Patient/caregiver was educated on contraindications for using Chlorzoxazone as follows:
- Do not take chlorzoxazone along with alcohol, opioid pain medications, such as, hydrocodone and codeine, antipsychotic medications, antidepressant medications, anti-seizure medications, muscle relaxants, antihistamines, OTC cough syrups, and any other medications that carry a risk for depression of the central nervous system and the respiratory center, resulting in episodes of dizziness, confusion, difficulty breathing, and respiratory arrest. The individual influence of these medications on respirations and central nervous system can get added up, thus leading to severe respiratory depression, confusion, coma, and can even be fatal.
- Chlorzoxazone use can also result in fast and pounding heartbeat. Individuals with history of cardiac arrhythmias can be at increased risk for precipitation of arrhythmic episodes with chlorzoxazone use and must be increasingly watchful to report worsening symptoms of arrhythmias, such as, chest pain, low blood pressure, confusion, dizziness, increasing shortness of breath, and worsening fatigue. Hypotension and irregular heartbeat, secondary to chlorzoxazone intake, can contribute to the confusion and dizziness, thus significantly increasing the risk for fall and accidents. Chlorzoxazone could best be avoided for a safer alternative or used with extra caution in individuals with history of life-threatening arrhythmias.
- Chlorzoxazone could be avoided for a safer alternative or used with extreme caution in individuals with history of severe head injury and brain damage. Individuals with history of head injury and brain damage can be at high risk to present with severe depression of brain and associated respiratory and cardiovascular centers with chlorzoxazone, leading to complications such as, coma, respiratory arrest, dangerous hypotension, and bradycardia, which can be fatal.
