Hi all,

Just wanted to take quick poll and find out how many people have tried zanaflex. I started at this afternoon as well as increasing my lyrica to 150 mg and felt really quite out of it. I was eating lunch out and took the meds not even thinking my boyfriend had too literally take my arm and guide me out the restaurant. Although my pain was gone I was completely stoned. The zanaflex dose was 8 mg from the doctor I only took for milligrams because I'm increasing the lyrica from 75 to 150 tid. I know that this medication is used for multiple sclerosis patients as a muscle relaxant. So any input would be greatly appreciated I will be doing some research on it and I do know it is not good for pregnancy or if you're getting pregnant...... not that I'm suggesting anything but like to get married first........ if my boyfriend ever decides to finish his education!!!!! Only one more year than he can practice radiation oncology!!!! Can't wait....... perhaps my left hand will be a little heavier soon..... okay getting off topic sorry....... any input on zanaflex would be appreciated!!!!!

Thanks to all,

Victoria

Victoria,

I've been taking it about 3 years. Am supposed to take 1/2 a 4mg tab a.m., another 1/2 mid-afternoon, then 4 mg at bedtime - but I can never remember the mid-afternoon one! But I find if I take 4 mg all at once during the day, I'm just out of it - it completely relaxes ALL of me, not just my muscles! And if I'm up late as usual and don't take the 4 mg til 3:30-4:00 a.m., I have a really hard time waking up a few hours later to get my youngest around and on the bus. For me, 4 mg is pretty powerful, so I stick with 2 mg during the day.

I thought Zanaflex had a pretty low max dosage when used strictly for muscle relaxant, like 12 mg/day, but maybe not?

How great that your pain was completely gone though!!

beth

Edit: Here's info on both Zanaflex and Lyrica - both have sedating effects, dizziness, etc - especially in the first week, or titrating to a higher dose, so you gave yourself a double whammy dear!

Also, the max dose for Zanaflex is 36 mg/day, but they don't have much long-term research on doses above 24 mg/day. Recommended dose is 8 mg 3x/day. However, that is rec. dose for MS patients and others with severe muscle spasticity, to me it seems high for TOSers???

http://www.rxcarecanada.com/Zanaflex.asp

http://www.pfizer.com/pfizer/download/uspi_lyrica.pdf

I've been on Zanaflex for over 3 yrs. and it's helped me considerably. But, you have to work up to a higher dosage. While you can supposedly take more, it's my understanding (from my neuro and PM dr.) that the maximum safe dosage is 24 mg. a day. At first I was taking 4 mg. twice a day and 8 mg. at bedtime but I quickly learned that if I took 4 mg. during the day, I would be wasted. So I started taking 2 mg. during the day and 8 mg. at night. And most of the time I only take the morning dose and skip the late afternoon dose unless I really need it, because if I take it I'll fall asleep on the couch while I'm watching TV and will sleep through CSI! I usually take it and my other bedtime meds about 30 minutes before I plan to go to bed and when it kicks in I've GOT to go to bed or I'd be sleeping in the floor.....You'll probably just have to experiment until you find what works for you. According to my research, Zanaflex is given to people with MS and spinal cord injuries as well as people with chronically spasmed muscles. I also tried Baclofen but it didn't help at all.

I have tried both and could not take the zanaflex due to being out of it no matter how small a dose I took and the Lyrica made me have blackouts so now only take 50mg at bedtime since I will be assured I will sleep but now am having nightmares and it seems to me that both of these drugs are too powerful for me. Hope you find what works for you.

Right after my surgeries, I was taking 10mg Tizatidine (generic Zanaflex) twice a day. Yeah, I was whacked out, but I was also taking oxycontin 20mg twice a day. Somehow, I still managed to be awake a few times during the day. Loads of naps.

Later I was switched to flexaril 10mg., I had taken this before and been completely knocked out for 12+hours, so I modified the doseage to 1/2 a tablet (5mg) at bedtime. None during the day. So far, it's working good - been a year tho and I feel the need to increase the dose back to 10mg - but only at night. I don't think I could function during the day like that.

No odd side effects like weight gain or depression!

Anne

Hi Victoria,
De had side effects the first try at zanaflex, then my doctor perscribed it for me. Now I ran into a Pharmasutical Rep in the doctors office and told him about the side effect that was too much to function in normal life with.

This is what he explained to me. The med in zanaflex works on the enrve where it inserts into the muscle...calming it down.
But, with the med side efects they strongly inform doc's to start very low and build SLOWLY! Such as 1 mg for several weeks, maybe three or four, then to 2 mgs for several more, taking months to get up to 4 mg...from there as your tolerance builds the side effects will go away.

I told him of a man when at work, was in a daze unable to operate machinery and falling asleep on a dime.

He stated, that is a problem for many. That his on family he urged to try it that way.
I did have good results, but when topamax came available to me, it helped much better.

One thought I wonder is why be on both the zanaflex, and Lyrica, wouldn't they be the same purpose and really over medicate?
Just my thought if I were given both, and from using many of these med's.
BUT, what ever mix helps you is the right one.
Di

Hi Victoria,

I tried zanaflex but no matter how low the dose and how long I tried,

it just kept making me so tired I had to stop. My other meds make me

sleepy, but this one sent me over the edge and I spent way too much time

sleeping or trying to get out of bed !!!

Good luck in finding one that is effective,
Pat

wow what great input thanks a lot for the posts!!

I have started at the 4mg tid.....and find the drunk feeling for about 45 mins then feel ok....but taking the 150 lyrica at same time know same side effects so I wait and then go ao but my business...put my makeup on this am with the drunkeness and was ok.....neeed to concentrate but can do things............but NEVER drive or operate machinery.....lol

I guess I am looking for the magic combo to deal with the pain withouthaving to take narcs again dont want to go that route agian.....if I can help it.....so far pain seems much better.....although muscle relaxants do have an effect on sex life.....sorry hope not offending...but we all have one or have had one I guess......lol sort of had one or whatever..... not trying to be rude....hope not offending but I think this is a big topic that we really don't discuss at all.........I guess I''ll leave that one open and see if anyone posts about it.......lets hope we are open minded enought not to be crude rude or nasty, just honest and open.....

thanks guys again for all the info.....it really helps....like a second opinon only it is many of them...lol

take care all,
hugs,
Victoria

I am not on a lot of meds. Not Zanaflex, Lyrica or anything like that. I take 225mg of Effexor for depression and panic. I take T3's for pain, and the Dr. has me also on amitriptyline for the nerve pain. None of it works, but as I am heading into surgery hopefully soon he is reluctant to put me on anything stronger.
Now, having said all of that.... Since I was injured and have started taking all of these meds I have gained about 40lbs, and my sex drive has gone completely away. I find that between my husband not wanting to hurt me and feeling so exhausted from the pain we have almost no sex life at all.
It is frustruating for both of us. I worry constantly that he is going to end up finding it elsewhere. He asures me that that is not true. He always jokes that between me, the kids, the house and yard where would he find the time or energy.
My feeling is that if I could lose the weight I wouldn't feel quite as crappy all of the time, and then maybe there would be a chance.

can we hijack this thread??? would keep it off the radar.

It's totally on topic!
Anne