Tizanidine for muscle spasm

About tizanidine

Tizanidine belongs to a group of medicines called muscle relaxants. Muscle relaxants are medicines that are used to prevent or reduce muscle spasms and spasticity. Spasticity occurs when muscles contract tightly and become stiff and harder to use. It often causes pain and discomfort.

Tizanidine is used to relieve spasticity which results from long-term conditions such as sclerosi multipla and following long-term injuries to the head or back. It works on the nerves in your brain and spine to help relax affected muscles.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking tizanidine it is important that your doctor knows:

• Se hai problemi con il funzionamento del tuo fegato, o problemi con il funzionamento dei tuoi reni.

• Se sei incinta o stai allattando.

• Se stai assumendo o utilizzando altri medicinali. Questo include qualsiasi medicinale che stai assumendo e che è disponibile per l'acquisto senza prescrizione, così come i medicinali a base di erbe e complementari.

• Se hai mai avuto una reazione allergica a un medicinale.

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about tizanidine and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• When starting the treatment, your doctor will give you a small dose (usually 2 mg once daily) and will then gradually increase your dose at 3- to 4-day intervals. This allows your doctor to make sure that you have the dose that helps your condition but avoids any unwanted symptoms. Tizanidine tablets have a relatively short time of action, so you will be prescribed several doses to take each day once you are on a maintenance dose.

• Swallow the tablet with a drink of water. You can take tizanidine either before or after meals.

• Continue to take tizanidine exactly as your doctor tells you to. Your dose will be printed on the label of the pack to remind you about what your doctor said to you. Once you are established on a regular dose of tizanidine, try to take your doses at the same times of day each day, as this will help you to remember to take them.

• If you do forget to take a dose, take it when you remember unless your next dose is about due. If it is nearly time for your next dose then take the next dose when it is due but leave out the forgotten dose. Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed dose.

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check on your progress. You will need to have some blood tests from time to time to check that your liver is working properly.

• Tizanidine can cause drowsiness and may affect your reactions. Be careful this does not put you at risk if you are using any tools or machines, or if you drive.

• It is recommended that you do not drink alcohol while you are on tizanidine. This is because the risk of side-effects, such as feeling sleepy and dizzy, is increased.

• Continue to take the tablets unless your doctor tells you otherwise - treatment with tizanidine is usually long-term. Suddenly stopping treatment can cause problems, so your doctor will want you to reduce your dose gradually if this becomes necessary.

• Se devi sottoporti a un'operazione o a un trattamento dentale, informa la persona che eseguirà il trattamento sui medicinali che stai assumendo.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with tizanidine. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Se si verificano altri sintomi che ritieni possano essere dovuti alle compresse, ti preghiamo di consultare il tuo medico o farmacista per ulteriori consigli.

• Tenere tutti i medicinali fuori dalla portata e dalla vista dei bambini.

• Conservare in un luogo fresco e asciutto, lontano da fonti di calore e luce diretta.