a prescription for purchase. Flexeril seems to have a mild potential for abuse and addiction.
It can interact with other medications and drugs like alcohol. It also has a range of side effects, so you’ll have to be careful when using this drug for recreational purposes.
Alternative Applications
While treatment of musculoskeletal conditions is the primary goal when using Flexeril, that is not the only use the drug has.
Lately, researchers have been exploring new uses for the drug that go beyond the cessation of muscle pain.
In particular, they are trying to see if Flexeril will make for an adequate treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Researchers have also noticed that Flexeril may hold benefits for individuals suffering from Fibromyalgia, a widespread chronic pain condition that is, as of the present day, not wholly understood.
Potency
It is highly potent for the first few days of use and will stay effective for a few weeks of continued use before trailing off. Its potency does trail off, though, so you can only use it for short stints before it loses effectiveness.
In fact, after two weeks, there is no reported benefits at all from taking Flexeril. As such, it’s only ever prescribed as a short term therapy, usually for injury or surgical recovery.
Can Flexeril Get You High?
We turned to the internet to get a bit more information on whether or not Flexeril can provide a high, and we saw some pretty interesting accounts from people who have tried Flexeril recreationally.
Some users have a jolly good time just using Flexeril on its own:
“They’re great for their intended use they make me all jello-y. Super relaxing. If your idea of a recreational night is staying in and just relaxing real hard then absolutely.”
Other users have had limited success with Flexeril, but only when combined with other substances to enhance the effects:
“In my personal experience they’re recreational if used in a certain manner, but by itself is pretty underwhelming. I’ve had good luck with 20mg and 3 beers to potentate the effects, add in a little weed and the euphoria comes on strong but you do have to fight a little sedation along the way.”
Different still, other users report absolutely no recreational benefit to taking Flexeril, eschewing the drug in favor of more potent muscle relaxers.
Others are careful to note that mixing Flexeril with other compounds (alcohol especially) could result in some unintended consequences, so care is needed when combining this drug with others.
All in all, most people who have tried the drug believe that it can be used recreationally to achieve a relaxing and sedative high.
I Gave it a Go
I’ve tried other form of Cyclobenzaprine, with some limited success, so I was interested in seeing if the Flexeril brand might have some different effects. I was able to get my hands on some of the 10 milligram tablets and went with a 40 milligram dose to start out with.
It turns out that was all I needed because what followed was an extended relaxation session that lasted for a few hours. The dose was enough to make me not want to get off the couch, so I sat and read, all the while feeling supremely chill.
Some users have reported feeling tired or sluggish after coming down, but I didn’t feel that with my Flexeril high. I had to rest, for sure, but woke up feeling refreshed and ready to get back to work. Again, people are affected by drugs differently. I’ve heard of people taking smaller doses than I did and feeling extremely tired, lethargic and generally unpleasant. In my case, I had a very nice time. Nothing crazy, but all-in-all a good experience.
It seems like the type of thing that may be helpful after a tough day where your body needs a vacation.
Flexeril: A Possible Recreational Drug
As you can see, Flexeril can be hit or miss. Some people have a fairly positive experience, myself included. Others can only get the drug to work when combined with other compounds (which, as we covered, is risky).
There are also times where the drug just doesn’t work as intended and can result in some very unpleasant side effects. It’s all on a case-by-case basis, so there’s little way to know beforehand what it will do to you.
Side Effects
Like many drugs, Flexeril has its fair share of side effects. These can be very minor in cases and include responses like dizziness, constipation, or headaches. Flexeril can also cause more serious side effects to manifest, mood swings and irregular heartbeats in particular. Some of the more serious side effects of Flexeril include sudden numbness, seizures or chest pain. It’s worth noting that these side effects are extremely rare.
It is also important to note that the drug can interact with MAOIs and several other classes of drugs, so if you’re taking any kind of medication, be sure to make sure that Flexeril isn’t going to interact with them.
Proceed With Caution
Flexeril is a relatively safe drug in the sense that it’s extremely difficult to overdose on. However, the risk is much higher if you’re mixing Flexeril with other drugs it may interact with, especially depressants, like alcohol for example. When people pair the drug with other illicit substances in search of a more profound high, the risk of overdose is increased ten-fold. In fact, when famous R&B singer Whitney Houston passed away, Cyclobenzaprine was one of the drugs present in her blood at the time of death.
More experienced users are sometimes willing to have a few drinks while on Flexeril in an attempt to intensify their high but again, this is not something that’s recommended.
Common symptoms of an overdose are severe drowsiness and an irregular heartbeat. A serious overdose may be characterized by symptoms like cardiac arrest, severely low blood pressure or neuroleptic malignant syndrome. If you take Flexeril and begin experiencing severe side effects, seek medical attention immediately.
Conclusion
Flexeril is right for some, but not for all. The recommendation here is the same I’ll give to anyone trying any drug for recreational use—start small, and work your way up to gauge how it will affect you, and be smart about taking it with other compounds.
