What is Tizanidine? Uses, warnings & side effects
Tizanidine is a generic prescription muscle relaxant that helps relieve muscle spasms due to conditions such as multiple sclerosis, brain injury, or spinal cord injury. It’s a short-acting drug that has powerful sedative effects, so the FDA recommends it be used only when necessary to carry out important activities. Tizanidine is orally as a capsule or tablet and as needed in doses spaced six to eight hours apart.
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Tizanidine overview
BRAND NAMES:
Zanaflex
Generic Names:
Tizanidine HCl
Uses:
Treats muscle spasticity
Therapeutic Classes:
Centrally-acting skeletal muscle relaxant, alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist
Forms:
Capsule, tablet
How it’s taken:
By mouth
What is Tizanidine used for?
Tizanidine is a muscle relaxant used as needed to treat muscle spasms in people with neurologic disorders such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or brain injury.
What form(s) does Tizanidine come in?
Capsule
2 mg
4 mg
6 mg
Tablet
2 mg
4 mg
What are common Tizanidine dosages?
For muscle spasticity in adults: 2–4 mg taken as needed in doses spaced 2–4 hours apart (to a maximum of 3 doses every 24 hours)
Tizanidine images - What does Tizanidine look like?
tiZANidine HCl
2mg capsuletiZANidine HCl
4mg capsuletiZANidine HCl
6mg capsuletiZANidine HCl
2mg tablettiZANidine HCl
4mg tablet
How to take Tizanidine
Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed to find the most effective dose.
You may take this medicine with or without food, but always take it the same way every time. If you take tizanidine differently each time, you may experience more side effects, or the medicine may not work as quickly. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about this.
Store tizanidine capsules or tablets in a closed, child-proofed container at room temperature.
Keep this medicine out of the reach of children.
What to do if you miss a dose of Tizanidine
Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose.
Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
Tizanidine contraindications - Who shouldn't take Tizanidine?
This medicine is not right for everyone.
Do not use this drug if you have had an allergic reaction to tizanidine.
Tizanidine warnings
Tell any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you that you are using this medicine.
Your doctor may need to examine you or perform blood tests to monitor the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, particularly any kidney or liver problems.
This medicine may cause the following problems:
Liver damage
Dangerously low blood pressure
Withdrawal symptoms
This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor may need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.
Tizanidine interactions & what to avoid when taking Tizanidine
To avoid potentially hazardous drug interactions, tell the prescribing healthcare provider about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements you use before taking tizanidine.
Tell other healthcare providers you are using this medicine before they prescribe new medications.
These two rules are very important because a variety of drugs slow down the body’s breakdown of tizanidine, increasing the risk of serious side effects. These drugs include:
Heart rhythm drugs
H2 blockers to reduce stomach acid such as cimetidine and famotidine
Birth control pills
The herpes treatment acyclovir
Some blood pressure medications such as verapamil
DO NOT TAKE the antibiotic ciprofloxacin or the OCD medication fluvoxamine if you’re taking tizanidine.
Tizanidine should also not be taken with medicines that work just tizanidine called alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists like the blood pressure medications clonidine or guanfacine.
Tell your doctor if you use any medicine or supplement that makes you sleepy. The combination can increase the sedative effects of tizanidine. Some examples of these drugs are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and other muscle relaxants.
Avoid sedatives called benzodiazepines because they can cause excess sedation when combined with tizanidine.
Avoid alcohol when taking tizanidine for the same reason.
Smoking changes the effectiveness of tizanidine. Tell your doctor if you smoke, if you start smoking, or if you stop smoking while on tizanidine treatment.
Find out more about tizanidine interactions to avoid here.
Tizanidine side effects - How does Tizanidine make you feel?
Serious side effects
Talk to a doctor if you notice any signs or symptoms of a possible serious side effect including:
Dark urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
Slow heartbeat
Seeing or hearing things that are not there
Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Less serious side effects
Drowsiness or sleepiness
Dry mouth
Weakness
Fatigue
Dizziness
Low blood pressure
Sources:
Tizanidine, StatPearls
Tizanidine hydrochloride capsule prescribing information, NIH National Library of Medicine
Tizanidine hydrochloride tablet prescribing information, NIH National Library of Medicine
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