In this article, I’m going to teach you how to use tizanidine for opiate withdrawal. To be sure, this medication is not the best one available for treating acute withdrawal symptoms.
However, if tizanidine is all you have, it still has the potential to significantly reduce your opiate withdrawal symptoms.
And if you use tizanidine in combination with other medications for opiate withdrawal, you have the potential to experience a very easy detox.
Many people have asked the question:
“Will tizanidine help with opiate withdrawal?”
The answer is not always the same.
You see, for some, tizanidine significantly reduces opiate withdrawal symptoms. For others, it only has mild benefits.
And for others still, tizanidine provides no benefit at all during the withdrawal process. As individual opioid dependence severity and biochemical makeup differ, so will results using medications.
Tizanidine For Opiate Withdrawal – Overview
Tizanidine (brand name Zanaflex) is a short-acting muscle relaxant prescription medication. Tizanidine acts as a centrally acting α2 adrenergic agonist, which is also a mechanism of action shared by clonidine, a blood pressure medication which is commonly prescribed for opiate withdrawal symptoms.
Tizanidine works by blocking nerve impulses (pain sensations) that are sent to your brain.
Tizanidine is commonly prescribed to relieve spasms and increased muscle tone caused by:
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Stroke
- Brain injury
- Spinal injury
Along with having musculoskeletal relaxant properties, tizanidine is also a central nervous system (CNS) depressant.
It acts as a sedative, thus relaxing the body and mind. For these reasons, many people have used tizanidine for opiate withdrawal symptoms.
Using tizanidine for opiate withdrawal could potentially treat the following symptoms:
- Aching muscles and limbs
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Goosebumps/chills
- Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
- Gastrointestinal (GI) distress
- And more
Tizanidine For Opiate Withdrawal – Research
In a study from 2000, researchers sought out to learn whether or not using tizanidine for opiate withdrawal was useful.
Here is what happened in the study:
- Patients in the tizanidine group were given 8 mg of tizanidine three times a day.
- The patients estimated the intensity of 7 symptoms of withdrawal (sweating, nervousness, insomnia, tremor, diarrhea, muscle pain, drug craving) on a subjective scale day by day.
- The analysis showed that the tizanidine treatment decreased the intensity of the withdrawal symptoms in every symptom type examined.
How To Use Tizanidine For Opiate Withdrawal
If you’re going to use tizanidine for opiate withdrawal, it’s important to be armed with the right information. One must always exercise caution to ensure the safe and effective use of medications.
The following guidelines should be followed when using tizanidine for opiate withdrawal:
- Always use tizanidine under the supervision of a doctor.
- Make sure you thoroughly review the possible tizanidine side effects and interactions.
- Only use tizanidine for a few days to a week to treat the most severe symptoms.
- Use the smallest dose as is necessary to reduce opiate withdrawal symptoms. The study which had good results used 8 mg three times a day for the dosing regimen.
- Prolonged daily use of tizanidine can lead to a dependence, and once this happens, the abrupt cessation of the drug can result in a withdrawal syndrome.
- Though tizanidine has a low addiction-potential, it’s important to note that it can become addictive.
Tizanidine For Opiate Withdrawal – Key Concepts
At this point in the article, it’s time to review the main concepts associated with tizanidine in the treatment of opiate withdrawal symptoms.
Here is a summary of the main concepts regarding the use of tizanidine for opiate withdrawal:
- Many people have benefited from the use of tizanidine for opiate withdrawal symptoms.
- Some individuals have had no benefits, or even bad reactions while using tizanidine for opiate withdrawal.
- Tizanidine has been shown in a research study to be helpful in treating symptoms of opiate withdrawal.
- It’s not the best medication available for treating the withdrawal syndrome, however, it can offer a lot of help for some individuals – especially when combined with other medications.
Tizanidine For Opiate Withdrawal Natural Alternative
For people that can’t use tizanidine, or choose not to use medications for fear of side effects and/or addiction, there are natural alternatives that may help.
Many individuals going through opiate withdrawal have obtained relief from anxiety and insomnia, as well as many other symptoms, by using a popular Opiate Withdrawal Supplement.
It’s a bit expensive and not available in stores (you have to order it online), but despite these challenges, getting yourself a 30-day supply of this powerful opiate withdrawal supplement might be just what you need to help you get your life back on track.
If you can afford it, I also highly recommend taking this awesome supplement, because the benefits are just too good to pass up.
Click here now to check out the Ultimate Opiate Recovery System.
If you have any questions or comments about the use of tizanidine for opiate withdrawal, please post them in the comment box below.
Day 4 whiplash .Was put on hydro 325mg .Decided to one day just out them aside to my knowledge that I could do that without withdraw from the meds. I only been taking them on-and off for a year. My husband quit and never seen him detox at all.He smokes alot of weed tho,i don’t .well anyway I have Been a mess ,sweating ,hurting, and coughing like crazy. Can’t even go out. I’ve been trying to occupy myself but it’s kinda hard to get relief. Please help. Maybe a way out if this I don’t and can’t afford rehab.
I’m reading this and trying to understand how or will this medication Tizanidine help me with my withdrawals
Dear Matt,
I just found you and am beyond excited I am awesomely relieved and over-the-top with excitement to finally have found a way to rid myself of my personal plague of addiction and dependance to prescription and “street” opoids ! It’s been a 25 year struggle.
I will let you know later how things are going. I am currently tapering from Suboxone, just today the Doc made a mistake and had an FNP colleague sign my Sub script so the pharmacy couldn’t fill it and it is Friday after hours and no on call DATA approved doctors to remedy the situation. I’m on about 4 mg. for a week now , so it’ll be at least 100 hrs. till i’m able to get back on my schedule. I’m trying to get Calm Support soon. I have some Zanaflex and am confident and hopeful. I will be going to Jims’ site soon to. Thank you Matt , Thank you so much.
Dear Matt:
I am Tom Witham, Littleton, CO. Am am a subscriber to your site. Just want to commend and thank you for your most excellent work. I have chronic knee pain post op total knee replacement 08/15. Was basically abandoned by the surgeon after he did his cutting (with a
robot). Got on prescribed chronic pain meds, benzos
through primary care, psychiatrist. On and on it went. Cycle of meds, try to get off, detoxing by myself at home, then back on due to
pain, anxiety. However, have
been clean from them for 8
months. Pain still there but I
manage without the former mess. Tried your advice about megadosing Vit C, 1000 mg doses Dr. Mercola brand) but did not help. Was on Seroquel separetly and did some mega dosing with it when detoxing but no help. Got into detox treatment, The Village at Palmer Lake, CO. 24 hours of Suboxone (which only provided mild narcotic buzz), followed the muscle relaxer Robaxin, combined with standard dosing, Seroquel. Was of some help.
I tried your recipe for mega Vit C
Hi Tom,
Thanks for sharing some of your story and for the feedback on your use of detox protocols. Great info. I wish you the best and appreciate you leaving a comment my friend. 🙂