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Be Sure You Receive What Your Doctor Ordered
Your doctor has prescribed Zanaflex Capsules™ (tizanidine hydrochloride) for your spasticity and may have given you samples of Zanaflex Capsules. Zanaflex Capsules have a short-term effect in the body. Your doctor may tell you to take your medication just before you perform activities that are made more difficult by spasticity.
Please be aware that Zanaflex Capsules are not the same as Zanaflex® (tizanidine hydrochloride) tablets or generic tizanidine tablets. There are important differences between Zanaflex Capsules™ and tizanidine tablets when taken with food.
If your doctor prescribed Zanaflex Capsules for you, it is important to make sure that you receive Zanaflex Capsules and not tablets when you have your prescription filled at the pharmacy. Make sure you receive what your doctor ordered by following these steps:
- LOOK – Look at your prescription to see what your doctor has prescribed. Remember, if your doctor prescribed Zanaflex Capsules™, you should receive capsules (not tablets) when you have your prescription filled.
- CHECK - When you have your prescription for Zanaflex Capsules filled, check the medication bottle to make sure your pharmacist gave you capsules.
- REPORT- If you received tablets instead of Zanaflex Capsules, it is likely that a medication error has occurred (you were given the wrong medication at the pharmacy). Talk to you pharmacist about this error. You should also contact your doctor to let them know about the error. Do not take the tablets without speaking with your doctor. You can also report the medication error to the Acorda Medical Information System by calling toll-free 1-800-367-5109.
Important Safety Information
You should not take Zanaflex Capsules™ (tizanidine hydrochloride) if you are currently taking fluvoxamine (Luvox®), ciprofloxacin (Cipro®) or clonidine (Catapres® and Catapres TTS®). Please be aware that there is limited information about the long-term use of Zanaflex® (more than one year) or use by people who are taking more than 8 mg in a single dose or more than 24 mg per day.
Zanaflex Capsules may cause side effects in some people, including the following:
- Sudden drop in blood pressure: Some people in clinical studies experienced this effect, known as “hypotension.”
- Possible liver damage. Changes in liver function tests have been found in some patients which could be the result of liver damage. In most cases, these changes resolved when the drug was stopped. In very rare cases, liver damage was permanent.
- Sleepiness: You should not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking this drug. Sleepiness could be made worse if you take your medication with alcohol or certain other drugs.
- Hallucinations: In two studies, a small percentage of people had hallucinations (saw things that did not really exist).
- The most common side effects reported in clinical studies were dry mouth, sleepiness, weakness and dizziness.
Talk to your doctor if you have kidney or liver damage and if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Also talk to your doctor about any medicines you are currently taking, including birth control pills.
Since this medication can decrease your spasticity, please be careful when using Zanaflex Capsules™ if your spasticity helps you with posture or balance.
Your experience with Zanaflex Capsules may change depending on whether you take this medication with food or without food, including potential changes in efficacy and side effects. Follow your doctor’s instructions on how to take your medication.
Suddenly stopping treatment can cause certain medical problems; therefore, you should always talk to your doctor before deciding to stop Zanaflex Capsules treatment.
For more information on Zanaflex Capsules please log on to www.zanaflexcapsules.com to view the complete prescribing information.