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Tizanidine User Reviews & Ratings

Brand names: Zanaflex

Tizanidine has an average rating of 6.1 out of 10 from a total of 357 reviews on Drugs.com. 48% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 30% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Tizanidine

  • Rin
  • February 26, 2020

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "I have been on this medication Zanaflex for a few months due to degenerative disc disease in my neck, spine and lower back...I also have arthritis in my neck and back with severe muscle spasms. This medicine has helped me so much. It's not addictive and not a controlled substance which is fantastic. I wont take pain pills....I take 4mg 3 times a day and it helps me sleep."

10 / 10
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351 Report
  • Star
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • October 18, 2019

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "I have been on this medication Zanaflex for 17 years, it has always helped, I've never developed a tolerance to it. It does put me to sleep but with my condition I need to rest. I have yet to find a drug that does what this drug does. I have tried flexerill, robaxin and baclofen none of them do what zanaflex does"

10 / 10
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269 Report
  • Catz
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • November 20, 2020

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "I have been taking 4mg Zanaflex for years after a terrible car accident. After trying other muscle relaxers I can say this one is the best for me. Make sure you are ready for bed because you will go to bed. It does not make you groggy in the morning."

10 / 10
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206 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • south...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 4, 2013

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "Zanaflex has really helped me. I had major hip surgery last year and have had a very difficult time bouncing back. After the surgery I became very weak, lost significant amounts of muscle definition and tone, which resulted in a weakened lower back and core. I now live in excruciating pain, my L5 & S1 has completely compressed with my sciatic nerve in the middle. I have extreme nerve pain, and hypersensitivity down my right leg. Daily chores are very difficult, and my love for fitness now feels like a daunting chore. My doctor switched me from Soma to Zanaflex. At first I didn't like it because it made me extremely drowsy and would knock me out. Now I am used to the side effects and can honestly say that this medication is the best muscle relaxer I have ever taken. It reduces back pain, loosens up the tightness, and compliments my oxycodone very nicely. I can finally "function" again, and exercise, lift weights, and do my daily duties as a house wife & mother."

10 / 10
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434 Report
  • Darla
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 29, 2020

For Muscle Spasm "I'm using 4mg tizanidine for muscle and severe, chronic back, pain. The pain prevents sleep but using this drug has helped a lot. During the day I only take 1/2 (2mg). I'm sleepy but I can still function and I don't leave the house. At night I take 1 tablet (4mg) and it wipes me out for 4-5 hours. It's wonderful to be able to sleep again. Conclusion: It works for severe back pain, muscle spasms, muscle pain, and aids with sleep. I'm so grateful. Cons: It gives me a dry, scratchy throat. I'm too relaxed to do anything. Leaving the house is not an option. It's got to be better than taking more pain meds."

10 / 10
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186 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • Joshua...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • October 5, 2016

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "I just had L5-S1 Lumbar Herniated Disc Surgery.. 3 weeks after the surgery, I started leaning to the left due to fluid infection surrounding the disc.. My Dr gave me Oxycodone and Tizanidine for the excruciating pain.. Tizanidine / Zanaflex is definitely a 10 when it come to Sciatica and Spasms! Only lasts 3-4 hours, but it works best when combined with pain meds.. Hope y'all find this helpful.."

10 / 10
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289 Report
  • Hailan
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 3, 2019

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "I just started on zanaflex and I've never experienced such an effective muscle relaxer. I have MS and get really painful spasms and cramps. Have been on Baclofen for years (which hasn't been particularly helpful) and have also tried flexeril and skelaxin, which also did nothing. After taking the zanaflex, I actually felt my muscles relaxing (imagine that!) and could feel blood moving/tingling through my system. Was wonderful. The only problem is that, as others have said, it makes you REALLY drowsy, so I can't take the recommended 4mg dose 3x a day. I'm taking a quarter tablet twice in the daytime and then a full tablet late in the evening when I'm winding down for bed. I will also note that I had been assuming that the occasional slurred speech I was experiencing was a sign of my worsening MS, and now I'm reading reviews showing that Baclofen sometimes does that (!). So, I'm eager to get off that for a bit and see if this might be a better option for me long-term."

9 / 10
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188 Report
  • Jesus...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • February 14, 2019

For Muscle Spasm "I have been taking this medicine for chronic pain for about 9 years and it works great for me. I was talking Flexeril but it didn't work. However, the tizanidine does make me sleepy, but mainly for the first 30 mins or so, but after that I am fine. I haven't had any crazy side effects from this medicine. Even though I have been taking the medication so long, it still works just as it did when I first started taking it. Hope this help!"

