Tizanidine and Headaches: What Users Say

• Chr...
• February 9, 2020

For Muscle Spasm "I saw a neurologist for neck pain and daily headaches (for over 9 years now). I was told I have arthritis and muscle spasms, so I was prescribed tizanidine 2 times a day. I told the doctor they don't work at all on me, so she increased it to 3 times a day! Now I'm having so much weakness and intense headaches. This is not the medication for me! Soma is the ONLY muscle relaxer that's ever worked for me, but my regular doctor will only allow me to be on it for a month (at the most)... and then I have to take a month off of it before she'll prescribe it again! Now I'm off to get Botox injections in my neck and shoulders."

• Anonymous
• April 13, 2012

Tizanidine for Muscle Spasm "Been taking this for months for DDD/DJD (neck). I notice severe pain when I don't take this nightly but still have muscle pain even when I do. Main side effect is severe grogginess and dry mouth/hungover feeling. I have to be in bed about 20 mins after taking it or I am walking into walls, literally. I have to drink a lot of water before bed to combat the hungover feeling. Recently switched back to Flexeril. Have also taken Robaxin, but that didn't help much either. I get headaches when I take Tramadol and any narcotic, so I take Tylenol during the day."

• Ash...
• August 8, 2017

For Cluster Headaches "I've been on this medicine for about a week now. It helps me relax at night but doesn't make me sleepy like it makes others. I'm currently on 4 mg at bedtime. I wake up with the same headache that turns into a migraine almost on a daily basis. My doctor said that it can take 6-8 weeks before the therapeutic dose starts working. I hope that's the truth and it does eventually start working. I'm desperate for a normal brain with no headaches or migraines."

• Chr...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 28, 2023

For Muscle Spasm "After 2 1/2 years of being my mother's caregiver during her battle with terminal cancer, I was put on this. Having to lift her and all the nights sleeping on a hospital couch or chair really did a number on my neck and back. I was always tense and in a lot of pain. My doctor put me on tizanidine 14 mg at night and it worked very well for about 2 years. Unfortunately, it no longer helps. It has actually made the pain worse, and I am hurting in places I never was before. I started having horrible leg pains (cramps, spasms, and a pulling feeling). I could hardly stand or sleep. Along with the new leg issues, I started experiencing very vivid and unpleasant dreams. Anxiety, depression, extremely emotional, and moody. Constant headaches, dry mouth, constipation, and visual disturbances. In the process of weaning off. I do not recommend this drug for long-term use."

• Sus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 14, 2023

"I was given 4 mg pills to take every 12 hours. The first dose knocked me out. I literally could not move. When I did get up to stand, I was extremely dizzy. I took it again in the morning and again the same exhausted feeling. I decided to continue thinking I’d get used to the drug and it would get better. Fast forward to day 6, and I’m now having horrible hot flashes. Waking up soaking wet and then freezing. Terrible headache and worse pain (taking for degenerative disc disease). I thought I was losing my mind. Extremely nervous and my mood swings all over the place that were giving me a crazy feeling. It’s been 2 days now since I stopped, and I’m almost back to “normal.” Still have a hot flush feeling every once in a while but not even close to what they were like. This medication is awful! I had switched from Flexaril after taking it for 12 years, it wasn’t working anymore. Now I don’t want to try anything else if this is what I’m going to go through."

• Ken...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2017

For Muscle Spasm "Prescribed for sleep, however, I'm also prescribed heavy-duty pain meds. I take Dilaudid 8 mg, 8 mg of this at night but have also tried only 4 mg with the same horrific side effects. Severe spasms of my lower body, which caused my legs to give out, and I couldn't walk at all. When I tried, my body would jerk in a way that would force me to fall to the ground. It was quite terrifying. Also caused severe headache, vision loss, ringing in ears. Horrible experience."

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 10, 2017

For Muscle Spasm "I have had chronic pain and muscle soreness and tightness for about 13 years. Recently, my pain management doctor left his practice, but I had 2 refills on my Tizanidine and could no longer get my Hydro :( so I got Tiz refilled. (Previously, I had only taken the Tiz at night once in a while.) The first time I took it was Sunday during the day, and it was fine, it just made me feel a bit relaxed. I also took one Sunday night before bed and slept like a rock. But it seems that this med really adversely affects me the next day. On Monday at work, I suddenly started feeling extremely tired and out of it around noon. (I didn't even take it on Monday.) Then Monday evening, I began to get very nauseous and sweaty. Very strange drug. I also got headaches from it."

• Nor...
• March 27, 2017

For Muscle Spasm "I experience a severe frontal headache every time I take a full pill. Very bad and painful, wakes me up, I have to go take Tylenol (1300 mg), but it still hurts. Also, I have very complex, crazy dreams."

• jha...
• April 12, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "I found this to work fairly well, but wake up with a headache next morn. I know it's the Tiz because I never get headaches, and it happens every time I take one."

• MS ...
• August 19, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "I have multiple sclerosis, and it didn't help with anything for me... my muscle spasms or my headaches... in fact, it made my head hurt worse! I was prescribed 4 mg twice a day... never again!"

• Mos...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 11, 2022

For Muscle Spasm "I was given tizanidine for neuropathy, it takes effect 1 to 2 hours after the dose and is effective 3 hours after the dose. Does nothing except mild nausea and a dull headache."

• CAN...
• July 30, 2021

For Cluster Headaches "I'm getting headaches and nausea."

• sto...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 1, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "Helps me sleep a bit, but seemed to make my spasms worse. It doesn't help with headaches at all, although I wasn't given this medication for this problem."

• Roc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 26, 2022

For Cluster Headaches "Tizanidine does nothing for pain alone. Besides, it gives me headaches."