Zanaflex

Insomnia, Chronic Pain, Migraine + 10 more

Treatment

1 FDA approval

20 Active Studies for Zanaflex

What is Zanaflex

Tizanidine

The Generic name of this drug

Treatment Summary

Tizanidine is a medication used to treat muscle spasms. Muscle spasms can be caused by conditions such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, brain injury, or spinal cord injury. It works by blocking the signals that cause muscle spasms, which makes them less painful and easier to control. Tizanidine was approved by the FDA in 1996 and is a fast-acting drug.

Zanaflex

is the brand name

image of different drug pills on a surface

Zanaflex Overview & Background

Brand Name

Generic Name

First FDA Approval

How many FDA approvals?

Zanaflex

Tizanidine

1997

289

Approved as Treatment by the FDA

Tizanidine, also known as Zanaflex, is approved by the FDA for 1 uses including Muscle Spasticity .

Muscle Spasticity

Helps manage Spasticity, Muscle

Effectiveness

How Zanaflex Affects Patients

Tizanidine is a medicine designed to reduce the spasticity of muscles, which is when they contract and relax involuntarily. This can cause reduced mobility and a lot of pain, which can make it difficult to carry out everyday activities. It works by binding to Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor sites and helps to reduce muscle spasm and clonus. It has a stronger effect on polysynaptic reflexes (when several relay neurons communicate with motor neurons that control muscle movement). Taking tizanidine can lower heart rate and blood pressure, but it can cause a rise in these if it is stopped suddenly.

How Zanaflex works in the body

Tizanidine works by blocking nerve signals that cause muscle spasms. It does this by attaching to alpha-2 adrenergic receptors, which are located on the nerves. This stops the release of certain excitatory neurotransmitters, like glutamate and aspartate, which tell the muscles to contract. Tizanidine also has a weak effect on the cardiovascular system, due to its attachment to alpha-1 receptors.

When to interrupt dosage

The suggested quantity of Zanaflex is contingent upon the diagnosed condition, such as Insomnia, smooth muscle relaxation before radiological procedures and Spasticity, Muscle. The amount of dosage may differ, in line with the administration approach (e.g. Kit; Tablet - Oral or Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral) presented in the following table.

Condition

Dosage

Administration

Muscle Relaxation

, 4.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 6.0 mg

Tablet, Tablet - Oral, , Oral, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Oral; Topical

Muscle Spasticity

, 4.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 6.0 mg

Tablet, Tablet - Oral, , Oral, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Oral; Topical

Analgesics

, 4.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 6.0 mg

Tablet, Tablet - Oral, , Oral, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Oral; Topical

Insomnia

, 4.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 6.0 mg

Tablet, Tablet - Oral, , Oral, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Oral; Topical

Withdrawal From Addictive Substance; Detoxification

, 4.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 6.0 mg

Tablet, Tablet - Oral, , Oral, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Oral; Topical

Migraine

, 4.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 6.0 mg

Tablet, Tablet - Oral, , Oral, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Oral; Topical

Analgesics

, 4.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 6.0 mg

Tablet, Tablet - Oral, , Oral, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Oral; Topical

Epilepsy

, 4.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 6.0 mg

Tablet, Tablet - Oral, , Oral, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Oral; Topical

Chronic Pain

, 4.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 6.0 mg

Tablet, Tablet - Oral, , Oral, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Oral; Topical

Pain relief

, 4.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 6.0 mg

Tablet, Tablet - Oral, , Oral, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Oral; Topical

Low Back Pain

, 4.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 6.0 mg

Tablet, Tablet - Oral, , Oral, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Oral; Topical

Headache

, 4.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 6.0 mg

Tablet, Tablet - Oral, , Oral, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Oral; Topical

Therapeutic procedure

, 4.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 6.0 mg

Tablet, Tablet - Oral, , Oral, Capsule, gelatin coated, Capsule, gelatin coated - Oral, Capsule, Capsule - Oral, Oral; Topical

Warnings

Zanaflex has four contraindications and should not be administered alongside the ailments noted in the following table.

Zanaflex Contraindications

Condition

Risk Level

Notes

when this drug is needed to maintain basic function, including maintenance of upright posture and balance in locomotion

Do Not Combine

Hypersensitivity

Do Not Combine

Pulse Frequency

Do Not Combine

Pulse Frequency

Do Not Combine

There are 20 known major drug interactions with Zanaflex.

