Suggest Remedy For Difficulty Sleeping After Stopping Tizanidine

Posted on Tue, 2 Feb 2016

Question: I have multiple back issues including a pinched nerve at L5. I am a 58 year old overweight woman. For years I would get intermittent spasms. I was put on Nortripyline 50mg years ago and it knocked me out and I would get a good nights sleep. It stopped the spasms. Later on I was told to add tizanidine 4mg every night due to arthritis in the hip area. I switched Drs. I am now told to ease up on the tizanidine. I stopped it all together and I can no longer sleep. It's a terrible sleep on 3/4 hours and full of night mares. I am going for epidurals now too. I had one last month and will have one this month as the first one only lasted 3 days. What's going on with my sleep? Thank you. I have pain today too.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (43 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Tinazidine withdrawal symptoms.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.

I have read your question and understand your concerns.

Tinazidine is a drug used as muscle relaxer, but also it is often used as a drug to promote good sleep in people who have sleeping problems.

So, your sleep problems are related to interruption of Tinazidine.

Dosage of Tinazidine is 4 to 8 mg/daily.

Epidural injections could help in improving your back issues, but, best thing to do about your vertebral column is to loose weight and exercise.

I think you should start again Tinazidine to promote good sleep and to stop it gradually ( tapper off ) instead of sudden stop.

I suggest you to discuss with your Doctor about above suggestions.

Hope you found the answer helpful.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Greetings.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (10 minutes later)

Thank you. I will go back on it tonight. How do you taper off of Tizanidine 4mg? My Physiatrist did not explain well how to taper off.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome back.

You can use Tinazidine 4 mg before sleep for one month, then 2 mg before sleep for another month, after that, stop completely.

Remember, next time you stop a drug with central nervous system effects too, always taper it instead of stopping it otherwise it causes cold turkey.

Best regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (4 hours later)

Ok, great. Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You are welcome.

Detailed Answer:
Glad I helped.

Wishing you good health.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D