Cramping or muscular spasms may trigger discomforts like sharp pains. Such painful episodes can be treated with drugs along with sessions of physical therapy. In this milieu, a medication known as cyclobenzaprine is commonly prescribed to suppress pain; it is categorised under a genre of meds called skeletal-muscle relaxers. This med functions by working on the brain and on the central nervous system (CNS). But, do you know the differences between cyclobenzaprine and tizanidine? It is a safe thing to have needful information about their differences before starting treatment.
Muscular discomforts like spasms are involuntary contraction of a muscle. These conditions can show up with pains and allied discomforts. But, most cramps / spasms are not harmful; these tend to get relieved on their own after some time. Medical research shows that an abnormal stimulation of a nerve or an erratic muscular movement may cause these discomforts.
In this light, what is cyclobenzaprine?
Cyclobenzaprine is one of the popular meds prescribed for treating muscular conditions like spasms or cramps. Key chemicals of this med are known to ease the stressed muscle(s) and bring about needful remedy. This medication is however a short-action drug; owing to this, the treatment plan is always under 2 – 3 weeks. This drug is available as a generic med; hence, its pricing is cheaper than branded equivalents. Fexmid is one of the branded forms of this muscle relaxing med.
What is tizanidine?
Discomforts such as cramps or muscular spasms are treated by prescribing short-action drugs belonging to a category called muscle relaxants. These drugs are known for their capabilities to suppress pain-carrying signals and keep them away from your cerebral system. Tizanidine is a widely administered medication in this genre. You need to remember that tizanidine is a short-action med; this drug is administered to get needful relief from muscular problems like spasticity, cramping as well as spasms.
Tizianidine vs Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine)
Both these meds belong to the same genre called skeletal muscle relaxants. The key difference in between these two is: the half-life period of Flexeril i.e., cyclobenzaprine is 72 hours. In case of tizanidine, it is about 2.5 – 3 hours. Another noteworthy aspect: cyclobenzaprine is bucketed under Category-B drugs (which means no proven risks to humans); tizanidine bears a Category-C rating (risks cannot be ruled out). Hence, you are advised to check pregnancy-related warnings prior to taking muscle relaxant meds.
How much of cyclobenzaprine is safe to consume?
Cyclobenzaprine is available in strengths ranging from 5 milligram (mg), 7.5 mg to 10 mg. Such dosages can be sold as oral tablets. Branded equivalents – like Fexmid – can be taken at a strength of 7.5 mg pills. Among aged and older patients, kidney function is unlikely to be as efficient as that of younger adults. Due to this fact, this med may require a longer time to get processed in elderly patients. The risks of undesired effects tend to get larger if you let the remnants of cyclobenzaprine to remain for long in your body. It is a safe practice to take this med at lower dosage strengths.
Precautions to know before you start consuming tizanidine
Prior to taking tizanidine, inform the treating physician about all prior ailments and of your medical history (also your family’s clinical history). If you have (or had) kidney-related ailments, decrease in blood pressure (i.e., hypotension), liver-based disorders like hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc., your caregiving team need to be updated about all such medical conditions.
Last but not least, both these drugs – i.e., cyclobenzaprine and tizanidine – may cause severe side effects when taken with alcohol. Adverse effects such as dizziness, inability to stay focused and / or drowsiness may tend to get worse upon consuming alcohol with either of these muscle relaxants.
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.