New to Zanaflex....couple of questions...

So, after my 2nd cervical fusion 3 weeks ago, I started having HORRIBLE muscle spasms along my shoulders and across my back.  My surgeon was out of town so the PM Dr. that works with him saw me.  He started pushing around on my shoulders as lightening bolts shot out my shoulders and at one point, pushed around my collar bone, and gave me a muscle spasm in my butt!  Luckily he has a sense of humor, because I came out of my chair and asked exactly how he pushed on my collar bone and my butt had a charlie horse!  Anyway long story short, he said I was having unbelievable muscle spasms...I already take Robaxin and Valium (the valium is used for panic attack and muscle spasms).  The PM doc switched me over to 1 or 2 4mg tabs every 4-6 hrs.  I came home, took 2 and slept the rest of the day.  I have to admit that it has a MUCH better affect on the musle spasms and cramps, but I have noticed that about the time it starts wearing off I get really strange twitches.  I can be sitting perfectly still and my had or arm will jerk hard enough that I knock things over.  I also develop mysterious numb areas all over my body.  I did stop the Robaxin and am only taking the Valium for anxiety, but does anyone else have this issue with Zanaflex or am I just loosing my mind?

Michael;

I am going to suggest that you post yur own thread. Not trying to be mean here but we would like to get to know you and this way you can respond to your own thread instead of through someone elses. There are thousands of us here and by posting your own thread someone who maybe has a dx like yours can chat with you.

Welcome to HW CP

Scarred

wow, that is a high dose of Zanaflex (tizanidine), 1-2 tablets? 4mg-8mg every 4-6 hrs. i think is the biggest dose of anyone i have ever known, ha ha. it is a great medication for spinal muscle spasms and as a sleep agent. i have taken 1-3 4mg tabs. at bedtime since 2005. it has a very potent effect the first time you take it; my mother could not make it to the bathroom at night from dizziness. Zanaflex (tizanidine) is very closely related to Catapres (clonidine) which is a alpha adernergic agonist that is meant to suppress sympathetic nervous system outflow to make a long story short. Zanaflex does basically the same thing, thats why when it's almost time for the next dose you can get jitters or twitches because the level of the "adrenalines" go up. Clonidine was more used in the past as a adjuvant to opioids, mostly given in a cocktail epidurally or intrathecally for cancer pain. in the same way the Zanaflex will add to the opioid you use for pain. Zanaflex has a very short half-life of maybe less than 4 fours. 4mg four times per day when you become tolerant to the sedating effect i think would calm very severe spasms, the way a Physician's Assistant told me to dose Zanaflex (tablets) was break a 4mg in half or quarter (1-2mg) every 6hrs. or so and then take a "mega" dose at bedtime. i could not handle daytime zanaflex and function but 8-12mg is a sleeping treatment that does not cause a handover effect or tolerance forming and a terrific anti-spasm drug so play around with it and i believe it will help you greatly. Soma, Parafon Forte, and Flexeril are good for some also. GOOD LUCK TO YA!

Hi Finally, I was on Zanaflex and really was happy with them. The only thing I did not like was they made my mouth dry. I did not have anything happen like you have described. I have to wonder if it is interacting with one of your other meds. I would call the pharmacist or the nurse at my drs office and ask about this. Was any of these things listed on the print-out from the pharmacy?

Drugs.com will give you a list of meds that Zanaflex can interact with too. I hope you can get this all taken care of.