Zanaflex (Tizanidine) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

Pill Identifier Search

February 3, 2012

Zanaflex

Chronic Pain »

Introduction to Chronic Pain

You know it at once. It may be the fiery sensation of a burn moments after your finger touches the stove. Or it's a dull ache above your brow after a day of stress and tension. Or you may recognize it as a sharp pierce in your back after you lift something heavy.

It is pain. In its most benign form, it warns us that something isn't quite right, that we should take medicine or see a doctor. At its worst, however, pain robs us of our productivity, our well-being, and, for many of us suffering from extended illness, our very lives. Pain is a complex perception that differs enormously among individual patients, even those who appear to have identical injuries or illnesses.

In 1931, the French medical missionary Dr. Albert Schweitzer wrote, "Pain is a more terrible lord of mankind than even death itself." Today, pain has become the universal disorder, a serious and costly public health issue, and a challenge for famil...

Read the Chronic Pain article »

« Previous
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
next »

Zanaflex User Reviews >>

Zanaflex

Back Pain Slideshow Pictures

Sciatica Pain Slideshow

Take the Back Pain Quiz!

font size

Zanaflex Capsules™
(tizanidine hydrochloride)

Zanaflex® Tablets
(tizanidine hydrochloride)

PHARMACOKINETIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN Zanaflex Capsules™ (tizanidine) AND ZANAFLEX (tizanidine) ® TABLETS:

Zanaflex Capsules™ (tizanidine) ARE NOT BIOEQUIVALENT TO ZANAFLEX (tizanidine) ® TABLETS IN THE FED STATE. THE PRESCRIBER SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY FAMILIAR WITH THE COMPLEX EFFECTS OF FOOD ON TIZANIDINE PHARMACOKINETICS (see PHARMACOKINETICS and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).

DRUG DESCRIPTION

Zanaflex® (tizanidine hydrochloride) is a centrally acting α2-adrenergic agonist. Tizanidine HCl (tizanidine) is a white to off-white, fine crystalline powder, which is odorless or with a faint characteristic odor. Tizanidine is slightly soluble in water and methanol; solubility in water decreases as the pH increases. Its chemical name is 5-chloro-4-(2-imidazolin-2-ylamino)-2,1,3-benzothiodiazole hydrochloride. Tizanidine's molecular formula is C₉H₈CIN₅ S-HCl, its molecular weight is 290.2 and its structural formula is:

Zanaflex (tizanidine hydrochloride) structural formula illustration

Zanaflex Capsules™ (tizanidine) are supplied as 2, 4, and 6 mg capsules and Zanaflex (tizanidine) ® tablets are supplied as 2 and 4 mg tablets for oral administration. Zanaflex (tizanidine) Capsules™ are composed of the active ingredient, tizanidine hydrochloride (2.29 mg equivalent to 2 mg tizanidine base, 4.58 mg equivalent to 4 mg tizanidine base, and 6.87 mg equivalent to 6 mg tizanidine base), and the inactive ingredients, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, silicon dioxide, sugar spheres, titanium dioxide, gelatin, and colorants.

Zanaflex (tizanidine) ® tablets are composed of the active ingredient, tizanidine hydrochloride (2.29 mg equivalent to 2 mg tizanidine base and 4.58 mg equivalent to 4 mg tizanidine base), and the inactive ingredients, silicon dioxide colloidal, stearic acid, microcrystalline cellulose and anhydrous lactose.

What are the possible side effects of tizanidine (Zanaflex)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

feeling light-headed, fainting, slow heart rate;
hallucinations, confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior;
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
burning or pain when you...

Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Zanaflex »

What are the precautions when taking tizanidine (Zanaflex)?

Before taking tizanidine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: low blood pressure or heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease.

This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause blurred vision. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness or clear vision until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages.

To minimize dizziness, stand up slowly when arising from a sitting or lying position.

Caution is...

Read All Potential Precautions of Zanaflex »

Last reviewed on RxList: 10/4/2010
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.