Skelaxin (Metaxalone) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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May 26, 2012

Skelaxin

Chronic Pain »

Introduction to Chronic Pain

You know it at once. It may be the fiery sensation of a burn moments after your finger touches the stove. Or it's a dull ache above your brow after a day of stress and tension. Or you may recognize it as a sharp pierce in your back after you lift something heavy.

It is pain. In its most benign form, it warns us that something isn't quite right, that we should take medicine or see a doctor. At its worst, however, pain robs us of our productivity, our well-being, and, for many of us suffering from extended illness, our very lives. Pain is a complex perception that differs enormously among individual patients, even those who appear to have identical injuries or illnesses.

In 1931, the French medical missionary Dr. Albert Schweitzer wrote, "Pain is a more terrible lord of mankind than even death itself." Today, pain has become the universal disorder, a serious and costly public health issue, and a challenge for famil...

Read the Chronic Pain article »

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SKELAXIN®
(metaxalone) Tablets

DRUG DESCRIPTION

SKELAXIN® (metaxalone) is available as an 800 mg oval, scored pink tablet.

Chemically, metaxalone is 5-[(3,5- dimethylphenoxy) methyl]-2-oxazolidinone. The empirical formula is C₁₂H₁₅N0₃, which corresponds to a molecular weight of 221.25. The structural formula is:

SKELAXIN (metaxalone) structural formula illustration

Metaxalone is a white to almost white, odorless crystalline powder freely soluble in chloroform, soluble in methanol and in 96% ethanol, but practically insoluble in ether or water. Each tablet contains 800 mg metaxalone and the following inactive ingredients: alginic acid, ammonium calcium alginate, B-Rose Liquid, corn starch, and magnesium stearate.

What are the possible side effects of metaxalone (Skelaxin)?

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 metaxalone 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;

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What are the precautions when taking metaxalone (Skelaxin)?

Before taking metaxalone, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: severe liver disease, severe kidney disease, history of low blood cell counts (e.g., hemolytic anemia, other anemias) due to a drug reaction.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, seizures.

This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that...

Read All Potential Precautions of Skelaxin »

Last reviewed on RxList: 11/8/2010
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.