Last update Dec. 28, 2025

Tizanidine Hydrochloride

Limited compatibility

Unsafe. Moderate/severe adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Use safer alternative or discontinue breastfeeding from 5 to 7 T ½ . Read Commentary.

Centrally acting muscle relaxant. Oral administration in a daily dose.

At the time of the last update, we found no published data on its excretion in breast milk.

Its pharmacokinetic data: low molecular weight, high fat solubility (Acorda 2006), make it likely to pass into milk in quantities that could be significant.

Expert authors state that if the mother needs to take tizanidine, this is not a reason to interrupt breastfeeding (Hale). Other authors consider it prudent to avoid it during breastfeeding (Hutchinson 2013) or to use it very sporadically and limit it to the minimum sufficient dose. In any case, it is advisable to monitor the infant for possible sedation and/or poor weight gain, especially in the first 3 months of life and when breastfeeding is exclusive.

Alternatives

  • Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride (Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.)
  • Dantrolene Sodium (Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.)
  • Methocarbamol (Fairly safe. Mild or unlikely adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Read Commentary.)

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

Your contribution is essential for this service to continue to exist. We need the generosity of people like you who believe in the benefits of breastfeeding.

Thank you for helping to protect and promote breastfeeding.

José María Paricio, founder of e-lactancia.

Other names

Tizanidine Hydrochloride in other languages or writings:

Group

Tizanidine Hydrochloride belongs to this group or family:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Tizanidine Hydrochloride in its composition:

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. 40 %
Molecular weight 290 daltons
Protein Binding 30 %
VD 2.6 l/Kg
Tmax 1 hours
2 - 4 hours

References

  1. Hutchinson S, Marmura MJ, Calhoun A, Lucas S, Silberstein S, Peterlin BL. Use of common migraine treatments in breast-feeding women: a summary of recommendations. Headache. 2013 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  2. Mathias CJ, Luckitt J, Desai P, Baker H, el Masri W, Frankel HL. Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the oral antispastic agent tizanidine in patients with spinal cord injury. J Rehabil Res Dev. 1989 Abstract

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