Caution medication zanaflex

I was prescribed the medication zanaflex and on the bottle is written 2 times daily. I had been never taken it before. I was not told by the Dr. or pharmasits that it can only be taken at night before bed. I did not say on the bottle take before bedtime only. I took one for the first time around 2pm today and was getting ready to go to the store. I got in my car closed the door and fell asleep. It was 90 degrees outside. My husband was out walking and saw me in the car with my head hung down and sweat dripping off my face. He knocked on the window of the car to wake me up. I opened the door to and got air. He asked me if I took anything. I gave him the bottle of the new medication zanaflex. I could not walk straight. My husband told me to go to sleep. I sleep for 3hrs. My husband looked it up on the internet of a FM site that people were warning others about only taking it 15 mins before going to bed, because it makes one fall asleep fast. My past muscle relaxer I was able to take during the day. We were scared that I could have baked in the car. I don't know how long I was in the car for. My head hurts.

Oh my!! That is terrible. I am so sorry you had to go through such a life threatening ordeal. I wonder if the script was written correctly. Thank God your husband went out there when he did.

You must be dehydrated. Take easy. You defininetly have a guardian angel. Laura

I got a prescription for zanaflex for my tension headaches, and I was directed to start with taking a half of a 4mg pills, so 2 mgs nightly for several weeks, then work my way up to a full pill. Well even a half a pill makes my heart beat very hard and my mouth very dry and really sleepy. You should ask your prescribing doctor about starting at a lower dose, and maybe just taking it at night for a while til you know how it effects you and if you can tolerate it.

-carmen

I took Zanaflex, on and off for about two years. Like any muscle relaxer, especially initially, it made me drowsy. When I had to take a dose for pain and tense muscles, I'd hold off till I am home and there are no more errands for me to run. Same with Flexeril, which is a muscle relaxer I now take. The flexeril does help with sleep.

Thanks everyone for your support. I'm only taking zanaflex at night until I can build up a tolerance.

C bear is funny falling asleep on the floor. Geckogirl I was dizzy too. I was walking into walls and could not talk.

I'm glad my husband saved me from the hot day in the car asleep. I had the worst headache like a hang over. I think I blacked out.

I've taken morphine, roxicet, valium, ambien, and other such pain relievers. Wow this zanaflex is stronger on me then all the other pain relievers I've taken. I was seeing in 3's. With the other med's I could still eat, read, talk, go to the restroom. I will be more cautions with the med's and test them out before I go to sleep.

Gonuts thanks for tellingme I defininetly have a guardian angel.

Take care everyone. Stay out of the heat, sun, be cool....