Tizanidine and Vivid Dreams: What Users Say

• Jec...
• December 12, 2020

For Muscle Spasm "Great for the lower back spasm I was experiencing. I was prescribed Dr. Reddy Tizanidine, 4 mg/8 hrs. I did not read the side effects, and the NP did not mention any. Upon taking it, about 30 minutes in, I was extremely thirsty, more than ever in my entire life. I laid down and fell almost instantly into the best sleep in a LONG time. However, it was a deeeeep sleep! I had one of the most horrific nightmares ever! I am not talking about just going to the store in my underwear kind of dream, I’m talking about bloody, horrible nightmares. These were so real and so vivid that I can STILL remember them 2 days later. I woke up and went to pee, 1 hour later vivid dream, pee, repeat all night. At one point, I even heard voices talking outside my house. I couldn’t understand what they were saying."

• JCa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2018

For Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed this medication for muscle spasms after orthopedic surgery to repair a severely crushed lower leg. It was the only one of 3 or 4 meds that worked, but the side effects were bizarre. As I would start to drift off, I would wake and open my eyes, and if I looked straight at the wall beyond the foot of my bed, I would have the sensation that I was looking straight down and was vertical in my orientation. It was very shocking at first because I, of course, would think I was going to fall. I also had extremely lucid dreams that I thought were real even in a waking state. I learned to control the orientation problem, but the dreams were off the charts."

• Low...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 18, 2013

For Muscle Spasm "My GP prescribed this for neck cramps from sitting in front of a PC monitor so much. Works great for that. However, it also works wonders for my lower and mid back pains, aches, and spasms. I take 2 mg a couple of times during the day and 4 mg about 30 minutes before bed. If I am having really bad back pain, I'll take 4 mg 3-4 times during the day. I do have some pretty vivid dreams, some bizarre, but few horrid dreams. Overall, this is wonderful medicine for my ailments!"

• Low...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 18, 2013

For Muscle Spasm "My GP prescribed this for neck cramps from sitting in front of a PC monitor so much. Works great for that. However, it also works wonders for my lower and mid back pains, aches, and spasms. I take 2 mg a couple of times during the day and 4 mg about 30 minutes before bed. If I am having really bad back pain, I'll take 4 mg 3-4 times during the day. I do have some pretty vivid dreams, some bizarre, but few horrid dreams. Overall, this is wonderful medicine for my ailments!"

• Anonymous
• December 21, 2010

Tizanidine for Muscle Spasm "My doctor prescribed me this medication due to the fact I could not sleep at night. He warned me that I would have vivid dreams, but I haven't really. I really like this medication as I can sleep through the night for the first time in years. The only drawback is that it knocks me out cold, and the next morning I am really stiff from not tossing and turning all night. I can live with that."

• No...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 8, 2015

For Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed tizanidine 4 mg mainly as a sleep aid, but I also suffer from muscle spasm. I take one pill before bedtime, and in about half an hour, I'm ready for bed. The problem? I'm wide awake in 2 hours and need to take another pill. This goes on all night. If I take two at a time, I start hallucinating, have weird dreams, and I feel my heart beating faster (tachycardia). I continue to take it because two hours of sleep is better than being awake for 36 hours. I will, though, ask my doctor to let me try soma."

• Mik...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 19, 2020

For Muscle Spasm "Tizanidine works pretty well for the pain from the muscle spasms around my broken vertebrae, but the side effect of the dreams... the dreams are so vivid. I have to make sure things didn’t happen the next morning, as well as some extremely vivid nightmares, so bad I wake up thinking it’s still going on. Wish this side effect wasn’t there."

• Chr...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 28, 2023

For Muscle Spasm "After 2 1/2 years of being my mother's caregiver during her battle with terminal cancer, I was put on this. Having to lift her and all the nights sleeping on a hospital couch or chair really did a number on my neck and back. I was always tense and in a lot of pain. My doctor put me on tizanidine 14 mg at night and it worked very well for about 2 years. Unfortunately, it no longer helps. It has actually made the pain worse, and I am hurting in places I never was before. I started having horrible leg pains (cramps, spasms, and a pulling feeling). I could hardly stand or sleep. Along with the new leg issues, I started experiencing very vivid and unpleasant dreams. Anxiety, depression, extremely emotional, and moody. Constant headaches, dry mouth, constipation, and visual disturbances. In the process of weaning off. I do not recommend this drug for long-term use."

