Tramadol vs Flexeril: Which Is Better For Pain Relief?

Tramadol and Flexeril are the drugs that are useful in providing relief from body pain. Each has its own mechanism of action and is quite useful against any range of pain. Both have gained immense popularity because they are easily available as well as highly recommended. Even though each of them are pain reliever but they vary in the type of pain they heal, and it’s better to use them accordingly. So, in this blog, we will discuss Tramadol vs Flexeril to give you an idea regarding the condition that they solve the best.

Tramadol vs Flexeril: Key Difference Between Doses, Interaction, & Efficiency

Tramadol

This is an Opioid medication that helps relieve pain by blocking pain signals sent by the brain. Tramadol is generally given to a patient when no other painkiller is helpful in providing relief. It is not able to heal the pain completely, instead reducing its effect. This drug belongs to the category of Schedule IV substances, and hence, you must avoid misusing this. Conditions that make an individual unfit for Tramadol are:

• Asthma
• Liver issues
• Epilepsy
• Brain tumor
• Mental disorders
• Pregnant
• Older adults

Flexeril

Flexeril is the brand name for Cyclobenzaprine and is mainly used to treat severe pain caused due to sudden muscle contraction. It gets its work done by cutting down the excessive muscle activity, which gives some time to the muscle for relaxing. It is not a controlled substance and hence is safe for use. But despite that, certain individuals are not fit for this drug. The condition that makes them unfit are:

• Heart issues
• Thyroid
• Allergy
• Pregnancy
• Liver problem

What Is The Difference Between Tramadol and Flexeril?

Both Tramadol and Flexeril have several differences between them, starting from drug class to doses, along with their uses. These differences are proof that Tramadol and Flexeril are not the same, instead quite apart from each other. To know more about these, let’s discuss each of the factors in detail.

Tramadol vs Flexeril Dosages

The doses of both these drugs are quite apart from each other. The most important thing to consider here is that the initial amount must always be low so that the body can adjust itself. This is also done to observe how the patient is reacting to the drug. Gradually, the doses can be increased according to the requirement.

Tramadol Doses

• The starting dose of Tramadol is 50 to 100 mg orally for four to six hours.

Flexeril Doses

• The initial dose of Flexeril is 5 mg, which is to be taken three times per day.

Which Is Better For Back Pain: Flexeril or Tramadol?

Both these drugs are effective against pain, but differ in the type of pain they are used to treat, so a person might be confused while deciding between Tramadol vs Flexeril, which is better. Flexeril can be a good option since it focuses on muscle pain. But for severe pain, it may not be very effective since it has very low potency. Tramadol is mostly used in cases where the patient has already tried every other option but still hasn’t achieved any result. You must have a high tolerance level for opioids to be able to take Tramadol.

Drug Interactions Of Tramadol vs Flexeril

Several drug exists that are not compatible with either Tramadol or Flexeril. You need to be aware of them to avoid accidentally mixing, which will create an interaction in the body. This will not be good for your health and will give rise to various health issues.

Drug interaction of Tramadol

• Alprazolam
• Diazepam
• Lorazepam
• Codeine
• Oxycodone
• Hydrocodone
• Zolpidem
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Duloxetine
• Amitriptyline
• Sumatriptan
• Fluoxetine
• Sertraline
• Propofol
• Carbamazepine

Flexeril Interactions

• Ambien
• Benadryl
• Cymbalta
• Gabapentin
• Klonopin
• Lyrica
• Neurontin
• Norco
• Oxycodone
• Tramadol
• Trazodone

Street Names

Tramadol and Flexeril have their own street names used by illegal sellers and buyers to communicate between them. They do such things to avoid being caught and getting punished for the offense. Let’s see what those altered names for these drugs are.

Tramadol Street Names

• Trammies
• Chill Pills
• Ultras

Flexeril Street Names

• Whitney Houston
• Mellow Yellow
• Flexies
• Cyclone

Let’s look into some other factors in brief.

Factors	Tramadol	Flexeril
Schedule Category	Schedule IV	Not a controlled substance.
Drug Class	Opioids	Muscle relaxants
Onset	30 to 60 minutes	30 minutes to 1 hour
Half-life	6 hours	18 hours
Formulations	Tablets, Capsules, Solutions, Injections	Tablets, Capsules, Gel/Creams
Potency	High	Lower
Cost	High	Comparatively low

Can You Take Tramadol and Flexeril Together?

It’s better not to take any risks of combining both these drugs because Tramadol and Flexeril interactions can be very harmful. Although Flexeril itself is very safe and does not have many effects but combining it with other substances can be deadly. Several health risks are involved in this, like:

• Sedation
• Drowsiness
• Seizures
• Coma
• Serotonin syndrome

Due to certain health conditions, doctor often advise taking both of these drugs, but the condition given is that there must be a gap between their intake. So it’s quite fair to wonder how far apart should I take Tramadol and Flexeril, especially if you’re a first-time user. This query can only be answered by your doctor based on your health issues, and you must follow that wisely.

Side Effects

Individuals taking Tramadol face several side effects in comparison to those who take Flexeril. Flexeril is not a controlled substance except when it’s mixed with some other higher-potency substance. These side effects can range from mild to severe.

Some common effects are:

• Nausea
• Constipation
• Diziness
• Dry mouth
• Drowsiness
• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Itching
• Stomach pain

Alternatives

Let’s see all the alternative options available for each of the drugs for individuals who are not able to take them.

Tramadol alternatives

• Hydrocodon
• Acetaminophen
• Fentanyl
• Ibuprofen
• Naproxen
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Bupropion

Flexeril alternatives

• Carisoprodol
• Methocarbamol
• Tizanidine
• Baclofen
• Ibuprofen
• Metaxalone

Conclusion

At the end, we hope that you have a clear idea of how these drugs differ and which one to choose based on your condition. You can either take them individually or combine them according to your needs. Always take the required number of doses as prescribed by your doctor and never overdose.