Tizanidine vs Flexeril Comparison and Other Zanaflex Alternatives

It is always essential to seek professional advice when getting treatment. A doctor can help the individual to select the best substitute for Zanaflex and choose between Flexeril, Baclofen, and Soma. Another potent and occasionally used muscle-relaxing drug is Valium. Diazepam, marketed as Valium, is a benzodiazepine that is available in oral suspension tablets and injections. In contrast, Alprazolam causes severe after-effects such as memory loss, decreased libido, and speech disturbances and is also habit-forming.

It is often used in combination with other drugs to achieve combined results. Evidence exists to support the pain-relief afforded by Diazepam, as well as to support it as a short-term adjunct to allow for the provision of other treatment that would otherwise by intolerable. For example, if you have insomnia (trouble sleeping) due to muscle spasms, your doctor may prescribe sedating muscle relaxants like cyclobenzaprine or tizanidine. On the other hand, if you prefer a muscle relaxant with a less sedative effect, your healthcare provider may choose methocarbamol or metaxalone. Various musculoskeletal conditions can lead to tense, cramping muscles or muscle spasms.

Cyclobenzaprine Addiction Overview

Inform patients that they should not take more Zanaflex than prescribed because of the risk of adverse events at single doses greater than 8 mg or total daily doses greater than 36 mg. Tell patients that they should not suddenly discontinue Zanaflex, because does flexeril show up in drug test rebound hypertension and tachycardia may occur. Muscle relaxers can be very effective for the treatment of severe muscle, joint, back, or neck pain. With that said, they are not intended for long-term use and should only be taken as prescribed.

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• The dosage may then be increased to 2 to 4 mg every one to four days.
• Some people find that taking an OTC pain reliever and muscle relaxant together provides maximum benefit, especially at night, to help with sleep problems and reduce daytime drowsiness.
• Doctors prescribe metaxalone in combination with rest, physical therapy, and other nondrug treatment strategies for painful muscle conditions.
• Comparison studies have not shown one skeletal muscle relaxant to be superior to another.

Among those known to be habit-forming are Amrix, Ativan, Restoril, Soma, and Valium. It is for this reason that these drugs are generally not prescribed for longer than four weeks when used for acute musculoskeletal pain. Cyclobenzaprine, marketed under the brand name Flexeril among others, is another commonly prescribed muscle relaxant with roughly 16.7 million prescriptions filled in the USA during the same year. This makes it one of the most widely-used drugs within this class, accounting for nearly half of all muscle relaxant prescriptions nationwide.

It functions over a prolonged time period via first order kinetics, with a half-life of up to 18 hours, and is ultimately excreted via the kidney. Skeletal muscle relaxants are often prescribed for musculoskeletal conditions including low back pain, neck pain, fibromyalgia, tension headaches, and myofascial pain syndrome. The goals of treatment include managing muscle pain and improving functional status so the patient can return to work or resume previous activities. It is a muscle relaxant indicated for acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions such as neck or back pain.

Cyclobenzaprine vs. Zanaflex

The drug comparison information found in this article does not contain any data from clinical trials with human participants or animals performed by any of the drug manufacturers comparing the drugs. They may then increase the dosage, depending on the person’s response. Antispastics and antispasmodics have different indications and side effects.

Generic forms may be sold under Amrix, an extended-release capsule, and Fexmid, an immediate-release capsule. The medication also works on the central nervous system and blocks nerve signals to the brain, which helps to relax muscles and prevent spasms. Common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, and muscle weakness.

If you think you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call your doctor immediately or call 911 (if within the United States). Our writers and reviewers are experienced professionals in medicine, addiction treatment, and healthcare. AddictionResource fact-checks all the information before publishing and uses only credible and trusted sources when citing any medical data.

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Currently, there is no clinical data showing a direct comparison between these two drugs. Tizanidine and Flexeril are both muscle relaxers that can be used with a physical therapy program. If your doctor has presented these options to you, you may be considering which one is right for you and wondering how they compare. Read on to find out what each drug does so that you are informed when you speak with your doctor about the best medication to take.

Some of these medications work on the central nervous system (brain, brain stem, and spinal cord); typically, they inhibit activity between the nerve signals in the brain and the spinal cord. In other words, this type of muscle relaxant provides the muscle-relaxing effect by interfering with nerve activity, in turn, reducing the pain and discomfort caused by a muscle spasm. Examples of centrally acting agents include baclofen, carisoprodol, methocarbamol, and tizanidine.