Tizanidine is indicated for nighttime spasms, pain and clonus in patients with cerebral palsy and other upper motor neuron syndromes. The drug is supplied as 2- and 4-mg tablets.
Tablets can be crushed and given in water or administered via a gastrostomy or jejunostomy tube. In children < 10 years of age, treatment should begin at 1 mg qhs and increase at weekly intervals to qid dosing as tolerated. In children >10 years of age, begin at 2 mg qhs and increase at weekly intervals to qid dosing as tolerated.
The target dose is 0.3 to 0.5 mg/kg/d.
Wagstaff AJ, Bryson HM. Tizanidine: a review of its pharmacology, clinical efficacy and tolerability in the management of spasticity associated with cerebral and spinal disorders. Drugs 1997;53:435-52.
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