Tizanidine and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• Sta...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 18, 2019

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 Flexeril, Robaxin, and Baclofen, none of them do what Zanaflex does."

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

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 have 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 complements my oxycodone very nicely. I can finally 'function' again, exercise, lift weights, and do my daily duties as a housewife & mother."

• Hai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 3, 2019

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. It 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 3 times 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."

• joy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2013

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. 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."

• cra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2018

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."

• Red...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 27, 2020

For Muscle Spasm "First and foremost, this tizanidine side effect does not go away. It will knock you out! You will feel drunk and fall asleep. Second, when I first started taking this, I would have sleep paralysis/nightmares where I felt like something was beside the bed or in the dark corner of the room and I could not move or speak. I was trying to call out my husband's 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."

• egg...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 22, 2015

Tizanidine for Muscle Spasm "I've been on these for about 8 years. They work well on low back pain, DJD, and a bulging disc in my neck. Along with other painkillers, they work well, but don't drive while on them. They do make you sleepy quickly, and they also tend to lower your blood pressure, making you dizzy when standing up. You can get a good night's sleep on them. I take one 4 mg tablet 2 times a day."

• kal...
• October 27, 2009

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 I have been off all narcotics for a few months now."

• Lil...
• July 19, 2014

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 without 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."

• Lil...
• July 19, 2014

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 without 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."

• Pas...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 27, 2017

Tizanidine for Muscle Spasm "I have been taking Tizanadine for 10 yrs. for severe muscle spasticity in neck and back due to RSD/CRPS, plus spinal stenosis, bulging discs, and previous car accident neck and spine injuries. Dose: 4 mg, 3 daily, usually 4 mg in the morning and 8 mg at night. I have found it very helpful. At first, it was very sedating, but not after a year or so. It does help me sleep. Works best with the help of pain meds and Baclofen cream. I had a serious drug interaction with SSRI antidepressants (particularly Luvox): actually passed out in my soup at a restaurant the first time I took them together. Hope this helps."

• Pas...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 27, 2017

Tizanidine for Muscle Spasm "I have been taking Tizanadine for 10 yrs. for severe muscle spasticity in neck and back due to RSD/CRPS, plus spinal stenosis, bulging discs, and previous car accident neck and spine injuries. Dose: 4 mg, 3 daily, usually 4 mg in the morning and 8 mg at night. I have found it very helpful. At first, it was very sedating, but not after a year or so. It does help me sleep. Works best with the help of pain meds and Baclofen cream. I had a serious drug interaction with SSRI antidepressants (particularly Luvox): actually passed out in my soup at a restaurant the first time I took them together. Hope this helps."

• Ood...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2017

Tizanidine for Cluster Headaches "Absolutely love this medication. I suffer from chronic migraines and daily headaches. I take 4mg of Zanaflex at breakfast, 2mg at lunch, and 4mg at bedtime. I'll take 6mg during a migraine attack and it helps tremendously with the pain, helps me sleep, and actually helps with the nausea. Zanaflex made me very drowsy at first and still does taken at doses of 4mg. Overall, incredibly helpful drug!"

• Str...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2019

For Muscle Spasm "I am a chronic pain patient since 1999, been on many meds. I have lower back fusion, future neck fusion, and scar tissue problems. Flexeril did nothing but make me feel sick, others just didn't work. The doctor prescribed this, and only at 4 mg 2 times a day. For me, I finally get sleep. It wouldn't be anything to go 4 days or more without any rest, now I get a few hours a night. The big issue is to be careful when getting up, as blood pressure will drop quickly. My only concern is tolerance and when it's time to stop, the withdrawal. I hope this review helps in some way."

• rrd...
• August 13, 2009

Tizanidine for Cluster Headaches "I take Zanaflex for chronic tension/cluster headaches. I was suffering daily with tension headaches and I also get migraines. This drug has been a lifesaver for me. I have tried everything. Imitrex is still good for the migraine when one will slip through and you are not able to take this during the day. This medicine will cause you to sleep. I take it just before bed. But I have actually had days without a headache, and before this medication, that was not possible. I was truly waking up and going to bed each day with a horrible headache, and as a high school teacher, that made my job a lot harder. I am still on Topamax to keep the migraines from breaking through. I am hoping when I go through menopause, all this will go away."

• mic...
• February 7, 2015

Tizanidine "Zanaflex is the best muscle relaxer besides Xanax. It will dry your mouth out but the good outweighs that. This will put you to sleep in 30-45 minutes. No hangovers, memory loss, and getting up in the middle of the night and eating like Ambien makes you. Can take 1/2 during the day when required for tight, knotty, hard muscles that hurt so bad from multiple bad surgeries."

• Ral...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 15, 2020

For Muscle Spasm "I’ve suffered from dystonia for about ten years. The only medication that helps is a muscle relaxer. After years on Valium, my movement disorders neurologist wanted me to try something less addictive, so I tried baclofen, then clonopin, neither of which was very effective. Now on tizanidine (Zanaflex) at a relatively high dosage, I’ve acclimated to the sedative effects and am now experiencing far less discomfort and pain. I’m very pleased with the effects of this medication."

