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Medically Approved

Cyclobenzaprine oral tablet dosage: A detailed guide

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Doctors prescribe cyclobenzaprine oral tablet to relieve certain muscle spasms. These spasms are caused by short-term muscle and skeletal conditions. You take cyclobenzaprine by mouth three times per day.
Medically reviewed by Melissa Badowski, PharmD, MPH, FCCP
Updated on

This article describes cyclobenzaprine oral tablet’s dosages and strengths and gives details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for cyclobenzaprine.

If you want to know more about cyclobenzaprine oral tablet, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses, its side effects, and more.

Cyclobenzaprine oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Fexmid. Fexmid is no longer available in the United States. Cyclobenzaprine also comes as an oral extended-release* capsule, but this form isn’t described in this article. To learn more about that form, talk with your doctor.

* “Extended release” means the drug releases into your body over time.

Form and strengths of cyclobenzaprine

Cyclobenzaprine oral tablet comes as follows:

  • Form: tablet that you swallow
  • Strengths: 5 milligram (mg), 7.5 mg, 10 mg

Dosage of cyclobenzaprine

This article describes the recommended dosages for cyclobenzaprine oral tablet. The drugmaker provides these recommended dosages.

If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of cyclobenzaprine oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation.

Usual recommended dosage of cyclobenzaprine in adults

Cyclobenzaprine is approved to relieve muscle spasms in adults. These spasms are caused by short-term muscle and skeletal conditions.

Usually, doctors will prescribe a recommended dosage of cyclobenzaprine oral tablet. In some cases, they’ll adjust the dosage based on how you respond to the medication. Ultimately, your doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage of cyclobenzaprine oral tablet that gives the desired outcome.

Dosage for muscle spasms caused by short-term muscle and skeletal conditions, such as back pain

The recommended dosage of cyclobenzaprine for the relief of muscle spasms is below. The dosage is in milligrams (mg).

  • Dosage: 5 mg three times per day
  • Maximum dosage: 10 mg three times per day

Dosage of cyclobenzaprine in children
Cyclobenzaprine is approved to relieve muscle spasms in children ages 15 years and older. These spasms are caused by short-term muscle and skeletal conditions.

The recommended dosage for this use is below. The dosage is in mg.

  • Dosage: 5 mg three times per day
  • Maximum dosage: 10 mg three times per day

Dosage adjustments for cyclobenzaprine

Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of cyclobenzaprine oral tablet based on several factors. These include:

  • the specific condition being treated and how severe it is
  • other health conditions you may have
  • your age

Your doctor will use caution when prescribing cyclobenzaprine oral tablet in some cases. These include if you have liver problems or are an older adult (age 65 years or older).

Before you begin treatment, talk with your doctor about your health history and medications.

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Missed dose of cyclobenzaprine

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of cyclobenzaprine oral tablet. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip it and take your next dose as scheduled.

For tips on how to plan your doses of cyclobenzaprine oral tablet and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:

  • downloading a reminder app on your phone
  • setting an alarm
  • putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table

Frequently asked questions

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about cyclobenzaprine oral tablet and its dosage.

Can I take two of the 10-mg cyclobenzaprine oral tablets at the same time?

No, it’s not recommended to take 20 mg of cyclobenzaprine oral tablet at a time. Doing so can increase your risk of side effects.

The recommended maximum dosage is 10 mg three times per day. This maximum dosage is for adults and children ages 15 years and older. Usually, for this dosage you’ll space the doses apart as evenly as possible. That means you’ll take a dose at regular intervals three times throughout the day while you’re awake. But you should take your doses as your doctor recommends.

Talk with your doctor if your muscle spasms don’t ease while taking cyclobenzaprine. They may adjust your dosage or recommend a different treatment.

Is cyclobenzaprine taken for sleep? If so, what’s the dosage?

No, cyclobenzaprine is not approved to treat sleep problems. Prescribing a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for is known as off-label use.

Cyclobenzaprine oral tablet is approved to help relieve muscle spasms. These are caused by short-term muscle and skeletal conditions, such as an injury or strain. These conditions may be painful and can cause difficulty sleeping.

A possible side effect of cyclobenzaprine is drowsiness. Results from a study suggest that cyclobenzaprine sometimes improves sleep in people with certain muscle and skeletal conditions.

To learn more about side effects caused by cyclobenzaprine oral tablet, see this overview article.

If you have difficulty sleeping, talk with your doctor. They can recommend the treatment that’s right for your condition.

Is cyclobenzaprine taken long term?

No, doctors usually don’t prescribe cyclobenzaprine oral tablet as a long-term treatment. Instead, it’s usually recommended for short-term treatment. It’s not likely that you’ll take cyclobenzaprine oral tablet longer than 2–3 weeks.

If you have questions about how long you should take cyclobenzaprine oral tablet, talk with your doctor.

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How cyclobenzaprine is taken

You’ll swallow cyclobenzaprine oral tablet three times per day. You’ll space the doses apart as evenly as possible. That means you’ll take a dose at regular intervals three times throughout the day while you’re awake. You can take your doses of cyclobenzaprine oral tablet with or without food.

Your doctor may advise that you take this medication around the same time each day. This helps keep a consistent amount of the drug in your body. And that can help the drug work more effectively.

It’s not likely that you’ll take cyclobenzaprine longer than 3 weeks. Along with taking cyclobenzaprine, your doctor will recommend rest and physical therapy.

The drugmaker doesn’t specify whether you can break, crush, or chew the tablet. If it’s hard for you to swallow tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form. You can also talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns about swallowing your tablets whole.

Cyclobenzaprine coupon

Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for cyclobenzaprine when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs. 

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Overdose of cyclobenzaprine

It’s important that you do not take more cyclobenzaprine oral tablet than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to harmful effects.

Your risk of overdose increases if you take cyclobenzaprine with alcohol or certain other drugs. You can discuss this more with your doctor. 

Symptoms of cyclobenzaprine overdose

Symptoms of an overdose can include:

In extreme cases, overdose can lead to coma. 

What to do if you take too much cyclobenzaprine

If you think you’ve taken too much cyclobenzaprine, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes the usual recommended dosages for cyclobenzaprine oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for your condition.

Do not change your dosage of cyclobenzaprine oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation. You should take cyclobenzaprine oral tablet exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

  • What if my muscle spasms aren’t relieved after taking the recommended maximum dosage of cyclobenzaprine oral tablet? Will my dosage be changed?
  • Is there an alternative drug to cyclobenzaprine oral tablet that relieves muscle spasms? If so, how do the dosages compare?
  • Cyclobenzaprine oral tablet is approved for use in children ages 15 years and older. Is the dosage based on body weight?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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