Zanaflex User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

• Bel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 17, 2015

For Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed Zanaflex for muscle spasms and to help me sleep. I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, osteo/degenerative arthritis, sciatica, and an unspecified autoimmune disorder. It was prescribed as 3-4mg tablets at bedtime but that was too high a dose for me. Sometimes, I have the side effect of really low BP, although I have been taking high BP meds for 5+ years. It doesn't happen all the time when I take it but it is very scary when it does happen. I have blackouts, feel incredibly high, and can't hold my eyes open at times. The blood pressure drops have happened in the past when I was not on Zanaflex, but this medication just seems to make it worse and I am not going to take it anymore. The side effects are too scary."

• 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."

• Sam...
• September 17, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "I have been on Zanaflex 4mg 3x a day that I take at night to help me sleep. It helps the muscle spasms in my legs and allows me to sleep. The only problem I have is that it only lasts 4 hours and then I wake up. Works best if you take the Zanaflex, wait 30 minutes and then eat something, and the Zanaflex will work that much better."

• can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2014

For Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed this medication for muscle pain related to rheumatoid arthritis and chronic tendonitis. Personally, I'm VERY sensitive to this medication and suffer the 'rare' side effects: slurred speech, hallucinations (only at night), disorientation (I've gotten lost in my own room twice when I take 4 mg), low heart rate. The highest dose I have taken is 8mg with Xanax for my anxiety. Once I stayed awake, although drowsy, I watched a movie; the second time I woke up in the ICU for bradycardia, hypotension, and change in the level of consciousness. Despite taking this daily for 2 months, I still have side effects. My husband says this medicine makes me drunk. I have been taking 1mg at a time. It does work well."

• Anonymous
• May 31, 2008

For Muscle Spasm "Wonderful drug! Now available in generic so it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. I have severe disc and arthritic problems in my neck with severe muscle spasms, and this really helps. At first, when starting this medication, it can cause a serious dopey feeling, but this can be eased by gradually increasing the dose until benefits are produced. I am on 4mg 3 times a day and allowed to use 8mg 3 times a day if my muscles are extremely spastic. Do not drive when taking this medication until you understand its effects."

• rrd...
• August 13, 2009

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

"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."

• Cer...
• November 1, 2013

For Muscle Spasm "This medicine helps me sleep, but that's the best I can say about it. It doesn't relieve pain or help relax my spasticity. If your pain and problems are only at night, this is good for you. I hallucinate a lot, once I adjusted to the dose, it changed, but if I ever have to take more than usual, then I start to hear and see things. I had conversations with my husband in the middle of the night when he wasn't there, and many other accounts. I would suggest you use caution. I have a very high level of muscle pain for many reasons, and I'm very spastic, so it's not a surprise that Zanaflex doesn't work as well as I'd like for me. I will continue to take it while I explore other options. It isn't a bad medication."

• Anonymous
• August 23, 2008

For Muscle Spasm "I have been on Zanaflex for about a month now. I have tried many muscle relaxers that have not worked at all. I take 4mg three times a day. It is a lot better than other medications I have been on. Flexeril didn't do anything at all, and Soma just made me totally loopy. Zanaflex relaxes me so well while still allowing me to operate regularly. I highly recommend this medicine, and for those who are just starting, be careful when driving on this. For the first week, I only took it before bedtime, then on a day off work I took it shortly after waking up and noticed it didn't have any major effects on me except calming my back and neck spasms."

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

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!"

• Dav...
• January 13, 2012

For Muscle Spasm "Have ruptured disks in my lower back L4, L5. This is the best muscle relaxer for me, I have taken almost all of them. Better than Valium and Soma and they were two of the better muscle relaxers I had taken before!"

• Pun...
• August 4, 2014

For Muscle Spasm "My mother had taken this for years for leg cramps. She started having hallucinations. She started by having a dream every night for about a month that involved the same people. When she woke up in the morning, her dreams had become reality for her. I finally convinced her to go off the medication and now no more problems. Her cardiologist suggested she go off the medication about 6 months before."

• boo...
• January 31, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "Well, I really am satisfied with this medicine. I take it in combination with my pain medication. I was in a car accident two years ago, and aside from the pain meds helping me with pain, this is what actually allows the muscles themselves to relax so I can sleep better. The one I really can't stand is 'Flexeril'. I don't know what the deal is with that because, if anything, it makes all of my extremities 'jump'...like restless leg, but restless everywhere (the legs too). The big problem is actually I got a new pain doctor, but he only believes in one muscle relaxer and that's baclofen, which does absolutely NOTHING. His intern told me that I could take two at a time, and still nothing."

