Metaxalone

Metaxalone is a prescription medication used to treat muscle pain. Metaxalone belongs to a group of drugs called muscle relaxants.  These work by relaxing muscles and relieving pain and discomfort caused by strains, sprains, or other muscle injuries.

This medication comes in a tablet form and is usually taken 3 to 4 times a day.

Common side effects of metaxalone include headache, nausea, vomiting, and nervousness. 

Metaxalone can also cause drowsiness and dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how metaxalone affects you.

Metaxalone is a prescription medication used with rest, physical therapy, and other measures to relax muscles and relieve pain caused by muscle injuries.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses.  Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Metaxalone may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Skelaxin

Serious side effects have been reported with metaxalone. See the "Drug Precautions" section.

Side effects of metaxalone include the following:

• dizziness 
• drowsiness
• headache
• nausea
• vomiting
• nervousness/irritability
• stomach upset

This is not a complete list of metaxalone side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take medications for:

• seizures
• allergies
• colds, or coughs
• pain medications such as opioids
• sedatives
• tranquilizers
• vitamins
• tricyclic antidepressants
• alcohol
• benzodiazepines

This is not a complete list of metaxalone drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with metaxalone including the following:

• hypersensitivity (severe allergic reaction). Tell your healthcare provider about any signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity, which include the following:
  • chest pain
  • swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • rash
• Decrease in white and red blood cell counts: Tell your doctor right away if you notice unusual bruising or bleeding and unusual tiredness or weakness.
• Jaundice. Tell your doctor right away if you notice yellowing of the skin or eyes.
• Anaphylaxis reactions. Tell your doctor right away if you have difficulty breathing.

Avoid alcohol while taking metaxalone as alcohol may make drowsiness worse. 

Do not take metaxalone if:

• you are allergic to metaxalone or any of its ingredients
• your kidney or liver does not work well
• have certain types of anemias

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of metaxalone, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking metaxalone, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to metaxalone or any other drugs
• take medications for seizures, allergies, colds, or coughs, pain medications, sedatives, tranquilizers, and vitamins
• have or have ever had kidney disease, liver disease, seizures, or a blood disorder
• are pregnant, plan to become pregnant
• are breast-feeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Metaxalone falls into category C. Safe use of metaxalone has not been established with regard to possible adverse effects on fetal development. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if metaxalone is secreted in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from metaxalone, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. The importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

Take metaxalone exactly as prescribed.

Metaxalone comes in tablet form and is taken three to four times a day with or without food.

Food can increase blood levels and may worsen side effects.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The recommended dose of Skelaxin (metaxalone) for muscle spasms is 800 mg orally 3 to 4 times a day.

If you take too much metaxalone, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Store at 15°C and 30°C (59°F and 86°F).
• Keep this medication and all medications out of the reach of children.