Cyclobenzaprine vs Zanaflex tizanidine: Muscle Relaxer Side Effects
The effectiveness of these medications hasn’t been compared in clinical studies, so we don’t know if one is more effective than the other. Flexeril, a generic name for Cyclobenzaprine, is an effective alternative to Tizanidine. It is commonly used to treat severe pain caused by acute musculoskeletal conditions because its long-term efficacy is unclear. Based on studies by IQVIA, a total of 28.4 million cyclobenzaprine prescriptions were dispensed in the US in 2017. Tizanidine (Zanaflex) and Flexeril (Cyclobenzaprine) are both muscle relaxants. They are used by medical personnel to treat muscle tightness arising from painful musculoskeletal conditions and injuries.
- These doses should be spaced evenly throughout the day, ideally eight hours apart.
- Meanwhile, skeletal muscle relaxers like Dantrium, Flexeril, Lorzone, Robaxin, Skelaxin, Soma, and Zanaflex may need to be used with caution in people with preexisting liver or kidney disease.
- Like other muscle relaxants, Zanaflex and Flexeril work in the central nervous system (CNS).
- However, no research suggests that long-term cyclobenzaprine use is safe or effective.
- Zanaflex is used to treat conditions such as multiple sclerosis or spinal injury.
Both Zanaflex and Flexeril are drugs used for muscle spasms and pain relief from musculoskeletal conditions. Zanaflex is commonly prescribed to treat spasticity from multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury. Flexeril is often prescribed to relieve muscle pain and spasms caused by back and neck strains. The FDA reports that in 8 double-blind randomized controlled trials, they have found statistically significant indications for use of Flexeril in acute musculoskeletal injury.
RX Drugs & Medications
Contact a doctor or speak with a pharmacist before taking any muscle relaxer. If a person requires an intrathecal injection, they receive a single dose of 50 micrograms (mcg). If there is a response to the treatment, the doctor will adjust the dosage. Doctors also warn people of the dangers of combining this medication with alcohol. In addition, there is a risk of developing a dependency on carisoprodol.
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There is a key difference between the dosing instructions for each of the medications. Cyclobenzaprine should be taken at doses ranging from 5-10 mg three times per day with no more than 30 mg daily, while Tizanidine usually begins with 2-4 mg per day but can increase up to 36 mg as needed. Whether you’ve experienced persistent muscle pain or occasional spasms due to a medical condition, your doctor may have prescribed a muscle relaxer, also called a muscle relaxant. Drinking alcohol can be especially dangerous when taking muscle relaxers. Alcohol increases the sedative effects of the drugs and, in some cases, can lead to severe respiratory depression and death.
Drug Interactions For Zanaflex
Antispastics directly affect the spinal cord or the skeletal muscles with the aim of improving muscle tightness and spasms. It’s crucial that you always inform your healthcare provider about all medications you are taking. Both Zanaflex and Flexeril have potential drug-drug interactions that could result in serious complications. A thorough understanding of your medication history allows for safer prescription practices.
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In addition, other muscle relaxants such as tolperisone and tizanidine, show similar efficacy to oral baclofen, with reduced side effects in recent trials. More studies with larger sample sizes and similar treatment protocols need to be conducted to make a definitive recommendation on oral baclofen use in patients with cerebral palsy. While both medications are muscle relaxers, they differ in side effects, risks, and what they are used to treat.
Always consult with a healthcare provider when choosing between different types of medication. Tizanidine inhibits central and spinal release of norepinephrine and substance P. It dampens the excitation of motor neurons, thus reducing spasticity.
Adverse effects, particularly dizziness and drowsiness, are consistently reported with all skeletal muscle relaxants. The potential adverse effects should be communicated clearly to the patient. Because of limited comparable effectiveness data, choice of agent should be based on side-effect profile, patient preference, abuse potential, and possible drug interactions.
Yes, prescription muscle relaxers can make you sleepy due to how they affect your central nervous system. Because of this, you should be cautious about operating heavy machinery, such as driving a car, or making important decisions while taking these medications. To achieve a sufficient reduction in muscle tone, the amount can be steadily increased by 2 mg to 4 mg at each dosage, with 1 to 4 days between dosage increases. A large randomized-controlled trial showing efficacy of diazepam in reducing hypertonia, increasing range of motion, passive and spontaneous movement in children with CP with relatively low incidence of adverse events. Cyclobenzaprine likely treats fibromyalgia by increasing the effects of norepinephrine, a substance in your brain and spinal cord that helps reduce pain signals.
What is Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)?
These medications can slow down the breakdown of tizanidine and lead to increased sedation, drowsiness and slowed reflexes. Both Zanaflex and Flexeril can interact with drugs that have CNS can you take xanax and flexeril depressant effects. These types of drugs include barbiturates, opioids, and benzodiazepines. Zanaflex and Flexeril can enhance their effects and lead to increased dizziness and sedation.