Possible food and drug interactions when taking Flexeril

The most common problems come when you propose to take Flexeril alongside any other drug, including alcohol, that depresses the central nervous system including antihistamines used to treat allergies or cold symptoms, sleeping pills, antianxiety drugs, and so on. Combining such drugs makes the sedative effect stronger and can result in fainting, unconsciousness and coma. You should also take advice if you are using painkillers. This includes both the powerful barbiturates which may have a sedative effect and tramadol which may interact to cause seizures in a limited number of cases. It is also unwise to try to increase effectiveness by taking two different muscle relaxants at the same time. This includes bronchodilators used by people with asthma, drugs used to treat Parkinson’s Disease, etc. Be careful if you are taking drugs to treat ulcers, bladder or urinary infections and disorders. Flexeril can cause some gastric problems and aggravate any underlying conditions.

Along with other drugs, great care should be taken if your doctor has also prescribed one of the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). These are powerful antidepressants and interact adversely with a range of drugs including Flexeril. To avoid difficulties, you must allow time for the different drugs to wash out of your body. Assuming you are using one of the MAOIs, stop and wait for 14 days before starting the use of Flexeril. Similarly, when you have completed the course of treatment prescribed, wait a further 14 days before resuming the MAOI. Do not take them at the same time.

There are no special precautions to be taken as to diet with no significant interactions reported with any foods. However, if you use any different herbs, roots or fungi for medicinal purposes, e.g. as in Traditional Chinese Medicine, or use any over-the-counter diet supplements, you should ask your doctor whether there are any possible risks.