tizanidine hydrochloride at a glance
Medicine class
Centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant and alpha-2 adrenergic agonist.
Main role
Relieves muscle spasms and neurologically caused spasticity.
Food
The tablets may be taken with or without food.
Alertness
Drowsiness and dizziness can affect driving or machinery use.
Stopping treatment
Do not stop suddenly unless instructed; withdrawal can raise heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tone.
What is tizanidine hydrochloride used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for:
Skeletal muscle spasms associated with static or functional disorders of the neck or lower spine.
Skeletal muscle spasms following musculoskeletal surgery, including surgery related to a slipped disc or hip-joint disorder.
Spasticity caused by neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis, chronic or degenerative spinal-cord disease, stroke and cerebral palsy.
How does tizanidine hydrochloride work?
Tizanidine stimulates alpha-2 adrenergic receptors, mainly within the spinal cord. This reduces the release of excitatory nerve messengers and dampens signals that produce excessive muscle tone, spasms and clonus.
tizanidine hydrochloride preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 2 mg, 4 mg
How to take tizanidine hydrochloride
Take the tablets by mouth exactly as prescribed.
Swallow with a glass of water.
They may be taken with or without food.
Avoid alcohol because it can increase sedation and other adverse effects.
Do not drive or use machinery if you feel sleepy or dizzy.
Do not stop treatment suddenly without advice from the prescriber.
tizanidine hydrochloride side effects
Common or expected effects
- Dry mouth
- Muscle weakness
- Sleepiness or drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Nausea or other gastrointestinal disturbance
- Low blood pressure
- Slow or fast heartbeat
- Sleep disturbance
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction, including throat or tongue swelling and breathing difficulty
- Fainting or severe symptomatic low blood pressure
- Hepatitis or liver failure, which may cause jaundice, unexplained nausea, appetite loss or marked tiredness
- Hallucinations or confusion
- Abnormal heart rhythm
- Withdrawal-related high blood pressure and rapid heartbeat after abrupt stopping
tizanidine hydrochloride in pregnancy
Safety during pregnancy has not been established. Tizanidine should generally be avoided unless the prescriber concludes that the expected benefit outweighs the potential risk. Seek advice if pregnant, planning pregnancy or pregnancy occurs during treatment.
tizanidine hydrochloride while breastfeeding
There is insufficient evidence about safety in breastfed infants. Use requires an individual assessment by the prescriber or a specialist breastfeeding medicines service, balancing treatment need, infant factors and breastfeeding benefits.
tizanidine hydrochloride interactions
Check all prescribed, over-the-counter and herbal products before starting tizanidine. Important interactions include:
Ciprofloxacin or fluvoxamine
These strongly increase tizanidine exposure. The combination is contraindicated because profound sedation, low blood pressure or slow heart rate may occur.
Other CYP1A2 inhibitors
Amiodarone, mexiletine, propafenone, verapamil, cimetidine, famotidine, aciclovir, ticlopidine and some fluoroquinolones may increase tizanidine toxicity and should generally be avoided.
Combined hormonal contraceptives
These can increase tizanidine levels and may worsen drowsiness, low blood pressure or slow heart rate.
Common questions about tizanidine hydrochloride
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is tizanidine hydrochloride a painkiller?
No. It is a centrally acting muscle relaxant, although reducing painful muscle spasms may lessen associated discomfort.
Can I drink alcohol while taking tizanidine hydrochloride?
Alcohol should be avoided because it can increase tizanidine exposure, drowsiness and other adverse effects.
Can tizanidine hydrochloride affect driving?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.