Does Tizanidine show up on a drug test? 

Does Tizanidine show up on a drug test? 

No, Tizanidine does not show up on a standard drug test. This medication is a muscle relaxant. It is not a substance of abuse and is not included in the list of controlled drugs. 

However, it is detectable in a urine test which is focused on the levels of Tizanidine specifically. This medication has a short half-life and it gets completely eliminated from your system within 3 days. 

If you have a drug test coming up, you don’t have to worry much about Tizanidine. However, it’s best to not take any medication right before going for the test. 

This is because the primary methods of drug testing are not so promising and they can show a false positive even for a shower gel or a body lotion you might be using. This is why it’s best to take necessary precautionary measures. 

However, if the testing procedure is Gas Chromatography – Mass spectroscopy, it will identify the exact chemical present in your body at the time of the test and it does not cause false positives for any controlled substance (1). 

How is Tizanidine different from drugs that are detected in drug tests?

Tizanidine, also known by its brand name Zanaflex, is a muscle relaxant that is different from drugs commonly detected in drug tests. It belongs to a class of medications called alpha-2 adrenergic agonists and is primarily used to treat muscle spasms and tightness (2,3).

Drug tests typically focus on detecting substances that are commonly abused or illegal. Examples of drugs that are often tested for include Marijuana (THC), Cocaine, Amphetamines (such as Methamphetamine), Opioids (such as Heroin or prescription painkillers like Oxycodone), and Benzodiazepines (such as Xanax, Klonopin, or Valium). (4,5)

Tizanidine, being a muscle relaxant, is not one of the substances typically targeted in drug tests. It does not have significant abuse potential or psychoactive effects that are sought after by recreational drug users.

Final words

To sum up, Tizanidine does not show up on a drug test. However, it is important to note that while tizanidine may not be a common target of drug tests, it is still necessary to inform the testing agency or healthcare provider about all the medications you are taking.

This ensures an accurate interpretation of the test results and helps prevent any confusion or misunderstandings. 

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References

1.-

Ramoo B, Funke M, Frazee C, Garg U. Comprehensive Urine Drug Screen by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). Methods Mol Biol. 2016;1383:125-31. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3252-8_15. PMID: 26660182. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26660182/

2.-

Ghanavatian S, Derian A. Tizanidine. 2022 Sep 5. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 30137790. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519505

3.-

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 Mar;53(3):435-52. doi: 10.2165/00003495-199753030-00007. PMID: 9074844. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9074844/

4.-

McNeil SE, Chen RJ, Cogburn M. Drug Testing. 2023 Jan 16. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 29083751. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459334/

5.-

Moeller KE, Lee KC, Kissack JC. Urine drug screening: practical guide for clinicians. Mayo Clin Proc. 2008 Jan;83(1):66-76. doi: 10.4065/83.1.66. Erratum in: Mayo Clin Proc. 2008 Jul;83(7):851. PMID: 18174009. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18174009/