This article describes possible side effects of tizanidine oral tablet. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for tizanidine. You can explore this overview article to learn more about tizanidine, including the drug’s uses, ways to save on cost, and more.
Tizanidine oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Zanaflex. Tizanidine also comes in a capsule that you swallow, but that form isn’t described in this article. To learn more about that form, talk with your doctor.
More common side effects of tizanidine
Tizanidine oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.
Commonly reported side effects of tizanidine oral tablet include:
- dry mouth
- sleepiness
- fatigue (low energy)
- weakness
- dizziness
- urinary tract infection (UTI)
Mild side effects of tizanidine
Tizanidine may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.
Mild side effects of tizanidine oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
- dry mouth
- sleepiness
- weakness
- dizziness
- urinary tract infection (UTI)
- constipation
- vomiting
- difficulty with speech
- flu-like symptoms
- fatigue
- feeling nervous
- runny or stuffy nose
- sore throat
- frequent urination*
- mild allergic reaction*
Tizanidine oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of tizanidine in detail” section below.
Serious side effects of tizanidine
Tizanidine may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from tizanidine, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with tizanide oral tablet.
Serious side effects of tizanidine oral tablet that occurred in studies include:
- hallucinations
- liver damage*
- low blood pressure*
- withdrawal symptoms, if treatment is stopped suddenly
- severe allergic reaction*
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of tizanidine in detail” section below.
Common questions about side effects of tizanidine
Here are answers to some common questions about the side effects of tizanidine oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Is tizanidine safe for older adults?
Maybe. Older adults (ages 65 years and above) may be at higher risk of side effects caused by tizanidine, but this risk differs from person to person.
Doctors sometimes prescribe a lower tizanidine dose to start treatment in older adults. They’ll then monitor how well the drug is working and adjust the dose slowly over time as needed.
Your body uses your kidneys to get rid of tizanidine after you take a dose. Kidney function tends to gradually decline as we age. This means older adults may not get rid of tizanidine as well. This could cause the drug to build up in your system, which may raise the risk of side effects.
Can tizanidine cause weight gain?
It’s unlikely. Weight gain isn’t a known side effect of tizanidine oral tablet.
Weight changes, including weight gain, have been reported with other muscle relaxants, including cyclobenzaprine and baclofen. But it’s not expected with tizanidine.
Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about your weight and whether medications you take could affect it.
Does tizanidine cause long-term side effects?
Yes, in some cases. Tizanidine oral tablet may cause withdrawal symptoms. These are side effects that can occur if you suddenly stop taking the drug after long-term use.
Examples of withdrawal symptoms reported with tizanidine include:
- rebound hypertension (a sudden increase in blood pressure)
- rapid heart rate
- hypertonia (rigid muscles)
Due to this risk, it’s important that you do not stop tizanidine without first talking with your doctor. If they agree with stopping the drug, they’ll likely lower your dosage slowly over time. Doing so will help reduce your risk of withdrawal symptoms after stopping tizanidine. For details about tizanidine’s dosage, see this article.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about possible long-term side effects with tizanidine.
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Side effects of tizanidine in detail
Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of tizanidine oral tablet.
Frequent urination
Increased frequency of urination was common in studies of people taking tizanidine oral tablet. This side effect is usually mild.
With this side effect, you need to urinate more frequently than usual. You may feel a greater urgency to urinate as well.
Frequent urination can be a symptom of a urinary tract infection (UTI), another side effect that was common in studies of tizanidine.
Ways to manage
If you experience symptoms of needing to urinate more frequently, tell your doctor. They can explore other possible causes for your symptoms, such as a UTI. In this case, they can prescribe a treatment, such as an antibiotic to treat the infection.
Your doctor may recommend exploring other treatments for muscle spasticity and stopping tizanidine if other possible causes for your symptoms aren’t found.
Low blood pressure
Low blood pressure was rare in studies of people taking tizanidine oral tablet. This side effect may be serious, as it can lead to falls.
You may also experience a drop in blood pressure when standing or sitting up (orthostatic hypotension). This can result in dizziness, fainting, falls, or other injuries.
Certain factors can increase your risk of low blood pressure with tizanidine oral tablet. These include:
- taking medications that lower blood pressure
- taking certain medications that interact with tizanidine
Ways to manage
To help reduce your risk of low blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe a low starting dosage of tizanidine, then slowly increase your dosage over time.
If you experience symptoms of low blood pressure, tell your doctor. They’ll likely recommend stopping treatment if your symptoms are severe, bothersome, or if you experience fainting due to low blood pressure while taking tizanidine.
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In studies, it was rare for people taking tizanidine oral tablet to develop liver damage. This side effect may be serious.
Symptoms of liver damage include:
- yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
- pain and swelling in your abdomen
- nausea and vomiting
- dark-colored urine
Certain factors can increase your risk of liver damage with tizanidine oral tablet. These include having an existing liver condition, such as cirrhosis.
Ways to manage
During treatment with tizanidine, your doctor will monitor your liver health with liver function tests. If they notice something unusual on a test, they may temporarily hold your tizanidine treatment or decrease your dosage.
If you experience symptoms of liver damage, tell your doctor right away. They’ll likely recommend making an appointment to evaluate your symptoms. Your doctor may have you stop taking tizanidine depending on their findings.
Allergic reaction
For some people, tizanidine oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction.
Symptoms can be mild or serious and may include:
- itchiness
- skin rash
- swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to tizanidine oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Warnings for tizanidine
Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking tizanidine oral tablet.
Warnings
It may not be safe for you to take tizanidine oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether tizanidine oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking tizanidine oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
- kidney conditions, such as chronic kidney disease
- liver conditions, such as fatty liver disease
- low blood pressure
- past allergic reaction to tizanidine
Tizanidine and pregnancy
It’s not known whether tizanidine oral tablet can be taken safely during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Tizanidine and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether tizanidine oral tablet should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.
Tizanidine and alcohol
Tizanidine oral tablet is known to interact with alcohol.
Consuming alcohol while taking tizanidine increases your risk of certain side effects, including:
- problems with balance and coordination
- weakness
- sleepiness
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with tizanidine oral tablet.
What to ask your doctor
This article describes common and serious side effects of tizanidine oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.
Here’s a list of some questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Do other muscle relaxants have similar side effects as tizanidine?
- Does my risk of liver damage decrease as I continue taking tizanidine?
- Based on my health history, am I at higher risk of side effects if I take tizanidine?
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.