Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Baclofen?What Is Cyclobenzaprine?DifferencesDosageWhich Is More Effective?Safety and Side EffectsPrecautionsDrug Interactions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Baclofen?
What Is Cyclobenzaprine?
Differences
Dosage
Which Is More Effective?
Safety and Side Effects
Precautions
Drug Interactions
Baclofen and cyclobenzaprine are prescription skeletal muscle relaxants used to relieve muscle spasms due to certain muscular injuries or conditions.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved baclofen to reduce muscle spasms due tomultiple sclerosisorspinal cord injury.Cyclobenzaprineis approved to relieve muscle spasms due to muscle injuries.
Although both drugs are considered skeletal muscle relaxants, there are several notable differences between the two. This article will highlight the similarities and differences between baclofen and cyclobenzaprine.
Eric BERACASSAT / Contributor / Getty Images
Baclofen is available in the following dosage forms:
The oral forms of baclofen are approved for use in adults and children ages 12 years and older.The intrathecal injection may be used in adults and children ages 4 years and older.
Baclofen is a generic medication. However, it’s also available in the following brand-name forms:
This article will focus on the baclofen dosage forms available as generics.
Off-label Uses
Sometimes, healthcare providers may prescribe baclofen to treat conditions or at doses that differ from what the drug was initially approved for. This is called an off-label use.
Baclofen may be used off-label for the following goals:
How It Works
Baclofen acts on nerves in yourspinal cordto help relax muscles. This results in fewer and less severe muscle spasms.
Like baclofen, cyclobenzaprine is a prescription skeletal muscle relaxant. However, its uses and dosage forms differ somewhat from baclofen.
Flexeril was a brand name for the generic drug cyclobenzaprine oral tablet. However, the brand-name version is no longer available.
Cyclobenzaprine is also available as an extended-release oral capsule. It is available in a generic version and the brand-nameAmrix.This article focuses on the cyclobenzaprine oral tablet, the discontinued Flexeril’s generic form.
Cyclobenzaprine oral tablet is used along with rest andphysical therapyto reduce muscle spasms due to muscle injuries, such asmuscle strains(a pulled muscle) orsprains(an injury toligaments).
It’s approved for use in adults and children ages 15 years and older.
Off-Label Uses
Cyclobenzaprine may be used off-label to treat the following:
By slowing down activity in your CNS, cyclobenzaprine reduces signals from your brain that promote muscle spasms. This results in more relaxed muscles.
Main Differences
The table below outlines key differences between baclofen and cyclobenzaprine.
Below are the recommended dosages for baclofen and cyclobenzaprine. Keep in mind that your healthcare provider will prescribe a dosage specific for your condition. It’s important to follow their instructions carefully.
Baclofen Dosage
The dosage of baclofen varies based on the drug form you take or use.
Dosage for oral forms of baclofen
The maximum dose of oral forms of baclofen is 80 mg per day. If you take this 80 mg dose daily, your healthcare provider will likely recommend you take 20 mg four times a day.
Dosage for baclofen intrathecal injection
A healthcare provider must administer a Baclofen intrathecal injection. The injection is typically given in your back.
Before a baclofen intrathecal injection, your healthcare provider will give you a screening injection of 50 mcg and observe your response. Further screening doses may be given if the response is less than desired.
If this dose is safe and effective for you, your healthcare provider will adjust your dose, as follows, based on the cause and severity of your muscle spasms:
Baclofen injection and oral forms may be used long term.
Cyclobenzaprine Dosage
Like oral forms of baclofen, the cyclobenzaprine tablet is also taken three times per day.
Your healthcare provider will likely have you start taking 5 mg of cyclobenzaprine three times per day. If needed, they may increase your dose to 7.5 mg or 10 mg three times daily.
Cyclobenzaprine is not typically used long-term. The recommended length of treatment is two to three weeks.
Can You Take Baclofen and Cyclobenzaprine Together?
It’s best not to take baclofen and cyclobenzaprine together. Both baclofen and cyclobenzaprine can slow down activity in your CNS. This may lead to side effects such as sleepiness, dizziness, orfatigue.
Taking both medications together may increase your risk of side effects or worsen them.
If your healthcare provider prescribes baclofen and cyclobenzaprine together, they may prescribe a lower dose of either medication. They’ll also monitor you for signs of increased side effects.
Which muscle relaxant, baclofen or cyclobenzaprine, is more effective depends on factors such as the condition you’re treating.
In studies of people taking cyclobenzaprine for back pain, participants who took cyclobenzaprine were five times more likely to have improvement in symptoms, including muscle spasms, compared with those taking placebo.
Like all medications, baclofen and cyclobenzaprine may cause side effects in some people. Most side effects of these medications are mild and don’t require medical attention.
