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Limited Use
[what does this mean?]
Generic drug name:
tizanidine
(tye ZAN i dine)
Brand name(s):
ZANAFLEX
GENERIC:
available
FAMILY:
Drugs for Spasticity
Find the drug label by
searching at DailyMed.
Pregnancy and Breast-feeding Warnings [top]
Pregnancy Warning
Tizanidine caused fetal death and developmental retardation in animal studies. Because of the potential for serious adverse effects to the fetus, this drug should not be used by pregnant women.
Breastfeeding Warning
No information is available from either human or animal studies. However, it is expected that this drug is excreted in human milk, and because of the potential for adverse effects in nursing infants, you should not take this drug while nursing.
Risk Summary [1]
There are no data on the presence of tizanidine in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on human milk production. Animal studies have reported the presence of tizanidine in the milk of lactating animals.
The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for Zanaflex and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from Zanaflex or from the underlying maternal condition.
Facts About This Drug [top]
Tizanidine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the management of spasticity in conditions such as multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury. It has been available in
An April 2007 public advisory issued by the FDA said using tizanidine together with certain drugs (including fluvoxamine [LUVOX] and ciprofloxacin [CIPRO]), can result in drowsiness and extremely low blood pressure.[3]
Tizanidine...
Tizanidine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the management of spasticity in conditions such as multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury. It has been available in
An April 2007 public advisory issued by the FDA said using tizanidine together with certain drugs (including fluvoxamine [LUVOX] and ciprofloxacin [CIPRO]), can result in drowsiness and extremely low blood pressure.[3]
Tizanidine is related chemically to the blood pressure-lowering drug clonidine (CATAPRES). Because tizanidine can lower blood pressure, patients should be cautious when using this drug in combination with blood pressure-lowering drugs. Even when used alone, patients may experience dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting when getting up suddenly from a sitting or lying position because of the blood pressure-lowering effect of this drug.
Drowsiness was reported by almost half (48%) of patients taking tizanidine in clinical trials. In 10% of these cases, the drowsiness was severe.
A small percentage (about 5%) of patients participating in controlled clinical trials experienced liver function test (LFT) results greater than three times the upper limit of what is considered normal. This level of LFT elevation is an early indicator of possible liver toxicity. In post-marketing reports, the use of tizanidine has been associated with three deaths from liver failure. LFT monitoring should be done before and during the first six months of tizanidine treatment.[4]
Before You Use This Drug [top]
Tell your doctor if you have or have had:
Tell your doctor about any other drugs you take, including aspirin, herbs, vitamins and other nonprescription products.
When You Use This Drug [top]
How to Use This Drug [top]
Interactions with Other Drugs [top]
The following drugs, biologics (e.g., vaccines, therapeutic antibodies) or foods are listed in Evaluations of Drug Interactions 2003 as causing “highly clinically significant” or “clinically significant” interactions when used together with any of the drugs in this section. In some sections with multiple drugs, the interaction may have been reported for one but not all drugs in this section, but we include the interaction because the drugs in this section are similar to one another. We have also included potentially serious interactions listed in the drug’s FDA-approved professional package insert or in published medical journal articles. There may be other drugs, especially those in the families of drugs listed below, that also will react with this drug to cause severe adverse effects. Make sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist the drugs you are taking and tell them if you are taking any of these interacting drugs:
alcohol, any blood-pressure-lowering medications, oral contraceptives or phenytoin (DILANTIN).
Adverse Effects [top]
Call you doctor immediately if you experience:
Call your doctor if these symptoms continue:
Signs of overdose:
If you suspect an overdose, call this number to contact your poison control center: (800) 222-1222.
Periodic Tests[top]
Ask your doctor which of these tests should be done periodically while you are taking this drug:
last reviewed June 30, 2024
Worst Pills, Best Pills is a project of Public Citizen's Health Research Group Group. As an independent, nonprofit organization, we take no corporate or government contributions and accept no advertising. Copyright © 2024 Public Citizen's Health Research Group. All rights reserved.
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