Common Zanaflex Drug Interactions

Drug Name

Risk Level

Description

Acenocoumarol

Major

The metabolism of Acenocoumarol can be decreased when combined with Tizanidine.

Aminophylline

Major

The metabolism of Aminophylline can be decreased when combined with Tizanidine.

Amitraz

Major

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Tizanidine is combined with Amitraz.

Axitinib

Major

The metabolism of Axitinib can be decreased when combined with Tizanidine.

Azelastine

Major

Tizanidine may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Azelastine.

Zanaflex Toxicity & Overdose Risk

Tizanidine has an LD50 (the amount of a drug needed to cause toxicity in half of the test animals) of 414mg/kg when taken orally by rats and 282mg/kg when taken subcutaneously by rats. In mice, the oral LD50 is 235mg/kg. Animal studies have determined that this drug can cause harm to unborn babies, so it should only be used if the benefits outweigh the risks. It is also likely that tizanidine is excreted in breast milk, and young nursing rats given the drug have shown signs of central nervous system changes. Tizanidine has not been

image of a doctor in a lab doing drug, clinical research

Zanaflex Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Zanaflex?

Currently, 389 clinical trials are being conducted to assess the potential of Zanaflex in alleviating Insomnia, Chronic Pain and Epileptic Symptoms.

Condition

Clinical Trials

Trial Phases

Chronic Pain

130 Actively Recruiting

Not Applicable, Phase 4, Phase 2, Phase 3, Early Phase 1, Phase 1

Analgesics

0 Actively Recruiting

Insomnia

0 Actively Recruiting

Withdrawal From Addictive Substance; Detoxification

1 Actively Recruiting

Phase 2, Phase 3

Muscle Spasticity

0 Actively Recruiting

Migraine

51 Actively Recruiting

Phase 4, Not Applicable, Phase 1, Phase 3, Phase 2, Early Phase 1

Headache

0 Actively Recruiting

Muscle Relaxation

0 Actively Recruiting

Pain relief

15 Actively Recruiting

Early Phase 1, Not Applicable, Phase 4, Phase 2, Phase 1

Low Back Pain

0 Actively Recruiting

Therapeutic procedure

0 Actively Recruiting

Analgesics

0 Actively Recruiting

Epilepsy

19 Actively Recruiting

Not Applicable, Phase 2, Phase 3, Early Phase 1, Phase 4, Phase 1

Zanaflex Reviews: What are patients saying about Zanaflex?

5

Patient Review

10/12/2021

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasm

I take this medication before bed when needed, and I wake up feeling so much better than I would have otherwise.

5

Patient Review

10/8/2022

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasms caused by a Spinal Disease

This medication has given me more relief than anything else I have tried.

5

Patient Review

10/8/2022

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasms caused by a Spinal Disease

This medication is much more effective than anything else I've tried.

5

Patient Review

10/12/2021

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasm

I take this medication before bed when needed, and it really helps me sleep through the night without feeling stiff in the morning.

4.3

Patient Review

2/7/2022

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasm

Given my age and being on Medicare, this is the drug that was chosen for me. It doesn't have nearly as many side effects as other muscle relaxers. Yes, it makes me a bit sleepy, but I don't get constipated and I don't feel drowsy when I wake up in the morning. It helps with my muscle spasms, but I wish it did more. If I take a second one at night, it's more helpful, but then I can feel pretty groggy. So overall, I suggest trying it!

4.3

Patient Review

2/7/2022

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasm

Given my age and Medicare status, this was the drug chosen for me. It's had fewer side effects than other muscle relaxers I've tried. It does make me a bit sleepy but there's no constipation and I don't feel drowsy when I wake up in the morning. It helps with my muscle spasms but I wish it did more. If I take two at night, it's more helpful but then I can feel pretty groggy in the morning.

4

Patient Review

5/1/2022

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasm

I have biliary dyskinesia and take 4mg twice a day. It's been a big help with the pain and discomfort. So far, I haven't noticed any negative side effects.

4

Patient Review

4/7/2021

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasm

4

Patient Review

5/1/2022

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasm

This medication has been a big help for managing the pain and discomfort of biliary dyskinesia. I haven't experienced any negative side effects so far.

