Flexeril generic availability, cost, and more

In this article:

• Is there a generic for Flexeril?
• What are the differences between generic and brand-name Flexeril?
• How much does generic Flexeril cost?
• What are the off-label uses for Flexeril?
• Is Flexeril covered by insurance?
• Generic alternatives to Flexeril
• How to switch from Flexeril to cyclobenzaprine

In this article

• Is there a generic for Flexeril?
• What are the differences between generic and brand-name Flexeril?
• How much does generic Flexeril cost?
• What are the off-label uses for Flexeril?
• Is Flexeril covered by insurance?
• Generic alternatives to Flexeril
• How to switch from Flexeril to cyclobenzaprine

Flexeril is a former brand-name version of cyclobenzaprine, a skeletal muscle relaxant. Although it is no longer manufactured under the Flexeril name, cyclobenzaprine is still made and prescribed for muscle spasms and pain. The efficacy, side effects, and drug interactions that pertained to Flexeril still pertain to the generic form. Pricing on generics, however, is typically much lower, so the generic availability of cyclobenzaprine is a win for consumers. A detailed comparison of the drug’s versions can help decide if its generic form is acceptable.

Flexeril generic availability
Generic name	Cyclobenzaprine
FDA approval date of generic version	1989
Is there a generic available for sale in the U.S.?	Yes

Is there a generic for Flexeril?

Generic drugs can legally be made after a brand-name product’s patent has expired. Thereafter, both brand and generic varieties of the drugs are often produced, with generics being priced lower because the drug’s different generic makers do not have to cover the past research and development expenses. Eventually, if demand for the brand name wanes, it may no longer be manufactured. Cyclobenzaprine is an example of this scenario, having gained Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in the 1970s as a brand-name drug and remaining available as brand-name Flexeril or Fexmid for over 40 years.

What are the differences between generic and brand-name Flexeril?

Brand-name Flexeril is no longer manufactured. Neither is Fexmid, which was another brand-name immediate-release cyclobenzaprine product. Now, immediate-release cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride (HCl) is only available as a generic product. Specifically, it is available as 5 mg, 7.5 mg, and 10 mg tablets. On the other hand, extended-release capsules of cyclobenzaprine HCl can be obtained in either a brand-name form, called Amrix, or a generic. Both have a 24-hour duration of action and 15 mg and 30 mg strengths. There is also a form of cyclobenzaprine that is available only in brand-name form. It is called Tonmya, and it is a sublingual cyclobenzaprine tablet (a tablet that dissolves on the tongue).

Generic cyclobenzaprine has the same active ingredient as Flexeril did in the past. The drug’s label cites the same FDA indication for relief of acutely painful musculoskeletal conditions, as an adjunct to rest and physical therapy. According to the FDA, generic drugs have the same efficacy and safety as their brand-name predecessors, so we can expect cyclobenzaprine’s beneficial and adverse effects to be the same as Flexeril’s.

How much does generic Flexeril cost?

The price of generic Flexeril proved to be enough of an advantage over the branded product that the brand-name form is no longer produced. Although there is no longer a brand-name immediate-release cyclobenzaprine to compare prices to, the cost difference between brand and generic extended-release forms illustrates that advantage. Amrix is a brand-name extended-release cyclobenzaprine product that can cost $1,665 for 30, 15 mg capsules, while the generic equivalent runs about $1,068 for the same number and strength of pills. 

Regarding the immediate-release version, 30, 10 mg cyclobenzaprine tablets now cost about $55. With a SingleCare discount card, the price can be even lower, down to $8 for 30, 10 mg tablets. Simply show the pharmacist the free card or a SingleCare cyclobenzaprine coupon for this discount.

Brand vs. generic Flexeril prices
Cost details	Brand-name Flexeril	Flexeril generic (cyclobenzaprine)
Average cost without insurance	Unavailable	$55 for 30, 10 mg tablets of generic cyclobenzaprine
SingleCare’s lowest price	Unavailable	$8 for 30, 10 mg tablets of generic cyclobenzaprine at Kroger or Harris Teeter
Free coupons	Not applicable	Cyclosporine coupons

Prescription drug prices often change. These are the most accurate medication prices at the time of publishing in ZIP code 23666 as of Feb. 21, 2026. The listed price without insurance references the price of brand-name drugs (unless otherwise specified). The listed SingleCare price references the price of generic drugs if available. 

What are the off-label uses for Flexeril?

FDA approval of Flexeril was only for acute muscle pain or spasm and only as an adjunct to rest and physical therapy for these symptoms. When musculoskeletal pain is long-lasting, off-label use of a muscle relaxer is sometimes considered, but with caution. Experimental proof of effectiveness and safety may be lacking in these circumstances. While they are not listed as controlled substances by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), muscle relaxants can be abused. In addition, concurrent use with pain-relieving opioids or gabapentinoids, such as Neurontin (gabapentin) or Lyrica (pregabalin), could be hazardous due to additive sedating effects. 

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome of chronic, diffuse musculoskeletal pain. Few FDA-approved treatments are available for the condition, and the symptoms can be difficult to relieve. As a result, off-label treatments are sometimes tried, including the use of Flexeril for fibromyalgia. A 2004 meta-analysis analyzing five studies found some evidence to support this use.

Is Flexeril covered by insurance?

As noted above, brand-name Flexeril is no longer available in the United States. However, generic cyclobenzaprine is often covered by various insurance plans. Coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan. To find out if your plan provides coverage for cyclobenzaprine, you can contact your plan directly or check the most recent formulary on your plan’s secure website. If your insurance plan does not cover cyclobenzaprine, or if you are not insured, you can learn more about paying for cyclobenzaprine without insurance here.

Generic alternatives to Flexeril

Since brand-name Flexeril is no longer manufactured, generic cyclobenzaprine is the primary alternative. Generic cyclobenzaprine is available in 5 mg, 7.5 mg, and 10 mg immediate-release tablets. It is also available in 15 mg and 30 mg extended-release capsules in both brand and generic forms. If generic cyclobenzaprine is not an option, there are other generic medications prescribed for muscle spasms that you can discuss with your healthcare professional, such as:

• Skelaxin (metaxalone)
• Zanaflex (tizanidine)
• Robaxin (methocarbamol)

RELATED: Cyclobenzaprine alternatives  

How to switch from Flexeril to cyclobenzaprine

No brand-name option exists for immediate-release cyclobenzaprine; Flexeril is no longer produced. In general, changing from a brand-name product to a generic equivalent should be discussed with a healthcare provider. Getting their medical advice is important to ensure they do not specifically advise a branded version. That being said, often a provider writes for a prescription drug in a way that permits a pharmacist to switch to a generic if the patient or health insurance formulary prefers it and the dosing is identical.

Cyclobenzaprine is only indicated for short-term use for acute muscle pain, but it is sometimes used off-label and long-term for chronic pain syndromes. According to the drug’s label, if it is stopped suddenly, nausea, headache, and malaise can develop. A healthcare provider might recommend tapering off cyclobenzaprine after prolonged use. Good communication between patients and their healthcare professionals in the clinic and at the pharmacy often leads to safer and more cost-effective care.

Expert takeaway

“Even though brand-name Flexeril is no longer made, generic cyclobenzaprine is very commonly prescribed to patients because it works the same way and is just as effective,” says Karen Berger, Pharm.D., member of the SingleCare Medical Board.