10 / 10
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179 Report
  • LAFS
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • April 4, 2014

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "I have Multiple Sclerosis and was excited to begin Zanaflex as soon as it was approved in 1996. I had studied it for quite some time as it was in use in 47 countries before the US. I Love it and have had great results to this day with it. I'm not sure if it is very well presented or explained to patients; however, this is a very unique skeletal muscle relaxant & it actually targets the actual nerves of the patient. When you begin treatment it is important to note that for the 1st 2-3 weeks it is taking effect in your system. Great medicine!"

10 / 10
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289 Report
  • CaDom...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • August 25, 2018

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "I have severe muscle spasms in my neck. My doctor prescribed this when I was in her office in total agony. It was like heaven. I take 4mg tabs, but I can't do 3x a day, so I break one in half if needed, but I feel so good when I wake up. This drug has made a world of difference in my life."

10 / 10
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185 Report
  • Old...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • October 15, 2017

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "I am a retired nurse and was in a near fatal MVA several years ago putting an end to my career of nursing. I broke many bones and had to have some bones pieced together with screws and steel plates. My overall health is good but mobility issues were a problem as I had gained a lot of weight because of my activity level was severely decreased. I became severely depressed, couldn't sleep because the pain was so severe and only worsened as time went by. I couldn't use my hands at times because the spasms would be so bad that I at times was dropping items of whatever I was holding in my hands. My legs cramped so bad at night that it was almost impossible to get adequate sleep, My doctor started me then on Zanaflex. It has helped tremendously ."

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  • Redneck
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • August 27, 2020

For Muscle Spasm "1st & foremost, this tizanidine side effect does not go away... It will knock you out! You will feel drunk and fall asleep. Period! 2nd when I 1st started taking this I would have like sleep paralysis/nightmares where I felt like something was beside the bed or over in the dark corner of the room and I COULD NOT MOVE OR SPEAK. I was trying to/wanted to call out my husbands name but again I couldn't move or speak! But that has gone away. Have fun. Don't try to take this at work. You WILL fall asleep & I take Adderall as well.."

8 / 10
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116 Report
  • dailey
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • March 30, 2015

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "I first was given Zanaflex about 14 years ago. I had had lower back surgery and some time later started taking it for muscle spasms, with me not playing with muscle relaxers, afraid of damaging my heart, because your heart is a muscle..therefore, I'm real careful with taking relaxants. I love it, it helps alot..and since I'm much older, I'm even more careful. But recently I was in a car accident and hurt my neck and my left shoulder, I was given robaxin which is a skeletal relaxer/ muscle relaxer..it really helps with this new pain. But, I'm not taking the zanaflex and the robin for now. I give zanaflex a ten. It works Great! Hope I was able to help someone."

10 / 10
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222 Report
  • joyce
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 2, 2013

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "I have chronic pain from several herniated discs and spinal stenosis. I also have fibromyalgia. I began taking Zanaflex last month and the relief is wonderful. I no longer hurt and spasm all night and now I can sleep instead. I take 4mg tabs 2 at bedtime and go immediately to bed as it makes me drowsy right away and I become dizzy if I stay up. I wake up rested with no hangover at all and feel good the next day. I take narcotics during the day for pain relief and the addition of this to my regimen is great. I love it."

10 / 10
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246 Report
  • crazy...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 19, 2018

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "It works well to relieve pain, but at the cost of an astronomical exhaustion. This drug makes me so tired that walking to the fridge is a tremendous task. I could sleep on the floor. Probably the most effective muscle relaxer I've taken, but my quality of life - even 24 hours later - is nil."

6 / 10
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132 Report
  • Turkey
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • September 6, 2012

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "Zanaflex is great for muscle spasms as I have them from Osteoarthritis in my spine, also spinal stenosis. If you are on any heart meds, please use the interactions checker because it may cause severe drops in blood pressure. I am taking Lisinopril, Hydrochlorothiazide and Metoprolol for heart arrhythmias and my blood pressure was dropping to dangerous levels. All of my specialists knew what medicines I was taking, but none of them noticed the interactions. I checked them myself here at Drugs.com and found the RED FLAGS myself, so be careful."

7 / 10
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226 Report
  • egg...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • April 22, 2015

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "I've been on these for about 8 years. They work good on low back pain, DJD and bulging disc on my neck. Along with other pain killers it works good, but don't drive while on them. They do make you sleepy fast and also they tend to lower your blood pressure and you will get dizzy standing up. You can get a good night sleep on them. I take one 4 mg 2 times a day."

