To reduce the risk of experiencing side effects, the recommended initial adult dose of tizanidine is 2 mg up to 3 times daily. The dose is then increased gradually in 2 mg to 4 mg steps until an effective dose is reached. The most common maintenance dose is 8 mg taken up to 3 times daily (every 6 to 8 hours). Do not take more than 36 mg of tizanidine within a 24-hour period.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without talking to your doctor. Always take tizanidine exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

Tizanidine can be taken with or without meals, however taking tizanidine with food may increase the side effects of this medication. Always take tizanidine the same way, either with food or on an empty stomach.

Stopping the medication suddenly may cause an increase in blood pressure, rapid heart rate and muscle spasms. Talk to your doctor to find a safe way to stop taking the medication.

It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose of this medicine take it as soon as possible, if you remember within an hour or so of the missed dose. If you do not remember until later, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store tizanidine away from heat and direct light and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

Tizanidine belongs to a group of medications called muscle relaxants. Tizanidine is used to treat spasticity, a condition where muscles in your body spasm, cramp, or become tight due to medical problems such as multiple sclerosis or spine injury. Muscle relaxants work by blocking excess firing of the nerve cells that control muscle movement.

The benefits of tizanidine are related to its effects on the nervous system. The beneficial effects of tizanidine are noticeable within about one hour of taking the first dose.

This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.

Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.

A muscle relaxant is a drug that affects skeletal muscle function and decreases the muscle tone.

It may be used to alleviate symptoms such as muscle spasms, pain, and hyperreflexia. The term “muscle relaxant” is used to refer to two major therapeutic groups: neuromuscular blockers and spasmolytics. Neuromuscular blockers act by interfering with transmission at the neuromuscular end plate and have no central nervous system (CNS) activity.

They are often used during surgical procedures and in intensive care and emergency medicine to cause temporary paralysis. Spasmolytics, also known as “centrally acting” muscle relaxants, are used to alleviate musculoskeletal pain and spasms and to reduce spasticity in a variety of neurological conditions. While both neuromuscular blockers and spasmolytics are often grouped together as muscle relaxants, the term is commonly used to refer to spasmolytics only.

Muscle relaxant is a term usually used to refer to skeletal muscle relaxants (drugs), which act on the central nervous system (CNS) to relax muscles. These drugs are often prescribed to reduce pain and soreness associated with sprains, strains, or other types of muscle injury. Some examples of commonly prescribed skeletal muscle relaxant medications include carisoprodol (Soma), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), and metaxalone (Skelaxin), which are taken in tablet form. Muscle relaxant drugs are only available by prescription in the U.S.

Other types of muscle relaxant drugs (neuromuscular blocking drugs) are sometimes used during the induction of general anesthesia or during insertion of an endotracheal (ET) tube. These muscle relaxants are given intravenously (through the bloodstream) and act directly on the muscles. Examples of muscle relaxants used during surgical procedures include succinylcholine (Anectine, Sucostrin), atracurium (Tracrium), and pancuronium (Pavulon).

Medications used as muscle relaxers can differ in their chemical structures and the way they work in the brain. In general, muscle relaxers act as central nervous system depressants and cause a sedative effect or prevent your nerves from sending pain signals to your brain. The onset of action is rapid and effects typically last from 4-6 hours.

Muscle Relaxant Side Effects

Some of the common side effects of muscle relaxers include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Agitation
• Irritability
• Headache
• Nervousness
• Dry mouth
• Decreased blood pressure

The most commonly prescribed muscle relaxers are carisoprodol (Soma) and cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril). According to data from IMS Health, there were 4.2 million prescriptions of Soma and 28.4 million prescriptions of Flexeril dispensed in the United States in 2017.

Muscle Relaxer Abuse

Soma (Carisoprodol ) is a controlled prescription and you can not buy Soma online. For more information about muscle relaxant, please check Muscle Relaxant 

Muscle relaxers have a potential for abuse and addiction. Prolonged use can lead to increased tolerance and physical dependence, especially with Soma. For this reason, muscle relaxers are intended as a short-term treatment not to be prescribed for more than 2-3 weeks.

Unfortunately, many individuals take muscle relaxers alone or in combination with other illicit drugs for nonmedical reasons, such as to produce or enhance feelings of euphoria and dissociation. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Soma is one of the most commonly diverted drugs in the United States. Evidence also indicates prevalent misuse of Flexeril. In 2010 there were over 12,000 emergency room visits associated with Flexeril, and in 2016 over 10,000 calls to the Poison Control Centers had involved Flexeril.

Muscle relaxer abuse can lead to serious dangers such as an increased risk of overdose, which can result in:

• stupor
• hallucinations
• seizures
• shock
• respiratory depression
• cardiac arrest
• coma
• death