Uses and side effects of Tizanidine (Tizanidine)

Tizanidine is a muscle relaxant used to treat muscle spasms. This drug works by blocking alpha 2 adrenergic receptors in the brain. This pill is used to treat and relieve all types of pain, stiffness and muscle cramps. Tizanidine tablets are also suitable for the treatment of some muscle spasms such as stroke, chronic kidney disease, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. This article provides you with general information about the medicinal forms, uses, side effects, contraindications, etc. of this product.

Pharmaceutical forms of tizanidine

Various chemical and herbal medicines are produced in various pharmaceutical forms depending on the needs of patients and doctors. According to the needs of the market, pharmaceutical companies produce drugs in different forms such as tablets, capsules, syrups, injectable solutions, serums, etc. The doctor prescribes your prescription according to the type of disease, physical condition and age (adults, children and elderly). Tizanidine medicine is also produced in the form of 2 mg and 4 mg tablets, 2 mg, 4 mg and 6 mg capsules. The continuous selection of these drugs for patients depends on the physical condition and age of the patient.

Uses of tizanidine

This medicine is used to treat muscle spasms caused by certain conditions (such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and spinal cord injury). Tizanidine tablets work by helping to relax muscles and treat muscle spasm in the patient. This product is not recommended for children and the elderly, but it is possible with a doctor’s prescription. The most important use of this drug includes the treatment of muscle spasm, spasticity related to multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury.

Pharmacological effects and mechanism of action of Tizanidine drug

In the mechanism of action of Tizanidine, the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist is structurally related to Clonidine. As a result, it increases presynaptic inhibition of motor neurons. The absorption of this drug is 40% bioavailability and 30% limited protein distribution. This product is extensively metabolized in the liver and excreted through feces (20%) and urine (60%).

Dosage of Tizanidine tablets

Take Tizanidine by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually every 6 to 8 hours. The dosage of tizanidine tablets is determined based on the physical condition, medical records and age of the patient. Before taking this medicine, consult your doctor about the medicines you are taking (such as herbal and chemical medicines) so that he can prescribe you a prescription based on it. To reduce the risk of side effects, your doctor may instruct you to start this medication at a low dose and gradually increase your dose. Follow the prescription and dosage prescribed by the doctor carefully to get the most benefit from the medicine.

Time to take Tizanidine

Do not take tizanidine more than 36 mg per day or more than 3 doses in a 24-hour period. The power of absorption of this drug will depend on the pharmaceutical form of the product (tablets or capsules), your preference for food or water, and your age. Before taking this medicine on your own, consult your doctor about how to take it so that he can prescribe the best time for taking it. This product is prescribed for the treatment of muscle spasticity, spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury in the early stages of 2 mg every 6 to 8 hours. Also, in the maintenance stages and after the initial use, it is possible to increase the dose by 2-4 mg per day until the desired effect with at least 1-4 days.

Precautions

Before taking tizanidine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it. This product may contain inactive ingredients that can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Before taking this pill, warn your doctor about your medical history, including low blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, etc. This product causes dizziness or drowsiness in some patients, so avoid using drugs such as hashish that cause drowsiness. Some of the most important precautions for this pill include the following.

1. Possible drop in blood pressure after taking the drug
2. Use caution in patients with kidney and liver failure
3. Simultaneous use of oral contraceptives with tizanidine
4. Monitor aminotransferases before and during use for the possibility of hepatotoxicity in patients.
5. Based on the dose, it is possible to create relaxation and sedation in the patient. It may also increase the effect of sedatives or ethanol.
6. Visual complications and blurred vision have been observed in some patients.
7. Rebound blood pressure, tachycardia, and hypertension have been reported after abrupt discontinuation. Use a slow dose reduction in patients taking concomitant opioids or high doses (20-28 mg/day) for long periods.

