TIZANIDINE

Tizanidine hydrochloride is a centrally acting α 2 -adrenergic agonist. Tizanidine HCl (tizanidine) is a white to off-white, fine crystalline powder, which is odorless or with a faint characteristic odor. Tizanidine is slightly soluble in water and methanol; solubility in water decreases as the pH increases. Its chemical name is 5-chloro-4-(2-imidazolin-2-ylamino)-2,1,3-benzothiodiazole hydrochloride. Tizanidine's molecular formula is C 9 H 8 CIN 5 S-HCl, its molecular weight is 290.2 and its structural formula is: Tizanidine tablets USP are supplied as 2 and 4 mg tablets for oral administration. Tizanidine tablets USP are composed of the active ingredient, tizanidine hydrochloride USP (2.288 mg equivalent to 2 mg tizanidine base and 4.576 mg equivalent to 4 mg tizanidine base), and the inactive ingredients, colloidal silicon dioxide, stearic acid, microcrystalline cellulose and anhydrous lactose. Tizanidine Hydrochloride

Tizanidine tablet is a short-acting drug for the management of spasticity. Because of the short duration of effect, treatment with tizanidine should be reserved for those daily activities and times when relief of spasticity is most important (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).

A single dose of 8 mg of tizanidine reduces muscle tone in patients with spasticity for a period of several hours. The effect peaks at approximately 1 to 2 hours and dissipates between 3 to 6 hours. Effects are dose-related. Although single doses of less than 8 mg have not been demonstrated to be effective in controlled clinical studies, the dose-related nature of tizanidine's common adverse events make it prudent to begin treatment with single oral doses of 4 mg. Increase the dose gradually (2 to 4 mg steps) to optimum effect (satisfactory reduction of muscle tone at a tolerated dose). The dose can be repeated at 6 to 8 hour intervals, as needed, to a maximum of three doses in 24 hours. The total daily dose should not exceed 36 mg. Experience with single doses exceeding 8 mg and daily doses exceeding 24 mg is limited. There is essentially no experience with repeated, single, daytime doses greater than 12 mg or total daily doses greater than 36 mg (see WARNINGS). Food has complex effects on tizanidine pharmacokinetics, which differ with the different formulations. These pharmacokinetic differences may result in clinically significant differences when [1] switching administration of the tablet between the fed or fasted state, [2] switching administration of the capsule between the fed or fasted state, [3] switching between the tablet and capsule in the fed state, or [4] switching between the intact capsule and sprinkling the contents of the capsule on applesauce. These changes may result in increased adverse events or delayed/more rapid onset of activity, depending upon the nature of the switch. For this reason, the prescriber should be thoroughly familiar with the changes in kinetics associated with these different conditions (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Pharmacokinetics).

Concomitant use of tizanidine with fluvoxamine or with ciprofloxacin, potent inhibitors of CYP1A2, is contraindicated. Significant alterations of pharmacokinetic parameters of tizanidine including increased AUC, t1/2, C max , increased oral bioavailability and decreased plasma clearance have been observed with concomitant administration of either fluvoxamine or ciprofloxacin. This pharmacokinetic interaction can result in potentially serious adverse events (See WARNINGS and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Drug Interactions). Tizanidine tablets is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to Tizanidine tablets or its ingredients.

In multiple doses, placebo-controlled clinical studies, 264 patients were treated with tizanidine and 261 with placebo. Adverse events, including severe adverse events, were more frequently reported with tizanidine than with placebo. COMMON ADVERSE EVENTS LEADING TO DISCONTINUATION Forty-five of 264 (17%) patients receiving tizanidine and 13 of 261 (5%) of patients receiving placebo in three multiple dose, placebo-controlled clinical studies, discontinued treatment for adverse events. When patients withdrew from the study, they frequently had more than one reason for discontinuing. The adverse events most frequently leading to withdrawal of tizanidine treated patients in the controlled clinical studies were asthenia (weakness, fatigue and/or tiredness) (3%), somnolence (3%), dry mouth (3%), increased spasm or tone (2%), and dizziness (2%). MOST FREQUENT ADVERSE CLINICAL EVENTS SEEN IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE USE OF TIZANIDINE In multiple dose, placebo-controlled clinical studies involving 264 patients with spasticity, the most frequent adverse effects were dry mouth, somnolence/sedation, asthenia (weakness, fatigue and/or tiredness) and dizziness. Three-quarters of the patients rated the events as mild to moderate and one-quarter of the patients rated the events as being severe. These events appeared to be dose related. ADVERSE EVENTS REPORTED IN CONTROLLED STUDIES The events cited reflect experience gained under closely monitored conditions of clinical studies in a highly selected patient population. In actual clinical practice or in other clinical studies, these frequency estimates may not apply, as the conditions of use, reporting behavior, and the kinds of patients treated may differ. Table 1 lists treatment emergent signs and symptoms that were reported in greater than 2% of patients in three multiple dose, placebo-controlled studies who received tizanidine where the frequency in the tizanidine group was at least as common as in the placebo group. These events are not necessarily related to tizanidine treatment. For comparison purposes, the corresponding frequency of the event (per 100 patients) among placebo treated patients is also provided. Table 1: Multiple Dose, Placebo-Controlled Studies—Frequent (> 2%) Adverse Events Reported for Which Tizanidine Tablets Incidence is Greater than Placebo Event Placebo N = 261 % Tizanidine Tablet N = 264 % Dry mouth 10 49 Somnolence 10 48 Asthenia (weakness, fatigue, and/or tiredness) 16 41 Dizziness 4 16 UTI 7 10 Infection 5 6 Constipation 1 4 Liver function tests abnormal <1 3 Vomiting 0 3 Speech disorder 0 3 Amblyopia (blurred vision) <1 3 Urinary frequency 2 3 Flu symptom 2 3 SGPT/ALT increased <1 3 Dyskinesia 0 3 Nervousness <1 3 Pharyngitis 1 3 Rhinitis 2 3

