Flexeril Rehabilitation and Treatment

This guide was written to provide an overview of the Flexeril rehabilitation process as well as to offer helpful resources for persons recovering from Flexeril addiction.

The Flexeril rehabilitation process typically begins with intake, which is when the individual arrives at the treatment center, meets some of the staff members and learns more about the resources available to help overcome a substance-use disorder. During intake, the individual usually meets with a treatment professional to discuss their medical history, psychological history, and history of substance use. Staff members use this information to develop a treatment plan that can help the individual stop using Flexeril.

After completing the intake process, the individual may go through a supervised medical detoxification period, which helps manage withdrawal symptoms while Flexeril leaves the body. Tapering Flexeril use rather than stopping “cold turkey” can make the withdrawal effects more tolerable for the individual. Once the detoxification process is complete, the individual attends therapy sessions and participates in activities designed to help users improve their coping skills and learn how to live their lives without Flexeril.

For more information, read our guide to the rehab process.

Although Flexeril isn’t listed as a controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act, which means it’s not a Schedule I-IV drug, it can still be habit-forming due to the effects it has on neurotransmitters in the brain. Researchers believe that Flexeril works on GABA, a neurotransmitter that has a calming effect on the individual. This calming effect can be rather pleasant, causing some users to misuse Flexeril to experience the sensation more often.

Recovery from Flexeril addiction can be difficult because users come to rely on the calming effects of the drug. They may use Flexeril to cope with stress or forget about financial problems, difficulty fitting in at school, career-related frustration or problems maintaining healthy relationships. When someone uses Flexeril as a coping mechanism, it can be difficult to stop using, especially without learning better coping skills.

Reports published by government agencies and researchers at leading medical institutions indicate that the abuse of prescription drugs, including Flexeril and other medications that depress the activity of the central nervous system, is a serious problem in the United States. These reports show the following:

• In 2018, approximately 18 million people reported that they had misused a prescription drug within the previous year, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
• Misuse of prescription medications is most common among young adults (ages 18 to 25); 4% of individuals in this age group reported misuse of at least one prescription drug within the previous year.
• Nearly 5% of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 reported the non-medical use of prescription drugs like Flexeril.
• Prescription misuse is most prevalent in the United States, but it is also a serious concern for governments in South Asia, Southern Africa and Europe.

The first step in the Flexeril rehabilitation process is detoxification — when the user stops taking Flexeril and allows it to exit his or her bloodstream completely. Flexeril has a half-life of eight to 37 hours, which means about half the substance is removed from the body within this amount of time. As a result, it typically takes three to four days for the detoxification process to conclude. In some users, the withdrawal process may take several weeks, especially after years of chronic abuse.

The amount of time it takes to detoxify completely depends on many factors, including how long the individual has been using, how often the individual was taking the drug and whether the individual was combining Flexeril with alcohol or other substances. The presence of chronic medical conditions can also influence the amount of time it takes to withdraw from Flexeril completely.

No medications have been approved specifically to treat Flexeril withdrawal; however, a treatment facility may provide supportive medicines to help ease symptoms such as headache and nausea. For example, over-the-counter acetaminophen helps relieve headaches, and ondansetron can be used to relieve nausea and prevent vomiting.

For more information about withdrawal, read our guide on Flexeril Addiction.

Although supportive medications are available to relieve the symptoms associated with Flexeril withdrawal, no prescription medications have been approved specifically for the treatment of Flexeril addiction. The most effective treatments are behavioral therapies aimed at helping the individual develop better coping skills and learn how to handle stress without the use of substances.

Within either an inpatient or outpatient setting, treatments such as detoxification services, behavioral therapies, and medication-assisted treatments are offered for varying lengths of time.

Inpatient treatment involves living full-time (including overnight) at a treatment facility for a set period of time. Outpatient treatment involves scheduled appointments at a facility in which you are free to come and go. Within each category, there are several distinctions.

Behavioral therapy for substance addiction seeks to identify and manage addictive behaviors that lead to use and prevent relapse. Behavioral therapy is based on the concept that all behavior is learned, and thus, unhealthy behavior can be changed through learning coping skills and increasing awareness of negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to substance abuse.

When searching for a rehabilitation center for Flexeril addiction, it’s important to look for a facility with trained staff available to supervise the detoxification process. A tapered detoxification process can make rehabilitation safer and more comfortable for the individual.

It’s also important to look for a facility that offers proven treatments for substance use, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and contingency management interventions.

For long-term Flexeril users, an inpatient rehabilitation center may provide the structure and support the individual needs to develop improved coping strategies and learn how to abstain from Flexeril when facing the many challenges of life.

Our directory of rehab programs includes a comprehensive list of available treatment centers and programs as provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In the directory, you will find tools to filter the programs by setting, price, and location.