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Do muscle relaxers make you tired the next day?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 22, 2026

Sleepiness. Because muscle relaxers are total body relaxants, they typically induce grogginess or sleepiness. As a result, it is not safe to drive or make important decisions while taking muscle relaxers. Muscle relaxers are often suggested for evening use due to their sedative effect.

Can muscle relaxers make you feel tired the next day?

Some muscle relaxants, however, can have potentially serious side effects, like liver damage. Your doctor will work with you to find the medication that makes the most sense for your situation. The most common side effects include: Tiredness, drowsiness, or sedation effect.

How long does muscle relaxer drowsiness last?

In general, muscle relaxers act as central nervous system depressants and cause a sedative effect or prevent your nerves from sending pain signals to your brain. The onset of action is rapid and effects typically last from 4-6 hours.

How long do side effects of muscle relaxers last?

The side effects of muscle relaxant medications usually begin working within 30 minutes and can last anywhere between four and six hours. While muscle relaxers may affect the central nervous system and others affect muscles directly, they can all cause a variety of uncomfortable and even dangerous side effects.

Can muscle relaxers cause fatigue?

Muscle relaxants.

Most muscle relaxants don't work on your muscles directly. Instead, they work on the nerves in your brain and spine to make the muscles relax. Their effects on your nervous system can make you tired. Some common muscle relaxants are carisoprodol (Soma) and cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril).

30 related questions found

How do you stop fatigue from medication?

If your medication is causing excessive drowsiness or affecting your ability to drive or work, call your doctor. "Resolving the drowsiness may simply be a matter of adjusting the dose or changing the medication that's causing the drowsiness," says Dr. Carr.

How long does Flexeril make sleepy?

Some muscle-relaxing effects may be noted within 20 to 30 minutes of oral administration. The effects of Flexeril last for four to six hours.

Does cyclobenzaprine make you sleepy the next day?

Cyclobenzaprine oral tablet may cause drowsiness and dizziness. This is more likely to happen in the few hours after you take it. It can also have other side effects.

Can cyclobenzaprine make you drowsy?

Drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, or tiredness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Do muscle relaxers actually relax muscles?

You might think that “muscle relaxers” do, in fact, relax your muscles. The truth is, they don't have anything to do with muscle tissue. They work on the central nervous system and cause general sedation.

Does muscle relaxers make you feel high?

Some muscle relaxers, such as cyclobenzaprine, can be habit-forming on their own. Others may be taken in conjunction with other drugs, such as opioids, to create a high, and are therefore more likely to be abused.

Do muscle relaxers help with anxiety?

Benzodiazepines are a group of medications that can help reduce anxiety and make it easier to sleep. They are also used as a muscle relaxant, to induce sedation for surgery and other medical procedures, and in the treatment of seizures and alcohol withdrawal.

What should you not take with muscle relaxers?

Muscle relaxers, or muscle relaxants, are medications used to treat muscle spasms or muscle spasticity.
...
You should not take muscle relaxants with:

  • alcohol.
  • CNS depressant drugs, such as opioids or psychotropics.
  • sleeping medications.
  • herbal supplements such as St. John's wort.

How long does it take for a muscle relaxer to work?

Some people start to feel the effects within 30 minutes, but you should definitely feel the effects within an hour. The long-acting Amrix (cyclobenzaprine) capsules take a little longer to work but last for up to 24 hours. Most people start to feel the effects about a hour and a half after they take their dose.

Can I take Flexeril at bedtime?

Cyclobenzaprine dosage for fibromyalgia

Although cyclobenzaprine is only approved to treat muscle spasms, healthcare providers sometimes prescribe it off-label to relieve sleep disturbances due to fibromyalgia. Dosing is typically done at bedtime to assist with sleep.

Will Flexeril help me sleep?

Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) is a medication that was originally developed to treat muscle spasms. It may also improve sleep in patients with chronic pain disorders, such as fibromyalgia.

What are the side effects of cyclobenzaprine 10 mg?

What Are Side Effects of Flexeril?

  • dry mouth or throat.
  • headache.
  • blurred vision.
  • drowsiness.
  • dizziness.
  • fatigue.
  • loss of appetite.
  • stomach pain.

What is a strong muscle relaxer?

Metaxalone is a muscle relaxant suitable for sprains, strains, and other muscle-based pain. Compared to the other muscle relaxers, Metaxalone provides a moderately strong relaxing action and produces lesser side effects. Nausea, drowsiness, vomiting, dizziness, and irritability are among the known side effects.

Is 10 mg of cyclobenzaprine strong?

The usual starting dose, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, is 5 mg three times a day. The maximum recommended dose is 10 mg three times a day. Patients typically feel better within 10 days.

What should you not take with cyclobenzaprine?

Do not use cyclobenzaprine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

How long does a 10 mg muscle relaxer last?

The effects of immediate-release tablets last for four to six hours. The effects of extended-release tablets last for 24 hours. 5mg of cyclobenzaprine is reportedly as effective as 10mg of cyclobenzaprine, with fewer side effects.

Is Flexeril a strong muscle relaxer?

Robaxin and Flexeril are effective treatments for treating musculoskeletal pain and muscle spasms. The more effective drug is the one that works best for your specific case. Flexeril is one of the most studied muscle relaxants; thus, it has more supporting evidence for its effectiveness.

Can I take ibuprofen and a muscle relaxer together?

Interactions between your drugs

No interactions were found between Flexeril and ibuprofen. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Can the pill make you tired?

Fatigue is listed as a potential side effect of birth control pills, vaginal rings, and the subdermal implant, says Irobunda. “Side effects, including fatigue, are in part due to the hormones in contraception,” explains Dr.

Why do I suddenly get extremely tired?

Most of the time fatigue can be traced to one or more of your habits or routines, particularly lack of exercise. It's also commonly related to depression. On occasion, fatigue is a symptom of other underlying conditions that require medical treatment.