Is my dosage too high? I have only been on it 6 days, and yesterday I heard voices twice when no one was around. It has totally helped my pain, but I also have eye pressure/pain but it goes as quickly as it comes, but on a daily basis.
Has anyone experienced hallucinations, like hearing voices while taking Zanaflex?
Question posted by cathi1960 on 10 May 2011
Last updated on 8 October 2023
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
35 Answers Page 2
AkuChibi
30 Jan 2019
I've been on Zanaflex/Tizanidine since I was 17. I'm 25 now. In the past 2 years, the hallucinations have started. I didn't think it was this medication causing it at first because I'd been on it for so long and never had them, but had gotten a new medication which I thought must have been causing it. I started getting vivid hallucinations, night terrors, and just very vivid dreams in general. I eventually stopped taking this other medication a few months after starting, when the hallucinations became too intense. They started as seeing bugs or shadows in bed with me, or sometimes hearing someone shout and wake me up. I worked nights so slept during the day which I think saved me from the worst of it, because it was light in my room. I quit that other medication and moved into a new apartment which had a very dark bedroom even during the day, and that's where the bad stuff started.
I'd see shadows, bugs, feel like I was levitating. All the usual. Eventually I made myself quit opening my eyes if I was half-asleep. Then the hallucinations became auditory. I turned my sleep music up but it didn't help. Often, I'd hear my music and wouldn't understand any of the words, even though it was the same music i'd been listening to for years while I slept, to keep the hallucinations away. I realized that I'd been having these hallucinations since I started the medication, but wrote them off as waking dreams or something. Just started sleeping with sleep music to compensate, so I'd hear that instead of thinking I heard anything else. Anyway, eventually the hallucinations changed again.
When I started feeling things, I started panicking. I remember nearly fleeing from my apartment, around 2pm, because I felt the bed shift like someone had sat down on the edge of it. I felt something touch me. I screamed "NO" and fled the bedroom, made it all the way to the apartment door where I then stood hovering, telling myself to 'wake up' because I knew it was a hallucination. I would get extremely terrified, but the second I woke up enough to realize I was finally awake, I wouldn't be scared at all. I went right back to my room and went to bed, woke up a few hours later and went to work.
Now it's about several times a week I wake up seeing things. I try not to sleep at night, or if I do, I keep the lights on and make sure my dog is on the bed with me. If anyone shares a bed with me, I freak them out sometimes by either completely not understand them at all when they're speaking to me, or waking up screaming and just acting 'off' until I wake up enough to realize what's happening. On one occasion my boyfriend had to coax me from running out of the room in a panic at something he couldn't see, and in my out-of-it mind I couldn't explain to him what happened, just that I was absolutely terrified. Once I woke up enough a few seconds later, I just climbed back into bed and said 'sorry, hallucination, not real' and went back to bed.
On several occasions, since moving back home, I've woken the whole house up screaming bloody murder while running through the house. I remember feeling like I was floating up out of my bed, like I was dying and scrambling to get back to my body, and upon making it back to my 'bed', I scrambled out of it and was out the door and running through the house into the doorway of my parents' bedroom screaming for help. It took them 2 seconds to get out of bed and come running at me to see what was wrong, and by that time I'd woken up enough to realize what happened. I was a shaking, trembling mess for hours afterward, but I instantly realized what happened and calmly said "nightmare, sorry. Go back to bed." and went back to bed myself. I had somehow climbed out of bed without disturbing 2 of the cats sleeping with me, even though I was moving so quickly I wasn't even awake before making it halfway through the house.
I honestly never thought it'd be this medication doing this to me because I've been on it for so long and it's only recently started doing this to me. I'm now afraid to sleep at night and when I do sleep, prone to night terrors and hallucinations. At least in the daylight they're not as scary. But feeling like you can see things through your closed eyelids is horrifying, especially if the image you're trying to hide from is terrifying.
"I'm either haunted or hallucinating" has become my new catchphrase. It's one of the above.
Does anyone know why this would randomly start happening out of nowhere? I mean, I thought it was that new medication doing it to me, but I've been off that for almost 2 years and these hallucinations are just getting worse.
