baclofen vs metaxalone
Side-by-side comparison of baclofen and metaxalone Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Lioresal, Gablofen
Skelaxin
Baclofen is a muscle relaxant. It helps to relieve muscle spasms and stiffness.
Metaxalone is a muscle relaxant. It helps relieve discomfort from painful muscle and bone problems.
Baclofen is used to treat muscle spasticity (stiffness) caused by multiple sclerosis. It can help with muscle spasms, pain, and rigidity. It may also help people with spinal cord injuries or diseases. Baclofen is not for muscle spasms caused by arthritis or other rheumatic problems.
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.
Baclofen works by affecting the nerves in your spinal cord. It decreases the signals that cause your muscles to tighten. This helps to relieve muscle stiffness and spasms.
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.
- • Drowsiness
- • Dizziness
- • Weakness
- • Nausea
- • Drowsiness
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • Nervousness or irritability
- • Nausea
- Tiredness 6,148
- Pain 5,657
- Medicine not working 5,452
- Fall 5,421
- Feeling sick to your stomach 4,595
- Suicide 261
- The medicine didn't work 202
- Tiredness 196
- Pain 195
- Feeling sick to your stomach 190
If you stop taking baclofen suddenly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Talk to your doctor before stopping this medication.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if baclofen will harm your unborn baby. Baclofen can pass into breast milk.
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.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
Compare metaxalone with
How to Read This baclofen vs metaxalone Comparison
baclofen is classified in the GABA-B Agonist (Muscle Relaxant) 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, baclofen has 27,273 submissions while metaxalone has 1,044. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. 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 baclofen 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.