Which Muscle Relaxers Are Best for Neck and Back Pain?
Muscle relaxers are medications that help your muscles unwind, relieving muscle stiffness and pain. Learn the names of common muscle relaxers and how they work.
metaxalone
Used for Musculoskeletal Conditions
Used for Musculoskeletal Conditions
Metaxalone is a muscle relaxer. It's used to treat muscle pain and discomfort that's not chronic or long-lasting. This medication is thought to relieve muscle pain by relaxing your nervous system in the brain. Metaxalone is typically taken by mouth three or four times a day. It commonly causes drowsiness and dizziness as side effects. It's best to avoid drinking alcohol while you're taking metaxalone because alcohol can interact with this medication and worsen side effects.
What is Metaxalone?
What is Metaxalone used for?
- Muscle discomfort caused by acute (not chronic) conditions when rest or physical therapy isn't enough for relief
How Metaxalone works
Metaxalone is a muscle relaxant. Experts aren't exactly sure how the medication works, since it doesn't work directly on the muscles. They believe metaxalone helps relieve pain by relaxing your nervous system in the brain.
When does Metaxalone start working?Time passed since treatment started:
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Skelaxin |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Muscle relaxant |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Metaxalone
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Nervousness or irritability
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach upset
Less Common Side Effects
- Yellowing of the skin or whites of eyes
Metaxalone serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Allergic reaction: rash; trouble breathing; swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat
- Serotonin syndrome: agitation, sweating, fever, fast heart rate, nausea, vomiting, shakiness, tight muscles, confusion
When do Metaxalone possible side effects begin and end?
Time passed since treatment started:
M
H
D
W
M
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
More on Metaxalone side effects
The following Metaxalone side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Agitation
back, leg, or stomach pains
black, tarry stools
bleeding gums
chills
clay-colored stools
confusion
dark urine
difficulty in breathing or swallowing
dizziness
fast heartbeat
general body swelling
headache
loss of appetite
nosebleed
painful or difficult urination
pale skin
poor coordination
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
redness of the skin
restlessness
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
stomach pain
sweating
swelling of the face, throat, or tongue
swollen glands
talking or acting with excitement you cannot control
tightness in the chest
trembling or shaking
twitching
unpleasant breath odor
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
vomiting of blood
yellowing of the eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Drowsiness
irritability
stomach or bowel upset
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$130.29
GoodRx discount
$25.87
Pros and cons of Metaxalone
Pros
- Starts to work quickly (within 30 minutes to an hour)
- Might cause less dizziness or drowsiness than other muscle relaxers
- Available as a lower-cost generic
Cons
- Might need to take 3 or 4 times a day
- Interacts with common antidepressants
- Not a good option for people with severe kidney problems, liver problems, or certain anemias (blood problem)
Pharmacist tips for Metaxalone
- You can take metaxalone with or without food. Be sure to be consistent with the way you take the medication. Keep in mind that your body might absorb more of the medication if you take it with a full meal and you might be more likely to have side effects from metaxalone like dizziness and drowsiness.
- Side effects like dizziness and sleepiness are common. Metaxalone can also affect your ability to focus and concentrate. Avoid driving or performing any activity that requires a lot of attention until you know how this medication affects you.
- Don't drink alcohol while you're taking metaxalone. Alcohol can make side effects worse.
- Let your prescriber know if you take other medications that can make you dizzy or drowsy, such as opioids, benzodiazepines, or sleep aids. Taking these types of medications with metaxalone can raise the risk for life-threatening drowsiness or trouble breathing.
- Tell your healthcare team and pharmacist about all the medications you're taking, including over-the-counter products. Metaxalone can interact with certain medications and lead to serious risks. Interactions with antidepressants can lead to a rare but life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome.
Risks and warnings for Metaxalone
Metaxalone can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Serotonin syndrome
- Risk factors: Taking other medications that can affect the serotonin levels in your brain
There have been reports of serotonin syndrome in some people who take metaxalone alone or with certain other medications. Serotonin syndrome is a rare, but potentially life-threatening condition that happens when there's too much serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is one of the chemicals in your brain responsible for your mood.
Your risk for serotonin syndrome goes up if you use metaxalone with other medications that affect serotonin levels, such as antidepressants, triptans for migraines, and St. John's wort. Tell your healthcare team and pharmacist about all the medications and over-the-counter products you take so they can check for any interactions with metaxalone.
Call your healthcare team or get medical help right away if you have any symptoms of having too much serotonin. These symptoms include a fast heart rate, sweating, muscle stiffness or spasms, fever, and confusion.
Effect on driving and concentration
- Risk factors: Taking with alcohol or illicit substances | Taking other medications that cause drowsiness | People over 65 | Taking metaxalone with a full meal
Taking metaxalone can make you feel sleepy. The medication can also affect your concentration and focus. These side effects are more likely to happen or be more intense if you're over 65 or if you take metaxalone with a full meal.
