Zanaflex for Muscle Spasm User Reviews (Page 2)

• candys...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2014

"I was prescribed this medication for muscle pain related to rheumatoid arthritis and chronic tendonitis. Personally I'm VERY sensitive to this medication and suffer the "rare: side effects slurred speech, hallucinations (only at night) disorientation (I've gotten lost in my own room twice when I take 4 mg) low heart rate. The highest dose I have taken is 8mg with Xanax for my anxiety, once I stayed awake although drowsy, I watched a movie; the second time I woke up in ICU for bradycardia, hypotension and change in level of consciousness. Despite talking this daily for 2 months, I still have side effects. My husband says this medicine makes me drunk. I have been taking 1mg at a time. It does work well."

• ison
• March 27, 2009

"I have degenerative disc disease, with anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (bone graft/metal plate and screws) of C5,C6 & C7; for 10 years. I suffer from frequent migraines, severe muscle spasms of the neck, left shoulder and left arm. I have tried every muscle relaxer on the shelf and Zanaflex has been the only one that actually gives me relief and comfort to function and sleep through the night. The only side effect that I have experienced is dry mouth. I just drink more water. I have constant pain and work 12-14 hours per day, six days a week. Zanaflex along with my pain medicines have allowed me to make it through the day without total misery. Also, upon waking in the morning, I don't have that "hangover" feeling as with others."

• Samson
• September 17, 2016

"I have been on xanaflex 4mg 3x a day that I take at night ti help me sleep. It helps the muscle spasms in my legs and allows me to sleep. The only problem I have is that it only lasts 4 hours and then I wake up. Works best if you take thr xanaflex, wait 30 minutes and then eat something and the xanaflex will work that much better."

• Cereb...
• November 1, 2013

"This medicine helps me sleep but that's the best i can say about it. It doesn't relieve pain or help relax my spastisity. If your pain and problems are only at night this is good for you. I hallucinate a lot once I adjusted to the dose it changed but if I ever have to take more than usual then I start to hear and see things......I had conversations with my husband in the middle of the night when he wasn't there. And many other accounts. I would suggest you use caution. I have a very high level of muscle pain for many reasons and I'm very spastic so its not a surprise that Zanaflex doesn't work as well as I'd like for me. I will continue to take it while i explore other options. It isn't a bad medication."

• Anonymous
• May 31, 2008

"Wonderful drug! Now available in Generic so doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I have severe disc and arthritic problems in my neck with severe muscle spasms and this really helps. At first when starting this medication it can cause a serious dopey feeling but this can be eased by gradually increasing the dose until benefits are produced. I am on 4mg 3 x a day and allowed to use 8 mg 3 x a day if my muscles are extremely spastic. Do not drive when taking this medication until you understand its effects."

• DrugE...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 6, 2015

"Take this for Neck Spasms after surgery. Taking now for 2 years. Had major surgery. Do not think this is good for me, anyways. I can not stay awake when I take it, thus, I have to take it only at night, and cannot drive, and please do not drive if you take this medication as it, for me, puts me right out. Told 3 doctors this, they will not give me another med for neck spasms and cramps so I use it as I can. It helps, but does make me dizzy and extremely sleepy. If you have sleep Apnea, be VERY cautious!"

• Anonymous
• August 23, 2008

"I have been on Zanaflex for about a month now. I have tried many muscle relaxers that have NOT worked at all. I take 4mg 3 times a day. It is a lot better than other medications I have been on, flexerol didn't do anything at all, and Soma just made me totally loopy. Zanaflex relaxes me so well while still allowing me to operate regularly. I highly recommend this medicine, and for those who are just starting this be careful when driving on this. For the first week I only took it before bed time, then on a day off work I took it shortly after waking up and noticed it didn't have any major effects on me except calming my back and neck spasms."

• Punky...
• August 4, 2014

"My mother had taken this for years for leg cramps. She started having hallucinations. She started by having a dream every night for about a month that involved the same people. When she woke up in the morning, her dreams had become reality for her. I finally convinced her to go off the medication and now no more problems. Her cardiologist suggested she go off the medication about 6 month before."

• booltr
• January 31, 2016

"Well, I really am satisfied w/this medicine. I take it combo w/my pain medication. I was in a car accident two years ago and aside from the pain meds helping me w/pain, this is what actually allows the muscles themselves able to relax so I can sleep better. The one I really can't stand is 'flexeril". I don't what the deal is w/that because of anything, it makes ALL of my extremeties "jump"...like restless leg, but restless EVERYWHERE...(the legs too). The big problem is actually I got a new pain dr., but he only believes in one muscle relaxer and that's baclofen, which does ansolutely NOTHING. His intern told me that I could take two at a time, and still nothing. "

• Daveg...
• January 13, 2012

"Have rupture disks in my lower back L4 L5. This is the best muscle relaxer for me, have taken about all of them. Better than Valium and Soma and they were 2 of the better muscle relaxers I had taken before!"

• Anonymous
• May 11, 2009

"I've been on Zanaflex for over a month now and all I can say is it really makes me sleep well. I take pain medicines for chronic low back pain and also take sleep medicines to make me sleep because the pain gets worse at night keeping me up. I wasn't happy when they gave me this instead of Soma, because I had great results with Soma. Now I can say I'm glad I did go on this medicine. I take 2 about 45 minutes before I want to turn in for the night. My spasms are relieved and I can sleep through most of the night and wake without any hangover effects. I'm glad I have this now."

