Anybody take Zanaflex for pain? What are your experiences?
The only time I've been pain free in the last 5 years was when I was on Flexeril. I had to stop because my body couldn't handle it anymore. I would press snooze for 2 hours in the last month of taking it.
I'm supposed to start at 2mg a night, and build up to 4mg. But I might cut the pill in half (it's scored) and start at 1mg because I have a low med tolerance.
Posted by valbeth (Member # 12715) on :
Hi! I made the switch from Flexeril to Zanaflex several years ago (yikes, I sound like some silly TV ad!) Love the stuff, couldn't sleep without it, and can sleep without taking any other sleeping aids. Personally, I take 2 -4mg tabs (generic). Can't remember if I used to take 5 or 10 mg of Flexeril.
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
Thanks. I was at one point taking 30mg of Flexeril. I don't actually need it for sleep. My sleep is fine. I'm taking it for muscle pain.
Posted by cantgiveupyet (Member # 8165) on :
I take 2mg for muscle pain, and it helps me to get to sleep, but the next day i am still stiff, so for me it doesnt last into the next day.
Its the only muscle relaxer i can take without me feeling drugged the next day.
xanax by far is the best muscle relaxer for me.
Posted by clpgotlyme (Member # 7875) on :
Aniek, Zanaflex has worked well for me in the past. The downside is it doesnt last long enough. For me it was only 5-6 hours.
Not long enough for a good nights sleep. Also, watch out when you first start, it gave vivid nightmares. Mine involved being stabbed by a little devil with a pitchfork! Hope it works for you. Cindy
Posted by kissis (Member # 4165) on :
Well I have a horror story concerning Zannaflex, I started taking it years ago for stiffness and it worked great at first but over time I would need more and more to get the same effect.I would eventually wake up every 3 hours at night and have to take another pill if I wanted to go back to sleep.Towards the end my Neroligist was perscribing 15 pills a day for me' how stupid was he ! Any way I tried to get off of them and went through severe withdral like the such I believe herion would be, I could not eat for a week, severe vomiting,whole body shakes,sweating and could not sleep for a entire week.It has been several years since I've been off them and I feel so much better ,for stiffness I use yoga .
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
Kissis,
Thanks for sharing your experience. I do yoga, but it's not enough for me. I'll keep your story in mind if I start feeling a need to increase.
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
Just an update. I've been taking Zanaflex for 3 nights now. I've been waking up more easily and more well rested. My energy is increased.
I guess I haven't been getting sound sleep. The Zanaflex might really have been needed.