Tizanidine is a short-acting medication that should be taken only for daily activities that require relief from muscle spasticity.
You should not take tizanidine if you are also taking fluvoxamine (Luvox) or ciprofloxacin (Cipro).
Do not use tizanidine at a time when you need muscle tone for safe balance and movement during certain activities. In some situations, it may endanger your physical safety to be in a state of reduced muscle tone.
Switching between tablets and capsules, or changing the way you take it with regard to eating, can cause an increase in side effects or a decrease in therapeutic effect. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. After making any changes in how you take tizanidine, contact your doctor if you notice any change in how well the medicine works or if it causes increased side effects.
Do not take more than three doses (36 mg) of tizanidine in a 24-hour period. Too much of this medicine can damage your liver. Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, other muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by tizanidine.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of this medicine.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use tizanidine if you are allergic to it, or if:
you also take the antidepressant fluvoxamine (Luvox); or
you also take the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (Cipro).
To make sure tizanidine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
liver disease;
kidney disease; or
low blood pressure.
It is not known whether tizanidine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
It may not be safe to breastfeed while using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risk.
