Are you taking Zanaflex?? A muscle relaxant?? FDA Alert

[icnmgrjill]

The FDA announced today that Zanaflex, a common muscle relaxant, should not be taken with either Ciprofloxacin or Fluvoxamine, due to a significant increase in sedation or drop in blood pressure. If you are taking Zanaflex, please talk with your doctor about this new alert!

For more information, please visit: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2007/safety07.htm#Zanaflex


Zanaflex (tizanidine hydrochloride) Tablets and Capsules
Audience: Healthcare professionals
[Posted 04/11/2007] Acorda Therapeutics and FDA informed healthcare professionals of changes to the CONTRAINDICATIONS and WARNINGS Sections of the product labeling for Zanaflex, a drug used to treat spasticity. In pharmacokinetic studies where tizanidine was coadministered with either fluvoxamine or ciprofloxacin (CYP1A2 inhibitors), the serum concentration of tizanidine was significantly increased and potentiated its hypotensive and sedative effects. Although there are no clinical studies evaluating the effects of other CYP1A2 inhibitors on tizanidine, coadministration of tizanidine with other CYP1A2 inhibitors (zileuton, other fluroquinolones, antiarrythmics, cimetidine, famotidine, oral contraceptives, acyclovir and ticlopidine) should be avoided.

[ihurttoo]

I feel very fortunate to have a Rhematologist that is on the cutting edge of everything. She told me about this interaction last year. I have tried to spread the word here ever since, but I had no idea that the FDA is just now getting around to getting the word out! WOW! I figured since she told me, it must be common knowledge in the medical community. But, I was suprised that my Pharmacist and (many) Drs. who have r/xed Cipro for me for various UTIs, saw that I was taking Zanaflex daily, and never mentioned the interactions that were possible. But, she is at a teaching hopsital and is always on top of everything, thankfully.

Thank you for keeping us posted on these things. For so many IC patients, if we dont hear about things here, then we dont hear it anywhere. There have been so many interactions and side effects that I had not heard about it until I read it here. Thank you for the valuable service you do for IC patients.

Hugs,
Amy

[mary124]

I just started taking it last month, but my doctor didn't tell me of this warning. Thanks for letting me know.

[Texas Baby]

Thanks Jill. I had no Idea. I have to take it on occasion. It is just like the Zelnorm(for IBS). I just recently found out it had been pulled off the shelf from my doc due to heart related problems. I really have to wonder about some of these meds were on.

Eva