Can you take cyclobenzaprine and naproxen together?

In this article:

• Can you take cyclobenzaprine and naproxen together?
• Benefits of taking cyclobenzaprine and naproxen at the same time
• Cyclobenzaprine and naproxen risks and interactions
• How long after taking cyclobenzaprine can you take naproxen?
• What medications should you not take with cyclobenzaprine or naproxen?

In this article

• Can you take cyclobenzaprine and naproxen together?
• Benefits of taking cyclobenzaprine and naproxen at the same time
• Cyclobenzaprine and naproxen risks and interactions
• How long after taking cyclobenzaprine can you take naproxen?
• What medications should you not take with cyclobenzaprine or naproxen?

Cyclobenzaprine, sold under the brand names Flexeril and Amrix, is a type of muscle relaxant that works on the central nervous system (CNS). It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat pain, soreness, and muscle movement issues triggered by muscle spasms. Naproxen is a type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat fever, as well as pain and inflammation associated with conditions like arthritis, gout, headaches, muscle aches, pelvic pain, and toothache. Naproxen is available with a prescription and is also sold over the counter under brand names like Aleve, Calmadol, Flanax, Mediproxen, and others.

If you are dealing with muscle pain, muscle spasms, or a recent injury, you might want to know: Can I take cyclobenzaprine and naproxen together? The answer is yes; you can safely combine them in most cases, and the combination tends to offer more comprehensive pain relief for people who need it.

Here, we’ll go over everything you need to know about taking cyclobenzaprine and naproxen together, including safety, benefits, side effects, and who should be more cautious about this medication combination.

Can you take cyclobenzaprine and naproxen together?

Experts agree that cyclobenzaprine and naproxen together is a safe and effective combination.

“Yes, you can take cyclobenzaprine and naproxen together, and for many people, it’s safe,” says Sean Ormond, MD, dual board-certified in anesthesiology and interventional pain management physician at Atlas Pain Specialists. “Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant, and naproxen is an anti-inflammatory painkiller, so together, they can be effective for muscle pain or injuries. As such, if you are dealing with muscle spasms along with inflammation, this combo can pack a one-two punch,” Dr. Ormond says.

Shahinaz Soliman, MD, a board-certified family physician at Shantique Medspa, agrees. “In most cases, it is reasonably safe to combine cyclobenzaprine and naproxen for short periods, especially when dealing with acute musculoskeletal pain and conditions,” she says. “Cyclobenzaprine works against muscle spasms, and naproxen is used for inflammation and pain.” She says the conditions the combination works best for include back pain, muscle spasms, injuries, and sprains.

As Dr. Soliman emphasizes, the combination of cyclobenzaprine and naproxen, while effective, should only be thought of as a short-term solution to muscle pain, muscle spasms, and inflammation. That’s because cyclobenzaprine, in particular, should only be used for two to three weeks at a time.

Benefits of taking cyclobenzaprine and naproxen at the same time

Pairing pain relief medication with a skeletal muscle relaxant is a common practice in medicine. “It’s often a good idea to combine a pain reliever with a muscle relaxant if you’re dealing with both inflammation and muscle spasms, as they target different aspects of the pain,” Dr. Ormond notes.

Probably the biggest benefit of taking cyclobenzaprine and naproxen together is that you can get more symptom relief than you would taking these medications on their own. “Taking cyclobenzaprine and naproxen together can provide more complete relief,” Dr. Ormond says.

How exactly does it help? Again, naproxen can relieve pain and inflammation, while cyclobenzaprine works best for relaxing tight muscles. “For many patients, I do recommend this combination, especially when they have muscle-related pain and inflammation, like in cases of back pain or muscle injuries,” Dr. Ormond says.

Dr. Soliman shares that in addition to muscle pain and spasms in a general sense, cyclobenzaprine and naproxen together are a good choice if you are dealing with specific, short-term conditions like low back pain​, acute muscle strain, or a flare-up of an inflammatory condition of the spine. This is also a good combination for acute musculoskeletal injuries because it can help restore mobility and reduce pain. Again, Dr. Soliman emphasizes that these medications should only be used on a temporary basis, which means this combination is best for conditions that aren’t necessarily chronic.

