Monitoring/Drug Screens

There are many factors that indicate how long a drug can stay in the system based on the type of muscle relaxant, the amount of dose taken, the type of drug test used, and biological measurements of the patient. For instance, it may take 5.5 to 16.5 days for cyclobenzaprine to clear out of a patient’s system. Carisoprodol, on the other hand, has a shorter duration of about four days.

https://www.gnhindia.c om/products/usndc/carisoprodolsoma-0037-2001/ https://www.dailymed.nlm. nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDr ugXsl.cfm?setid=b12fb4ea182e-462b-b6edcfd2f6bb71e8&type=display

Based on my opinion, I would still recommend the use of muscle relaxants. From a clinical standpoint, muscle relaxants can be a useful treatment option for many patients that experience severe pain. There are risks for abuse in all drugs, but there are ways to reduce harmful abuse by giving patients proper education and counseling.

~C. Chiang

Carl J, Schwarzer M, Klingelhoefer D, Ohlendorf D, Groneberg DA. Curare--a curative poison: a scientometric analysis. PLoS One 2014;9(11):e112026. Published 2014 Nov 19. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0112026 https://americanaddictioncenters.org/cyclobenzaprine-flexeril-abuse.

Suitable Treatment for Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) Abuse. American Addiction Centers. Updated September 15, 2022.

Muscle Relaxer Addiction: Side Effects, Detox, Withdrawal, and Treatment. Nova Recovery Center. Accessed October 13, 2022. https://novarecoverycenter.com/drugs/muscle-relaxer/#h-street-names-for-muscle-relaxers.

Khan S. How Do Skeletal Muscle Relaxants Work? Rxlist. Updated September 22, 2021. Accessed October 13, 2022. https://www.rxlist.com/how_do_skeletal_muscle_relaxants_work/drug-class.htm.

Can You Mix Muscle Relaxers and Alcohol? Healthline. Updated on June 24, 2019. Accessed on October 13, 2022. https://www.healthline.com/health/muscle-relaxers-and-alcohol#if-youve-already-had-alcohol.

Controlled Substance Schedules. Diversion Control Division. Accessed October 13, 2022. https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedules/.

Drug Scheduling. United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Accessed October 13, 2022. https://www.dea.gov/druginformation/drug-scheduling.

Cyclobenzaprine. Diversion Control Division. Updated March 2020. Accessed October 13, 2022. https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/cyclobenzaprine.pdf.

Katy Bedka, Student pharmacist

Fall 2022