baclofen vs cyclobenzaprine
Side-by-side comparison of baclofen and cyclobenzaprine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
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Baclofen is a muscle relaxant. It helps to relieve muscle spasms and stiffness.
Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant. It helps relieve muscle spasms and pain.
Baclofen is used to treat muscle spasticity (stiffness) caused by multiple sclerosis. It can help with muscle spasms, pain, and rigidity. It may also help people with spinal cord injuries or diseases. Baclofen is not for muscle spasms caused by arthritis or other rheumatic problems.
This medicine treats muscle spasms caused by painful conditions. It is meant to be used with rest and physical therapy. It should only be used for a short time, usually 2 to 3 weeks.
Baclofen works by affecting the nerves in your spinal cord. It decreases the signals that cause your muscles to tighten. This helps to relieve muscle stiffness and spasms.
Cyclobenzaprine works in the brain and spinal cord to relax your muscles. It reduces muscle spasms, which helps to relieve pain and improve movement. It does not directly work on the muscles themselves.
- • Drowsiness
- • Dizziness
- • Weakness
- • Nausea
- • Drowsiness
- • Dry mouth
- • Fatigue
- • Headache
- Tiredness 6,148
- Pain 5,657
- Medicine not working 5,452
- Fall 5,421
- Feeling sick to your stomach 4,595
- Pain 4,873
- Tiredness 3,808
- The medicine is not working 3,434
- Feeling sick to your stomach 3,304
- Headache 3,292
If you stop taking baclofen suddenly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor before stopping this medication.
You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. You should not take this medicine if you are taking a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor or have taken one in the past 14 days. Taking cyclobenzaprine with an MAO inhibitor can cause serious problems, including seizures and death. Also, do not take it if you have heart problems or an overactive thyroid.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if baclofen will harm your unborn baby. Baclofen can pass into breast milk.
It is not known if cyclobenzaprine can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
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How to Read This baclofen vs cyclobenzaprine Comparison
baclofen is classified in the GABA-B Agonist (Muscle Relaxant) drug class, while cyclobenzaprine sits within the Muscle Relaxant class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, baclofen has 27,273 submissions while cyclobenzaprine has 18,711. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between baclofen and cyclobenzaprine — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.