However, if you experience very bothersome or severe side effects from baclofen or cyclobenzaprine, inform your healthcare provider immediately. They may adjust your dosage or recommend a different treatment for your condition.
Common Side Effects of Baclofen
Common side effects of baclofen include:
Common Side Effects of Cyclobenzaprine
Some common side effects of cyclobenzaprine include:
In rare cases, baclofen and cyclobenzaprine may cause severe side effects.
Severe Side Effects of Baclofen
Severe side effects of baclofen can include:
Severe Side Effects of Cyclobenzaprine
Severe side effects of cyclobenzaprine can include:
Shared Side Effects
Before starting treatment with baclofen or cyclobenzaprine, it’s important to be aware of precautions if your healthcare provider prescribes either of these medications.
Precautions include:
Do They Have Similar Drug Interactions?
Because baclofen and cyclobenzaprine both slow down the activity in CNS, they have some similar drug interactions.
For example, both baclofen and cyclobenzaprine can interact with alcohol and opioid pain medication, such as:
In addition, cyclobenzaprine has interactions with the following types of drugs:
Baclofen does not interact with MAOIs or SSRIs.
It’s important to let your healthcare provider know all the medications you take before you start baclofen or cyclobenzaprine treatment.
These lists do not include all possible drug interactions for baclofen or cyclobenzaprine. If you have questions about drug interactions, your pharmacist or other healthcare provider can help.
Summary
Baclofen and cyclobenzaprine are both skeletal muscle relaxants that are FDA-approved to relieve muscle spasms due to certain nerve or spinal cord-related conditions or muscle injuries. Differences between the two include their uses, dosages and dosage forms, and ages for approved uses.
Although both drugs are muscle relaxants, baclofen is used for muscle spasms related to multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury. Cyclobenzaprine is more often used to relieve muscle spasms due to muscle injuries.
Baclofen is available in several dosage forms, including an oral tablet and intrathecal injection. Cyclobenzaprine only comes as an oral tablet. Baclofen oral forms are approved for use in adults and children 12 years and older. The injection may be used in adults and children as young as 4 years of age.
Cyclobenzaprine oral tablet is approved for use in adults and children ages 15 years and older.
Both baclofen and cyclobenzaprine have some similar as well as different side effects and drug interactions. Talk with your healthcare provider to learn which medication is right for you.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Label: Baclofen injection.DailyMed.Label: Baclofen tablet.DailyMed.Label: Baclofen suspension.DailyMed.Label: Cyclobenzaprine- cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride tablet, film coated.Food and Drug Administration.Orange Book: approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations.PDR.Lioresal.Agabio, R, Leggio L.Baclofen in the treatment of patients with alcohol use disorder and other mental health disorders.Psychiatry.2018;9. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00464MedlinePlus.Baclofen.Klasser, Gary.Myofascial pain syndrome.Merck Manual: Professional Version.Sullivan GM, Gendreau RM, Gendreau J, et al.Randomized clinical trial of bedtime sublingual cyclobenzaprine (TNX-102 SL) in military-related PTSD and the role of sleep quality in treatment response.Psychiatry Res.2021;301:113974. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113974Liu Y, Qian C, Yang M.Treatment patterns associated with ACR-recommended medications in the management of fibromyalgia in the United States.Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy. 2016;22(3):263-271. doi:10.18553/jmcp.2016.22.3.263American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Spasticity.Chang E, Ghosh N, Yanni D, et al.A Review of spasticity treatments: pharmacological and interventional approaches.Crit Rev Phys Rehabil Med. 2013;25(1-2):11-22. doi:10.1615/CritRevPhysRehabilMed.2013007945Ertzgaard, P. Campo C, Calabrese A.Efficacy and safety of oral baclofen in the management of spasticity: a rationale for intrathecal baclofen.J Rehabil Med.2017;49:193–203.Browning R, Jackson JL, O’Malley PG.Cyclobenzaprine and back pain: a meta-analysis.Arch Intern Med.2001;161(13):1613–1620. doi:10.1001/archinte.161.13.1613 allowing older study
