Fexmid

Name: Fexmid

Pregnancy & Lactation

Pregnancy category: B

Lactation: Excretion in milk unknown; use with caution

Pregnancy Categories

A:Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.

B:May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.

C:Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

D:Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.

X:Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.

NA:Information not available.

Patient Handout

Print without Office InfoPrint with Office Info

Uses of Fexmid

Fexmid is a prescription medication used to relax muscles and relieve pain due to muscle spasms.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Fexmid Interactions

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

  • monoamine oxide (MAO) inhibitors such as selegiline (Emsam) and phenelzine (Nardil)
  • alcohol
  • barbiturates such as phenobarbital (Donnatal) or other central nervous system depressants
  • tramadol (Ultram)
  • selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft)
  • serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta)
  • tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) such as amitriptyline (Elavil) or clomipramine (Anafranil)
  • anticholinergic medications such as ipratropium (Atrovent) or tiotropium (Spiriva)
  • bupropion (Zyban, Wellbutrin)
  • meperidine (Demerol)
  • verapamil (Calan)

This is not a complete list of Fexmid drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Fexmid Food Interactions

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Fexmid, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Fexmid.

Alcohol may intensify some of the side effects of this medication.

Inform MD

Before taking Fexmid, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

  • are allergic to Fexmid
  • have used monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors such as selegiline (Emsam) and phenelzine (Nardil) in the last 14 days
  • have a history of heart problems such as a heart attack, arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat), heart block, conduction disturbances, or heart failure
  • have hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid
  • have a history of liver disease
  • have glaucoma
  • have trouble urinating
  • are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Fexmid Usage

Take Fexmid exactly as prescribed.

This medication comes in tablet form and is usually taken 3 times a day.

Take Fexmid around the same time each day.

Fexmid is recommended for use for up to 3 weeks.

Do not drink alcohol while taking Fexmid.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Fexmid at the same time.

Precautions While Using Fexmid

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it.

If your condition does not improve within 2 or 3 weeks, or if it becomes worse, check with your doctor.

Do not use the extended-release capsules if you have used an MAO inhibitor (MAOI) such as Eldepryl®, Marplan®, Nardil®, or Parnate® within 14 days of each other.

Check with your doctor right away if you have anxiety, restlessness, a fast heartbeat, fever, sweating, muscle spasms, twitching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or see or hear things that are not there. These may be symptoms of a serious condition called serotonin syndrome. Your risk may be higher if you also take certain other medicines that affect serotonin levels in your body.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that slow down the nervous system, possibly causing drowsiness). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine, prescription pain medicine or narcotics, medicine for seizures or barbiturates, other muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may cause some people to have blurred vision or to become drowsy, dizzy, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert and able to see well.

Cyclobenzaprine may cause dryness of the mouth. For temporary relief, use sugarless candy or gum, melt bits of ice in your mouth, or use a saliva substitute. However, if your mouth continues to feel dry for more than 2 weeks, check with your medical doctor or dentist. Continuing dryness of the mouth may increase the chance of dental disease, including tooth decay, gum disease, and fungus infections.

Fexmid (cyclobenzaprine) side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using cyclobenzaprine and call your doctor at once if you have:

  • severe drowsiness, fast heart rate;

  • tremors or shaking;

  • pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest; or

  • agitation, hallucinations, fever, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting.

Common side effects may include:

  • headache, dizziness;

  • drowsiness, tired feeling;

  • trouble concentrating;

  • blurred vision, dry mouth or throat, altered sense of taste; or

  • nausea, upset stomach, constipation.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Fexmid (cyclobenzaprine)?

Taking cyclobenzaprine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can cause dangerous or life-threatening side effects. Ask your doctor before taking a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, prescription cough medicine, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with cyclobenzaprine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

(web3)