Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using Tizanidine as follows:
General allergic reactions
- Tizanidine use can result in general allergic reactions, such as, skin rashes, hives, and itching.
- Some patients can present with symptoms of severe allergic and anaphylactic response with tizanidine, such as, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, throat, and tongue, with consequent difficulty breathing. Seek emergency medical help for such findings, especially with difficulty breathing, for any appropriate measures to be considered.
Gastrointestinal side-effects
- This medication can induce some nausea, vomiting, and stomach upset with self-limiting diarrhea, especially when taken on empty stomach. Taking the medication with a glass of water and some food or snack can help avoid these unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms. Observe compliance with fluid, electrolyte, and nutrition intake, as recommended. If stomach upset, vomiting, and diarrhea are uncontrolled, report to your physician immediately for further recommendations.
- Tizanidine can also induce extreme dry mouth and constipation. Sucking on a sugar free hard candy can help with symptomatic relief of dry mouth. Proper hydration measures and compliance with daily fluid intake recommendations can help with relief from constipation. If you experience any further bothersome constipation, report it to your physician for a recommendation on laxative/stool softener use. Observing compliance with fiber intake recommendations in the diet can also help with preventing episodes of constipation with the medication.
- Tizanidine can rarely induce hepatic dysfunction and liver toxicity, leading to fatal liver failure. Individuals can present with symptoms of liver failure and jaundice, such as, yellowing of skin and eyes, dark yellow colored urine, itching of skin, upper right abdominal pain, abdominal distension, nausea and vomiting, confusion and disorientation, fluid retention in the body with swelling & acute weight gain, and compromised appetite.
- Also, liver is the site of synthesis for blood clotting factors. In liver dysfunction, synthesis of clotting factors can be impaired leading to episodes of bleeding from the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts and bleeding episodes in the skin. Individuals with liver dysfunction can present with severe hemorrhages into the skin even from minor bruising, red tinged urine, fresh blood in the stool, or black tarry stool from partially digested blood in the intestines. Report any of these bleeding episodes to your physician immediately for appropriate measures to be considered.
Genitourinary side-effects
- Tizanidine intake, by some unknown mechanism, can induce bladder irritation and increase risk for urinary tract infection. Individuals with history of bladder disorders, retention of urine, and frequent urinary tract infections must be aware of this side-effect, as tizanidine can add further to their risk for UTIs.
