Drug interactions
Brexanolone + Tizanidine
Severity: Major
Brexanolone and Tizanidine: major interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Brexanolone can cause excessive sedation and sudden loss of consciousness, and CNS depressants like tizanidine may worsen this. The risk is significant because brexanolone is given as a prolonged intravenous infusion with mandatory monitoring.
What this interaction means in plain words
Brexanolone and Tizanidine can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depression; brexanolone is a positive allosteric modulator of GABA-A receptors while tizanidine is a centrally acting alpha-2 agonist.
What to do
Monitor sedation level and pulse oximetry during the infusion, and hold or reduce the infusion if excessive sedation occurs. Consider whether tizanidine can be withheld during treatment.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
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- Pipemidic acid + Tizanidine Contraindicated
- Benzhydrocodone / acetaminophen + Tizanidine Major
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Frequently asked questions
Can I take Brexanolone with Tizanidine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Brexanolone and Tizanidine can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Brexanolone can cause excessive sedation and sudden loss of consciousness, and CNS depressants like tizanidine may worsen this. The risk is significant because brexanolone is given as a prolonged intravenous infusion with mandatory monitoring.
How serious is the interaction between Brexanolone and Tizanidine?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor sedation level and pulse oximetry during the infusion, and hold or reduce the infusion if excessive sedation occurs. Consider whether tizanidine can be withheld during treatment.
What other medicines interact with Tizanidine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Tizanidine with, for example, Ciprofloxacin, Fluvoxamine, Pefloxacin. The full list is on the Tizanidine page.
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