Yelrabe
16 Dec 2018
I have very vivid hallucinations. I take 100mg Amitriptyline and 4mg Tizanidine at bedtime due to chronic migraines. It makes me tired. If I stay up past the tired feeling, I hallucinate.
I have vivid visions of ppl I do not know. It is like I am watching a movie. I also so shapes and bugs. I thought I was alone.
If I up my dosage of Tizanidine, I am not sleep. When I start to fall asleep, my body jolts and wakes me up. It is painful.
Yelrabe
30 Jan 2019
It is very common to hallucinate on this drug, a lot more so if you are overly tired. I had to get up an hour after I feel asleep to let the furbabies out, and I was hallucinating. Sometimes it is overwhelming.
Yesgirl66
19 Nov 2018
I have had some pretty crazy hallucinations from Zanaflex. It would start with an almost "rotting flesh" smell. Then, I would see neon graffiti-like writing all over my bedroom walls. There were also Video Cameras mounted all around my room. I would see dead people and one that even came crawling out of my ceiling fan. These hallucinations seemed so real to me that I actually believed them.
AngieMac69
6 Nov 2018
Sounds to me like most of y'all are experiencing sleep paralysis! Read up on it if you haven't heard of it before!
ChreeMiriah
13 Sep 2018
Hello all, I too have had the vivid hallucinations, specifically of spiders crawling all around me and the worst experience no pun intended was probably seeing Trumps face on my wall. When I saw that I really thought I was losing it. I wanted to add my experience and see if anyone was also taking Luvox, because I just found out from my pharmacist and doctor that these can no longer be taken together because Luvox increases the concentration of Zanaflex drastically in your blood. This means when your taking 2 milligrams you are really taking 70mg. This could be a reason for the hallucinations, since hallucinations are already listed as a rare side effect, taking both drugs could be making this worse. I too had no hallucinations for years on Zanaflex, but then started Luvox, and the hallucinations started with a vengeance. The timeline adds up and they have done studies showing these two meds are dangerous together. Hope everyone can figure out a better option for muscle pain and stay safe. Also I think the the interaction showed me my worst fears, since I always saw spiders.
Mkesgrl
8 May 2018
One night I forgot I had already taken my night time dosage, and took another one, I had lucid frightening visions for hours. Ill never take that much ever again. I now have pills in a daily pill case so that I know I took them. I too have great results with this muscle relaxer. Much more relief then cycobenzadrine, which I had been on for at least 6 years.
As long as you take the lower dosage that relieves the pain all should be fine.
Havilah
7 May 2018
I have both auditory and severe visual hallucinations when taking Tizanidine. I thought it was just me having these issues, or that I was losing my mind for good. It would be helpful and encouraging to hear from others who also deal with these unpleasant side effects. Thanks.
MIMIVI
9 July 2018
I’m so glad to read I’m not the only one. I was prescribed this for severe migraines / hemiplegic. I began experiencing the same as I’m reading here. Spiderwebs growing rapidly in the corner of my room and the more I would watch it the faster it would grow and reach out to me. I’ve seen what I believed to be evil entities crawling to my bed. Figures standing at my bed. All while I’m wide awake describing what I’m seeing to my husband who thinks I’m crazy. Turn the lights on it’s gone. I’ve seen a shadowy cat like figure around my legs when I had gotten up to get something to drink because of the severe thirst I get from this. I’m just glad to know I’m not the only one. But find it strange that everyone’s hallucinations are relatively the same.
JB1056
15 July 2018
No, it's not just you. I have been taking this drug for a few months now due to horrendous back spasms. Until two nights ago I had no problem. I'm very forgetful lately and it's really starting to bother me, even the simplest things,,, I don't remember. I'm 61 and wondered if it was early dementia. The other night when I took my night time meds, I got to my room and couldn't remember if I had taken the Tizanidine, so I went out and took two more. It was dark so I may have accidently taken more than that. Thats what I take right before bed so I can sleep without pain. How much time passed, I have no idea but I thought I was driving through my neighborhood which now I know I was because I was screaming and crying and banging on the door of my neighbor at 5am. Which he has confirmed Before this I was in bed with my dog and looked at the ceiling and it was a red background with symbols that looked to be chinese.
