Zanaflex Vs Flexeril: Who Is More Effective?

Zanaflex Vs Flexeril: Who Is More Effective?

Tizanidine does not cure these problems, but it may allow other treatment, such as physical therapy, to be more helpful in improving your condition. All the muscle relaxants listed above are prescription medications, which need approval of a physician or other licensed prescriber. QuickMD can prescribe most muscle relaxants online via telemedicine, and the prescription is sent electronically to your pharmacy of choice. To talk with a doctor and see if a muscle relaxant is a good solution for you, get in touch with QuickMD today.

  • The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records.
  • It is a type of muscle relaxant used for very specific types of muscle spasms.
  • Muscle relaxants, according to certain guidelines, produce drowsiness and should only be used for a short period.

Because of its sedative properties, Valium can be used to treat sleep disorders. Alprazolam, marketed under the brand name Xanax, belongs to the benzodiazepines drug class. Although it is an FDA-approved anxiolytic, it helps relieve muscle tension and spasms from anxiety or panic attacks.

What are the types of muscle relaxers?

The goals of treatment include managing muscle pain and improving functional status so the patient can return to work or resume previous activities. Tizanidine, also known by its brand name Zanaflex, is a short-acting muscle relaxant that was prescribed to approximately 3.5 million people in the US in 2020. It’s used primarily for managing spasticity caused by conditions like multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury. Tizanidine accounts for around 15% of all muscle relaxant prescriptions and has seen steady use over the past decade. It’s also important to note that cyclobenzaprine is generally considered a first-line treatment option due its long history of use and extensive research supporting its safety and efficacy. Tizanidine tends not to be prescribed until other options like NSAIDs or physical therapy have failed or aren’t suitable.

However, consulting with a healthcare professional for personalized advice and guidance regarding the most appropriate treatment option is crucial. Overall, the study discovered that the efficacy and safety of these medications are equal. Muscle relaxants, according to certain guidelines, produce drowsiness and should only be used for a short period. While both medications can cause side effects such as drowsiness or dry mouth, patients taking cyclobenzaprine may experience more serious ones including fast heart rate or hallucinations. Always consult with a healthcare provider when choosing between different types of medication.

New Circle of Hope Blog Points Out the Dangers Of Using Muscle … – Digital Journal

New Circle of Hope Blog Points Out the Dangers Of Using Muscle ….

Posted: Thu, 13 Jan 2022 08:00:00 GMT [source]

This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 3 Sep 2023), Cerner Multum™ (updated 28 Aug 2023), ASHP (updated 10 Aug 2023) and others. Flexeril is also covered by most Medicare and insurance plans flexeril.live when it’s prescribed as a generic. Immediate-release tablets are commonly prescribed to be taken multiple times per day. The average retail cost for a cyclobenzaprine prescription can run around $42. You can also take advantage of a Flexeril coupon to get a reduced price of around $7 at a participating pharmacy.

Robaxin is most effective in the treatment of severe acute postoperative pain due to major orthopedic surgeries. It is also prescribed alongside rest and physical therapy for spasms due to tetanus, strokes, and other musculoskeletal conditions. Zanaflex is a newer drug FDA-approved for muscle spasticity due to multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries. Flexeril is an older drug that has been more heavily studied for musculoskeletal pain and spasms. The better drug is the one that works best for your specific condition.

Diseases & Conditions

Both tizanidine (Zanaflex) and cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) are effective muscle relaxants commonly used for the treatment of muscle spasms. They were approved by the FDA only a few years apart, with Flexeril having been available slightly longer than Zanaflex. Research is lacking on whether or not antispasmodics are more effective in treating muscle pain and spasms than NSAIDs or acetaminophen. Antispasmodics have more side effects than NSAIDs and acetaminophen, so it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of taking these medications. Muscle relaxers (also called muscle relaxants) are prescription medications that affect muscle function.

Zanaflex (tizanidine) is a skeletal muscle relaxant used for the treatment and management of skeletal muscle spasticity, typically resulting from neurological problems. It works on alpha 2 receptors in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and blocks nerve impulses from reaching muscles, which produces muscle relaxation. Zanaflex (tizanidine) and Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) are muscle relaxants used to treat painful musculoskeletal conditions.

However, Xanax is primarily used to treat seizures, anxiety disorder, and premenstrual syndrome. In contrast to Zanaflex, Methocarbamol can be administered orally and parentally and is one of the cheapest muscle relaxants available. Methocarbamol vs. Tizanidine are potent centrally acting muscle relaxants that share many similarities. Some people may abuse Flexeril by mixing it with alcohol or opioids to enhance the effects of these other drugs. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Initially take mg by mouth every 6 to 8 hours for up to 3 doses in 24 hours.

Alcohol, withdrawal, misuse risks

Painosoma.com is an information-providing website and does not sell any products. We are not advising our users to take any drugs discussed on our website. Our main objective is to spread scientifically backed information to the users visiting our website without promoting a specific brand or product. You can buy Flexeril online from the certified online pharmacy taking a doctor’s prescription before consuming any medications (Barnes, M., 2000).