Sirdalud

Tizanidine is a centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant. Its principal site of action is the spinal cord, where the evidence suggests that, by stimulating presynaptic alpha2 receptors, it inhibits the release of excitatory amino acids that stimulate N-methyl-D aspartate (NMDA) receptors.

Polysynaptic signal transmission at spinal interneuron level, which is responsible for excessive muscle tone, is thus inhibited and muscle tone reduced. In addition to its muscle-relaxant properties, tizanidine also exerts a moderate central analgesic effect.

Pharmacodynamic: Tizanidine is effective in both acute painful muscle spasms and chronic spasticity of spinal and cerebral origin. It reduces resistance to passive movements, alleviates spasms and clonus, and may improve voluntary strength. The antispastic activity (measured by the Ashworth score and pendulum test) and adverse effects (heart rate and blood pressure) of Tizanidine are related to plasma tizanidine concentrations.

Concomitant administration of drugs known to inhibit the activity of CYP1A2 may increase the plasma levels of tizanidine. The increased plasma levels of tizanidine may result in overdose symptoms such as QT(c) prolongation. Concomitant administration of drugs known to induce the activity of CYP1A2 may decrease the plasma levels of tizanidine. The decreased plasma levels of tizanidine may reduce the therapeutic effect of Tizanidine.

Observed interactions resulting in a contraindication: Concomitant use of Tizanidine with fluvoxamine or ciprofloxacin, both CYP1A2 inhibitors is contraindicated. Concomitant use of Tizanidine with fluvoxamine or ciprofloxacin resulted in a 33-fold and 10-fold increase in tizanldine AUC, respectively. Clinically significant and prolonged hypotension may result along with somnolence, dizziness and decreased psychomotor performance. The increased plasma levels of tizanidine may result in overdose symptoms such as QT(c) prolongation.

Observed interactions resulting in concomitant use not recommended: Co administration of Tizanidine with other inhibitors of CYP1A2 such as antiarrhythmics (amiodarone, mexiletine, propafenone), cimetidine, fluoroquinolones (enoxacin, pefloxacin, norfloxacin), rofecoxib, oral contraceptives, and ticlopidine is not recommended.

Observed interactions to be considered: Caution should be exercised when Tizanidine is given with drugs known to prolong the QT interval (including but not limited to cisapride, amytriptyline and azithromycin).

Antihypertensives: Concomitant use of Tizanidine with antihypertensives, including diuretics, may occasionally cause hypotension and bradycardia. In some patients rebound hypertension and tachycardia have been observed upon abrupt discontinuation of Tizanidine when concomitantly used with antihypertensive drugs. In extreme cases, rebound hypertension might lead to cerebrovascular accident.

Rifampicin: Concomitant administration of Tizanidine with rifampicin results in 50% decrease in tizanidine concentrations. Therefore, the therapeutic effects of Tizanidine may be reduced during treatment with rifampicin, which may be of clinical significance in some patients. Long term coadministration should be avoided and if co- administration is considered a careful dose adjustment (increase) may be required.

Cigarette smoke: Administration of Tizanidine in smokers (>10 cigarettes per day) results in about 30% decrease in tizanidine systemic exposure. Long-term therapy with Tizanidine in heavy smokers may require higher doses than the average doses.

Alcohol: While on Tizanidine therapy, alcohol consumption should be minimized or avoided as it may increase the potential for adverse events (e.g. sedation and hypotension). The central nervous system depressant effects of alcohol may be enhanced by Tizanidine.

Anticipated interactions to be considered: Sedatives, hypnotics (e.g. benzodiazepine or baclofen), and another drug such as antihistamines may enhance the sedative action of tizanidine. Tizanidine should be avoided when using with other alpha-2 adrenergic agonists (such as clonidine) because of their potential additive hypotensive effect.

With low doses, such as those recommended for the relief of painful muscle spasms, somnolence, fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth, blood pressure decrease, nausea, gastrointestinal disorder and transaminase increase have been reported, usually as mild and transient adverse reactions.

With the higher doses recommended for the treatment of spasticity, the adverse reactions reported with low doses are more frequent and more pronounced, but seldom severe enough to require discontinuation of treatment. In addition, the following adverse reactions may occur: hypotension, bradycardia, muscular weakness, insomnia, sleep disorder, hallucination & hepatitis.

• Psychiatric disorders: Common- Insomnia, sleep disorder.
• Nervous system disorders: Very common- Somnolence, dizziness
• Cardiac disorders: Uncommon- Bradycardia
• Vascular disorders: Common- Hypotension
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Very common- Gastrointestinal disorder, dry mouth; Common- Nausea.
• Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: Very common- Muscular weakness
• General disorders and administration site conditions: Very common- Fatigue
• Investigations: Common- Blood pressure decreased, transaminases increased.

As there is limited experience with the use of Tizanidine in pregnant women, it should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefit clearly outweighs the risk.