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Label: Baclofen injection.DailyMed.Label: Baclofen tablet.DailyMed.Label: Baclofen suspension.DailyMed.Label: Cyclobenzaprine- cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride tablet, film coated.Food and Drug Administration.Orange Book: approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations.PDR.Lioresal.Agabio, R, Leggio L.Baclofen in the treatment of patients with alcohol use disorder and other mental health disorders.Psychiatry.2018;9. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00464MedlinePlus.Baclofen.Klasser, Gary.Myofascial pain syndrome.Merck Manual: Professional Version.Sullivan GM, Gendreau RM, Gendreau J, et al.Randomized clinical trial of bedtime sublingual cyclobenzaprine (TNX-102 SL) in military-related PTSD and the role of sleep quality in treatment response.Psychiatry Res.2021;301:113974. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113974Liu Y, Qian C, Yang M.Treatment patterns associated with ACR-recommended medications in the management of fibromyalgia in the United States.Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy. 2016;22(3):263-271. doi:10.18553/jmcp.2016.22.3.263American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Spasticity.Chang E, Ghosh N, Yanni D, et al.A Review of spasticity treatments: pharmacological and interventional approaches.Crit Rev Phys Rehabil Med. 2013;25(1-2):11-22. doi:10.1615/CritRevPhysRehabilMed.2013007945Ertzgaard, P. Campo C, Calabrese A.Efficacy and safety of oral baclofen in the management of spasticity: a rationale for intrathecal baclofen.J Rehabil Med.2017;49:193–203.Browning R, Jackson JL, O’Malley PG.Cyclobenzaprine and back pain: a meta-analysis.Arch Intern Med.2001;161(13):1613–1620. doi:10.1001/archinte.161.13.1613 allowing older study
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
DailyMed.Label: Baclofen injection.DailyMed.Label: Baclofen tablet.DailyMed.Label: Baclofen suspension.DailyMed.Label: Cyclobenzaprine- cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride tablet, film coated.Food and Drug Administration.Orange Book: approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations.PDR.Lioresal.Agabio, R, Leggio L.Baclofen in the treatment of patients with alcohol use disorder and other mental health disorders.Psychiatry.2018;9. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00464MedlinePlus.Baclofen.Klasser, Gary.Myofascial pain syndrome.Merck Manual: Professional Version.Sullivan GM, Gendreau RM, Gendreau J, et al.Randomized clinical trial of bedtime sublingual cyclobenzaprine (TNX-102 SL) in military-related PTSD and the role of sleep quality in treatment response.Psychiatry Res.2021;301:113974. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113974Liu Y, Qian C, Yang M.Treatment patterns associated with ACR-recommended medications in the management of fibromyalgia in the United States.Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy. 2016;22(3):263-271. doi:10.18553/jmcp.2016.22.3.263American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Spasticity.Chang E, Ghosh N, Yanni D, et al.A Review of spasticity treatments: pharmacological and interventional approaches.Crit Rev Phys Rehabil Med. 2013;25(1-2):11-22. doi:10.1615/CritRevPhysRehabilMed.2013007945Ertzgaard, P. Campo C, Calabrese A.Efficacy and safety of oral baclofen in the management of spasticity: a rationale for intrathecal baclofen.J Rehabil Med.2017;49:193–203.Browning R, Jackson JL, O’Malley PG.Cyclobenzaprine and back pain: a meta-analysis.Arch Intern Med.2001;161(13):1613–1620. doi:10.1001/archinte.161.13.1613 allowing older study
DailyMed.Label: Baclofen injection.
DailyMed.Label: Baclofen tablet.
DailyMed.Label: Baclofen suspension.
DailyMed.Label: Cyclobenzaprine- cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride tablet, film coated.
Food and Drug Administration.Orange Book: approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations.
PDR.Lioresal.
Agabio, R, Leggio L.Baclofen in the treatment of patients with alcohol use disorder and other mental health disorders.Psychiatry.2018;9. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00464
MedlinePlus.Baclofen.
Klasser, Gary.Myofascial pain syndrome.Merck Manual: Professional Version.
Sullivan GM, Gendreau RM, Gendreau J, et al.Randomized clinical trial of bedtime sublingual cyclobenzaprine (TNX-102 SL) in military-related PTSD and the role of sleep quality in treatment response.Psychiatry Res.2021;301:113974. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113974
Liu Y, Qian C, Yang M.Treatment patterns associated with ACR-recommended medications in the management of fibromyalgia in the United States.Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy. 2016;22(3):263-271. doi:10.18553/jmcp.2016.22.3.263
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Spasticity.
Chang E, Ghosh N, Yanni D, et al.A Review of spasticity treatments: pharmacological and interventional approaches.Crit Rev Phys Rehabil Med. 2013;25(1-2):11-22. doi:10.1615/CritRevPhysRehabilMed.2013007945
Ertzgaard, P. Campo C, Calabrese A.Efficacy and safety of oral baclofen in the management of spasticity: a rationale for intrathecal baclofen.J Rehabil Med.2017;49:193–203.
Browning R, Jackson JL, O’Malley PG.Cyclobenzaprine and back pain: a meta-analysis.Arch Intern Med.2001;161(13):1613–1620. doi:10.1001/archinte.161.13.1613 allowing older study
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