acetaminophen/oxycodone vs metaxalone
Side-by-side comparison of acetaminophen/oxycodone and metaxalone. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Serotonergic Drugs The concomitant use of opioids with other drugs that affect the serotonergic neurotransmitter system, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), tryptans, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, drugs that affect the serotonin neurotransmitter system (e.g., mirtazapine, trazodone, tramadol), certain muscle relaxants (i.e., cyclobenzaprine, metaxalone), and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (those intended to treat psychiatric disorders and also others, such as linezolid and...
Recommendation: Watch for symptoms like confusion, fast heartbeat, or muscle stiffness, and tell your doctor if you are taking both.
Percocet
Skelaxin
Percocet is a strong pain medicine. It contains acetaminophen and oxycodone, an opioid.
Metaxalone is a muscle relaxant. It helps relieve discomfort from painful muscle and bone problems.
Percocet is used to manage severe pain. It is for pain that requires an opioid medicine. You should only use Percocet if other pain treatments don't work well enough.
Metaxalone treats the pain and discomfort caused by muscle problems. It is used along with rest and physical therapy. It does not directly relax your muscles, but it can make you feel sleepy, which may help.
Oxycodone works in the brain to block pain signals. Acetaminophen also helps to reduce pain and fever. Together, they provide stronger pain relief.
The exact way metaxalone works is not fully known. It is thought to work by making you feel sleepy. This can help to relieve muscle pain.
- • Lightheadedness
- • Dizziness
- • Drowsiness
- • Nausea
- • Vomiting
- • Drowsiness
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • Nervousness or irritability
- • Nausea
- Tiredness 34,486
- Feeling sick to your stomach 29,571
- Head pain 28,378
- Aches 28,322
- Loose stools 23,628
- Suicide 261
- Tiredness 196
- Pain 195
- Feeling sick to your stomach 190
- Headache 166
Percocet has a boxed warning. It can cause addiction, abuse, and misuse, leading to overdose and death. It can also cause life-threatening breathing problems, especially when starting or increasing the dose. Accidental ingestion, even one dose, can cause a fatal overdose, especially in children. Taking Percocet with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants, including alcohol, can cause severe sedation, breathing problems, coma, and death. Using opioids for a long time during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in the newborn. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage if you take too much.
Metaxalone can cause sleepiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how it affects you. Using metaxalone with alcohol, opioids, or other drugs that cause sleepiness can be dangerous. A potentially life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome has been reported when metaxalone is used with certain other drugs.
Taking Percocet for a long time during pregnancy can cause withdrawal symptoms in the baby after birth. Make sure a newborn specialist is available when you deliver your baby.
It is not known if metaxalone can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This acetaminophen/oxycodone vs metaxalone Comparison
acetaminophen/oxycodone is classified in the Opioid Analgesic Combination drug class, while metaxalone sits within the Muscle Relaxant class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, acetaminophen/oxycodone has 144,385 submissions while metaxalone has 1,008. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both drugs can increase serotonin levels in the brain, which may lead to a rare but serious condition called serotonin syndrome.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between acetaminophen/oxycodone and metaxalone - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.