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Case Reports
. 2024 Mar 30;16(3):e57249.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.57249. eCollection 2024 Mar.

Syncope Secondary to Concomitant Ingestion of Tizanidine and Alcohol in a Patient With Alcohol Use Disorder

Sabastain F Forsah  1 , Derek Ugwendum  1 , Divine Besong Arrey Agbor  1 , Nancelle Ndema  1 , Nkafu Bechem Ndemazie  1 , Gauvain Kankeu Tonpouwo  1 , Akua Aboah A Taylor  1 , Nkeng Fuoching  1 , Davene James-Gregory  1 , Shannia Amoah  1 , Vaithilingam Arulthasan  1 , Jay Nfonoyim  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Syncope Secondary to Concomitant Ingestion of Tizanidine and Alcohol in a Patient With Alcohol Use Disorder

Sabastain F Forsah et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Syncope is the transient loss of consciousness due to cerebral hypoperfusion. A significant number of individuals experience a syncopal attack at one stage of their lives. The common causes of syncope include vasovagal syncope, orthostatic hypotension, and cardiac causes. Drugs are also associated with causing syncope. The drugs involved are mostly those that depress the central nervous system, and concomitant use of more than one of such drugs increases the risk of syncope even further. Tizanidine and alcohol individually can cause hypotension and combining both drugs is not advised due to heightened central nervous system depression and profound hypotension. We present a case of a 53-year-old female with alcohol use disorder who presented with a first-time syncopal attack due to postural hypotension after ingesting both tizanidine and alcohol concurrently. Co-administration of tizanidine and alcohol is not advised, however, cases of syncope have been rarely reported with concomitant use. This case will enlighten physicians to counsel patients about the need to abstain from alcohol consumption when taking tizanidine.

Keywords: alcohol; alcohol use disorder; central nervous system; orthostatic hypotension; syncope; tizanidine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. EKG showing normal sinus rhythm with prolonged QTc interval
Figure 2
Figure 2. CT brain showing no evidence of acute hemorrhage or infarct, no midline shift, no mass effect, no extra-axial fluid collection and normal osseous structures
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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