What is tizanidine?
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.
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 this medication 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 this
medication.
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 this medication 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 of tizanidine?
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.
Where can I get more information about tizanidine?
Your pharmacist has information about tizanidine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of tizanidine?
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:
-
feeling light-headed, fainting, slow heart rate;
-
hallucinations, confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior;
-
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark
urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
-
burning or pain when you urinate.
Less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:
-
drowsiness or dizziness;
-
feeling anxious or nervous;
-
numbness or tingling;
-
stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting;
-
fever;
-
dry mouth;
-
muscle weakness, back pain;
-
increased muscle tone or spasms; or
-
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.
What is the most important information I should know about tizanidine?
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
this medication 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 avoid while taking tizanidine?
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.
What other drugs will affect tizanidine?
Before taking tizanidine, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
-
acyclovir (Zovirax);
-
cimetidine (Tagamet);
-
famotidine (Pepcid);
-
ticlopidine (Ticlid),
-
zileuton (Zyflo);
-
birth control pills;
-
antibiotics such as enoxacin (Penetrex), gatifloxacin
(Tequin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), lomefloxacin (Maxaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), ofloxacin
(Floxin), sparfloxacin (Zagam), trovafloxacin (Trovan), or norfloxacin (Noroxin);
-
blood pressure medications such as clonidine (Catapres),
guanabenz (Wytensin), guanfacine (Tenex), or methyldopa (Aldomet); or
-
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.
What happens if I have an overdose of tizanidine?