Details

Chlorzoxazone is a muscle relaxer. It works by blocking nerve impulses (or pain sensations) that are sent to your brain. Chlorzoxazone is used together with rest and physical therapy to treat skeletal muscle conditions such as pain or injury. Before taking chlorzoxazone, tell your doctor if you have liver disease. You may need a lower dose or special monitoring during therapy. This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert. Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of chlorzoxazone. Chlorzoxazone may be harmful to an unborn baby. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Typical Uses

Chlorzoxazone is used to treat muscle spasms/pain. It is usually used along with rest, physical therapy, and other treatment. It works by helping to relax the muscles. Take chlorzoxazone by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually 3 or 4 times a day. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. Do not increase your dose or take it more often than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase.

Side Effects

Stop using chlorzoxazone and contact your healthcare professional immediately if you have any of these serious side effects including black, bloody, or tarry stools nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds or feeling like you might pass out. Chlorzoxazone may also lead to drowsiness, dizziness, tired feeling restlessness slightly discoloured urine or mild skin rash or bruising.

Drug Interactions

• Chlorzoxazone+propoxyphene- Using propoxyphene together with chlorzoxazone may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should take propoxyphene exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

• Chlorzoxazone+buprenorphine- Using buprenorphine together with other medications that cause central nervous system depression such as chlorzoxazone can lead to serious side effects such as respiratory distress, coma, or even death. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.

• Chlorzoxazone+leflunomide- Leflunomide may cause liver problems, and using it with other medications that can also affect the liver such as chlorzoxazone may increase that risk. Because leflunomide can stay in your blood for a prolonged period after the last dose, interactions with other drugs may occur for some time even after you have stopped taking it. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications.

• Chlorzoxazone+mipomersen- Mipomersen may cause liver problems, and using it with other medications that can also affect the liver such as chlorzoxazone may increase that risk. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol to no more than one drink per day while being treated with these medications.

Mechanism of action

Chlorzoxazone is a centrally acting muscle relaxant that causes muscle relaxation and reduces muscle stiffness by blocking nerve impulses (or pain sensations) that are sent to the brain of the central nervous system.

Pregnancy Category : C

Medicine that Uses Chlorzoxazone