• Fri...
• August 3, 2011

For Muscle Spasm "This is my 3rd month on Tizanidine. Was on 2 mg four times a day for severe low back and neck spasms and pain from an injury sustained while in Iraq. Also been on many types of relaxers and other pain medicines with no significant relief until my doctor wrote me a prescription for tizanidine. Since I've been on it, daily activities have increased, taken 2-6 hour road trips with no major problems, and been able to increase my nightly naps and turn those into dream-filled lapses in reality for close to 6 hrs/night! Cut Ambien use in half. Now on 4 mg three times a day. The only negatives I have for this medicine are it doesn't last long enough, dry mouth is bad, dreams are sometimes too vivid, causing nightmares, and hallucinations have occurred due to user error. Follow doctor's orders while using this medicine."

• gen...
• July 19, 2009

Tizanidine for Muscle Spasm "I've been on Zanaflex for about 6 months now. At first, it helped me sleep through the night, but now I only get about 4 hours. I would not recommend taking it in the daytime because it seems to make you feel funny in the head if you don't go to sleep, and also have very vivid dreams on this."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 19, 2024

For Muscle Spasm "This medication has helped me with my two herniated discs. I have trouble sleeping at night, and this relaxes me and my muscle spasms. The only drawback was the very bizarre dreams. After a while, this did subside."

• dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 11, 2023

For Muscle Spasm "For me, it helped to a degree (may be misdiagnosed). It lessened the pain I have in my chest muscles, but it is still there. The side effects for me are unusual. It makes me extremely drowsy and heavy feeling. Plus, when being woken up while asleep on this medication, I feel like parts of my body are vibrating, my heart is racing because I feel panic. As I'm woken suddenly, I am hallucinating random objects (sometimes with only one eye?). And when I go back to closing my eyes, it's like I'm still dreaming? Maybe a weird version of sleep paralysis? Then I've been having bad/dark/stress dreams. By the time I wake up, I'm in pain again =/. It has been moderately scary but heightens my side effect anxiety."

• Gem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2022

For Muscle Spasm "I have back pain, neck tension/pain, and headaches. It works great for my neck tension and back pain. My back was really bad just 2 days ago, and I've taken this medication only twice. I am not sensitive to medications, but holy moly, it will knock you OUT. I took it near bedtime while sitting up watching a movie, and within 30 mins, my SO was holding me up with my arm and trying to wake me up to lie down correctly. I probably have not slept that good in years. It also does make me have very odd dreams. This is a great medication for pain/tension and to help sleep. It does not make me groggy the next day. Very happy with it so far, just make sure you are ready for bed!!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 31, 2022

For Muscle Spasm "This medicine is not for me! After taking the first dose at night, I had a terrible, vivid dream about my deceased father. So I didn’t sleep well. The next day I was tired. When I laid down to rest, my body was jumpy, like I was having spasms. A scary feeling. I had the same reaction when I was prescribed cyclobenzaprine. I have fibromyalgia, back, lumbar, hip, neck, and knee problems that I have been dealing with for over 15 years. Over 30 hours standing, doing repetitive motion on the job. Three times rear-ended and one T-bone accident. I am 70 years old and would like to live the rest of my life out with less pain. But this doesn’t work. One pill, 4 mg at night."

• Nor...
• March 27, 2017

For Muscle Spasm "I experience a severe frontal headache every time I take a full pill. Very bad and painful, wakes me up, I have to go take Tylenol (1300 mg), but it still hurts. Also, I have very complex, crazy dreams."

• Anonymous
• April 29, 2011

For Muscle Spasm "This medicine helps me sleep, but I have vivid dreams while taking it, and it's disturbing."