Fluvoxamine The effect of fluvoxamine on the pharmacokinetics of tizanidine was studied in 10 healthy subjects. The C max , AUC, and half-life of tizanidine increased by 12-fold, 33-fold, and 3-fold respectively. These changes resulted in significant decreases in blood pressure, increased drowsiness, and psychomotor impairment. (See CONTRAINDICATIONS and WARNINGS) Ciprofloxacin The effect of ciprofloxacin on the pharmacokinetics of tizanidine was studied in 10 healthy subjects. The C max and AUC of tizanidine increased by 7-fold and 10-fold respectively. These changes resulted in significant decreases in blood pressure, increased drowsiness, and psychomotor impairment. (See CONTRAINDICATIONS and WARNINGS) CYP1A2 Inhibitors The interaction between tizanidine and either fluvoxamine or ciprofloxacin is most likely due to inhibition of CYP1A2 by fluvoxamine or ciprofloxacin. Although there have been no clinical studies evaluating the effects of other CYP1A2 inhibitors on tizanidine, other CYP1A2 inhibitors, such as zileuton, other fluoroquinolones, antiarrythmics (amiodarone, mexiletine, propafenone and verapamil), cimetidine, famotidine oral contraceptives, acyclovir and ticlopidine, may also lead to substantial increases in tizanidine blood concentrations. (See WARNINGS) Oral Contraceptives No specific pharmacokinetic study was conducted to investigate interaction between oral contraceptives and tizanidine. Retrospective analysis of population pharmacokinetic data following single and multiple dose administration of 4 mg tizanidine, however, showed that women concurrently taking oral contraceptives had 50% lower clearance of tizanidine compared to women not on oral contraceptives (see PRECAUTIONS). Drug Interactions In vitro studies of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes using human liver microsomes indicate that neither tizanidine nor the major metabolites are likely to affect the metabolism of other drugs metabolized by cytochrome P450 isoenzymes. Fluvoxamine The effect of fluvoxamine on the pharmacokinetics of a single 4 mg dose of tizanidine was studied in 10 healthy subjects. The C max , AUC, and half-life of tizanidine increased by 12-fold, 33-fold, and 3-fold respectively. These changes resulted in significantly decreased blood pressure, increased drowsiness, and increased psychomotor impairment. (See CONTRAINDICATIONS and WARNINGS) Ciprofloxacin The effect of ciprofloxacin on the pharmacokinetics of a single 4 mg dose of tizanidine was studied in 10 healthy subjects. The C max and AUC of tizanidine increased by 7-fold and 10-fold respectively. These changes resulted in significantly decreased blood pressure, increased drowsiness, and increased psychomotor impairment. (See CONTRAINDICATIONS and WARNINGS) CYP1A2 inhibitors The interaction between tizanidine and either fluvoxamine or ciprofloxacin is most likely due to inhibition of CYP1A2 by fluvoxamine or ciprofloxacin. Although there have been no clinical studies evaluating the effects of other CYP1A2 inhibitors on tizanidine, other CYP1A2 inhibitors, including zileuton, other fluroquinolones, antiarrythmics (amiodarone, mexiletine, propafenone, and verapamil), cimetidine and famotidine, oral contraceptives, acyclovir, and ticlopidine may also lead to substantial increases in tizanidine blood concentrations. Concomitant use of tizanidine with CYP1A2 inhibitors should ordinarily be avoided. If their use is clinically necessary, they should be used with caution (see WARNINGS). Acetaminophen Tizanidine delayed the T max of acetaminophen by 16 minutes. Acetaminophen did not affect the pharmacokinetics of tizanidine. Alcohol Alcohol increased the AUC of tizanidine by approximately 20%, while also increasing its C max by approximately 15%. This was associated with an increase in side effects of tizanidine. The CNS depressant effects of tizanidine and alcohol are additive. Oral Contraceptives No specific pharmacokinetic study was conducted to investigate interaction between oral contraceptives and tizanidine, but retrospective analysis of population pharmacokinetic data following single and multiple dose administration of 4 mg tizanidine showed that women concurrently taking oral contraceptives had 50% lower clearance of tizanidine that women not on oral contraceptives.