my dr put me on Zanaflex.......
 

Well I found out today I have to have neck surgery for my bilging disc...I'm in a lot of pain and already taking 20 mg oxy 3 x a day which really does not help my neck pain just my other problems. Anyway so instead of upping my oxy he added Zanaflex 4 mg 1to 2. Anyway anyone know anything about this med?? Is it like Zanax?

Hi Balmygirl!!

Sorry to hear about your neck... Ouch!

I found this regarding Zanaflex...

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...r/a601121.html


I wish you the best...
:hug:
Abbie

Thank you so much for the help..I did take one tonight and although it helped my pain it knocked me out!! So I guess I can only take it at bedtime. I really think I might need to change my pain dr..I told him how bad I was hurting and he refused to up my oxycontin. Right now I'm taking 20 mg 3 x a day. I was told by his nurse he does NOT give "break thru meds" and the max of oxy he will give is 40 mg. ANy advice on this would be greatly apriciated!

Zanaflex is related to clonidine...
 

which is used for blood pressure and some other neuro things (addiction control).

In about 30% of patients it may lower blood pressure like clonidine, and if stopped suddenly may cause a rebound increased blood pressure.

There are some drug interactions with it:
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2...7.htm#Zanaflex

In general many of the patients I know found it useful, but very strong as well.
Often they were headache people.. neck occipital types.

I used to take Zanaflex for spasticity and leg pain. The side effects were too much for me so I had to quit taking it. I was like a walking zombie all the time and to tell the truth, it really didn't help.

As we all know, everyone reacts differently to medications, especially if we are on more than one!