4

Patient Review

4/7/2021

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasm

3.7

Patient Review

12/14/2021

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasm

While this medication has some pretty severe side effects, it's the only thing that helps me get to sleep. I've been dealing with chronic pain ever since my accident in 2010, and this is the only relief I've found.

3.7

Patient Review

12/14/2021

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasm

This medicine has made me hallucinate, faint, have irregular heart rate, and muscle twitching in my legs; however, it is the only medication that helps me sleep. I take 4mg w 50mg of benadryl every night.

2.3

Patient Review

4/24/2021

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasm

I've got a spinal stimulator and permanent nerve damage. I take this med every night to help with the pain. It can make you pretty drowsy, so only take it when you're ready to sleep. Another downside is that it gives me really dry mouth; however, it's better than waking up in the middle of the night with debilitating charlie horses.

2.3

Patient Review

4/24/2021

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasm

I have a spinal stimulator and permanent nerve damage. I take this medication every night before bed. It can make you very drowsy, so only take it when you're ready to sleep. Additionally, it gives me pretty bad dry mouth; however, the benefits of taking it outweigh the negative side effects.

1

Patient Review

4/19/2022

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasm

I tried taking tizanidine, but it didn't work for me at all. I even took two pills and still felt nothing. The only thing it made me feel was tired, but I couldn't fall asleep.

1

Patient Review

2/23/2022

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasms caused by a Spinal Disease

The hallucinations and nightmares this medication gave me were absolutely horrifying. I couldn't even sleep with the lights off. I would not recommend this to anyone.

1

Patient Review

2/23/2022

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasms caused by a Spinal Disease

The side effects of this medication were so severe that I had to ask my husband to keep the lights on in our room all night. I was seeing scary images and having nightmares. It was honestly the worst experience of my life. I would never take this medication again.

1

Patient Review

4/19/2022

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasm

I tried tizanidine and it didn't work for me at all. I even took two pills, but the only thing it did was make me feel tired.

1

Patient Review

7/25/2021

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasm

I felt like I was drugged when I took this. It was a terrible experience.

1

Patient Review

7/25/2021

Zanaflex for Muscle Spasm

This drug made me feel drowsy and groggy, like I'd been given anesthesia. It was a terrible experience.
image of drug pills surrounding a glass of water symbolizing drug consumption

Patient Q&A Section about zanaflex

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

What is the drug Zanaflex used for?

"This medication is used to treat muscle spasms caused by certain conditions (such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury). It works by helping to relax the muscles."

Answered by AI

Do Zanaflex make you sleepy?

"This medicine may cause you to feel sleepy, dizzy, or weak. Be sure to take it at a time when you don't have to be alert. Tell your doctor if you experience any unusual side effects while using tizanidine."

Answered by AI

Is Zanaflex and Xanax the same?

"Zanaflex is not a combination of Xanax and Flexeril, despite the similar sounding names. Zanaflex and Flexeril work in similar ways by blocking nerve impulses to the brain, but they are different drugs."

Answered by AI

Clinical Trials for Zanaflex

Image of McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada.

Dexmedetomidine for Pain Relief

18 - 75
All Sexes
Montreal, Canada

This study will compare three different doses of perineural dexmedetomidine 0.67 mcg/kg, 1 mcg/kg, and 1.33 mcg/kg as adjuvants to local anesthetics for ultrasound-guided infraclavicular brachial plexus blocks (ICBs). Our research hypothesis is that 1.33 mcg/kg will provide a 15%-longer duration than 1mcg/kg, which in turn will provide a 15%-longer duration than 0.67 mcg/kg. Since analgesic duration and sensory duration can be influenced by intake of pain medications and surgical trauma to small cutaneous nerves, respectively, we will select motor block duration as the main outcome to better target the action of dexmedetomidine on the brachial plexus.

Phase 2
Waitlist Available

McGill University Health Centre

Julián Aliste, MD

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Lidocaine Infusions for Postoperative Pain

18+
All Sexes
Nashville, TN

The goal of this single-center, pragmatic, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial is to evaluate the impact of intravenous (IV) lidocaine within the existing Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS)program on outcomes in patients after major abdominal surgery. The main questions the trial aims to answer are: The primary hypothesis is that utilization of IV lidocaine as part of a perioperative multimodal pain regimen will result in a reduction in hospital Case Mix Index-Adjusted Resource Length of Stay (CARLOS). The secondary hypotheses are that lidocaine infusion will result in a reduction in total inpatient opioid consumption (oral morphine milligram equivalents, oMMEs) and pain scores, and improved surgical outcomes (including return of bowel function, ileus, nausea, rapid responses called, surgical site infections, and ICU transfers), while also having minimal incidence of side effects (including double/blurry vision, tinnitus, sedation, and adverse events requiring early cessation).

