Zanaflex for Migraine? and Chronic Daily Headache?

In the last few years, it seems that Zanaflex for migraine is becoming increasingly popular with specialists.  The name of the drug is tizanidine hydrochloride, with brand names such as Zanaflex and Sirdalud.  It’s considered a "muscle relaxant", and it acts on the central nervous system to relax certain muscles in your body.

Interestingly, Zanaflex is used not only for migraine but also for some comorbid or related conditions.  For example, Tizanidine is often prescribed for fibromyalgia.  It’s also sometimes used to treat sleep disorders.  It may be prescribed to treat muscle spasms from stroke.

Why might Zanaflex help Migraine or CDH Patients?

Some specialists believe that Zanaflex helps with migraine because it helps some people sleep better.  Certainly, sleep problems do seem to trigger migraine attacks in some people.  Also, it could be that muscle tension could trigger a migraine attack.

However, as with most medications used for migraine, there are many possibilities why it may work – but due to the complexity of the human body we’re still exploring the reasons why.

However, it is clear that it is helping many migraine patients cut down on their attacks.

For Chronic Daily Headache (CDH), Zanaflex is one of the few drugs that has been tested as a preventative.  It has also been considered as a treatment for tension-type headache.  Also, using it with a NSAID (ie ibuprofen) has been considered to treat rebound headache, when the "problem" medication is discontinued.

Important things to ask (or tell) your doctor

When it comes to Zanaflex or Sirdalud, here are a few things you should check with your doctor:

• Food makes a difference.  Talk to your doctor about whether or not to take your tizanidine with food.  What you’re eating does not seem to be as important as when.
• Talk about any side effects you experience, such as weakness/tiredness, dry mouth, or dizziness.  Sometimes changing the dose will help.  Some other side effects include fever, stomach pain, gastrointestinal issues, back pain, nausea and depression or anxiety.
• Tell your doctor if you have concerns about low blood pressure.  This drug may lower blood pressure.
• Tell your doctor right away if more serious (though rare) side effects occur, such as mood changes, vision changes, black stool, rash, severe dizziness, difficulty breathing or irregular heart beat.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver, heart, kidney or eye disease.
• As with anything, you should tell your doctor about all drugs and supplements you’re taking.  There are particular concerns about taking Zanaflex along with fluvoxamine (Luvox – an antidepressant) or ciprofloxacin (Cipro – an antibiotic).  There are concerned about other CYP1A2 inhibitors as well.  A document from the FDA says specifically,"cocomitant use of tizanidine with other CYP1A2 inhibitors, such as zileuton, other fluroquinolones, antiarrythmics (amiodarone, mexilatine, propafenone, and verapamil), cimetidine, famotidine, oral contraceptives, acyclovir and ticlopidine should ordinarily be avoided.  If their use is clinically necessary, they should be used with caution." (read the full report in pdf format: Updated Safety Information: Contraindications to the use of Tizanidine
• As a preventative, you may take this drug for a long period of time.  Talk to your doctor before stopping the medication.

For more information…

Read more about Zanaflex at Drugs.com.