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If you have experienced any adverse side effects from a medication or therapy -
Tizanidine - Zanaflex®
It is used to reduce the muscle tone and spasms associated with disease. The drug
acts to reduce spasticity by blocking the alpha-2 receptor sites on the nerves responsible
for muscle function, thus reducing the level of spasticity. Tizanidine is taken orally
as a tablet. Medication can be increased in steps until the desired effect is achieved
or side effects become a problem.
There have been several studies of the drug that showed it beneficial as a treatment for spasticity when compared to placebo. Other studies have shown tizanidine to be as effective as other spasticity drugs.
Side effects may occur
- Dryness of the mouth
- Drowsiness
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Low blood pressure
- A slowing of heart rate.
- Liver function tests should be checked during the first months of treatment.
The NICE Guideline states that tizanidine should only be given if treatment with baclofen or gabapentin is unsuccessful or side effects are unmanageable.
MS - Used to relax muscles which have become stiff due to multiple sclerosis or other
diseases affecting the spinal cord.
The antibiotic ciprofloxacin (brand names Ciproxin, Ciprofloxacin etc.) greatly increases the concentrations of tizanidine (Sirdalud, Zanaflex) in blood. Concomitant use of ciprofloxacin and tizanidine results in severe and prolonged decrease in blood pressure and greatly enhances central nervous system effects. This previously unrecognised interaction can be dangerous. Report
Patient Information Leaflet - medicines.org.uk
UK Tizanidine Trial Group.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of tizanidine in treatment of spasticity
caused by multiple sclerosis - Neurology 1994;44(11 Suppl 9):S70-78. Pub med abstract
- Hoogstraten MC, et al. Tizanidine versus baclofen in the treatment of spasticity
in multiple sclerosis patients -
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica 1988;77(3):224- 230. - pub med abstract - Wagstaff AJ, Bryson HM. Tizanidine. A review of its pharmacology, clinical efficacy
and tolerability in the management of spasticity associated with cerebral and spinal
disorders. Drugs 1997;53(3):435-
452. - pub med abstract