Patient/caregiver was instructed upon mechanism of action of tizanidine as follows:
- Nerve impulses travel from the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) along the nerves to the muscles. Upon conduction to the muscles, these impulses cause the muscle to contract.
- Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that are synthesized in the body and help the nerve cells to communicate with each other in conducting or inhibiting the nerve impulse. These chemicals can have multiple roles and other functions in the body.
- Norepinephrine is one such neurotransmitter synthesized in human body. Upon release, norepinephrine can improve the conduction of impulses to the skeletal muscles and increase the force of skeletal muscle contraction.
- Tizanidine is a medication that works by reducing the release of norepinephrine. Inhibition of norepinephrine release by tizanidine leads to inhibition of conduction of nerve impulses from the spinal cord and to the muscles.
- Conduction of nerve impulse to the muscle results in muscle contraction. Inhibition of nerve impulse conduction from the spinal cord to the muscle with tizanidine leads to muscle relaxation.
