Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.
Cyclobenzaprine
Tramadol
Cyclobenzaprine
Tramadol
Summary of Cyclobenzaprine vs. Tramadol
Summary for Muscle relaxant
Prescription only
Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant used in addition to rest and physical therapy to treat muscle pain and discomfort. It's available as an immediate-release (IR) tablet and an extended-release (ER) capsule. Unlike other muscle relaxants, it's not considered a controlled substance. Cyclobenzaprine can make you sleepy as a side effect so it's best to avoid alcohol to prevent serious harm from combining the two together.
Summary for Opioid
Prescription only
Tramadol is an opioid pain medication used when non-opioid medications aren't working well enough to control pain. Compared to other opioids, tramadol might have a lower risk of misuse and dependency. But tramadol is a controlled substance and has a lot of potentially serious risks, so it must be used with caution.
Indications of Cyclobenzaprine vs. Tramadol
Indications for
•Muscle discomfort caused by acute (not long-term) conditions
Indications for
•Pain that isn't relieved by non-opioid pain medications alone