Tizanidine 2 mg · Tablets

Tizanidine is a central alpha-2-adrenergic receptor agonist and presumably reduces spasticity by increasing presynaptic inhibition of motor neurons. The effects of tizanidine are greatest on polysynaptic pathways. The overall effect of these actions is thought to reduce facilitation of spinal motor neurons.

Tizanidine has linear pharmacokinetics over the doses studied in clinical development [1 mg (half the recommended dosage) to 20 mg].

Tizanidine capsules and tablets are bioequivalent to each other under fasting conditions, but not under fed conditions (see Absorption, Effect of Food).

Absorption — Following oral administration, tizanidine is essentially completely absorbed. The absolute oral bioavailability of tizanidine is approximately 40% (CV = 24%), due to extensive first-pass hepatic metabolism.

Effect of Food — There are pharmacokinetic differences between tizanidine capsules and tizanidine tablets with respect to administration with food.

A single dose of either two 4 mg tablets or two 4 mg capsules was administered under fed and fasting conditions in an open-label, four-period, randomized crossover study in 96 volunteers, of whom 81 were eligible for the statistical analysis. Pharmacokinetics under fed conditions were different than under fasting conditions and vary by dosage form.

Compared to administration of an intact capsule while fasting: — Figure 1: Mean Tizanidine Concentration vs. Time Profiles For Tizanidine Tablets and Capsules (2 × 4 mg) Under Fasted and Fed Conditions

Distribution — Tizanidine is extensively distributed throughout the body with a mean steady state volume of distribution of 2.4 L/kg (CV = 21%) following intravenous administration in healthy adult volunteers. Tizanidine is approximately 30% bound to plasma proteins.

Metabolism — Tizanidine has a half-life of approximately 2.5 hours (CV=33%). Approximately 95% of an administered dose is metabolized. The primary cytochrome P450 isoenzyme involved in tizanidine metabolism is CYP1A2. Tizanidine metabolites are not known to be active; their half-lives range from 20 to 40 hours.

Excretion — Following single and multiple oral dosing of 14C-tizanidine, an average of 60% and 20% of total radioactivity was recovered in the urine and feces, respectively.

Geriatric Patients — No specific pharmacokinetic study was conducted to investigate age effects. Cross study comparison of pharmacokinetic data following single dose administration of 6 mg tizanidine showed that younger subjects cleared the drug four times faster than the elderly subjects [see Use in Specific Populations (8.5)].

Patients with Hepatic Impairment — The influence of hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of tizanidine has not been evaluated. Because tizanidine is extensively metabolized in the liver, hepatic impairment would be expected to have significant effects on pharmacokinetics of tizanidine [see Use in Specific Populations (8.7)].

Patients with Renal Impairment — Tizanidine clearance is reduced by more than 50% in elderly patients with renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance < 25 mL/min) compared to healthy elderly subjects; this would be expected to lead to a longer duration of clinical effect [see Use in Specific Populations (8.6)].

Gender Effects — No specific pharmacokinetic study was conducted to investigate gender effects. Retrospective analysis of pharmacokinetic data following single and multiple dose administration of 4 mg tizanidine, however, showed that gender had no effect on the pharmacokinetics of tizanidine.

CYP1A2 Inhibitors — The effects of coadministration of fluvoxamine or ciprofloxacin, both strong CYP1A2 inhibitors, on the pharmacokinetics of a single 4 mg dose of tizanidine was studied in 10 healthy subjects. The Cmax, AUC, and half-life of tizanidine increased by 12-fold, 33-fold, and 3-fold, respectively, with coadministration of fluvoxamine. The Cmax and AUC of tizanidine increased by 7-fold and 10-fold, respectively, with coadministration of ciprofloxacin [see Contraindications (4)].

There have been no clinical studies evaluating the effects of other CYP1A2 inhibitors on tizanidine [see Drug Interactions (7.2)].

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.

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 Drug Interactions (7.3)].