Animal data: Reproduction studies performed in rats and rabbits did not show evidence of teratogenicity. In rats, dose levels of 10 and 30 mg/kg/day increased gestation duration. Prenatal and postnatal pup loss was increased and development retardation occurred. At these doses, dams showed marked signs of muscle relaxation and sedation. Based on body surface area, these doses were 2.2 and 6.7 times the maximum recommended human dose of 0.72 mg/kg/day.

Lactation: Small amounts of tizanidine are excreted in rat milk. Since no human (fata are available Tizanidine should not be given to women who are breast-feeding.

Females and males of reproductive potential: Pregnancy testing:  Sexually-active females of reproductive potential are recommended to have a pregnancy test prior to starting treatment with Tizanidine.

Contraception: Females of reproductive potential should be advised that animal studies have been performed showing Tizanidine to be harmful to the developing fetus. Sexually-active females of reproductive potential are recommended to use effective contraception (methods that result in less than 1 % pregnancy rates) when using Tizanidine during treatment and for 1 day after stopping treatment with Tizanidine.

Fertility: Animal data: No impairment of fertility was observed in male rats at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day, and in female rats at a dose of 3 mg/kg/day. Fertility was reduced in male rats receiving 30 mg/kg/day and in female rats receiving 10 mg/kg/day. Based on body surface area, these doses were 6.7 and 2.2 times the maximum recommended human dose of 0.72 mg/kg. At these doses, maternal behavioral effects and clinical signs were observed including marked sedation, weight loss and ataxia.

CYP inhibitors: The concomitant use of Tizanidine with moderate CYP1A2 inhibitors is not recommended. Caution should be exercised when Tizanidine is given with drugs known to increase the QT interval.

Hypotension: Hypotension may occur during treatment with Tizanidine and also as a result of drug interactions with CYP1A2 inhibitors and/or antihypertensive drugs. Severe manifestations of hypotension such as loss of consciousness and circulatory collapse have also been observed.

Withdrawal syndrome: Rebound hypertension and tachycardia have been observed after sudden withdrawal of Tizanidine, when it had been used chronically, and/or in high daily dosages, and/or concomitantly with antihypertensive drugs. In extreme cases, rebound hypertension might lead to cerebrovascular accident. Tizanidine should not be stopped abruptly, but rather gradually down titrated.

Hepatic dysfunction: Since hepatic dysfunction has been reported in association with tizanidine, but rarely at daily doses up to 12 mg, it is recommended that liver function tests should be monitored monthly for the first four months in patients receiving doses of 12 mg and higher and in patients who develop clinical symptoms suggestive of hepatic dysfunction, such as unexplained nausea, anorexia or tiredness. Treatment with Tizanidine should be discontinued if serum levels of SGPT or SGOT are persistently above three times the upper limit of the normal range.

Patients with renal impairment: In patients with renal impairment (creatinine clearance <25 mL/min) systemic exposure to tizanidine may increase up to 6 times compared to patient with normal renal function. Therefore, it is recommended to start treatment at 2 mg once daily.

Hypersensitivity reactions: Hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, angioedema, dermatitis, rash, urticarial, pruritis and erythema have been reported in association with tizanidine. Careful observation of the patient is recommended for one to two days after the first dose is administered. If anaphylaxis or angioedema with anaphylactic shock or difficulty of breathing is observed treatment with Tizanidine should be discontinued immediately and appropriate medical treatment should be instituted.

Driving and using machines: Patients experiencing somnolence, dizziness or any signs or symptoms of hypotension should refrain from activities requiring a high degree of alertness, e.g. driving a vehicle or operating machines.

Renal impairment (creatinine clearance <25 mL/min): Maximal mean plasma levels were found to be twice as high as in normal volunteers, and the terminal half-life was prolonged to approximately 14 hours, resulting in much higher (approximately 6-fold on average) AUC values.

Hepatic impairment: No specific studies were conducted in this population. As tizanidine is extensively metabolized in the liver by the CYP1A2 enzyme, hepatic impairment may increase its systemic exposure. Tizanidine is contraindicated in patients with severe hepatic impairment.

Geriatrics (65 years of age and older): Pharmacokinetic data in this population are limited.

Gender: Gender has no clinically significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of tizanidine.

Ethnicity: The impact of ethnic sensitivity and race on the pharmacokinetics of tizanidine has not been studied.

Centrally acting Skeletal Muscle Relaxants

In the few reports of Tizanidine overdosage received, recovery was uneventful, including by a patient who ingested 400 mg Tizanidine. Nausea, vomiting, hypotension, QT(c) prolongation, dizziness, somnolence, miosis, restlessness, respiratory distress, coma. It is recommended to eliminate the ingested drug by repeated administration of high doses of activated charcoal. Forced diuresis is expected to accelerate the elimination of Tizanidine. Further treatment should be symptomatic.

Store in a dry place below 30°C. Tizanidine must be kept out of the reach and sight of children.