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Chlorzoxazone

Also indexed as: Paraflex®, Parafon Forte DSC®, Strifon®

Chlorzoxazone is used to treat acute painful muscle conditions. It is a type of drug called a centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant.

Interactions with Foods and Other Compounds

Food
Test tube studies show that watercress, garlic, tea, and cruciferous vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and Chinese cabbage, block the breakdown of chlorzoxazone into inactive compounds.1 2 Controlled human research is needed to determine whether these interactions are important in people taking chlorzoxazone.

Alcohol
Drinking alcoholic beverages while taking chlorzoxazone may enhance side effects of the drug, such as drowsiness, dizziness, and light-headedness.3 In addition, test tube studies show that alcohol might increase the elimination of chlorzoxazone from the body.4 Consequently, people who are taking chlorzoxazone should avoid drinking alcohol.

Smoking
Studies show that cigarette smoking increases the elimination of chlorzoxazone from the body.5 Problems could occur if people either start or stop smoking while taking chlorzoxazone: individuals who stop smoking may experience increased side effects, while those who start smoking may notice that the drug is less effective.

Caffeine
Controlled studies show that chlorzoxazone reduces the elimination of caffeine from the body,6 which could cause side effects of caffeine, such as restlessness and insomnia. If side effects occur, some individuals may need to avoid caffeinated beverages, such as coffee and tea, while taking chlorzoxazone.

Summary of Interactions for Chlorzoxazone

Depletion or interference None known
Adverse interaction Alcohol
Caffeine*
Side effect reduction/prevention None known
Supportive interaction None known
Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Chinese cabbage
Garlic
Tea
Watercress

For the convenience of the reader, the information in the summary is categorized as follows: “Depletion or interference” indicates the drug may deplete or interfere with the absorption or function of the supplement or herb. “Adverse interaction” indicates that the supplement or herb used together with the drug may result in undesirable effects. “Side effect reduction/prevention” indicates the supplement or herb may reduce the likelihood and/or severity of a potential side effect caused by the drug. “Supportive interaction” indicates the supplement or herb may support or aid the function of the drug. “Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability” indicates that the supplement or herb may decrease the absorption and/or activity of the drug in the body. An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

References:

1. Walter-Sack I, Klotz U. Influence of diet and nutritional status on drug metabolism. Clin Pharmacokin 1996;31:47–64.

2. Marchand LL, Wilkinson GR, Wilkens LR. Genetic and dietary predictors of CYP2E1 activity: a phenotyping study in Hawaii Japanese using chlorzoxazone. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1999;8:495–500.

3. Sifton DW, ed. Physicians Desk Reference. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 2000, 2200.

4. Klotz U, Ammon E. Clinical and toxicological consequences of the inductive potential of ethanol. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 1998;54:7–12.

5. Zevin S, Benowitz NC. Drug interactions with tobacco smoking. An update. Clin Pharmacokinet 1999;36:425–38.

6. Berthou F, Goasduff T, Lucas D, et al. Interaction between two probes used for phenotyping cytochromes P4501A2 (caffeine) and P4502E1 (chlorzoxazone) in humans. Pharmacogenetics 1995;5:72–9.