• serve...
• September 15, 2010

"MRI reveals badly blown out cervical disc @ c4-5. Now, as long as I didn't do much, I wouldn't have much pain but getting anything done (like yardwork, working out with pushups, painting a wall...etc) was another story and would leave me in severe pain but always THE NEXT DAY and for at least several days afterward (I never really felt the pain on the day of the activity). Then, my doctor gave me Zanaflex, and now I take one 4 mg tab that night, the next day is pain free! I haven't noticed any side effects, no next day grogginess and even the quality of sleep is normal with pleasant dreaming; in fact, if anything my dreams are slightly easier to remember which shows plenty of REM."

• winat...
• July 9, 2008

"This is the best medication by far. I was originally given this medication for migraine headaches but in the process it has helped me with my severe back pain. I can finally sleep through the night. The best."

• Anonymous
• August 11, 2009

"I also have taken many muscle relaxants, including soma. When my doctor suggested this medicine to me I made sure that it was not a narcotic and habit forming. It is not. This is really been a blessing for me. Still makes me sleepy, but if taken with food wow it works!"

• 37188
• July 25, 2008

"I have been on Zanflex for about 2 months and it has helped tremendously for migraines, which is caused from bulging discs in my neck. I am taking 4mg 3 times a day and suffering with only one side effect which is dry mouth. I really recommend this to other's with my condition."

• cprice
• May 8, 2009

"I have been put on every muscle relaxant from Flexeril to Soma and then my neurologist tried me on Zanaflex last week for the first time. I have to say so far it's working pretty good. I feel a little drowsy but hopefully that will pass as my system gets used to it. At this point with my MS, I am willing to try anything in order to feel better and not hurt all the time. I'm thinking we are on to something here. At least that's what I'm praying for."

• singi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 1, 2014

"Zanaflex was working well for my lower back which has been an issue since a car accident in Oct of 2013. This has progressed to a point where I am waiting for an M.R.I. During the last 3 months I have been dealing with spasms in my left leg that went from annoying and limiting my ability to move around slightly to full blown, unbelievably painful leg spasms. The medication is no longer working. I am going to call my doctor on Monday and ask about Soma since it seems to have a much better score when it comes to stopping spasms."

• GgGi
• June 18, 2017

"Strained my rotator cuff, MD acute care practice prescribed 4mg. I asked both doctor and pharmacist if it was okay to take with Allegra D. Both said yes. Luckily I was safe at home. It was scary how sedated I was. I had set an alarm for an appointment 2hours after taking mess. I got out of bed and could hardly make it to the restroom. Needless to say I cancelled the appointment. Next time I took the Medicines separately and broke the 4 mg table into 1mg. I'm no lightweight but this was too strong for me."

• Chronic...
• April 14, 2010

"I have been living with chronic neck, back and migraine pain for several years now. In the beginning, my doctors had me go to physical therapy, take ibuprofen, or aspirin. None of these things ever really helped. After trying Flexeril and numerous anti-inflammatories, my pain management doctor did an MRI and found that among the many tension knots and twisting of my spine, I had bulging disks in my neck. He gave me Zanaflex to take at night. It knocks me out within 20 minutes but helps relax my back and neck so that I can get restful sleep - been on it for 3 months now! I highly recommend it for continuous back pain and it's even helped with my migraines. Be ready for bed though - very powerful!"

• Anonymous
• August 28, 2008

"I am very happy taking Zanaflex. I was originally put on it for migraines but after a major car accident they tried to put me on Soma which caused some side effects. I went back to Zanaflex and have never looked back."

• MiKe...
• September 18, 2009

"I had been having muscle spasms the Zanaflex helped. I suffer from real bad insomnia; I have been unable to find a medicine that would work for me and once prescribed Zanaflex I have been able to sleep every night as long as I have them. So if anyone else suffers from insomnia maybe they could try Zanaflex, it really helps."

• Suse
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 9, 2022

"I had muscle spasm from several neck surgeries. Diagnosed with DDD. I had been using carisoprodol for 21 years. I had to switch to a doctor that wouldn't prescribe carisoprodol. I was prescribed tizanidine and I am having a really bad experience. I have developed significant anxiety/nervousness. My eyes have gotten so dry that they're red. I can't sleep and experienced chest and right arm pain and a rapid heartbeat. My family is upset with me because I'm so anxious/nervous, and have become rude. I never had any of this before this drug. It's destroying my life and my doctor doesn't care. He doesn't believe any of these side effects. I'm taking 4mg four times a day. It helps a portion of the muscle spasms. I might like it if I didn't have these disturbing side effects. The carisoprodol was more effective for me."

• Anonymous
• April 13, 2012

"Been taking this for months for DDD/DJD (neck). I notice severe pain when I don't take this nightly but still have muscle pain even when I do. Main side effect is severe grogginess and dry mouth/hung over feeling. I have to be in bed about 20 mins after taking it or I am walking into walls literally. I have to drink a lot of water before bed to combat the hung over feeling. Recently switched back to Flexeril. Have also taken Robaxin but that didn't help much either. I get headaches when I take Tramadol and any narcotic so I take Tylenol during the day."

• victo...
• April 10, 2009

"I've been suffering with severe muscle spasms in neck, back, chest and shoulder since a whiplash incident 1-1/2 years ago. Other medicines previously prescribed include Soma and Flexeril, but results were insubstantial. I received substantial relief the first time I used Zanaflex and finally feel like I might be able to learn to live with this condition."

• Anonymous
• November 5, 2010

"I have disc disease. I take 4mg only at night. Knocks me out. This is the only medicine that has helped with my pain and my muscle spasms. I sleep well all night and lasts through until next day. Only been taking it for 3 days. Finally found a good muscle relaxer. Only side effect I have noticed is dry mouth. I think it is great. "