Cyclobenzaprine and naproxen risks and interactions

Although taking cyclobenzaprine and naproxen together is typically safe, there are some side effects that may occur, and there are certain individuals who should not take these two medicines together. Keep in mind, too, that any risks associated with these medications increase the longer you take them, which is why abiding by the two- to three-week rule is important. “The risk of adverse effects also rises with continuous use,” Dr. Soliman stresses.

Dr. Ormond says there aren’t any known major direct interactions between cyclobenzaprine and naproxen, but there are certain things to consider. “Cyclobenzaprine can cause drowsiness, and if you take it with naproxen, which can also cause some stomach irritation, you might feel more tired or experience stomach discomfort,” he explains. “Both drugs can have side effects, and taking them together might make some of those effects stronger, like dizziness or drowsiness.” Dr. Ormond advises patients to pay close attention to how they are feeling and talk to their healthcare provider if anything feels off.

In addition, according to Dr. Soliman, you should consult with your healthcare provider if you have underlying medical conditions, including:

• Gastrointestinal conditions
• Heart conditions
• Liver conditions
• Kidney conditions

For instance, “in patients suffering from some underlying gastrointestinal disorders, such as peptic ulcers or GERD, using naproxen, which is classified as an NSAID, increases the chances of bleeding, and such patients must therefore exercise care,” Dr. Soliman explains. Close attention is necessary for people with heart disease, liver disease, and kidney disease because “both of the medications have side effects that may aggravate these two conditions,” Dr. Soliman shares.

How long after taking cyclobenzaprine can you take naproxen?

If you are considering taking these two medications together, you may be wondering: Can you take cyclobenzaprine and naproxen at the same time?

Dr. Ormond explains you don’t have to spread out your doses. “There’s no need to wait between taking cyclobenzaprine and naproxen, but it’s important to follow the timing your doctor recommends,” he says.

According to Dr. Ormond, dosing of these two medications looks like this:

• Naproxen can be taken every eight to 12 hours.
• Cyclobenzaprine is typically taken up to three times a day.

But if you wish to spread out the medications, that’s okay. “It’s usually fine to space them out, so you might take naproxen in the morning and cyclobenzaprine later in the day, for example,” Dr. Ormond suggests. “Just be sure to follow the schedule your doctor gives you, and reach out if you’re unsure about timing.”

In fact, spreading out doses might be helpful when it comes to factors like side effects and effectiveness. Here’s Dr. Soliman’s advice: “Naproxen is advised to be taken with food for better results and because it minimizes the risk of side effects,” she shares. “Cyclobenzaprine, if needed, may be used at night to alleviate the sedative effect.”

What medications should you not take with cyclobenzaprine or naproxen? 

Combining cyclobenzaprine or naproxen may not be your only concern. If you are taking either cyclobenzaprine or naproxen, you may also want to know what other medication reactions to watch for.

“In a nutshell,” says Dr. Ormond, “when you are taking cyclobenzaprine, you want to avoid other medications that cause drowsiness, like benzodiazepines, alcohol, or opioids, since these can make you overly sleepy. With naproxen, you want to stay away from other NSAIDs or other anti-inflammatory drugs or blood thinners, as these can increase your risk of bleeding and other serious side effects.”

Certain medications and substances should be avoided or used with caution if you are taking cyclobenzaprine. Here’s what to know:

• MAO inhibitors should be avoided, as the combination can have life-threatening side effects.
• CNS depressants, like alcohol and barbiturates, should be used with caution.
• Tricyclic antidepressants may be contraindicated in people on certain blood pressure medications or in people taking tramadol.

People on naproxen should keep the following precautions in mind:

• You shouldn’t take naproxen if you are sensitive to NSAIDs, have NSAID-induced asthma, are in your first trimester of pregnancy, or are going to have coronary artery bypass graft surgery in the near future.
• You should talk to your healthcare provider about using naproxen if you’ve recently had a heart attack, have a history of heart disease, are experiencing fluid retention, are dehydrated, have a history of GI issues, have bleeding conditions or are on blood thinners, have asthma, have liver disease, use alcohol often, are an older adult, or are trying to get pregnant.