What is Tizanidine
Tizanidine (brandnames Zanaflex, Sirdalud) is a drug which is used as a muscle relaxant. It is a centrally acting α-2 adrenergic agonist. It is used to treat the spasms, cramping, and tightness of muscles caused by medical problems such as multiple sclerosis, spastic diplegia, back pain, or certain other injuries to the spine or central nervous system. It is also prescribed off-label for migraine headaches, as a sleep aid, and as an anticonvulsant. It is also prescribed for some symptoms of fibromyalgia[1].
Tizanidine may cause hypotension, so caution is advised when it is used in patients who have a history of orthostatic hypotension. Use caution with this drug as it can be very strong even at the 2 mg dose. Also use caution when switching from gel cap to tablet form and vice versa.
Tags: Medicine stubs, Pharmacology stubs
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Concomitant use of tizanidine and moderate or potent CYP1A2 inhibitors is contraindicated. Concomitant use of tizanidine with fluvoxamine, a potent CYP1A2 inhibitor in man, resulted in a 33-fold increase in the tizanidine AUC (plasma drug concentration-time curve) by fluvoxamine.
Tizanidine is available in tablets with "cor 138" on one side and 2 scores on the back that create an X, or R179 on one side and a single score through the middle of the back, or a white oval pill with R180 on one side and 2 scores on the back that create an X. It is also found as a circular white pill with the number 503 on one side and X-scored on the back[2].
Tizanidine is supplied as 2 and 4 mg tablets for oral administration, and in gel cap form in doses of 2 mg, 4 mg,
Tizanidine use occasionally causes drug induced liver injury. In controlled clinical studies, approximately 5% of patients treated with Zanaflex had elevations of liver function tests (ALT, AST) to greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal (or 2 times if baseline levels were elevated).[citation needed]
Tizanidine use has been associated with hallucinations. Visual hallucinations and delusions have been reported in 5 of 170 patients (3%) in two North American controlled clinical studies.[citation needed]
If therapy needs to be discontinued, especially in patients who have been receiving high doses for long periods, the dose should be decreased slowly to minimize the risk
The following agents are also listed as agonists by MeSH.[4]
amidephrine
amitraz
anisodamine
apraclonidine
brimonidine
cirazoline
detomidine
dexmedetomidine
epinephrine
ergotamine
etilefrine
indanidine
lofexidine
medetomidine
mephentermine
metaraminol
methoxamine
midodrine
mivazerol
naphazoline
norepinephrine
norfenefrine
octopamine
oxymetazoline
phenylpropanolamine
rilmenidine
romifidine
synephrine
talipexole
tizanidine