Drug Notes

Tizanidine (By mouth)

Tizanidine (tye-ZAN-i-deen)

Treats muscle spasticity.

Brand Name(s):

Comfort Pac w/tiZANidine, Zanaflex, Zanaflex Capsule

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Capsule, Tablet

• Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.
• You may take this medicine with or without food, but always take it the same way every time. Tizanidine works differently depending on whether you take it on an empty stomach or a full stomach. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about this.
• Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Do not use this medicine together with ciprofloxacin or fluvoxamine.
• Some foods and medicines can affect how tizanidine works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
  • Acyclovir, baclofen, cimetidine, famotidine, ticlopidine, verapamil, zileuton
  • Birth control pills, blood pressure medicine, medicine for heart rhythm problems (such as amiodarone, mexiletine, propafenone), or medicine to treat an infection (such as levofloxacin, moxifloxacin)
• Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease or liver disease.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • Low blood pressure
  • Liver damage
• This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. Stand or sit up slowly if you are dizzy.
• Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.
• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Dark urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
• Seeing or hearing things that are not really there
• Slow heartbeat

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Dry mouth
• Drowsiness or sleepiness
• Weakness

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 1/27/2017