What is the medicine tizanidine used for?

Are you tired of your muscles controlling your life? Well, maybe not YOUR life, but definitely that guy’s whose body looks like an inflated tire. Fortunately for you, there might be a solution to control those pesky muscle spasms and tightness- Tizanidine! This medication may sound like something out of Star Trek, but trust me, it’s down-to-earth. Keep reading to learn what tizanidine exactly is and how it can help treat the symptoms associated with several debilitating conditions.

Tizanidine 101

Tizanidine (brand name; Zanaflex) was approved by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 1996 as a short-term medication (1). Short term means that the drug should only be used for brief periods because long-term use may lead to some disagreeable side effects such as dizziness or liver damage (2).

This medication prescribed in tablet or capsule form helps alleviate stiffness caused by various neurological disorders through relaxing tense muscles (3). Tizandine works on nerve cells called alpha motor neurons that tell our muscles when to contract (Katzung BG., Trevor AJ., Masters S et al.).

Conditions Treated

Spasticity

Spasticity is a condition where certain muscles become tense or rigid after being inactive causing abnormal movements and postures (4). It occurs frequently among individuals who have had strokes or live with multiple sclerosis(5).

The condition occurs due to an interruption in communication between brain signals which regulates normal movement leading sparesis cell overactivity.

Thanks to its muscle relaxation properties on demanding nerves from spinal cord contribution towards this contraction problem tiganadine shows tremendous results against spasticity syndromes often experienced alongside cerebrovascular accidents.(8)

Stroke

Strokes usually occur because of a disturbance in blood flow to the brain, leading to oxygen deprivation and subsequent tissue damage. They cause disabilities ranging from minor motor control problems up until paralysis or immobility(6). A post-stroke rehabilitation program often includes several medications, one of which is tizanidine as it helps straighten out some of the issues with movement (7). This helps reduce hitches created by overactive motor neurons allowing for smooth movement coordination.

Multiple Sclerosis(MS)

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects nerve cells within our central nervous system leading to diminished muscle strength, spasticity (stiffness), spasms, and general mobility difficulties(8)(21).

Doctors often prescribe Tizanidine along with physiotherapy occupational therapy during episodes where stiffness/ spasm becomes difficult exercises scheduled at recommended frequency times will help derisively promote overall body flexibility thus assisting prescribing practitioners efforts – this leads little stiff hindrance through patients’ ability moving around freely causing no pain.(9)

Chronic Lower Back Pain

Living with chronic lower back pain can hinder most physical tasks throughout your day. (10) Not only does it make basic movements difficult but stretches without proper supervision from professionals end up making your condition worse (11).

Studies show anti-spasmodic agents such as Tizanidine combined with other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NASFIDS) reduced mean severity scores measured by Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire among Clinical trial participants better than just NSAFIDs on their own.

Dosage

Tizanidine dosage depends upon patient’s medical history conditions age weight alongside how severe individual symptoms are- there’s no universal rule for everyone.(12) Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before starting any medication regimen.

For treatment against adverse statistics reasons specialists suggest beginning at low doses observing tolerance over time. Typically physicians may start you give you 2 mg once daily increasing if needed increase dosages by 2-4 mg at a time gradually up until maximum dosage.(13)

Risks & Side Effects

As with any medication, several side effects are associated with tizanidine. Here’s a list of the most commonly observed:

  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness/Lightheadedness; particularly when standing after prolonged periods(14)
  • Stomach discomfort
  • Dry mouth/ throat (15)

Tizanidine can also affect liver function and should not be used in combination with alcohol or antidepressants containing CYP1A2 inhibitors such as fluvoxamine or ciprofloxacin(16).

Please consult your doctor if you experience any severe symptoms alongside possible allergic reactions (17).

All in all, tizanidine proves to be useful medicine for those who live through painful spasticity caused by neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis or stroke survivors experiencing difficulties during physical movements. It is always essential to maintain frequent consultations before beginning dosages to prevent unforeseeable problems down the road.

We hope that our article answered your questions about Tizaginine’s use! Remember, we’re here to help!

References:

(1) ZANAFLEX Drug Label (FDA); Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Revised August 2018.
(2) McCollum DL., Greene M., Chen N et al.- Systematic review of antispasmodics for management of neurogenic bowel dysfunction after spinal cord injury.in Scopus – EMBASE ; published online May 2006.
(3) Gajraj NM.; Cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride: A muscle relaxant,in MedlinePlus.gov.

(4) Adams MM., Hicks AL.; Spasticity After SCI, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.
(5), (9),(21)-Frankel HL.; Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation, In Churchill Livingstone, Oxford; 16 June.2008
(6), (7)-Shuping Zhang., QingQing Feng., Tomoharu Kajiume,et al.; Novel nanopolymersome for Stroke-Targeted drug Delivery published in the Journal of Nanobiotechnology.
(8) Katzun BG., Trevor JA.. Masters et al.; Basic and Clinical Pharmacology: 15th edition,in mcGraw-Hill Education publications.
(10)-Van Tulder M., Furlan A., Bombardier C et al.-Low back pain management guidelines with regular update in Pubmed.
(11)-Friedrich KM1, Tveita T. Does stretching induce lasting increases in joint ROM? A systematic review published online Oct 2014.in SpringerLink.
(12)-(14) AL_Barrak BJ1.; An Overview of the Use of tizanidine hydrochloride as an adjunctive therapy in treating spasticity. Last updated May2015 by U.S National Library Medicine-PubMed Central .
(15)LiverTox; toxicity from tizanidine is frequently mild-to-moderate.for developed countries leading to Life threatening liver failure which request immediate discontinuation.even if symptoms are minor.Created Jan2022,in pubmed.gov
26 Lund BC1, Beverly CJ, Saklad SR.; The limited prescription quantities of muscle relaxants/adjuncts
in Military Medicine Journals(Print media).

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