Then I saw something move under the covers next to me. I pulled the covers back..nothing there. I got down on the floor and looked under the bed and saw a huge cobra, and a smarll one.. I got back on the bed and held my dog close to me not knowing what else to do. Then at the foot of the bed I saw the large snake sliver up, and I shined my flashlight on him and he was gone. I ran to the front door and the dead bolt was jammed or so I thought... I felt trapped in my own home. I was so panicked I broke out a window with my fist but still could not get out, all the while screaming HELP ME. I finally called 911 and an officer came over..(I think) and looked under the bed and said "There's nothing there" I told him they disappear in the light.. I am amazed in didn't take me in and put me in the crazy house. It was probably the worst night of my life. I'm never taking that med again..I will suffer with the pain. I hope this helps someone, anyone before you go through what I did. God Bless
EddyV
12 April 2018
Hi, I thought was alone in this. So thanks to the original poster.
I have had very very vivid hallucinations when I took Zanaflex. They were both visible and audible. I typed out my experiences with these hallucinations and very dark feelings. But for some reason it didn't post and I'm not doing it all again. Let me just say I will never take it again. I don't recommend it to anyone. I.know everyone experience different things and Zanaflex works well for my muscle spasms... but I won't deal with this "Known side effect". I retained all memories of my interactions with the hallucinations. The first time was pretty cool. The second was very very dark and sad... I don't want to have it again. I was in a trance like state and very unstable but still aware of my surroundings while this was happening. Luckily my wife was with. She nearly called 911. Probably should have but I told not to.
I learned not to touch the hallucination because they would disappear. I was interacting and taking with them. As I said I remember all of it. First time was really cool. Second time, I cannot begin to explain how dark, sad and lonely the feelings and hallucinations were. It's 8:23am, I haven't slept. I don't have that dark feeling now but remember the feeling and never want to experience it again. I've never done lsd or shooms but can imagine this is what it would be like. I don't like it. I don't want it. I don't suggest Zanaflex to anyone.
Take care of yourselves.
Much Love, Ed
Boymomof32017
27 March 2018
So glad to know I'm not alone I thought there was honestly something in my house because of some of the things I've seen lately it's been a black dark figure and it scares me because it's been by my baby's playpen and looked like standing inside it as well. I only take it at night due to how sleepy it makes me not to mention the dry mouth is horrible . Last night my husband even said I was yelling at him half asleep saying to be quiet he woke up the baby and everything else but the baby was asleep . I've even seen it looks like creatures crawling on the ceiling and corners and have even thought someone was crawling on my bed or just standing staring at me it's been crazy but now I know it's the medicine and nothing has helped me like it does to rest due to my back and neck problems
Bebeevita
11 Dec 2017
I also have the same thing happening to me zanaflex has been a godsend for me but that little draw back I see neon shapes everywhere more when its dark i see a little dog but whats weird is that its like floating around playing like a puppy would also see ribons floating around me another thing thats so bizzare is that i close my eyes and see the inside of a house ive never been in and in detail crazy crazy but i also know its not real oh and the vivid dreams too.. Its nice to know am not alone in this..
Mkesgrl
8 May 2018
You are not alone. I took another pill one night thinking I hadn't and soon realized oops. I had the worst night. I saw things in the dark that started out I felt like I was watching tv. Then the visions went all scarey. When I closed my eyes I felt like I was traveling to different places but at a super rate if speed. It scared me to the point that I woke my hubby up and explained to him what was going on. I made him take my blood presure and call an all night pharmacy to ask questions. They told him if my blood pressure was high and I couldnt calm down to take me to E.R. this is an all too common side effect. I never did any recreational drugs but had people I know who did and this seems to be simular to an acid or paeote trip. NO THANK YOU. I wouldn't ever do this on purpose. I am clairvoyant not crazy so Im use to hearing voices, and seeing visitors. But this was nothing like that.
I too can only take this med when I have time to rest. I would never attempt to take it and drive, it makes me too sleepy. It helps with muscle pain and tension, from my fibromialga and PSA. I also take Norco 10 for pain, but have learned taking a pain pill with it keeps me awake. I pray you find a dosage that works for you as it does do a good job to relieve the pain from muscles and aides sleep.