Phase 4
Waitlist Available

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Danial Shams, MD

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Embolization for Migraine

18 - 80
All Sexes
Baltimore, MD

This study is to test the safety and feasibility of a procedure called embolization of the middle meningeal arteries (MMA), using a product called Onyx. Embolization creates a plug in the arteries. MMA embolization with Onyx is not approved for use in patients with migraines, but is currently used in patients with subdural hematomas. The FDA is allowing the use of Onyx in this study. It is thought that by using Onyx to block the middle meningeal arteries, the amount of migraine-causing substances which are released into the brain's bloodstream will be reduced. The company that manufactures Onyx, Medtronic, is providing the supplies for this study. Participants will be in the study for about 8 months after enrolling, including 6 months of follow up after the procedure. The participants will be asked to complete a daily headache diary and continue the participant's regular migraine medications. Participants will also have several clinic visits and be asked to provide blood samples for research.

Waitlist Available
Has No Placebo

Johns Hopkins Medicine

Risheng Xu, MD, PhD

Medtronic

Image of Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital in Austin, United States.

Guided Imagery Therapy for Abdominal Pain

7 - 12
All Sexes
Austin, TX

Chronic abdominal pain is common among children, and the majority of cases are attributed to functional abdominal pain disorders. One approach to treating these disorders is by using psychological therapies. This clinical trial aims to see how well pre-recorded guided imagery therapy sessions help children's abdominal pain when delivered via a mobile application (app) on a smartphone or tablet. Participants will complete a baseline abdominal pain and stooling diary to determine eligibility, as well as other surveys. Eligible participants will be given access to the guided imagery therapy mobile application. This intervention asks participants to listen to a 10- to 15-minute GIT session 5 out of 7 days per week for 8 weeks, in addition to their usual care for their abdominal pain. Then, participants will complete another abdominal pain and stooling diary, along with other psychometric surveys, at the end of this intervention period. Participants will also collect another diary and surveys 3 months post-treatment.

Waitlist Available
Has No Placebo

Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital (+1 Sites)

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Erector Spinae Plane Block for Pain

21 - 75
All Sexes
Cleveland, OH

As per usual care for spine surgery, participants will have their back cleaned with alcohol and a needle will be placed using ultrasound for the ESP block. Through the needle, a small catheter will be placed in the participants back and the needle removed. Approximately one hour prior to the start of surgery, a numbing medication (ropivacaine, similar to Novocaine) in combination with dexmedetomidine (a pain medicine that is used in nerve block and that is not a narcotic) and contrast dye (iohexol) will be injected through the catheter. Participants will then go through the QST procedure (test of buzzing sensation and temperature sensation through pads applied to their skin) to assess the numb areas and then head to the operating room. In the operating room, the catheter will be removed after the surgeon obtains baseline CT scan images of the spine. Once surgery is completed, investigators will record pain scores over the next four days in the hospital and the amount of pain medication needed for controlling pain related to the surgery.

Recruiting
Has No Placebo

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

Salim Hayek, MD

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Cannabidiol for Alcoholism

21 - 65
All Sexes
Baltimore, MD

Cannabidiol (CBD), one of the most prevalent cannabinoids in cannabis (marijuana) has been shown to reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms in laboratory animals. In people without alcohol use disorder (AUD), CBD has been show to be effective in reducing anxiety, sleep problems, and seizures; all of these are common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. This randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial will evaluate the potential of CBD to improve alcohol withdrawal symptoms and reduce craving during acute abstinence among individuals with moderate-to-severe AUD. Adult participants with moderate-to-severe AUD will be admitted to an inpatient research unit at the Johns Hopkins Hospital for a 5-day, 4-night stay that includes alcohol abstinence with management of their alcohol withdrawal. In addition to standard care, participants will receive CBD or placebo (no CBD), complete assessments of withdrawal, sleep quality and provide breath and blood samples.

Phase 2 & 3
Waitlist Available

Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit

David Woliinsky, MD

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We made a collection of clinical trials featuring Zanaflex, we think they might fit your search criteria.
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