Zanaflex and Dry Mouth: What Users Say

• iso...
• March 27, 2009

For Muscle Spasm "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."

• mic...
• February 7, 2015

"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."

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

"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."

• 371...
• July 25, 2008

For Muscle Spasm "I have been on Zanaflex for about 2 months, and it has helped tremendously for migraines, which are caused by bulging discs in my neck. I am taking 4mg three times a day and suffering from only one side effect, which is dry mouth. I really recommend this to others with my condition."

• Anonymous
• April 20, 2010

For Cluster Headaches "I have been taking Zanaflex and Desipramine for my daily headaches for about 1 1/2 years. They have greatly decreased the number of headaches and I am very thankful for the relief. I do experience dry mouth and frequent urination but I can live with that. Much easier than the horrible headaches I was experiencing daily."

• Anonymous
• April 13, 2012

For Muscle Spasm "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/hungover 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 hungover 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."

• Anonymous
• November 5, 2010

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

• Geo...
• October 22, 2010

For Muscle Spasm "I have been using Zanaflex since 2003. I suffer from chronic pain and spasms due to herniated discs in my neck and back. I have already had fusion done on my neck, and the pain and spasms never went away. That was due to the discs below the fusion herniated just after the surgery. I also have fibromyalgia. I am supposed to take 4 mg 3 times a day, but I only take it at night since it makes me sleepy most of the time, and I am already on Percocet and Savella. I need to function during the day. My doctor says I can take all 3 at bedtime if I want, but I have only taken 2 at a time. Dry mouth is a side effect, and sometimes I will have grogginess in the morning, but I found that it is mostly due to taking it so late and getting up early."

• KRD...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 8, 2022

For Cluster Headaches "It knocks me out, but it’s the only thing that works when I have a migraine and triptans aren’t working. I use it as my “Big Gun” when everything else fails, and I’m not planning to drive any time soon after taking it. I also use it for cervical and thoracic radiculopathy when Flexeril and meloxicam aren’t enough. Gives me dry mouth and constipation, but I take a stool softener and a big glass of water with it."