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.
Summary of
Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
In some cases, an herb or supplement may appear in more than one category, which may seem
contradictory. For clarification, read the full article for details about the summarized
interactions.
Avoid: Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability—Avoid these supplements
when taking this medication since the supplement may decrease the absorption and/or activity
of the medication in the body. |
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Chinese cabbage
Garlic
Tea
Watercress
|
|
Avoid: Adverse interaction—Avoid these supplements when taking this
medication because taking them together may cause undesirable or dangerous results. |
Alcohol
Caffeine*
|
| Depletion or interference |
None known
|
| Side effect reduction/prevention |
None known
|
| Supportive interaction |
None known
|
An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the
interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific
evidence.
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.
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.