Zanaflex and Alcohol/Food Interactions

GENERALLY AVOID: Coadministration with inhibitors of CYP450 1A2 may significantly increase the plasma concentrations and pharmacologic effects of tizanidine, which is a sensitive substrate of the isoenzyme. In 10 healthy volunteers, administration of a single 4 mg dose of tizanidine following pretreatment with the potent CYP450 1A2 inhibitor fluvoxamine (100 mg orally once daily for 4 days) increased tizanidine peak plasma concentration (Cmax) and systemic exposure (AUC) by an average of 12- and 33-fold, respectively, compared to placebo. The mean elimination half-life of tizanidine was prolonged from 1.5 to 4.3 hours. Similarly, pretreatment with the moderate CYP450 1A2 inhibitor ciprofloxacin (500 mg orally twice daily for 3 days) increased Cmax and AUC of a single 4 mg dose of tizanidine by an average of 7- and 10-fold, respectively, compared to placebo. Pharmacologic effects of tizanidine as measured by changes in blood pressure, heart rate, performance testing, subjective drug effect, and drowsiness were significantly greater with both fluvoxamine and ciprofloxacin compared to placebo. Vemurafenib, another moderate CYP450 1A2 inhibitor, increased tizanidine AUC by 4.7-fold. The interaction was also suspected in a 70-year-old patient treated with tizanidine who developed low heart rate, low body temperature, dry mouth, and anuresis two weeks after initiating fluvoxamine. A retrospective review of patient medical records at the hospital where the patient was admitted revealed a significantly higher incidence of tizanidine-related adverse effects in patients treated concomitantly with fluvoxamine than that reported for tizanidine alone in the product labeling (26.1% vs. 5.3%), and those who experienced adverse effects were older and received higher dosages of both drugs than those who did not have adverse effects with the combination. Another CYP450 1A2 inhibitor, rofecoxib, has also been reported to potentiate the adverse effects of tizanidine. There have been postmarketing reports of adverse events mostly involving the nervous system (e.g., hallucinations, psychosis, somnolence, hypotonia) and cardiovascular system (e.g., hypotension, tachycardia, bradycardia) during concomitant use of tizanidine and rofecoxib. In all cases, adverse events resolved following discontinuation of one or both drugs. Rechallenge's were not performed.

MANAGEMENT: Concomitant use of tizanidine with CYP450 1A2 inhibitors should generally be avoided. Otherwise, caution is advised if coadministration is required. Dosage adjustments may be necessary in patients who experience excessive adverse effects of tizanidine such as drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, hypotension, and bradycardia.

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MONITOR: The sedative effect of tizanidine may be potentiated by concomitant use of other agents with central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects. In addition, tizanidine and many of these agents (e.g., alcohol, anxiolytics, sedatives, hypnotics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, opioids, muscle relaxants) also can exhibit hypotensive effects, which may be additive during coadministration and may increase the risk of symptomatic hypotension and orthostasis, particularly during initiation of therapy or dose escalation. Tizanidine itself is a central alpha-2 adrenergic agonist. Pharmacologic studies have found tizanidine to possess between 1/10 to 1/50 of the potency of clonidine, a structurally similar agent, in lowering blood pressure. In a single-dose study where blood pressure was monitored closely after dosing, two-thirds of patients treated with an 8 mg dose had a 20% reduction in either the diastolic or systolic blood pressure. The reduction was seen within 1 hour after dosing, peaked 2 to 3 hours after dosing, and was associated at times with bradycardia, orthostatic hypotension, lightheadedness, dizziness, and rarely, syncope. The hypotensive effect of tizanidine is dose-related and has been measured following single doses of 2 mg or more.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised and more gradual dose titration may be appropriate when tizanidine is used with other substances that can cause CNS depression and/or hypotension, particularly in elderly or debilitated patients. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to avoid rising abruptly from a sitting or recumbent position. Patients should contact their physician if they experience dizziness, lightheadedness, syncope, orthostasis, or excessive CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.

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