Which Muscle Relaxers Are Best for Neck and Back Pain?
Muscle relaxers are medications that help your muscles unwind, relieving muscle stiffness and pain. Learn the names of common muscle relaxers and how they work.
orphenadrine ER
Used for Musculoskeletal Conditions
Used for Musculoskeletal Conditions
Orphenadrine citrate is a muscle relaxer that's used to relieve muscle pain and discomfort. It's often used together with other pain-relieving methods, such as resting and physical therapy. Orphenadrine is available as a tablet that's taken by mouth as well as an injection that's administered by a healthcare provider for certain situations. Side effects can include dry mouth, headache, and drowsiness. Orphenadrine is a generic medication; its brand-name version, Norflex, is no longer available.
What is Orphenadrine?
What is Orphenadrine used for?
- Relief of muscle discomfort from short-term muscle conditions
How Orphenadrine works
Orphenadrine is a muscle relaxant. It's unclear how the medication works, but we know that it doesn't work directly on your muscles. Orphenadrine is thought to relieve muscle pain by working in the nervous system to block nerve signals between your spinal cord and muscles.
When does Orphenadrine start working?Time passed since treatment started:
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Norflex |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Muscle relaxant |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Orphenadrine
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Dry mouth
- Sleepiness
- Headache
- Dizziness
Less Common Side Effects
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Trouble urinating
- Blurred vision
- Faster heart rate
- Weakness
Orphenadrine serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Accidentally taking too much: fast heartbeat, flushing, extreme sleepiness, hallucinations, changes in vision, distress, confusion
When do Orphenadrine possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
H
D
W
M
Dry mouth
Dizziness
Fast heart rate
More on Orphenadrine side effects
The following Orphenadrine side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Rare
chills
hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there)
headache
shortness of breath, troubled breathing, tightness in chest, and/or wheezing
skin rash, hives, itching, or redness
sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips or in mouth
swollen and/or painful glands
unusual bruising or bleeding
unusual tiredness or weakness
Incidence not known
Abdominal or stomach pain
fainting
fast, pounding irregular heartbeat or pulse
joint or muscle pain
numbness or tingling of face, hands, or feet
redness and soreness of eyes
swelling of feet or lower legs
vomiting
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of Overdose
Blurred vision
confusion, delirium, or hallucinations
difficult urination
drowsiness
dry eyes, mouth, nose, or throat
flushing or redness of face
troubled breathing
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common or rare
Dizziness or lightheadedness
excitement, irritability, nervousness, or restlessness
headache
muscle weakness
unusually large pupils of eyes
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$35.97
GoodRx discount
$17.66
Pros and cons of Orphenadrine
Pros
- Taken only twice a day
- Can start to work within 1 hour
- Available as a lower-cost generic
Cons
- Not a first choice option for short- or long-term pain relief
- Not recommended for older adults because of higher risk for side effects
- Can't use if you have glaucoma, certain stomach or gut problems, urination or swallowing problems, or nerve problems that affect the muscles
Pharmacist tips for Orphenadrine
- Swallow the orphenadrine tablet whole with water; don't crush or cut the tablet. Crushing or cutting the tablet can cause the medication to be released into your body too quickly, which can be harmful.
- Orphenadrine can make you sleepy or tired. It's important to know how you react to the medication before driving a car or doing anything that requires concentration. For example, you can take orphenadrine at night the first time you take it to see how you react to the medication.
- It's recommended to avoid drinking alcohol while you're taking orphenadrine. Also avoid taking other medications that can make you tired with orphenadrine. Mixing orphenadrine with these medications or with alcohol can make side effects like sleepiness and tiredness worse and affect your ability to think clearly.
Risks and warnings for Orphenadrine
Orphenadrine can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Difficulty concentrating
- Risk factors: Taking other medications that also cause sleepiness or tiredness | Alcohol
You might briefly feel lightheaded, dizzy, or sleepy while you're taking orphenadrine. These side effects can affect your ability to focus, think, and react. Avoid drinking alcohol or taking other medications that make you tired with orphenadrine because they can make you feel even worse. Also don't do any activities that need your focus, such as driving a car or operating machinery, until you know how this medication affects you. Let your provider know if the lightheadedness, dizziness, or sleepiness from orphenadrine starts to negatively affect your daily life.
Use with caution in people with heart problems
- Risk factors: History of fast or irregular heartbeat | History of heart failure or other heart problems
Some people taking orphenadrine have had fast or irregular heartbeats. For this reason, tell your provider if you have any heart problems before you start orphenadrine. This medication should be used with caution in people with heart rhythm problems or severe heart failure. Let your provider know if you experience any abnormal heart beats or worsening symptoms of your heart problem while you're taking orphenadrine.
Orphenadrine dosage
The average cost for 20 tablets of 100mg of Orphenadrine is $17.66 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 50.90% off the average retail price of $35.97. 
Tablet
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100mg | 20 tablets | $17.66 | $0.88 |
Typical dosage for Orphenadrine
The typical dose is 100 mg by mouth in the morning and in the evening.
Orphenadrine is also available as an injection that's given into your muscle or vein by a provider in a healthcare setting (e.g., clinic, hospital).
Interactions between Orphenadrine and other drugs
Orphenadrine may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Orphenadrine. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Alfentanil
- Alprazolam
- Amifampridine
- Benzhydrocodone
- Bromazepam
- Buprenorphine
- Butorphanol
- Calcium Oxybate
- Cannabidiol
- Cetirizine
- Clobazam
- Clozapine
- Codeine
- Dihydrocodeine
- Donepezil
- Doxylamine
- Esketamine
- Fentanyl
- Flibanserin
- Gabapentin
- Gabapentin Enacarbil
- Glucagon
- Glycopyrrolate
- Glycopyrronium Tosylate
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone
- Ketamine
- Lemborexant
- Levocetirizine
- Levorphanol
- Lofexidine
- Loxapine
- Magnesium Oxybate
- Meperidine
- Methacholine
- Methadone
- Metoclopramide
- Midazolam
- Morphine
- Morphine Sulfate Liposome
- Nalbuphine
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Pentazocine
- Potassium Oxybate
- Pregabalin
- Quetiapine
- Remifentanil
- Remimazolam
- Revefenacin
- Scopolamine
- Secretin Human
- Sodium Oxybate
- Sufentanil
- Tapentadol
- Tiotropium
- Tramadol
- Trazodone
- Zolpidem
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
How much does Orphenadrine cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Orphenadrine (generic)
$17.66
Orphenadrine contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Orphenadrine will not be safe for you to take.
- Glaucoma
- Blockage in your stomach or gut
- Stomach ulcer
- Blockage in your bladder
- Enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH)
- Conditions that make it hard to swallow
- Myasthenia gravis (a nerve problem that causes muscle weakness)
What are alternatives to Orphenadrine?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Orphenadrine. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
News about Orphenadrine
Orphenadrine images
