Flexeril vs. Valium

• Are Flexeril and Valium the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Flexeril?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Valium?
• What Is Flexeril?
• What Is Valium?
• What Drugs Interact with Flexeril?
• What Drugs Interact with Valium?
• How Should Flexeril Be Taken?
• How Should Valium Be Taken?

Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) and Valium (diazepam) are used to treat muscle spasms.

Valium is also used to treat anxiety, seizures, and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

Flexeril and Valium belong to different drug classes. Flexeril is a muscle relaxant and Valium is a benzodiazepine.

Side effects of Flexeril and Valium that are similar include dry mouth, blurred or double vision, drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, tiredness, nausea, constipation, or muscle weakness.

Side effects of Flexeril that are different from Valium include dry throat, headache, loss of appetite, stomach pain, diarrhea, or gas.

Side effects of Valium that are different from Flexeril include spinning sensation, loss of balance, memory problems, restlessness, irritability, drooling, slurred speech, skin rash, itching, or loss of interest in sex.

Both Flexeril and may interact with alcohol and other drugs that make you drowsy (narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety or seizures).

Flexeril may also interact with tricyclic antidepressants, atropine, bronchodilators, guanethidine, tramadol, bladder or urinary medications, irritable bowel medications, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), barbiturates, bupropion, blood pressure medications, cold or allergy medicine that contains an antihistamine, medicines to treat Parkinson's disease, and medicines to treat excess stomach acid or stomach ulcer and motion sickness.

Do not stop using Valium suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Common side effects of Flexeril include:

• dry mouth or throat
• headache
• blurred vision
• drowsiness
• dizziness
• fatigue
• loss of appetite
• stomach pain
• nausea
• diarrhea
• constipation
• gas, or
• muscle weakness.

Common side effects of Valium include:

• drowsiness,
• tired feeling,
• dizziness,
• spinning sensation,
• fatigue,
• constipation,
• ataxia (loss of balance),
• memory problems,
• restlessness,
• irritability,
• muscle weakness,
• nausea,
• drooling,
• dry mouth,
• slurred speech,
• blurred or double vision,
• skin rash,
• itching, or
• loss of interest in sex.

Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) is a muscle relaxant indicated as an adjunct to rest and physical therapy for relief of muscle spasm associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions.

Valium is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety or tension associated with the stress of everyday life usually does not require treatment with an anxiolytic.

Flexeril especially when used with alcohol or other CNS depressants, may impair mental and/or physical abilities required for performance of hazardous tasks, such as operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle.

Centrally Acting Agents

If Valium is to be combined with other centrally acting agents, careful consideration should be given to the pharmacology of the agents employed particularly with compounds that may potentiate or be potentiated by the action of Valium, such as phenothiazines, antipsychotics, anxiolytics/sedatives, hypnotics, anticonvulsants, narcotic analgesics, anesthetics, sedative antihistamines, narcotics, barbiturates, MAO inhibitors and other antidepressants.

Alcohol

Concomitant use with alcohol is not recommended due to enhancement of the sedative effect.

Antacids

Diazepam peak concentrations are 30% lower when antacids are administered concurrently. However, there is no effect on the extent of absorption. The lower peak concentrations appear due to a slower rate of absorption, with the time required to achieve peak concentrations on average 20 - 25 minutes greater in the presence of antacids. However, this difference was not statistically significant.

For most patients, the recommended dose of Flexeril is 5 mg three times a day. Based on individual patient response, the dose may be increased to 10 mg three times a day. Use of Flexeril for periods longer than two or three weeks is not recommended.

Take Valium exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Valium to take and when to take it.

Talk to your healthcare provider about slowly stopping Valium to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

If you take too much Valium, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.