Don't drink alcohol while you're taking metaxalone to lessen the risk for intense side effects. Avoid activities that require you to be alert, like driving or operating machinery, until you know how the medication affects you.
Caution use in people with liver or kidney problems
- Risk factors: History of liver problems | History of kidney problems
Metaxalone might not be the safest choice for people who have liver or kidney problems. The medication is processed in the body by the liver and kidneys. Metaxalone can buildup in the body if either of these organs isn't working properly. This can raise the risk for dangerous side effects, like serotonin syndrome.
Metaxalone dosage
The average cost for 30 tablets of 800mg of Metaxalone is $25.87 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 80.14% off the average retail price of $130.29. 
Tablet
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800mg | 30 tablets | $25.87 | $0.86 |
| 400mg | 30 tablets | $45.09 | $1.50 |
| 640mg | 30 tablets | $1,806.25 | $60.21 |
Typical dosage for Metaxalone
- Adults and children 13 years of age and older: The typical dose is 800 mg by mouth three to four times a day.
Interactions between Metaxalone and other drugs
Metaxalone may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Metaxalone. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
More on Metaxalone interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Alfentanil
- Almotriptan
- Alprazolam
- Amineptine
- Amitriptyline
- Amitriptylinoxide
- Amobarbital
- Amoxapine
- Amphetamine
- Anileridine
- Aprobarbital
- Benzhydrocodone
- Benzphetamine
- Bromazepam
- Brompheniramine
- Buprenorphine
- Buspirone
- Butabarbital
- Butalbital
- Butorphanol
- Calcium Oxybate
- Cannabidiol
- Carbamazepine
- Carisoprodol
- Cetirizine
- Chloral Hydrate
- Chlordiazepoxide
- Chlorpheniramine
- Chlorzoxazone
- Citalopram
- Clobazam
- Clomipramine
- Clonazepam
- Clorazepate
- Cocaine
- Codeine
- Cyclobenzaprine
- Dantrolene
- Desipramine
- Desvenlafaxine
- Dextroamphetamine
- Dextromethorphan
- Diazepam
- Dibenzepin
- Difenoxin
- Dihydrocodeine
- Diphenoxylate
- Dolasetron
- Doxepin
- Doxylamine
- Duloxetine
- Eletriptan
- Escitalopram
- Esketamine
- Estazolam
- Ethchlorvynol
- Ethylmorphine
- Fentanyl
- Flibanserin
- Flunitrazepam
- Fluoxetine
- Flurazepam
- Fluvoxamine
- Frovatriptan
- Furazolidone
- Gabapentin
- Gabapentin Enacarbil
- Granisetron
- Halazepam
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone
- Hydroxytryptophan
- Imipramine
- Iproniazid
- Isocarboxazid
- Ketamine
- Ketazolam
- Ketobemidone
- Lemborexant
- Levocetirizine
- Levomilnacipran
- Levorphanol
- Linezolid
- Lisdexamfetamine
- Lithium
- Lofepramine
- Lofexidine
- Lorazepam
- Lorcaserin
- Lormetazepam
- Loxapine
- Magnesium Oxybate
- Medazepam
- Melitracen
- Meperidine
- Mephenesin
- Mephobarbital
- Meprobamate
- Methadone
- Methamphetamine
- Methocarbamol
- Methohexital
- Methylene Blue
- Metoclopramide
- Midazolam
- Milnacipran
- Mirtazapine
- Moclobemide
- Morphine
- Morphine Sulfate Liposome
- Nalbuphine
- Naratriptan
- Nefazodone
- Nialamide
- Nicomorphine
- Nitrazepam
- Nortriptyline
- Ondansetron
- Opipramol
- Opium
- Opium Alkaloids
- Oxazepam
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Palonosetron
- Papaveretum
- Paregoric
- Paroxetine
- Pentazocine
- Pentobarbital
- Periciazine
- Phenelzine
- Phenobarbital
- Piritramide
- Potassium Oxybate
- Prazepam
- Pregabalin
- Primidone
- Procarbazine
- Protriptyline
- Quazepam
- Rasagiline
- Remifentanil
- Remimazolam
- Rizatriptan
- Safinamide
- Scopolamine
- Secobarbital
- Selegiline
- Sertraline
- Sibutramine
- Sodium Oxybate
- St John's Wort
- Sufentanil
- Sumatriptan
- Tapentadol
- Temazepam
- Thiopental
- Tianeptine
- Tilidine
- Tramadol
- Tranylcypromine
- Trazodone
- Triazolam
- Trimipramine
- Tryptophan
- Venlafaxine
- Vilazodone
- Vortioxetine
- Ziprasidone
- Zolmitriptan
- Zolpidem
How much does Metaxalone cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Metaxalone contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Metaxalone will not be safe for you to take.
- Severe kidney problems
- Severe liver problems
- History of anemia(s)
What are alternatives to Metaxalone?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Metaxalone. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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