Cyclobenzaprine vs Zanaflex tizanidine: Muscle Relaxer Side Effects

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.

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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.

What are the types of muscle relaxers?

Muscle spasticity occurs when skeletal muscles contract involuntarily and cannot relax. The symptoms can range from mild discomfort to intense, severe pain. Although all skeletal muscle relaxants should be used with caution in older patients, diazepam especially should be avoided in older patients or in patients with significant cognitive or hepatic impairment. Four popular muscle relaxants are Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine), baclofen, Robaxin (methocarbamol), and Zanaflex (tizanidine). Flexeril (a discontinued brand name in the U.S. that is still used to refer to the drug cyclobenzaprine) works at the brainstem, just below the brain, decreasing muscle activity by acting upon motor nerves. Robaxin (methocarbamol) is not fully understood, but may work on the brain and/or spinal cord.

• While both medications are muscle relaxers, they differ in side effects, risks, and what they are used to treat.
• Flexeril is a muscle relaxant that can be prescribed as part of a treatment for muscle spasticity that includes physical therapy and rest.
• Although rare, these signs can indicate a potentially life-threatening condition requiring urgent care.
• It is intended for general informational purposes and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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.

What are the side effects of cyclobenzaprine and Zanaflex?

Treatment on either medicine starts with a small dose that is gradually increased under a doctor or pharmacist’s direction. Some muscle relaxants cause greater drowsiness than others, especially certain benzodiazepines. There is limited research as to which muscle relaxers work “better” than others. In the end, the choice is largely based on personal preference, possible side effects, and the potential for abuse and drug dependence. There are risks involved in taking prescription or OTC muscle relaxers.

This action helps relieve muscle spasms and tension that contribute to musculoskeletal pain. While muscle relaxants may provide short-term relief of acute lower back pain and muscle spasms, these medications can cause adverse side effects. Both tizanidine (Zanaflex) and cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) are effective muscle relaxants commonly used for the treatment of muscle spasms.

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Although it is an FDA-approved anxiolytic, it helps relieve muscle tension and spasms from anxiety or panic attacks. However, Xanax is primarily used to treat seizures, anxiety disorder, and premenstrual syndrome. These medications can further increase the side effects of tizanidine.

Tizanidine has been shown to help with spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis. For musculoskeletal problems, such as acute neck or back pain, both cyclobenzaprine and tizanidine were proven to be helpful. Tizanidine and cyclobenzaprine are muscle relaxants that help treat muscle pain from fibromyalgia.

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.

The drug information provided is intended for reference only and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. This material is provided for educational flexeril.live purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 3 Sep 2023), Cerner Multum™ (updated 28 Aug 2023), ASHP (updated 10 Aug 2023) and others. Tizanidine and cyclobenzaprine use in high doses can cause liver damage.