Treatment of muscle spasms with Zanaflex.
Zanaflex is recommended for: Treatment of muscle spasms. Your physician may prescribe it for other conditions as well. The drug Zanaflex is a skeletal muscle relaxant. The way it works is it blocks nerves that make muscles contract.
There are a few reasons you should NOT take Zanaflex medication: if you have allergies to any Zanaflex ingredient; if you take ciprofoxacin or fluvoxamine.
If these apply to you, let your doctor know right away.
Before you use generic Zanaflex: There are some medical conditions which possibly can interact with Zanaflex.
Inform your physician or pharmacist if you suffer from any medical conditions specifically in the following areas:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding;
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement;
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances;
- if you have liver or kidney problems or prostate problems.
There are some medicines that may interact with Zanaflex:
Inform your physician if you are taking additional drug, specifically any of the following: Acyclovir, antiarrhythmics (eg, amiodarone, mexiletine, propafenone), cimetidine, famotidine, fluvoxamine, hormonal contraceptives (eg, birth control pills), quinolone antibiotics (eg, ciprofloxacin), ticlopidine, verapamil, or zileuton because they may increase the risk of Zanaflex’s side effects.
This list may not include all the interactions that are possible. If you take any other medicines, you should ask your physician if they will interact with Zanaflex. Before you begin, stop or change the dose of any medication you should check with your physician.
Using Zanaflex drug:
Follow the directions your doctor gives you for using Zanaflex.
Read the label for exact dosing instructions.
Zanaflex is taken orally.
Food can alter the way your body absorbs and uses the medicine Zanaflex. It is important that you talk with your doctor to find out the most effective way to take your medicine, particularly when you are thinking about changing your dose, or if your doctor is prescribing a dose form of Zanaflex which is different from the one you are currently taking (such as tablets or capsules.)
Do not end your use of Zanaflex suddenly. If you are required to stop using Zanaflex your physician will slowly reduce your dose to stop symptoms of withdrawal, which could be high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, tremor, anxiety and muscle tension.
Take any missed doses of Zanaflex as soon as possible. If it is close to your next dosage simply pass over the forgotten one and get back to your normal routine. Never take two doses at once.
Talk to your doctor about any questions you have about Zanaflex.
For your safety, it is important to know the following information: Zanaflex can make you drowsy, dizzy, lightheaded, or faint. Side effects may worsen when used with alcohol or other medicines. Be careful when using Zanaflex. Wait to drive or do other potentially unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
Do not consume alcohol or use drugs that could bring on fatigue while using Zanaflex as it could ramp up their side effects. If you want to know which medicines may make you drowsy, let the pharmacist know what your questions are.
The side effects of Zanaflex are dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting; they can be magnified by alcohol, hot weather, excessive exercise, or fever. Sit up and stand slowly, especially in the morning, to prevent this. If you experience these, sit or lie down.
Don’t change from Zanaflex tablets to capsules unless your doctor tells you to. Switching to another form after you have started to take one can increase the risk of side effects. If you find that you have received something different from the medicine you usually take, ask your doctor or the pharmacist prior to taking Zanaflex.
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