Drug Uses

Zanaflex is a short-acting drug for management and treatment of spasticity, associated with multiple sclerosis or with spinal cord disease or injury. Zanaflex is a muscle relaxer, which action mechanism is based on blocking the nerve impulses transmission (pain sensations) in the brain.

Zanaflex reduces spasticity and clonic seizure, which decreases the resistance of muscles to passive movements of the joints and increases active movements. Zanaflex is characterized by the absence of the direct effect on skeletal muscles, or neuromuscular junction.

Zanaflex is not recommended for pediatric patients, and should be used with extreme caution in adolescents younger than 18 years. Zanaflex is also not recommended for patients with significantly impaired hepatic function.

Zanaflex dosage regimen should be set individually. The daily dose should be divided into several portions, while the interval between the consequent Zanaflex doses must be 6 to 8 hours.

The recommended initial dose is Zanaflex 2mg with a consequent dosage increase by 2 mg or 4 mg at no less than halfweekly intervals. The total daily dose of Zanaflex should not exceed 36mg, though usually not more than 24mg/day is required for obtaining the desired effect.

Missed dose

If the patient has forgotten to take Zanaflex on time, she or he should take it as soon as remembers. If the time for taking another Zanaflex dose is close, the patient is recommended to skip the missed dose and resume the usual dosing schedule. You should not take two Zanaflex doses at the same time.

More Information

Before starting to use Zanaflex, the patients with moderate hepatic impairment are recommended to evaluate potential risks of and benefits of this muscle relaxant. The patients with renal insufficiency should be particularly careful, when using Zanaflex for the treatment of spasticity. Abolition of the drug should be gradual, because of the withdrawal symptoms risk.

Storage

Zanaflex tablets and capsules should be stored in their original packaging with child resistant closure, at temperature above 15°C (59°F) and below 30°C (86°F).

Warnings

Do not use Zanaflex simultaneously with inhibitors of isoenzyme CYP1A2 to avoid hypotension, bradycardia and excessive drowsiness. Alcohol increases Zanaflex concentration in the bloodstream, thus increasing a number of possible adverse effects. Simultaneous use of Zanaflex with oral contraceptives, antiarrhythmics, cimetidine reduces the drug efficacy by about 50%.

Disclaimer

The information about Zanaflex is not intended to replace professional medical advice, necessary for muscle spasms treatment. Visitors of the online pharmacies need to assess, whether the information about Zanaflex is suitable for their own particular circumstances. The online pharmacy is not liable for any damages of any kind, which may arise due to incorrect or misinterpretation of the information on this muscle relaxant.

Undesirable effects of Zanaflex are rare, when patients use the recommended doses. Approximately 2% of patients, taking the muscle relaxant Zanaflex, can feel dry mouth, muscular weakness, somnolence (drowsiness), and dizziness.

Less commonly, the antispastic drug Zanaflex causes gastrointestinal disorders (including constipation, vomiting), urinary tract infection, urinary frequency fatigue, flu syndrome, nervousness, hypotension, pharyngitis, bradycardia, rhinitis, speech disorder.

The research results showed that Zanaflex about 17% of patients stopped taking this drug because of the undesirable effects. Thus, Zanaflex benefits outweigh the potential risk for the vast majority of patients.