Tizanidine contraindications

After taking Tizanidine tablets, strictly avoid driving and working with heavy machinery and all kinds of equipment. Because doing these things requires a lot of alertness, since one of the side effects of this drug is drowsiness and dizziness, you should refuse to do these things after taking it. During pregnancy, this drug should be used only when the patient clearly needs it. The doctor should consider the risks of using this product and drug interaction with other drugs during pregnancy, then proceed to prescribe the prescription for nursing mothers and pregnant women.

1. Cases of allergy to tizanidine or similar products
2. Hypersensitivity
3. Concomitant use of ciprofloxacin or fluvoxamine or other strong CYP1A2 inhibitors

Tizanidine side effects

Dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, constipation, weakness and fatigue are some of the side effects of tizanidine tablets. If any of these side effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist right away. To relieve dry mouth, use hard candy (sugar-free), ice chips, gum (sugar-free) and water to replace your saliva. When feeling dizzy and lightheaded, get up slowly when getting up from a sitting or lying position. Most people who use this drug do not experience serious side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, such as fainting, mental or behavioral changes (such as hallucinations), slow or irregular heartbeat, vision changes (such as blurriness). Tizanidine has rarely caused very serious (rarely fatal) liver disease. However, tell your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms of liver disease, including nausea and vomiting, severe stomach and abdominal pain, dark urine, yellowing of the eyes or skin. Also, if you see symptoms of a serious allergic reaction such as skin rash, itching and swelling (especially in the face, tongue and throat), severe dizziness, breathing problems, etc., stop using and see a doctor.

The side effects of this drug can be summarized as follows:

1. dry mouth
2. Drowsiness and dizziness
3. blurred vision
4. constipation
5. infection
6. LFT abnormalities
7. speech disorder
8. Vomit
9. Frequent urination

Tizanidine drug interactions

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk of serious side effects. Before going to the doctor, patients should prepare a list of chemical and herbal medicines they use and show it to the doctor. Do not start, stop, or change any medication without your doctor’s approval. Certain drugs for the treatment of high blood pressure (alpha agonists such as clonidine, methyldopa), birth control pills, ciprofloxacin, fluvoxamine, viloxazine and others cause drug interactions with tizanidine tablets. Also, avoid taking this product at the same time with marijuana (cannabis), antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine), sleep or sleep medications.

Taking Tizanidine tablets during pregnancy and breastfeeding

There is insufficient information on the developmental risk associated with use in pregnant women. There are no adequate and controlled studies on the effect of Tizanidine tablets on fertility potential in men and women. Oral administration of this drug to male and female rats has led to adverse effects on fertility, which is cause for concern. In animal studies, administration of the drug during pregnancy resulted in developmental toxicity (death and fetal growth defects after birth of the offspring) at doses lower than those used clinically, which was not associated with maternal toxicity. Note that lactating mothers and pregnant women should avoid self-administration of all kinds of medicines without a prescription.

The effect of tizanidine tablets on breastfeeding

There is no information on the presence of tizanidine in human milk, its effects on infants and breast milk. Animal studies have reported the presence of the drug in the milk of lactating animals. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for the drug and any possible side effects on the infant caused by the drug or the mother’s underlying disease.

Tizanidine storage conditions

Tizanidine should be stored at room temperature away from light and moisture. Keep all chemical and herbal medicines out of the reach of children and animals. Dispose of this product properly when it has expired or is no longer needed. Avoid pouring all kinds of medicines into the toilet, street and sewer.

The last word about tizanidine tablets

As we said in this article from Positive Sabz online pharmacy magazine, tizanidine drug has a wide application for the treatment of all types of muscle spasms, which can be used with a doctor’s prescription. This article has emphasized the benefits and risks of Tizanidine tablets based on drug information and various tests. For this reason, patients should consider side effects such as dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, infection, constipation, blurred vision or vision problems, vomiting, frequent urination, speech disorder, and of course drug interactions of this product before use. If the precautions and contraindications are followed correctly, it does not pose any risk to the patient.

Site source: Medscape

Frequently asked questions about tizanidine