Skelaxin

Generic Name: metaxalone (me TAX a lone)
Brand Names: Skelaxin

What is Skelaxin?

Feedback for Skelaxin

User Comments	Avg User Rating
16 Comments		7.8	Rate it!

Skelaxin is a muscle relaxant. It works by blocking nerve impulses (or pain sensations) in the brain.

Skelaxin is used together with rest and physical therapy to treat skeletal muscle conditions such as pain or injury.

Skelaxin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Skelaxin?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to metaxalone, or if you have anemia (a lack of red blood cells), or severe kidney or liver disease.

Before using Skelaxin, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Use this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Skelaxin?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to metaxalone, or if you have:

anemia (a lack of red blood cells);
severe kidney disease; or
severe liver disease.

Before using Skelaxin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have liver or kidney disease. You may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Skelaxin.

This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medicine to a child younger than 12 years old.

How should I take Skelaxin?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take Skelaxin on an empty stomach, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Skelaxin can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using Skelaxin.

Skelaxin is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include rest, physical therapy, or other pain relief measures. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Store Skelaxin at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of this medication can be fatal.

Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, slow or shallow breathing, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking Skelaxin?

Skelaxin can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of Skelaxin. Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by Skelaxin. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these other medicines.

Skelaxin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Skelaxin and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite;
low fever;
dark urine, clay-colored stools; or
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may include:

drowsiness, dizziness;
feeling nervous or irritable;
headache;
mild nausea, vomiting, upset stomach; or
skin rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect Skelaxin?

Before taking Skelaxin, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton); or
medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol), mesoridazine (Serentil), pimozide (Orap), or thioridazine (Mellaril).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Skelaxin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Skelaxin.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Skelaxin only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.