• Kae...
• May 28, 2009

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

"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."

• ser...
• September 15, 2010

For Muscle Spasm "MRI reveals badly blown out cervical disc at C4-5. Now, as long as I didn't do much, I wouldn't have much pain, but getting anything done (like yard work, working out with pushups, painting a wall, etc.) was another story and would leave me in severe pain. However, always THE NEXT DAY and for at least several days afterward (I never really felt the pain on the day of the activity). Then, my doctor gave me Zanaflex, and now I take one 4 mg tablet that night, the next day is pain-free! I haven't noticed any side effects, no next day grogginess, and even the quality of sleep is normal with pleasant dreaming, in fact, if anything, my dreams are slightly easier to remember, which shows plenty of REM."

• win...
• July 9, 2008

For Muscle Spasm "This is the best medication by far. I was originally given this medication for migraine headaches, but in the process, it has helped me with my severe back pain. I can finally sleep through the night. The best."

• Anonymous
• May 11, 2009

For Muscle Spasm "I've been on Zanaflex for over a month now, and all I can say is it really makes me sleep well. I take pain medicines for chronic low back pain and also take sleep medicines to help me because the pain gets worse at night, keeping me up. I wasn't happy when they gave me this instead of Soma because I had great results with Soma. Now I can say I'm glad I did go on this medicine. I take 2 about 45 minutes before I want to turn in for the night. My spasms are relieved, and I can sleep through most of the night and wake without any hangover effects. I'm glad I have this now."

• cpr...
• May 8, 2009

For Muscle Spasm "I have been put on every muscle relaxant from Flexeril to Soma, and then my neurologist tried me on Zanaflex last week for the first time. I have to say, so far it's working pretty well. I feel a little drowsy, but hopefully that will pass as my system gets used to it. At this point with my MS, I am willing to try anything in order to feel better and not hurt all the time. I'm thinking we are on to something here. At least that's what I'm praying for."

• Sus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 9, 2022

For Muscle Spasm "I had muscle spasms from several neck surgeries. Diagnosed with DDD. I had been using carisoprodol for 21 years. I had to switch to a doctor that wouldn't prescribe carisoprodol. I was prescribed tizanidine, and I am having a really bad experience. I have developed significant anxiety/nervousness. My eyes have gotten so dry that they're red. I can't sleep and experienced chest and right arm pain and a rapid heartbeat. My family is upset with me because I'm so anxious/nervous and have become rude. I never had any of this before this drug. It's destroying my life, and my doctor doesn't care. He doesn't believe any of these side effects. I'm taking 4 mg four times a day. It helps a portion of the muscle spasms. I might like it if I didn't have these disturbing side effects. The carisoprodol was more effective for me."

• 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."

• Chr...
• April 14, 2010

For Muscle Spasm "I have been living with chronic neck, back, and migraine pain for several years now. In the beginning, my doctors had me go to physical therapy, take ibuprofen, or aspirin. None of these things ever really helped. After trying Flexeril and numerous anti-inflammatories, my pain management doctor did an MRI and found that among the many tension knots and twisting of my spine, I had bulging discs in my neck. He gave me Zanaflex to take at night. It knocks me out within 20 minutes but helps relax my back and neck so that I can get restful sleep - been on it for 3 months now! I highly recommend it for continuous back pain and it has even helped with my migraines. Be ready for bed though - very powerful!"

• Anonymous
• March 22, 2012

For Cluster Headaches "I suffer from migraines and also have difficulty falling and staying asleep. Following, a sleep study, my doctor put me on Zanaflex to help me fall asleep faster and reduced random leg movements during the night. I took it for about a month and it really helped me sleep, although I did have a groggy feeling in the morning that was hard to shake off. However, it aggravated my migraines so that instead of getting them 2 or 3 times a year, I got a migraine every week during the month I was taking Zanaflex, so unfortunately I had to stop taking it."

• 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."

• Ano...
• April 22, 2017

For Cluster Headaches "I have suffered from daily migraines for over 20 years. Have tried many medicines through the years, and this has really decreased the number I have. Went from daily to once every couple of weeks or so. I take 4 mg at bedtime every night and Imitrex when I feel one coming on."