• FED...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2017

For Muscle Spasm "I have been taking carisoprodol for about 6 years (1 at bedtime) for muscle spasms and a perfect 8 hours of sleep. My doctor will no longer prescribe it due to the FDA interfering in my health. Tizanidine does make me drowsy, but it is only good for about 6 hours, and then I am awake 2 hours before I should be. Severe dry mouth while sleeping is not good. Overall blah feeling due to lack of sleep. Drugs aren't addictive. People are. The Feds need to get out of my healthcare. They can't even balance a budget."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2015

For Cluster Headaches "I have severe and debilitating cluster tension headaches. I had a problem with doctors trying to treat me for migraines, and I DON'T HAVE MIGRAINES. This is the only medication that seems to work. My headaches seem to stem from my neck. This medicine totally relieves my neck pain and may also be helping my sciatica. Sleepy.... YES. However, I usually have trouble sleeping from the headaches and neck pain, so I'm not complaining."

• Jam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 8, 2018

For Muscle Spasm "Herniated discs in my neck and back. Back spasms and extreme neck spasms. Sometimes, as a 'bonus,' they cause migraines/tension headaches. For years, they gave me Flexeril, which I hated. It made me lethargic and groggy for almost two days. Finally, the doctor switched me to tizanidine. What a relief! For me, there are no bad side effects. They help me go to sleep in no time, and when I wake up, I don't feel groggy or drugged since it has a short half-life. I prefer the tablets. Food supposedly affects the level, but I don't notice any difference in strength if I've eaten something. I think it's great just as a sleeping aid in general, and it also should be considered for tension headaches. I am grateful tizanidine exists to help."

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

Tizanidine for Muscle Spasm "Take this for neck spasms after surgery. Taking it now for 2 years. Had major surgery. Do not think this is good for me, anyway. I cannot stay awake when I take it, thus I have to take it only at night, and cannot drive. Please do not drive if you take this medication as it 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!"

• RN...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 17, 2018

For Cluster Headaches "I suffer from tension headaches, migraines, cluster headaches, you name it. I take Fioricet when I feel a migraine coming on. Sometimes it doesn't help, and that's when I realize I have misjudged the type of headache I have at that time. As the symptoms progress to a classic cluster headache, I take between 4 to 8 mg of tizanidine, and in about 30 minutes, my pain goes from a 9 or 10 to a 2 or 3. Many of my headaches come from my neck and cervical spine issues. This medication helps the stiff, sore muscles in my neck and upper back, which goes along with some types of my headaches. Sometimes it's hard to tell as I go through a cycle of cluster headaches with other types mixed in. This medication, above all my other headache meds, is the most effective. It does have side effects of dry mouth and sedation. At night, the sedation is great, but it's tough to function during the day. I can take 2 mg without getting sleepy, but it's not enough to help sufficiently with the intense pain."

• Lee...
• August 6, 2020

For Muscle Spasm "A few years ago, an NP put me on 10 mg of baclofen, then later 20 mg. When I asked for something stronger a couple of years later, I was denied because most twenty-something-year-olds just wanted to get high, and if the pain was as bad as I claimed, I needed to see a specialist, which she knew I could not afford to do. I finally saved up enough money to afford a pain specialist and all the out-of-pocket expenses that were necessary to find out what was wrong. I was prescribed this medication. Within an hour of taking 4 mg at 8 pm, I was knocked out. I woke up at midnight, foggy and unable to fall asleep until 2 am. When I woke up at 7 am from a freakishly vivid nightmare, I was EVEN MORE groggy, which lasted until about 12 pm. I did everything to try to get out of this groggy state of mind, including chugging water to flush the medication out of my system, multiple cups of coffee, my prescribed ADD medication, and a cold shower. I had to wait it out."

• Kae...
• May 28, 2009

Tizanidine for Cluster Headaches "This works great. I take it for back spasm but also for cluster headaches. I had a stroke several years ago at age 28, so I am limited in what medicines I can take due to my medical history. My doctor has me take more than I need for back spasm/pain. I was warned it would make me sleepy and usually does, but in that time my headache/pain goes away almost completely. It is wonderful, especially since it is not a controlled substance. I'd rather take this for both conditions than the 100mg Demerol every 4 hours I was on for several years. Not only don't I miss the injections, but since it does not have the side effects and addiction I can do more since I can think more clearly and function more."

• roc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 10, 2015

Tizanidine "I'm an active 51-year-old female with severe neck pain, especially on the right, and probably from playing too many games on Android. I have had trigger point injections, facet blocks, PT, massage, TENS, daily heat therapy, and a host of meds over the past several months. I also take Norco regularly. Soma did not help the neck pain. But this Zanaflex works very well to alleviate the neck pain quickly. I only take it if I don't have to drive (or be social) because of the dry mouth and grogginess. My brother, 29, takes it for his back pain and swears by it, too. I just wish I could get rid of the neck pain. I think it's also improved with my new exercise program: 30 minutes on the elliptical, stretches, crunches, and leg lifts, then machines."