Indication: For the management of increased muscle tone associated with spasticity
Pharmacology: Tizanidine is a short-acting drug for the management of spasticity. Tizanidine is an agonist at a2-adrenergic receptor sites and presumably reduces spasticity by increasing presynaptic inhibition of motor neurons. In animal models, tizanidine has no direct effect on skeletal muscle fibers or the neuromuscular junction, and no major effect on monosynaptic spinal reflexes. The effects of tizanidine are greatest on polysynaptic pathways. The overall effect of these actions is thought to reduce facilitation of spinal motor neurons.
Mechanism Of Action: Tizanidine reduces spasticity by increasing presynaptic inhibition of motor neurons through agonist action at a2-adrenergic receptor sites.
Drug Category: Muscle Relaxants; Anticonvulsants; Analgesics; Skeletal Muscle Relaxants; ATC:M03BX02
Brand Names/Synonyms: CHEMBANK1846; Pramiracetam; Sirdalud; Ternelin; Tizanidina [Inn-Spanish]; Tizanidine; Tizanidine Hcl; Tizanidinum [Inn-Latin]; Zanaflex
Dosage Forms: TABLET
Absorption: Not Available
Interactions:
DrugBank: Interactions for Tizanidine
Interactions for Tizanidine:
In vitro studies of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes using human liver microsomes indicate that
neither tizanidine nor the major metabolites are likely to affect the metabolism of other drugs metabolized by
cytochrome P450 isoenzymes.
Acetaminophen: Tizanidine delayed the Tmax of acetaminophen by 16
minutes. Acetaminophen did not affect the pharmacokinetics of tizanidine.
Alcohol: Alcohol increased the AUC of tizanidine by approximately 20% while also
increasing its Cmax by approximately 15%. This was associated with an increase in side effects of
tizanidine. The CNS depressant effects of tizanidine and alcohol are additive.
Fluvoxamine: Clinically significant hypotension (decreases in both systolic and
diastolic pressure) has been reported with concomitant administration of fluvoxamine following single doses of 4
mg.
Caution is recommended when considering concomitant use of tizanidine with other inhibitors of CYP1A2,
such as, antiarrhythmics (amiodarone, mexiletine, propafenone), cimetidine, fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin,
norfloxacin), rofecoxib, oral contraceptives, and ticlopidine.
Oral Contraceptives: No specific pharmacokinetic study was conducted to investigate
interaction between oral contraceptives and tizanidine, but retrospective analysis of population pharmacokinetic data
following single and multiple dose administration of 4 mg tizanidine showed that women concurrently taking oral
contraceptives had 50% lower clearance of tizanidine than women not on oral contraceptives.
Chemical IUPAC Name: 4-chloro-N-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-8-thia-7,9-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]nona-2,4,6,9-tetraen-5-amine
Chemical Formula: C9H8ClN5S
Half Life: 2.5 hours
Drug Type: Approved Drug
# Accession No: APRD00128
CAS Registry Number: 51322-75-9