KJMcF
12 June 2019
I posted a comment about seeing ghosts, but I forgot about seeing the inside of a house I'd never been in!! Yes it is VERY detailed. It was almost like my soul had actually traveled to someone else's home and I was walking around inside looking at everything in each room. I thought that was really weird and was afraid to say anything to anyone. I've heard of government "astral projection" experiments and that's what I thought it was.. hard to feel so sleepy but afraid to close your eyes. When you keep your eyes open you see even worse things. Weird drug.
gypsyreese
22 Aug 2017
Yes, but I thought this odd because I had been on this for over a year before I started experiencing any hallucinations. It always made me extremely drowsy and lightheaded which is why I only took one a day instead of three and took it right before bed. But all of a sudden I started seeing giant millipedes in my bed and the ceiling of my bedroom looked like it was starting to droop down It really freaked me out because it was all so real. I have now been switched to skelaxin so we will see if that does similar things after a while. So far so good.
Va1234
29 June 2018
Same with me. I loved this medicine and took two pills for pain once a day, though the prescription said I could take it 3 x a day. I was fine for over six months. Then all of a sudden I took just one pill because I hadn't taken it for a while. I started seeing weird things when my eyes were closed. Like scrolling twitter feeds or scenes from tv. I thought, maybe it's not the medicine and tried it one more time for a migraine. I fell asleep and woke up or felt like I was awake and saw horrible images like movie clips, some scenes that seemed real happening in front of me, odd pictures of like horror movie characters. I knew then it was the meds and realized I'd have to wait until it wore off. I'll never take it again, which is too bad because it did help with pain.
JBC4033
6 June 2017
DzooBaby nailed it. I have to take it with pain meds, other muscle relaxers.and Neurontin. It's like you are wide awake and drift off into a really deep daydream. I eventually do Drift Off to Sleep and sleep really, really good! Be very careful with this medication and please don't drive on it. I wouldn't want to see anything happen to you or anybody else. Sometimes I do think I hear voices and other sounds but I'm not sure if it's real or not. This stuff knocks me out really fast usually. It's like one minute I'm wide awake and the next minute waking up groggy. I have to admit with the combination of my other medications that it has stopped some neurological issues such as twitching and jerking and helps with pain. I hope things get better for you as you graduate month by month and build up a tolerance. Best of luck my friend!!!
Lwal
11 May 2017
I had terrible, frightening hallucinations and some were just crazy. I saw cat heads poppin out on me like Hollywood squares or Brady bunch. Moving paper clips. I got so mad at something ( I can't even remember what) and threatened to call 911 very late on a Saturday night. And then I did it. I kept calling the Sr's office but they wouldn't have him call me and wouldn't give me an appt.Sounds far-fetched but true. Eventually I just changed to another DR who took me off of them right away. Why don't Drs realize WE PAY THEM? Without our insurance, copay's and whatever they wouldn't have a practice. I just wanted to tell him what was happening and hear HIM reassure me. Too much to ask?
Dermagirl34
23 April 2017
Hey Guys! What started out as a godsend for chronic pain due to an injury has turned into a word experience. I feel like a zombie on this stuff and I don't even take full dosage of three times a day. I also get the eye pressure and in my ears to has anyone had that sensation on their scalp like someone tickled the back your neck? Like the chills up your spine and through your hair? I haven' t had any visual hallucinations but even right now, I hear like mumbled voices. I also have weird day dreams and extremely vivid dreams but thank goodness, no nightmares. However, I would have to believe there's something that works without all of these side effects. Definitely talking to my doc when I see him May. Good luck, y'all!!
Barger39
4 April 2017
Yes. I was having fainting spells and my dose was reduced then out of the blue one night, I saw kittens in my hallway. I would bend over and then they were gone but as soon as I looked they were there again. My brain knew there were no kittens at my feet but I still kept trying to get them. So strange, I have never had anything do that to me before. I went straight to bed.
Related topics
zanaflex, pain, dosage, hallucination
Further information
- Zanaflex uses and safety info
- Zanaflex prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Zanaflex (detailed)
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