Tizanidine 4 mg

Generic Name: tizanidine
Brand names: Zanaflex

Tizanidine (Zanaflex) tablets contain the active ingredient tizanidine, which is a type of medicine known as an alpha-2-adrenoceptor agonist. Tizanidine is used as a muscle relaxant, in conditions such as multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury or disease.
Tizanidine works by blocking the alpha-2-adrenoceptors in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). The effect of this is to 'damp down' the nerve signals that are carried in the spinal cord to the muscles. This reduces the contraction and tension in the muscles.
In conditions where there is painful or disabling muscle spasm, tizanidine can help to reduce stiffness and enable people to undergo rehabilitation that increases their mobility.
Before taking tizanidine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: low blood pressure or heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease. This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause blurred vision. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness or clear vision until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages.
To minimize dizziness, stand up slowly when arising from a sitting or lying position.

Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• Dry mouth.
• Drowsiness.
• Nausea.
• Fatigue.
• Dizziness.
• Disturbances of the gut such as diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain.
• Low blood pressure (hypotension).
• Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia).
• False perceptions of things that are not really there (hallucinations).
• Slow heart rate (bradycardia).
• Skin reactions, such as itching, rash.
• Alteration in results of liver function tests.
• Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis) or liver failure.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the medicine's manufacturer.