{"id":628546,"date":"2024-06-24T09:30:25","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T13:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=628546"},"modified":"2025-10-22T16:05:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T20:05:07","slug":"cyclobenzaprine-and-ibuprofen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/cyclobenzaprine-and-ibuprofen\/","title":{"rendered":"Can I take cyclobenzaprine with ibuprofen?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you have recurring back or neck pain or are dealing with an acute muscle spasm, over-the-counter pain medications, like <\/span>ibuprofen<\/span><\/a>, can offer much-needed relief. When those treatments still aren\u2019t taking the edge off, your healthcare provider might prescribe something stronger, such as <\/span>cyclobenzaprine<\/span><\/a>. Also known by the brand name Flexeril, this medication is <\/span>FDA approved to treat<\/span><\/a> muscle spasms associated with painful <\/span>musculoskeletal <\/span>conditions. But can you take both cyclobenzaprine and ibuprofen at the same time? Most of the time, it\u2019s safe. However, it\u2019s not proven that using these two medications together provides increased pain relief. In certain circumstances, your provider might recommend taking both.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you take cyclobenzaprine with ibuprofen?<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s typically safe to take ibuprofen with skeletal <\/span>muscle relaxants<\/span><\/a> like cyclobenzaprine, says <\/span>Thomas Pontinen, MD<\/span><\/a>, a double-board certified anesthesiologist and pain management specialist with MAPS Centers for Pain Control in Chicago, Illinois. \u201cGenerally, most people should be fine taking most muscle relaxers with ibuprofen<\/span>,\u201d says <\/span>Dr. Pontinen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Both medications carry risks and side effects. For example, cyclobenzaprine can cause dizziness, drowsiness, or an increased risk of a fast heart rate. Ibuprofen can cause gastrointestinal issues and <\/span>may increase your risk of heart attack and stroke in patients with heart disease. <\/span>However, they are not known to exacerbate each other when taken simultaneously. \u201cThis is largely because both drugs have different mechanisms of action, acting on different systems in the body,\u201d explains Dr. Pontinen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the combination of <\/span>cyclobenzaprine and ibuprofen is not recommended for everyone. Whether or not to take these two medications together may depend on factors such as:<\/span><\/p>\n