Flexeril is a brand of Cyclobenzaprine which belongs to a class of drugs called Skeletal Muscle Relaxants used for muscle spasms from musculoskeletal conditions of sudden onset. It is not useful in cerebral palsy and not recommended for more than a few weeks. Flexeril works by blocking nerve impulses (or pain sensations) that are sent to your brain. Cyclobenzaprine is used together with rest and physical therapy to relieve muscle spasms caused by painful conditions such as an injury.
Flexeril affects the central nervous system, targeting the brain stem. When someone uses Flexeril, it can change the way pain signals are sent. In doing so, the drug can also cause drowsiness. In higher doses, Flexeril may cause a sensation of relaxation, which makes it a potential drug of abuse. In some cases when people take very high doses of Flexeril, it can cause physical and cognitive impairment. There have been reports of people suffering ataxia when taking the drug in extremely high doses. Ataxia is a neurological condition in which someone no longer has control of their muscle movements. Common side effects of Flexeril include dizziness, fatigue, dry mouth and drowsiness.
How To Flush Flexeril Out Of Your System
As with other drugs, there are individual factors that play a role in how long Flexeril stays in the system. Age, body weight and hepatic function are three primary factors that affect how long Flexeril stays in the body. If someone is older or has impaired hepatic function, it’s going to be harder for their body to eliminate Flexeril. Metabolic rates are relevant as well. People with faster metabolisms usually eliminate drugs more quickly, as do larger people with higher body weights. The amount of Flexeril someone uses can determine how long it takes them to eliminate it. People who use large amounts of the drug or use Flexeril frequently will eliminate it more slowly in most cases because it accumulates in their bodies.
Flexeril reaches peak levels in the blood about seven to eight hours after consumption. Flexeril has an average elimination half-life of 18 hours. The half-life for the drug can be as low as eight hours and as high as 37 hours. This range includes extended release versions of the drug. FOR FULL DETAILS READ: How Long Does Flexeril Stay In Your System?
In general, it takes about five half-lives for a substance to exit the body. This means that Flexeril could show up in lab tests around four days after the last time taken, or up to about eight days later. To flush Flexeril out of your system faster from your body will require the adoption of some detoxification protocols. In order to flush out Flexeril quickly from your body it is important that you observe the following:
Increase Water Intake. It is critical for us to keep our bodies in a healthy state by consuming at least 6-8 glasses of water daily, eating fresh fruits/vegetables, and whole grains.
Avoid Unhealthy Items. Avoiding tobacco, fried foods, animal fats, sugar, and caffeine are helpful in keeping our bodies functioning appropriately and eliminate Flexeril.
Exercise. To stay healthy, exercising at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week plus strength training once a week will help convert fat to muscle mass. Excessive amounts of fat can severely impact how medications such as Flexeril get absorbed and released from the body, in addition to damaging our kidneys and liver which are responsible for cleaning the body from waste and toxins.
Consume Probiotics. Lastly, probiotics can be helpful in regulating the bacteria in our gastrointestinal tract which is important given that toxins can be released from invading microbes. These can be found in both supplements and food sources (examples include yogurt, kefir, miso, and kombucha).
Short-Term Detox Diet. A general body detox diet has been shown to clear out toxins and waste, including helping medications get eliminated from your body if your energy level is especially low. Often these detox diets are done over the weekend where you start on a Friday night with a green salad. Saturday’s menu consists of lots of vitamin C and fruit juices which will help flush your body quickly. Typically, every 90-120 minutes you would drink something so you don’t get deprived or too hungry. Eating brown rice, chopped vegetables, or miso soup are good options for meals due to the high fiber content. Relaxation techniques such as massage therapy, sauna, aromatherapy baths, walking, and deep breathing exercises can help with the cleanse as well.
Liver detoxification. Can be another avenue to explore given that our livers are often overworked with a combination of poor lifestyle and diet choices. Antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin B, C, E, and betacarotene all have been shown to help cleanse the liver. Additionally, minerals such as zinc and selenium as well as herbal supplements like milk thistle, silymarin, dandelion root, and schizandra may help protect our liver cells. One area of concern however is that there are no clear scientific studies to indicate a physiological benefit from using these vitamins and minerals.
In general, Flexeril detoxification can be aided by re-hydrating your body, consuming proper nutrients, choosing appropriate food options, and adopting healthy lifestyles. Drinking adequate water during the day acts as a natural detox and can help flush the body of chemicals, toxins, and fats. Consuming nutrients and foods that are not processed or refined but instead are freshly prepared can go a long way.
Additionally, cutting down on sugars and bad fats while eating more fruits and vegetables can allow our body to stay at our finest. Trying to find ways to reduce our daily stress can help decrease the amount of stress hormones that are released such as cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, which can have detrimental effects to overall health. Sleeping at least 8 hours each night can help reduce stress while giving us more energy during the day. Lastly exercise is another way to keep our body healthy, convert fat to muscle mass, and help alleviate stress.
In summary, most of us are taking some form of a medication, whether its prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, or vitamins. If taken correctly, medications can keep us healthy while improving our quality of life. It is extremely important to notify your local pharmacist and healthcare providers on every medication you are taking to ensure there isn’t any drug interactions or an increased risk for adverse events.
Making smart choices like choosing a healthy diet, keeping up with exercise, and avoiding smoking as well as excessive alcohol can keep our body running efficiently. Both our kidneys and liver are subject to damage from fat from the foods we consume but also from high-risk behavior such as unsafe sex, inappropriate medications, and drug interactions. Always remember: by making smart and healthy choices we can keep our body operating at a high level to get rid of the toxicity that medications can cause. ALSO READ: How To Flush Topamax Out of Your System
