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TIZANIDINE HCL

All products: not a benefit

Other products in the same Health Canada class (M03B, M03BX) — coverage varies; not interchangeable

  • Baclofen (Lioresal Intrathecal): general benefit, Not a benefit
  • Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril): not a benefit
  • Orphenadrine (Norflex): not a benefit

Zanaflex · DIN 02239170 · 4mg · tablet

Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit; Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2021-07-28 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.Discontinued 2021-07-28 · checked 2026-09-20
StatusOff-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit; Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2021-07-28 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.
Write on scriptExceptional Access application required. For a drug to be considered for funding, the EAP reimbursement criteria must always be met and the request approved prior to the initiation of treatment with the drug being requested, unless otherwise specified within the criteria. (ontario.ca, Aug 31, 2026 ↗) Submit through SADIE: "The SADIE portal is available to authorized prescribers and their delegates and designates, enabling the creation, submission and tracking of web-based electronic requests directly to the Exceptional Access Program." (ontario.ca, Aug 31, 2026 ↗); Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2021-07-28 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.
Patient paysPatient pays: program not supplied; amount cannot be determined.
Private plan unknown: ask. If yes, check its coverage and payer coordination; if no, see the public routes below.

Ministry criteria list dated January 1, 2025; the program's current criteria may differ; SADIE shows the current version. Current criteria in SADIE

Coverage criteria
Exceptional Access Program criteria on record (ministry list dated 2025-01-01, not exhaustive): Ministry criteria list dated January 1, 2025; the program's current criteria may differ; SADIE shows the current version. https://www.ontario.ca/page/sadie-special-authorization-digital-information-exchange Tizanidine Brand(s): Zanaflex DOSAGE FORM/ STRENGTH: 4 mg tablet For the treatment of spasticity in patients who have failed and/or cannot tolerate at least two of the following available alternatives: baclofen, diazepam and dantrolene. • Submission must describe the intolerance experienced. Duration of Approval: Lifetime EAP source: eap-frequently-requested-drugs-2025-01-01.txt, page 459, record 295, corpus 2025-01-01; name match only, not an eligibility decision
How long EAP takes
Turnaround times The Exceptional Access Program receives between 250 and 500 requests a day. Requests are categorized in order of priority based on how quickly a drug is needed, the type of drug, and the condition for which the drug is being used. Turnaround times begin on the business day on which the EAP receives a complete request from a physician or nurse practitioner. You may have to wait longer if the request is missing information or supporting documents required by the EAP criteria, if a request requires external review, or if documents are sent by fax or mail instead of submitted via SADIE. EAP Weekly Progress Report Date: September 15, 2026 Processing categories and examples | Target | Current | Priority 1 — for drugs such as antibiotics, cancer medications, and initial requests for pain medications | 3 business days | 2 business day | Priority 2 — for antiviral drugs to treat HIV, drugs for multiple sclerosis, and pulmonary hypertension | 5 business days | 3 business days | Biologics — for biologic drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease | 10 business days | 4 business days | Chronic — for drugs used for chronic conditions such as migraines, chronic pain, Ménière's disease and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. | 4 to 6 weeks | 11 business days | (ontario.ca, Updated September 15, 2026 ↗) For selected drugs, the Telephone Request Service is available to authorized prescribers or their delegates. In most cases, the funding decision is provided by the end of the call and processed within one business day. (ontario.ca, Updated September 15, 2026 ↗)
1 brand, same coverage
Zanaflex · DIN 02239170 Manufacturer: Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; listing date 2007-06-06 Health Canada: Cancelled post market since 2021-07-28 · brand PAL-TIZANIDINE · ATC M03BX02 TIZANIDINE · form Tablet · route Oral · ingredients TIZANIDINE (TIZANIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE) 4 MG · company Paladin pharma inc. · schedule Prescription
Check this DIN again · Health Canada product record

Zanaflex: Formulary list price not recorded/unit (unit not stated in source; not the patient's cost)

Formulary data: Ontario extract of Aug 26, 2026 · Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=62626 · Verify on the e-Formulary ↗ (DIN 02239170)

Source record
The source extract's flag for this DIN is unclear — confirm on the e-Formulary before prescribing (DIN 02239170). DIN 02239170: Zanaflex Raw flags: sec3=Y, sec3b=Y, sec3bEAP=Y Item: 122000025; group id 244; item number 0435; lccId None; manufacturer id ELA Source form: Tab; strength: 4mg Recorded listing: Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit; may be reimbursed through the Exceptional Access Program when approved (likely, unconfirmed) Source prices (unrounded): not recorded; ministry not recorded Source: ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26 DIN=02239170 Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=62626
Interchangeable products
Apo-Tizanidine · DIN 02259893 · $0.8758 Mint-Tizanidine · DIN 02536765 · $0.8758
Shortage status: not checked (no credentials)
Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2021-07-28 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.
Other drugs in the same formulary class (12:20 Skeletal Muscle Relaxants) and how they are covered

