Muscle Relaxant - Tizanidina (Brand name: zanaflex)

Common use

Tizanidine belongs to a class of muscle relaxants. It is applied in treatment of spasms, cramping, and tightness of muscles. Tizanidine is also prescribed off-label for migraine headaches and as an anticonvulsant.

Dosage and direction

Take Tizanidine by mouth with a glass of water, with or without food. Avoid cutting, crushing or chewing this medicine.
Do not take the medicine more often than it is prescribed. Do not give up taking it except on the advice of your doctor.
It may need time for the medicine to help.
Consult your doctor concerning proper dose for you.

Precautions

Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking while being treated with this medication.
Aged people can be more sensitive to side effects of the medicine.
Inform your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, high blood pressure; if you are pregnant or breast-feed.

Contraindications

Tizanidine should not be used by pregnant/nursing women or children as well as by patients having demonstrated a reaction of hypersensitivity to it.
It is contraindicated to use tizanidine together with moderate or potent CYP1A2 inhibitors.

Possible side effect

The most common side effects are drowsiness, constipation, headache, dizziness and vomiting, diarrhea, yellowing of the skin or eyes.
A very serious allergic reaction  occurs rarely. A majority of people who use  this medicine do not have serious side effects.
Turn to your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
In case you notice the effects not listed here, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug interaction

Before taking Tizanidine tell your doctor or chemist of all prescription and non-prescription medicines you are taking.
Tizanidine should not be used with
* antidepressants, esp. fluvoxamine
* grapefruit juice
* medicines for high blood pressure
* medicines for pain (like codeine, morphine, and hydrocodone)
* medicines for sleep
* some antibiotics (like levofloxacin, ofloxacin).
Turn to your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Missed dose

If you have missed your dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you see that  the time for the next dose is coming, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not take your dose twice.

Overdose

If you think you have used too much of this medicine, seek emergency medical attention right away. The symptoms of overdose usually include chest pain, nausea, irregular heartbeat, and feeling light-headed or fainting.

Storage

Store your medicines at room temperature between 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store your drugs in the bathroom. Keep all drugs away from reach of children and pets.

Disclaimer

We provide only general information about medications which does not cover all directions, possible drug integrations, or precautions. Information at the site cannot be used for self-treatment and self-diagnosis. Any specific instructions for a particular patient should be agreed with your health care adviser or doctor in charge of the case. We disclaim reliability of this information and mistakes it could contain. We are not responsible for any direct, indirect, special or other indirect damage as a result of any use of the information on this site and also for consequences of self-treatment.