Category: Muscle Relaxant

Possible Dangers Of Tizanidine Abuse and Addiction Treatment

What are the tizanidine dangers? Extremely high doses of this drug are likely to produce severe health complications.

Some people may experience dangerously low levels of blood pressure, especially when taking this drug without a prescription.

Most tizanidine warnings concern dangerous withdrawal symptoms, which are practically the reverse of the main effects of this substance.

When patients abruptly stop using drug tizanidine, dangerously high-level blood pressure may appear. Tachycardia and other cardiovascular problems are also the usual consequences of sudden cessation of use.

Taking tizanidine drugs and other psychoactive substances will likely lead to severe health consequences, some of which might be life-threatening.

Taking tizanidine and alcohol will lead to drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, and kinetic problems. The potential for developing an addiction to this drug increases when this type of substance abuse is comorbid with other substance abuse syndromes.

These dangers are much more likely to appear when the drug is taken without a doctor’s approval. Always consult a doctor before commencing therapy with this muscle relaxant.

Tizanidine Addiction Treatment

Patients with this type of addiction are usually treated in hospitals, where their physical symptoms of addiction and withdrawal are attended to and alleviated. For individuals who develop a strong addiction to this medication, visiting a rehab institution is recommended, to solve both psychological and physiological symptoms of addiction.

Arguably, it is best to first treat addiction in a primary care unit, due to severe withdrawal symptoms, and then move on to identify the roots of addiction.

Who Abuses Zanaflex And Why?

People who receive a prescription for medicine tizanidine are at risk of abusing this drug and developing a strong addiction.

An NCBI case study reports a case of a 31- year old woman who started to take too many tizanidine pills after starting her muscle contracture therapy.

This patient was advised to take 2 mg every 24 hours. Shortly after commencing her therapy, this woman increased her tizanidine capsule intake to 2 mg per 3 hours! This means that the patient presented here ingested more than ten tizanidine tablets daily.

Various symptoms appeared soon after this patient began to increase her Zanaflex dose. This patient likely wanted to quickly resolve the muscular issues for which she received a drug prescription in the first place.

What is Zanaflex high? It’s important to note that there is no such thing as tizanidine high euphoria, and people who acquire Zanaflex addiction usually want to reverse the symptoms of their medical condition.
Nevertheless, some people indulge in concurrent abuse with other psychoactive substances and medicines.

This type of use can cause a plethora of health complications. To preclude this, always consult a doctor.

Brand And Street Names of Zanaflex

What are other brand names for tizanidine hydrochloride?

Besides Zanaflex medication, there are other brand names such as:

      • Arzan
      • Sirdalud
      • Tidired
      • Tizonec
      • Tizpa

The substance is also available in the generic medication form. There are also many street and slang names for tizanidine pills, as it is abused by a handful of drug addicts who buy and sell it illegally on streets. Zanaflex street value is rather high when compared with the usual price one would pay in a pharmacy store.

Tizanidine Addiction Statistics

According to NIH, cases reported of Tizanidine addiction often end with withdrawal symptoms when the medication intake is stopped. Addiction happens when the daily average dose of Tizanidine exceeds 20 to 36 mg. You can tell you are addicted to medicine when symptoms follow after cessation of consumption.

The dosage of the medicine is reduced gradually over time until it is stopped to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

If you or someone you know is addicted to Tizanidine or other prescription medications, help is available. Call The Recovery Village to learn more about treatment options for addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders.

Is Tizanidine Addictive ?

Like many prescription medications, tizanidine can be addictive. Some people deliberately misuse the medication, while others may develop an addiction over time.

Tizanidine is an FDA-approved medicine for the management of spasticity caused by:

    • An acquired brain injury
    • Multiple sclerosis
    • Spinal cord injury

It is also used in the management of pain associated with:

    • Lumbosacral neuralgia and chronic neck issues
    • Musculoskeletal pain syndrome
    • Migraine headaches

Tizanidine medication is an off-label prescription used as an anticonvulsant for the management of migraine headaches and insomnia.

Tizanidine abuse is possible due to its fast action on pain. A study to compare the muscle strength of Tizanidine and other approved skeletal muscle relaxants showed that there was increased improvement with Tizanidine.

What Is Tizanidine?

It is an antispasmodic prescription drug that is taken orally at specified intervals of time to treat symptoms related to multiple sclerosis, stroke, spinal and brain injury. In simple terms, Tizanidine is a sharp pain-relief medicine that is acquired only with a doctor’s prescription.

Is Tizanidine a narcotic? No. Just because Tizanidine is sometimes abused doesn’t qualify it as a narcotic. Narcotics are substances traditionally used to ease pain by binding to pain receptors in the nervous system, whereas Tizanidine is a muscle relaxer. While Tizanidine muscle relaxers may help reduce pain, they do so in a different way than narcotics. Tizanidine is a muscle relaxer and blocks pain around the skeletal muscle areas. It is an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that treats:

    • Cramping
    • Spasm
    • Tightness of muscles

Symptoms that may warrant Tizanidine use may be the result of:

    • Injury to the spine or central nervous system
    • Spastic diplegia
    • Back pain
    • Multiple sclerosis

What Is Tizanidine Used For?

