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Posted 8/6/2009 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
I would like to know more about Zanaflex Im trying to find a med that is cheep and works good the Skelaxin is to costly and I was wondering if the Zanaflex is cheeper.

4 months ago I thought I wa getting old and my right shoulder kept giving me pain and it started 9 years and then 4 months ago Bam! full blown Fibro. Its like going to the doctor for a cough and having him say You have full blown cancer.

What a change in your life, now Im no longer working and Im filling for SSD and everyday is a painfull day,

cry  I know everyone has said it,,,," WhyMe??"

I pray this thread is ok and I guess I just want to unload .

Ed 

Posted 8/6/2009 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
Ed, I can't help you about Zanaflex.  I only take ibuprofen with food (600 mg) , extra strength Tylenol (1,000 mg), malic acid/magnesium supplements and vitamin D3 for my pain and fatigue.  I also do light exercises and stretching.  Having a positive attitude helps a lot, too, but I do think you do have that from the posts I've seen from you.  All of the above doesn't cost much. 

 

Try not to think about the pain so much.  Make a plan for each day...something different.  It's so easy to get in a pattern and then life is boring.  Maybe one day do a little gardening and the next day cook lunch for you and your wife.   The little changes do help.  Be sure to pace yourself with whatever you decide to do.

 

I know fibro is the pits but I'd much rather be dealing with fibro then cancer.  Our lifespan isn't shortened because of fibro and there are so many wonderful days ahead for all of us.  We might not be able to see them right now, but they will be coming.  I hate the chronic pain but I have had a full and enjoyable life with fibro and plan to have many more years ahead of  me, too.  Just remember to look around at all of your blessing and all the beauty around you.  We hear so many negative things daily that we tend for overlook all the good we have in our lives.  I know that makes me feel less stressful and so I have less pain.  

 

I do hope you find something that works to help with  your pain and that it won't be very expensive.  Feel better soon!

 

Sherrine 

Posted 8/6/2009 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ed. I'm sorry but I can't give you any info on the price of zanaflex. I only had one fill of it and only had the co-pay. I do have a suggestion for you. If your doctor thinks that it is an appropriate drug for you to try maybe he can give you some samples. I wish my doctor had done that for me because I couldn't tolerate zanaflex at all. I took the lowest dose the first night at about 9pm and the room was spinning uncontrollably by 9:30pm. I was still dizzy enough the next day at 11am I couldn't drive. All that and it didn't help the muscles spasms for me. Needless to say, I didn't take anymore doses and was bummed that I had this 30 day supply to waste. So if the price is do-able for you, you might still want to ask the dr. for samples to start. I know there are a lot of people on here who have good success with the drug and will probably have more pricing info for you. Lisa
Posted 8/6/2009 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
Painter, I have taken zanaflex. I like it because it keeps from tensing up as much when I am sleeping. I do not take it during the day because it makes me sleepy. I am suspicious that it makes me have strange dreams so have not taken it for 3 nights. (See You know you are a fibromite if. . ." post for very funny dreams). The first night I slept wonderfully, the second and third I was still up repeatedly and this morning I had a flare and felt awful. So, I am going to take it again tonight to see what happens.
Sue
Posted 8/6/2009 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
Painter, I take Zanaflex very occasionally at night when I am having severe muscle spasms.  Actually, I take Tizanidine which is the generic version.  I can't take it on a regular basis because it dries out my mouth and eyes way too much, but otherwise, I tolerate 1/4 to 1/2 a 2 mg tablet fairly well just taking it occasionally.

 

I have insurance and got mine pretty cheap, but I did a search at www.drugstore.com, and you can get 90 tablets (2 mg) of Tizanidine for $19.99 without insurance.  For some reason the 4 mg tablets are 4 times as much.  You may find it cheaper somewhere like Walmart, but drugstore.com has a neat online feature that will give you the price on any drug. 

 

Hugs - Austen

Posted 8/6/2009 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
I take zanaflex 2mg at night - I think I have tried almost every muscle relaxer out there! The zanaflex (name brand) was the same copay as skelaxin for me - the highest tier. My insurance shows the cost of the skelaxin - 40 for $115 and the zanaflex 120 for $225, so the zanaflex is a little cheaper. Austen has the right idea with the generic!

Posted 8/7/2009 6:42 AM (GMT 0)
I have taken Zanaflex, cant quote the price but out of all the meds ihave taken over the ocurse of the last five yrs since i have been diagnosed (and there were many) this is the one drug I like because it does what it should!
Posted 8/8/2009 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
I take zanaflex. My doctor prescribed 4 mg 3x peer day but I rarely take that much because it can make me tired. However, I take 4 mg at bedtime and I sleep like a baby. In addition, I do not awaken stiff and in pain.

Zanaflex works for me even though I take the reduced amount. when I am having a flare I just take it in the daytime and nap. Sometimes I can take it before entering the pool and swim with a lot less pain. In all, I like zanaflex.
Posted 8/9/2009 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
I take the tizanadine and I only pay a couple dollars with my insurance so I think it is fairly cheap. I was told to take 2mg 3x a day and then upped to 4mg 3x and then told 8mg which is comatose. I only take 2 mg twice a day and I do take 8mg at night and it works better than ambien cr for me or at least at first it did. I wake up alot now so I think I may switch every few nights. My crazy dr said to take it with neorontin 200mg and he didn't say not to take the ambien cr, I wanted to wake up in the mornings so I don't take what I was told. It does help alot with muscle spasms and it stopped my throat spasms. All meds are different for each of us so you just have to try something and see if it helps you. Tizanidine is $19.99 for 90 2 mg tablets on drugstore.com.
Posted 8/9/2009 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
I zanaflex for tension headaches, and I do not like it at all, it makes my heart beat go all crazy so when I stand up I get very dizzy and sometimes feel like I may pass out, and it dries up my mouth so bad which scares me cause that can cause dental problems and I just had a bunch of dental work done where they didnt numb me all the way so now I have a fear of the dentist. My insurance covers the whole prescription for 30 4mg, which I have tried cuttng them up in smaller pieces but that had no diffrence on the side effects. My insurance (washington state medicaid) wont pay for for hte newer muscle relaxers like skelakin, but the ones they will pay for dont do much, like methocarbinol doesnt do a thing for me, it feels like a placebo, and zanaflex will work for a week then completly stop working, and beside these, there isnt much left for me to try. I know valium is used for muscle problems, but I cant mix that with my pain meds as it can be deadly. So I guess I'm out of luck for muscle relaxers, their doesnt seem to be anything else left to try, but if anyone knows of anything else, then let me know, that would be great, then my next step would be to find a doctor lol.

-carmen
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