Matched class: 12:20 Skeletal Muscle Relaxants

Drug-class inventory only. Lists recorded Ontario formulary products, not every Canadian medication; does not recommend treatment. Covered without a code on the Ontario formulary: DANTROLENE SODIUM Some products covered without a code (check the product listing): BACLOFEN 12:20 Skeletal Muscle Relaxants

BACLOFEN

· 28 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (12), General benefit (16) · strengths: 2mg/mL, 0.05mg/mL, 0.5mg/mL, 10mg, 20mg · Inj Sol (Preservative-Free), Inj Sol-1mL Pk (Preservative-Free), Inj Sol-20mL Pk (Preservative-Free), Tab

CYCLOBENZAPRINE HCL

· 12 products · Listed, not a benefit · strengths: 10mg · Tab

ORPHENADRINE CITRATE

· 2 products · Listed, not a benefit · strengths: 60mg/2mL · Inj Sol-2mL Pk

DANTROLENE SODIUM

· 1 products · General benefit · strengths: 25mg · Cap Source: formulary-ed43-front-matter.txt Part V; ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26; class 12:20
Full class listing Related classes: 12:04 Parasympathomimetic (Cholinergic) Agents, 12:08 Parasympatholytic (Cholinergic Blocking) Agents, 12:12 Sympathomimetic (Adrenergic) Agents Same formulary class, not same indication: class membership alone does not establish equivalent uses.
What the Health Canada label says it is for
1. Indications Adults: APO-TIZANIDINE (tizanidine tablets) is a short-acting drug indicated for: • the management of spasticity. 1.1. Pediatrics Pediatrics (< 18 years of age): No data are available to Health Canada; therefore, Health Canada has not authorized an indication for pediatric use. 1.2. Geriatrics Geriatrics (≥ 65 years of age): Evidence from clinical studies and experience suggests that use in the geriatric population may be associated with differences in safety or effectiveness. See 7.1.4 Geriatrics. https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00082729.PDF PM date: 2025-12-11 Source product: APO-TIZANIDINE; DIN 02259893; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph posted by Health Canada; excerpt for lookup only.

Prepare an Exceptional Access request

SADIE has its own form for many drugs; this checklist prepares the answers; the ministry decides. Open SADIE

Use this text in SADIE’s free-text fields or read from it on a Telephone Request Service call. Review marks do not indicate eligibility. Evidence stays in this page until you copy it; nothing entered here is sent or saved. Do not enter patient identifiers.

EAP Telephone Request Service: The TRS can be accessed by calling toll-free at 1-866-811-9893 or 416-327-8109 (Toronto area) between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays) and selecting the TRS option. Source; updated September 15, 2026

EAP fax: In Ontario: 1-866-811-9908 or 416-327-7526 (Toronto area). Outside Ontario: 1-833-905-4260. Source; updated September 15, 2026

Posted turnaround and Telephone Request Service scope
Turnaround times The Exceptional Access Program receives between 250 and 500 requests a day. Requests are categorized in order of priority based on how quickly a drug is needed, the type of drug, and the condition for which the drug is being used. Turnaround times begin on the business day on which the EAP receives a complete request from a physician or nurse practitioner. You may have to wait longer if the request is missing information or supporting documents required by the EAP criteria, if a request requires external review, or if documents are sent by fax or mail instead of submitted via SADIE. EAP Weekly Progress Report Date: September 15, 2026 Processing categories and examples | Target | Current | Priority 1 — for drugs such as antibiotics, cancer medications, and initial requests for pain medications | 3 business days | 2 business day | Priority 2 — for antiviral drugs to treat HIV, drugs for multiple sclerosis, and pulmonary hypertension | 5 business days | 3 business days | Biologics — for biologic drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease | 10 business days | 4 business days | Chronic — for drugs used for chronic conditions such as migraines, chronic pain, Ménière's disease and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. | 4 to 6 weeks | 11 business days |
For selected drugs, the Telephone Request Service is available to authorized prescribers or their delegates. In most cases, the funding decision is provided by the end of the call and processed within one business day.
Source; updated September 15, 2026

Tizanidine (Zanaflex)

Ministry criteria list dated January 1, 2025; the program's current criteria may differ; SADIE shows the current version. Current criteria in SADIE

Prepare answers: For the treatment of spasticity in patients who have failed and/or cannot tolerate at least two of the following available alternatives: baclofen, diazepam and dantrolene.

Ministry criteria corpus 2025-01-01; page 459

Tizanidine Brand(s): Zanaflex DOSAGE FORM/ STRENGTH: 4 mg tablet
For the treatment of spasticity in patients who have failed and/or cannot tolerate at least two of the following available alternatives: baclofen, diazepam and dantrolene.
• Submission must describe the intolerance experienced.
Duration of Approval: Lifetime

Prepared from the ministry's published criteria; eligibility is decided by the Exceptional Access Program.