Spasm and muscle tone are common in people who have experienced a stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain or spinal injury. Since the body functions abnormally during contraction and muscle tone, Tizanidine is used to slow down the brain and nervous system action so that the muscles can relax.

You might have seen people taking Tizanidine for other medical conditions and wondered what is Tizanidine used for? Tizanidine can be used to treat several medical conditions, including:

    • Spinal cord or acquired brain injuries
    • Multiple sclerosis
    • Regional musculoskeletal pain syndrome
    • Chronic neck and lumbosacral neuralgia

Other uses for Tizanidine include treatment for:

    • Insomnia
    • Migraine headaches
    • Anticonvulsant

Tizanidine can also be used as part of a detoxification regimen in rebound headaches caused by analgesic withdrawal.

Is Tizanidine Addictive?

Though Tizanidine isn’t a narcotic, it can be addictive. You can’t get self-prescribe or over-the-counter Tizanidine due to its addictive nature. Instead, it is available with a doctor’s prescription. All medical instructions should be followed closely. Most medicines that act on the central nervous system (brain) have withdrawal effects when stopped immediately.

When a person is under this type of medication, the doctor will gradually reduce the dose to avoid withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawal symptoms may include:

  • Hypertension
  • Tachycardia
  • Tremor
  • Anxiety
  • Hypertonia

Tizanidine withdrawal can be managed by restarting and gradually reducing the dosage until the cessation of the medication.

You might be wondering how Tizanidine is addictive. When Tizanidine is taken more than 35 mg within 24 hours for more than two weeks, you risk the chance of being addicted to it. High doses of Tizanidine range from 20 mg to 36 mg daily.

If you are taking Tizanidine in high doses for more than nine weeks, it is advisable not to stop without professional help due to:

  • Rebound hypertension
  • Increased spasticity
  • Tachycardia

Tizanidine recreational use is rising by the day, and most people combine it with other narcotics to achieve the feeling of a Tizanidine high. The high feeling usually lasts for a shorter time, and this may lead to a person taking more doses to stay high.

Tizanidine Street Names, Common Misspellings, and Generics

Although Tizanidine is a prescription medication, it may be sold illegally and be known by a variety of street names. Although Tizanidine is a generic medication itself, it may be known by other brand names.

Tizanidine brand names include:

  • Zanaflex
  • Sirdalud(Novartis)
  • Relentus(Beximco Pharma)

Tizanidine is sometimes misspelled deliberately or unknowingly. Sometimes people misspell it to hide the fact they are using the medicine incorrectly or illicitly. Common misspellings or variants include:

  • Tizanadine
  • Xanaflex

Tizanidine Ingredients

Tizanidine is made up of active and inactive ingredients to form a muscle relaxer that is effective for many patients. The ingredients found in Tizanidine can cause liver damage, especially if you have liver problems.

Active ingredient:

  • Tizanidine hydrochloride(HCL)

Inactive ingredients:

  • Gelatin
  • Colorant
  • silicon dioxide
  • Hypromellose
  • Sugar spheres
  • Titanium dioxide

Tizanidine Warnings

Tizanidine side effects are present after the medication is abruptly stopping. Most Tizanidine warnings are related to withdrawal of the medicine. Related warnings include:

  • Hypotension
  • Liver injury
  • Sedation. You can’t drive while taking Tizanidine medication
  • Hallucination
  • Hypersensitivity reactions
  • Withdrawal adverse reactions
  • Nonclinical toxicology( carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, fertility impairment).

Since it isn’t clear how the medicine affects a pregnant person, it is advisable to avoid Tizanidine unless it is used to save a life. Since it isn’t clear whether Tizanidine excretion is through milk, it is advisable to avoid it during lactation.

Symptoms of Overdose of Zanaflex

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

      • drowsiness
      • extreme tiredness
      • confusion
      • slow heartbeat
      • fainting
      • dizziness
      • slow or shallow breathing
      • loss of consciousness

What other Drugs could Interact with Zanaflex?

