Is Flexeril a controlled substance?

No. Cyclobenzaprine, the generic name behind the brand Flexeril, is not a controlled substance in the United States and does not appear on the Home Office list of commonly encountered controlled drugs in the United Kingdom. It is not a narcotic, and it is not a benzo.

What is cyclobenzaprine?

Cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride is a skeletal muscle relaxant. MedlinePlus says it is in a class of medications called skeletal muscle relaxants and is used to treat muscle spasms. The label cited here is for Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride Tablets, film coated, from SportPharm, published on DailyMed on September 11, 2026. Its Indications section says the tablets are indicated as an adjunct to rest and physical therapy for relief of muscle spasm associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions, and that they should be used only for short periods because adequate evidence of effectiveness for more prolonged use is not available.

The label says it has not been found effective in treating spasticity associated with cerebral or spinal cord disease, or in children with cerebral palsy.

What does the label say it does?

The Clinical Pharmacology section says cyclobenzaprine relieves skeletal muscle spasm of local origin without interfering with muscle function, and that it is ineffective in muscle spasm due to central nervous system disease. Animal studies cited there indicate that it does not act at the neuromuscular junction or directly on skeletal muscle, and that it acts primarily within the central nervous system at brain stem levels as opposed to spinal cord levels. The same section reports a similarity in animals to the effects of the tricyclic antidepressants, including sedation and anticholinergic effects.

Is Flexeril still sold?

Flexeril is the original brand. FDA's Drugs@FDA database lists both Flexeril tablet strengths under application NDA 017821, held by Janssen Research and Development, and gives the marketing status of each as Discontinued. MedlinePlus carries the same signal, noting that the branded product is no longer on the market and that generic alternatives may be available. Generic cyclobenzaprine tablets are still labeled and sold, as the SportPharm label shows. The Amrix extended-release capsule is also named by MedlinePlus as a brand.

Is it on the DEA or Home Office list?

Neither list includes it. The schedule texts in the eCFR (21 CFR 1308.11 to 1308.15) contain no entry for cyclobenzaprine either. The DEA publication "Controlled Substances - Alphabetical Order" (dated August 27, 2026) has no entry for cyclobenzaprine, and the same is true of the Home Office list updated April 1, 2025. The Home Office list is not exhaustive, so the strict statement is that cyclobenzaprine does not appear on the list of commonly encountered controlled drugs. The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the 2001 Regulations on legislation.gov.uk are the final reference for the UK.

In the US the status is federal. Some states add their own controls, and the state board of pharmacy is the authority for them. The schedules that do apply to other drugs are explained on the drug schedules page, and the basic idea is on what is a controlled substance.

Is cyclobenzaprine a benzo?

No. Benzodiazepines are a separate drug family. The ones this site covers, diazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam and lorazepam, are all Schedule IV in the US and Class C, Schedule 4 Part 1 in the UK. Cyclobenzaprine is on neither list.

The label places cyclobenzaprine in a different chemical neighborhood. Its Clinical Pharmacology section says:

Pharmacological studies in animals showed a similarity between the effects of cyclobenzaprine and the structurally related tricyclic antidepressants

That is the label's own wording. The family guide is what is a benzo.

Is Flexeril a narcotic?

No. In US drug law, narcotic is a legal category tied to opium and opiates, and the DEA list marks each controlled substance Y or N. Cyclobenzaprine has no entry to mark. It is a muscle relaxant. The legal meaning is covered in what is a narcotic.

What does the label say about abuse and dependence?

The label's Drug Abuse and Dependence section reads:

Pharmacologic similarities among the tricyclic drugs require that certain withdrawal symptoms be considered when cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride is administered, even though they have not been reported to occur with this drug. Abrupt cessation of treatment after prolonged administration rarely may produce nausea, headache, and malaise. These are not indicative of addiction.

Questions about stopping or changing any medicine belong with the prescriber or pharmacist.

Related pages

• What is a benzo?
• What is a narcotic?
• Is hydroxyzine a controlled substance?
• Is trazodone a controlled substance?

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