Pronunciation: me-TAX-a-lone
Generic Name: Metaxalone
Brand Name: Skelaxin
Metaxalone is used for:
Treating discomfort associated with acute painful muscle conditions along with rest, physical therapy, or other measures.
Metaxalone is a muscle relaxant. It works in the brain to help relax the muscles.
Do NOT use Metaxalone if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Metaxalone
- you have a known tendency to drug-induced, hemolytic, or other anemias
- you have severe liver or kidney problems
- you are taking sodium oxybate (GHB)
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Metaxalone:
Some medical conditions may interact with Metaxalone. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have an enlarged prostate gland, liver or kidney problems, or the blood disease porphyria
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Metaxalone. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Benzodiazepines (eg, diazepam), narcotic pain medicines (eg, codeine), or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because the risk of drowsiness may be increased
- Sodium oxybate (GHB) because an increase in sleep duration and a decrease in the ability to breathe are likely to occur
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Metaxalone may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Metaxalone:
Use Metaxalone as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Take Metaxalone by mouth with or without food. Taking it with food may increase the risk of drowsiness or dizziness.
- If you miss a dose of Metaxalone and you are taking it regularly, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Metaxalone.
Important safety information:
- Metaxalone may cause drowsiness or dizziness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Metaxalone with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- Talk with your doctor before you drink alcohol or use medicines that may cause drowsiness (eg, sleep aids, muscle relaxers) while you are using Metaxalone; it may add to their effects. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines may cause drowsiness.
- Diabetes patients - Metaxalone may cause the results of some tests for urine glucose to be wrong. Ask your doctor before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetes medicine.
- Lab tests, including liver function, may be performed while you use Metaxalone. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Use Metaxalone with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially drowsiness or dizziness.
- Metaxalone should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 12 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Metaxalone while you are pregnant. It is not known if Metaxalone is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Metaxalone.
Possible side effects of Metaxalone:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Dizziness; drowsiness; headache; irritability; nausea; nervousness; upset stomach; vomiting.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); fever, chills, or sore throat; unusual or severe tiredness or weakness; yellowing of the skin or eyes.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Metaxalone side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately.
Proper storage of Metaxalone:
Store Metaxalone at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Metaxalone out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Metaxalone, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Metaxalone is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Metaxalone. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Metaxalone resources
- Metaxalone Side Effects (in more detail)
- Metaxalone Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Drug Images
- Metaxalone Drug Interactions
- Metaxalone Support Group
- 53 Reviews for Metaxalone - Add your own review/rating
- Metaxalone Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Metaxalone Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)
- Metaxalone Monograph (AHFS DI)
- metaxalone Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Skelaxin Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Skelaxin Consumer Overview
Compare Metaxalone with other medications
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