There may be an interaction between tizanidine and any of the following:

      • abiraterone
      • acetaminophen
      • acyclovir
      • alcohol
      • aldesleukin
      • aliskiren
      • alpha agonists (e.g., clonidine, methyldopa)
      • alpha blockers (e.g., alfuzosin, doxazosin, tamsulosin)
      • amifostine
      • angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (e.g., captopril, lisinopril, ramipril)
      • antiarrhythmics (e.g., amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, dronedarone, flecainide, mexiletine, procainamide, quinidine)
      • anti-psychotics (e.g., chlorpromazine, clozapine, haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone)
      • antihistamines (e.g,. cetirizine, doxylamine, diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine, loratadine)
      • barbiturates (e.g., butalbital, pentobarbital phenobarbital)
      • benzodiazepines (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam)
      • beta-blockers (e.g., carvedilol, propranolol, timolol)
      • birth control pills
      • brimonidine
      • buprenorphine
      • buspirone
      • caffeine
      • calcium channel blockers (e.g., amlodipine, diltiazem, verapamil, nifedipine)
      • cannabis
      • chloral hydrate
      • chloroquine
      • cimetidine
      • deferasirox
      • degarelix
      • digoxin
      • diuretics (water pills; e.g., furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, spironolactone)
      • domperidone
      • donepezil
      • efavirenz
      • estrogens (ethinyl estradiol, conjugated estrogen)
      • famotidine
      • fingolimod
      • galantamine
      • gemfibrozil
      • general anesthetics (medications used to put people to sleep before surgery)
      • guanfacine
      • hydralazine
      • ivabradine
      • kava kava
      • ketoconazole
      • lanreotide
      • lidocaine
      • macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin)
      • magnesium sulfate
      • methadone
      • methoxsalen
      • mifepristone
      • mirtazapine
      • muscle relaxants (e.g., baclofen, cyclobenzaprine, methocarbamol, orphenadrine)
      • nabilone
      • narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine, fentanyl, morphine, oxycodone)
      • nitrates (e.g., nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate)
      • obinutuzumab
      • octreotide
      • olopatadine
      • pasireotide
      • phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (e.g., sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil)
      • pramipexole
      • primaquine
      • protein kinase inhibitors (e.g., ceritinib, lapatinib, pazopanib, sunitinib, vemurafenib)
      • quinine
      • “quinolone” antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin)
      • rilpivirine
      • rivastigmine
      • ropinirole
      • rotigotine
      • saquinavir
      • scopolamine
      • seizure medications (e.g., clobazam,levetiracetam, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, topiramate, valproic acid, zonisamide)
      • selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline)
      • serotonin antagonists (anti-emetic medications; e.g., dolasetron, granisetron, ondansetron)
      • serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs; e.g., desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, venlafaxine)
      • tapentadol
      • tetrabenazine
      • thalidomide
      • ticlopidine
      • tramadol
      • tranylcypromine
      • trazodone
      • tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, desipramine)
      • voriconazole
      • zolpidem
      • zopiclone

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

      • stop taking one of the medications,
      • change one of the medications to another,
      • change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
      • leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Are There any other Warnings for Zanaflex?

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

Birth control: Women taking birth control pills may need a lower dose of tizanidine to achieve a good effect. Birth control pills prevent tizanidine from leaving the body readily and may cause tizanidine to build up in the body leading to side effects.

Drowsiness/reduced alertness: This medication may cause drowsiness and severe dizziness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or perform other potentially hazardous tasks until you have determined how this medication affects you.

Heart rhythm: Tizanidine can cause changes to the normal rhythm of the heart, including an irregular heartbeat called QT prolongation. QT prolongation is a serious life-threatening condition that can cause fainting, seizures, and sudden death. If you are at risk for heart rhythm problems (e.g., people with heart failure, angina, low potassium or magnesium levels), discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Kidney function: People with decreased kidney function are more likely to experience side effects at lower doses. If you have kidney disease or decreased kidney function, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver function: Tizanidine is removed from the body by the liver and may cause liver problems. Decreased liver function or liver disease can cause this medication to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have liver disease or decreased liver function, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

If you experience symptoms of liver problems such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.

Low blood pressure: Symptoms of severe lowering of blood pressure, such as weakness or dizziness, particularly when rising suddenly from a sitting or lying position, may occur. People who are prone to low blood pressure (e.g., those taking diuretics) should be cautious when using this medication. This effect may happen before the dose of medication is enough to reduce the muscle spasticity. Starting this medication at a very low dose and gradually increasing the daily dose helps to reduce the effect of rapidly dropping blood pressure.

Mental health: Tizanidine can cause hallucinations (e.g., seeing or hearing things that are not really there). People with a history of mental health concerns, such as psychosis or schizophrenia are more likely to experience this effect. If you have a history of mental health issues, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Stopping the medication: Stopping this medication suddenly can cause increased muscle spasms, an increase in blood pressure, or a rapid heart rate. Talk to your doctor before stopping this medication.

Pregnancy: Tizanidine has not been studied for use by pregnant women. In some animal studies, tizanidine caused birth defects and other pregnancy problems. This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if tizanidine passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using tizanidine has not been established for children less than 18 years of age.

Seniors: Tizanidine is cleared from the body at a slower rate in older adults. This can result in an increase in the number and severity of side effects. The doctor will take this into consideration when determining the dose you should be taking.