Sedatives & Hypnotics
Tizanidine (Zanaflex)
Street names: Zanaflex, Tizan, 4 mg muscle relaxer
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Alpha-2 agonist muscle relaxant — reduces spasticity; causes real sedation and lowers blood pressure
- Short-acting (3–6 hours), so it is dosed up to 3× daily
- Same drug family as clonidine — which is why it feels like a blood-pressure pill, not a 'high'
⚠Key risks
- First doses can crash blood pressure — fainting, falls, especially when standing
- Liver injury (rare but real); dangerous with alcohol, opioids or benzos
- STOPPING ABRUPTLY after regular use causes rebound hypertension and racing heart — taper under medical care
✚Overdose signs
- Fainting, very slow heart rate, severe drowsiness, shallow breathing (worse mixed with other depressants)
- Unresponsive — call emergency services
Category comparison — Sedatives & Hypnotics
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tizanidine (Zanaflex) | Rx-only — not a controlled substance | First doses can crash blood pressure — fainting, falls, especially when standing; Liver injury (rare but real); dangerous with alcohol, opioids or benzos | ~$0.50–2 per tablet |
| Zolpidem (Ambien/Stilnox) | Schedule IV | Sleep-walking, sleep-driving, hallucinations; Dependence and rebound insomnia | ~$2–$10 per 10 mg tablet |
| Secobarbital (Seconal) | Schedule II | Barbiturates: tiny margin between dose and death; Fatal in overdose, brutal withdrawal (seizures) — replaced by benzos in medicine | ~$15–$40 per capsule where diverted |
| Carisoprodol (Soma) | Schedule IV | Converts to meprobamate (Miltown) — dependence; Popular 'Soma Coma' mix with opioids — deadly | ~$1–$8 per 350 mg tablet |
| Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) | Not scheduled | Overdose causes hallucinations, seizures, heart rhythm problems; Abuse usually in combination (potentiates opioids) | ~$1–$5 per 10 mg tablet |
| Pentobarbital (Nembutal) | Schedule II | Veterinary euthanasia drug — overdose is usually fatal; Narrow safety margin (barbiturate) | ~$30–$100+ per vial/capsule-equivalent |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
RxBrand names on the grey market
These brands are sold as this compound. Same molecule, different label and supply chain — quality varies enormously between them.
Zanaflex
?Frequently asked questions
What does Tizanidine (Zanaflex) look like?
White/colored 2–4 mg tablets and capsules; bitter taste
What are the signs of a Tizanidine (Zanaflex) overdose?
Fainting, very slow heart rate, severe drowsiness, shallow breathing (worse mixed with other depressants); Unresponsive — call emergency services Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
First doses can crash blood pressure — fainting, falls, especially when standing Dependence can develop with regular use.