9 / 10
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184 Report
  • Maggie
  • August 9, 2020

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "I am prescribed this for neck spasms that cause debilitating chronic headaches and migraines. I read reviews on here that terrified me. This drug does make you feel a little weird the first time you take it, but it's not that serious. Don't skip trying it just because of scary reviews online. I try not to take it everyday. I am prescribed 2mg up to 3 times a day but I only take one. I have definitely noticed my number of headache days go down dramatically. I used to have them for up to 4 days in a row and over 15 days a month. My neck still hurts extremely bad. I believe that the zanaflex is relaxing the muscles on my scalp and face which stops most headaches from occuring. But as I said my neck is still bad me. It's better than having neck pain and severe headaches almost every day. But I'm going to ask my doctor for another treatment to help my neck. Ibuprofen doesn't cut it and I'm not supposed to take it everyday as I am susceptible to ulcers."

6 / 10
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91 Report
  • Lilsp...
  • July 19, 2014

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "After a bad car accident I've been prescribed several medications all of which had side effects that made them not possible to function with. Zanaflex is great, it starts working in about an hour after ingestion, it does make me sleepy so I take it one hour before bed and have a wonderful sleep. I wake up with out any grogginess the next morning. The only reason I didn't rate it a 10 is that if I took it during the day I would be drowsy."

9 / 10
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187 Report
  • DinFl...
  • April 30, 2008

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "I have severe herniated discs in my lower back and FINALLY a drug that helps. Percocet is great for getting through the day with pain, but Zanaflex helps me sleep pain free all night and my back is no longer stiff with pain in the morning. I only take it at night about 2mg or 4mg depending on pain and sleep like a baby. This after 10yrs of suffering with chronic back pain. I am new to this drug about 2months now.. crossing fingers it will work forever..lol"

10 / 10
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265 Report
  • OLou
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • May 3, 2014

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "I found this to be a wonderful muscle relaxant with very few, if any, negative side effects. It worked well for me during many bouts of chronic back pain that kept me awake at night. It did make me a little bit sleepy and dizzy, but nothing that bothered me very much at all. At night, this wasn't even a concern, but I could easily take it during the day at work and perform and feel fine. This isn't exactly a "pain" medication but I did find that it worked almost as well for my particular back pain as the narcotic medicines I was also prescribed."

8 / 10
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184 Report
  • Monke...
  • January 5, 2016

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "I have been taking zanaflex for about 2 years. The best thing about this medicine is it helps me sleep and for me there is no grogginess in the morning. I'm totally alert. Not like with other muscle relaxants. However the medicine usually last about 3-4 hours so it's quite common to wake up in the middle of the night. I give it an 8 because it does work really well for me however I wish the effects would last a little longer to get a full nights rest and also because I can't take it in the day because it knocks me out.....cold."

8 / 10
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159 Report
  • kalop...
  • October 27, 2009

Zanaflex (tizanidine) for Muscle Spasm "I have used this medicine along with narcotic pain killers for a cervical disc protrusion. When I weaned off the pain killers, the Zanaflex really helped with the withdrawal symptoms (RLS, anxiety, sleeplessness) I was experiencing. This medicine still helps with the muscle spasms I get and it doesn't make me tired either, probably due to the high tolerance levels I have from years of abuse, however it really saved me during the Norco withdrawals - and have been off all narcotics for a few months now."

10 / 10
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231 Report
  • Stree...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • November 11, 2019

For Muscle Spasm "I be a chronic pain patient since 1999 been on many many meds. I have lower back fusion future neck fusion scar tissue problems. Flexaril did nothing but make me feel sick others just didn't work Dr prescribed this and only at 4mg 2 X day and for me I finally get sleep. It wouldn't be anything to go 4 days or more before any rest at all now get a few hours a night. The big issue is be careful when getting up blood pressure will drop quick. My only concern tolerance and when it's time to stop the withdraws. I hope this review helps in some way"

10 / 10
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84 Report
  • thats...
  • August 21, 2020

For Muscle Spasm "Taking tizanidine for muscle spasticity. Began taking it in Dec. 2019. After 14 years, this is the first drug that has had any real effect on my upper back and shoulder. First dose was rough. It felt like all the pain I'd felt over the years hit my neck at once. After that my body relaxed and the next dose was just fine. Life was great and then a month ago they changed manufacturers and I had the neck pain attack, but not as bad this time. However, that first night and every night since for 3 weeks I have incredibly gruesome nightmares. If you watched Backcountry and Annihilation, you will get a taste of what was waking me at 4am every day. I checked the manufacturer, Dr Reddy's Lab, and they've had issues in the past with potency. My doc said changing the manufacturer doesn't matter, so I changed doctors instead. The product still kept the muscle spasms at bay. Time for a different brand. The drug gets a 9 because the only side effect for me are the dark dreams."

9 / 10
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72 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.