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Tizanidine oral tablet dosage: A detailed guide

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Form and strengthsDosageFAQHow it's takenCouponOverdoseAsk your doctor
Doctors prescribe tizanidine oral tablet for muscle stiffness or spasms in adults. This is also called muscle spasticity. You take it by mouth up to three times per day.
Medically reviewed by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Updated on

This article describes tizanidine oral tablet’s dosages and strengths and gives details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for tizanidine. If you want to know more about tizanidine oral tablet, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses, side effects, and more.

Tizanidine oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Zanaflex. Tizanidine also comes in an oral capsule, but that form isn’t described in this article. To learn more about that form, talk with your doctor.

Form and strengths of tizanidine

Tizanidine oral tablet comes as follows:

  • Form: a tablet that you swallow
  • Strengths: 2 milligrams (mg), 4 mg

Dosage of tizanidine

This article describes the recommended dosages for tizanidine oral tablet. The drugmaker provides these dosages.

If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of tizanidine oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation.

Usual recommended dosages of tizanidine in adults

Tizanidine is approved to treat muscle stiffness or spasms, which is also called muscle spasticity.

Usually, doctors start by prescribing a low dosage of tizanidine oral tablet. Then, they’ll adjust it over time until the right dosage is reached. Ultimately, your doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage of tizanidine oral tablet that gives the desired outcome.

  • Starting dosage: 2 milligrams (mg) every 6–8 hours as needed, up to three doses per day
  • Maximum dosage: 36 mg per day

Dosage adjustments for tizanidine

Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of tizanidine oral tablet based on several factors. These include:

  • the specific condition being treated and how severe it is
  • your age
  • other health conditions you may have
  • how your body responds to the drug

Missed dose of tizanidine

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of tizanidine oral tablet. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip it and take your next dose as scheduled.

For tips on how to plan your doses of tizanidine oral tablet and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:

  • downloading a reminder app on your phone
  • setting an alarm
  • putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table

Frequently asked questions

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about tizanidine oral tablet and its dosage.

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Can tizanidine be taken for sleep, back pain, or neck pain? If so, what’s the dosage?

It might be, but tizanidine oral tablet is specifically approved to treat only muscle spasticity (muscle stiffness or spasms). It’s not approved for sleep, back pain, or neck pain.

But in some cases, doctors may prescribe tizanidine off-label for sleep, back pain, or neck pain. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved to treat or help prevent. For instance, tizanidine may be helpful if muscle spasticity is affecting your sleep or causing neck or back pain.

To learn more about treatment options for sleep, back pain, or neck pain, talk with your doctor. They can recommend the dosage you should take.

Is tizanidine taken long term?

It depends. Doctors may prescribe tizanidine oral tablet as a short-term or long-term treatment. You and your doctor can discuss whether it’s safe and effective for your condition. And if needed, you might take it long term.

If you have questions about how long you should take tizanidine oral tablet, talk with your doctor.

How tizanidine is taken

You’ll swallow tizanidine oral tablet up to three times per day. You can take it with or without food. But you should be consistent by always taking each dose with food or without it.

You can cut or crush tizanidine oral tablet. If it’s hard for you to swallow tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form.

Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it.

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Overdose of tizanidine

It’s important that you do not take more tizanidine oral tablet than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to harmful effects.

Symptoms of tizanidine overdose

Symptoms of an overdose can include:

In extreme cases or if untreated, overdose can lead to coma.

What to do if you take too much tizanidine

If you think you’ve taken too much tizanidine, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes the usual recommended dosages for tizanidine oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they‘ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.

Do not change your dosage of tizanidine oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation. You should take tizanidine oral tablet exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.

Here‘s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

  • Will taking a higher dosage of tizanidine oral tablet increase my risk of side effects?
  • How long will I take tizanidine oral tablet?
  • Will I need to change my dosage of tizanidine oral tablet if I’m taking other drugs with it?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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