Zanaflex Use: Beware

I took Zanaflex for about six months, as a muscle relaxant. I noticed that it helped with my chronic insomnia. So I tapered my "decades of use" Xanax, under the supervision of my doctor, as I increased the Zanaflex. All went great until one night. I had not stopped the Zanaflex. But I started hearing things, and seeing things (hallucinating), to the point that I was literally scared to death. Then I began vomiting and was sicker than I can remember being, even with a stomach virus. I called the pharmacist the next morning and described to her the previous night and asked if the continued vomiting that day was indicative of a terrible side effect of Zanaflex. She said that the literature printed out, and attached to the pharmaceutical when purchased, did not mention it; that the computer search DID state that 1% of those who took Zanaflex, DID experience the side effects I described. I was told to stop it immediately, which I did. The vomiting continued throughout that day, tapering off late that night. I had never dabbled in recreational drugs so I didn't know what "hallucinations" were, and "hearing things said" or "sounds heard"; that even when I continually checked, turned out NOT to be happening which were so frightening to me. I hope to prevent someone else from going through this, though I guess you never know until you try it. A shame, for me; for it was a great muscle relaxer for my bad back, as well as the best sleep aid I had ever had. Now I am back on the internet at nights, due to insomnia, once more. Ha! The good thing that came out of the whole fiasco was the discontinuation of Xanax, which is such an insidious drug. Luckily, for me, I never missed it.

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Just as a precaution for anyone else dealing with a similar situation, the problems experienced may have been due to a combination of both raising the Zanaflex and tapering off, then stopping the Xanax, according to the NIH, so it was kind of like a double whammy.

Other withdrawal effects can include rebound anxiety, diarrhea, and headache.

Thus, while your experience was terrible, it is not actually typical, according to AMA medical literature.

Have you considered trying some other medication to help you sleep?

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