How Much Does Zanaflex (Tizanidine) Cost Without Insurance?
Tizanidine is the generic form of Zanaflex, a muscle relaxant drug relieves muscle spasms for disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke, and brain or spinal injury. The medication costs approximately $20.61 for 30 4mg tizanidine tablets and $47.04 for 90 4mg tablets. The price depends on the dosage form, pharmacy location, and brand name.
Cost of Tizanidine Without Insurance
Tizanidine should be taken in 2mg doses for adults every 6 to 8 hours, but your doctor might adjust your dosage as needed. You should not take more than 36mg per day. The capsule form of tizanidine is available in 2, 4, and 6mg; the tablet form is in 2 and 4 mg. Without insurance, the average cost for 30-count 4mg tizanidine tablets is $20.61; the average cost for 90-count 4mg tizanidine tablets is $47.04.
The tables below reflect the average retail price for 4mg tizanidine tablets across popular New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston pharmacies. Prices are consistent and affordable across CVS, Walmart, and Costco pharmacies but vary slightly and are more expensive at Walgreens.
| Pharmacy Name | Cost (30 count) | Cost (90 count) |
|---|---|---|
| CVS | $17.35 | $34.06 |
| Walgreens | $39.00 - $41.00 | $110.00 - $111.00 |
| Walmart | $9.00 | $24.00 |
| Costco Pharmacy | $15.10 | $19.10 |
Sources: GoodRx, Costco (as of 05/17/2023). Locations: New York City, NY; Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; and Houston, TX
Factors Impacting the Cost of Tizanidine
Tizanidine is only available with a doctor’s prescription and cannot be purchased over the counter. Its average cost can vary significantly. The most important factors affecting tizanidine's pricing are dosage form, pharmacy location, and brand name.
Dosage Form: Tablet Vs. Capsule
The oral capsule form of tizanidine is significantly more expensive than the oral tablet. The major difference between capsule and tablet medications are:
- Tablets are made entirely of compressed and powdered medicine. In contrast, capsules contain powdered or liquefied medication inside a hard or soft shell.
- Tablets can be crushed or split, but capsules cannot. Tablets can also be orally dissolvable or chewable, but capsules cannot be chewed.
| Tizanidine Dosage Form | Average Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Capsule (30 count) | 2 mg | $23.10 |
| 4 mg | $38.10 | |
| 6 mg | $45.30 | |
| Tablet (30 count) | 2 mg | $19.07 |
| 4 mg | $20.61 | |
Source: Drugs.com (as of 05/15/2023)
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Jasiah Hasan is from Portland, Oregon. She is completing her Master's in Public Health in global health policy at George Washington University. Outside of health equity and women's health, Jasiah is passionate about writing and dreams of one-day publishing poetry books.