Tizanidine is a short-acting muscle relaxer. It works by blocking nerve impulses (pain sensations) that are sent to your brain.
Tizanidine is used to treat spasticity by temporarily relaxing muscle tone.
Tizanidine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
Important information
Tizanidine is a short-acting medication that should be taken only for daily activities that require relief from muscle spasticity.
Do not take tizanidine if you are also taking the antidepressant fluvoxamine (Luvox), or the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (Cipro). Do not use tizanidine at a time when muscle tone is needed to assure safe balance and movement for certain activities. In some situations, it may endanger your physical safety to be in a state of reduced muscle tone.
Switching between tizanidine tablets and capsules, or changing the way you take it with regard to eating, can cause an increase in side effects or a decrease in therapeutic effect. Follow your doctor"s instructions carefully. After making any changes in how you take tizanidine, contact your doctor if you notice any change in how well the medicine works or if it causes increased side effects.
Do not take more than three doses (36 mg) of tizanidine in a 24-hour period. Too much of tizanidine can damage your liver. Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, other muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by tizanidine. Tell your doctor if you need to use any of these other medicines together with tizanidine. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of tizanidine.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tizanidine?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to tizanidine, or if you are also taking the antidepressant fluvoxamine (Luvox), or the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (Cipro).
Before using tizanidine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use tizanidine, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether tizanidine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. In older adults, tizanidine may take much longer to clear from the body. Follow your doctor"s instructions about your specific dosage and medication schedule.
How should I take tizanidine?
Take tizanidine exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from tizanidine.
Take this medication with a full glass of water.
Tizanidine is a short-acting medication, and its effects will be most noticeable between 1 and 6 hours after you take it. This medication should be taken only for daily activities that require relief from muscle spasticity.
In most cases, you may take up to three doses in one day if needed. Allow 6 to 8 hours to pass between doses.
Carefully follow your doctor"s instructions about taking this medication with or without food. Taking tizanidine tablets with food can increase the levels of tizanidine in your blood stream, but taking tizanidine capsules with food can decrease the levels.
Switching between tizanidine tablets and capsules, or changing the way you take it with regard to eating, can cause an increase in side effects or a decrease in therapeutic effect. Follow your doctor"s instructions carefully. After making any changes in how you take tizanidine, contact your doctor if you notice any change in how well the medicine works or if it causes increased side effects.
Do not take more than three doses (36 mg) in a 24-hour period. Too much of this medication can damage your liver.
To be sure tizanidine is not causing harmful effects, your liver function will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
You may have withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, fast heart rate, tremors, anxiety, and increased spasticity when you stop using tizanidine after using it over a long period of time. Do not stop using this medication suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.
Store tizanidine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose symptoms may include drowsiness, confusion, slow heart rate, shallow breathing, feeling light-headed, fainting, or coma.
What should I avoid?
Tizanidine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Dizziness is most likely to occur when you rise from a sitting or lying position. Get up slowly to prevent dizziness and a possible fall. Do not use tizanidine at a time when muscle tone is needed to assure safe balance and movement for certain activities. In some situations, it may endanger your physical safety to be in a state of reduced muscle tone. Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, other muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by tizanidine. Tell your doctor if you need to use any of these other medicines together with tizanidine. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of tizanidine.
Tizanidine side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
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feeling light-headed, fainting, slow heart rate;
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hallucinations, confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior;
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nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
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burning or pain when you urinate.
Less serious tizanidine side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:
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drowsiness or dizziness;
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feeling anxious or nervous;
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numbness or tingling;
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stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting;
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fever;
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dry mouth;
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muscle weakness, back pain;
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increased muscle tone or spasms; or
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sweating or skin rash.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
Tizanidine dosing information
Usual Adult Dose for Muscle Spasm:
The initial dosage of tizanidine recommended for this patient with increased muscle tone associated with spasticity related to multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury is 4 mg orally once a day.
The dose of tizanidine may be repeated as needed at 6 to 8 hour intervals to a maximum dose 3 doses per 24 hours. The dose may be gradually increased (every 4 to 7 days) in increments of 1 to 2 mg until desired response is attained. The manufacturer recommends that total daily dose should not exceed 36 mg. Additionally , the use of single doses greater than 12 mg is not recommended.
Starting at a lower dose and titrating upward minimizes the risk for adverse effects. Experience with single doses greater than 8 mg and total daily dose greater than 24 mg is limited.
Effects appear to be dose related and gradually diminish within 3 to 6 hours after a dose. Use must be individualized and directed at times and activities where benefit is most important.
Usual Geriatric Dose for Muscle Spasm:
In geriatric patients, a starting dose of 2 mg orally once a day may be appropriate.
What other drugs will affect tizanidine?
Before taking tizanidine, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
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acyclovir (Zovirax);
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cimetidine (Tagamet);
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famotidine (Pepcid);
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ticlopidine (Ticlid),
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zileuton (Zyflo);
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birth control pills;
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antibiotics such as enoxacin (Penetrex), gatifloxacin (Tequin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), ofloxacin (Floxin), sparfloxacin (Zagam), trovafloxacin (Trovan), or norfloxacin (Noroxin);
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blood pressure medications such as clonidine (Catapres), guanabenz (Wytensin), guanfacine (Tenex), or methyldopa (Aldomet); or
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heart rhythm medications such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), mexiletine (Mexitil), propafenone (Rhythmol), and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with tizanidine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
