Posted 6/5/2012 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
Kaely,
Unfortunately Flexiril has (over the past few years) become more of a drug of abuse, although in a limited fashion. It used to be considered having no real potential for abuse, but along with other medications that typically weren't abused like Seroquel, these are now considered by SOME doctors to have a low but existing abuse potential.
To complicate matters, Soma which was previously unscheduled is now a schedule IV. This means it has a low potential overall for abuse but still enough that federal control is warranted. Robaxin in a study was considered to have similiar but less abuse potential than lorazapam. Lorazapam has a relatively low risk of abuse in totality but again enough to warrant a schedule IV status. Robaxin and Flexiril are both unscheduled and MOST doctors consider their abuse risk as negligible, and most doctors are willing to prescribe them. Cylobenzaprine has the potential to build up tolerance and can cause a mild withdraw if used for a long time and then you suddenly stop taking it. They can cause drowsiness, but then again so can a lot of OTC medications. Overtime due to a slow tolerance build, they can work less effectively, but if used on an as needed basis, this issue is minimal IMO.
Personally, I see no reason for your doctor NOT to prescribe muscle relaxants since overall they pose a low risk when used properly. The vicodin is considered a C-III (moderate abuse risk but less than that of most narcotics) and has more risk potential than the unscheduled flexiril. While Flexiril can potentiate the effects of vicodin a little, this is actually theraputic in that together they act synergistically to help relieve the pain.