linezolid vs metaxalone
Side-by-side comparison of linezolid 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
Examples of serotonergic drugs include: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), triptans, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, opioids (particularly fentanyl, meperidine, and methadone), drugs that affect the serotonin neurotransmitter system (e.g., mirtazapine, trazodone, tramadol), monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (those intended to treat psychiatric disorders and also others, such as linezolid and intravenous methylene blue).
Recommendation: Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks, as they may need to adjust your treatment or watch for side effects.
Zyvox
Skelaxin
Linezolid is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in your body. It is used to treat different types of infections.
Metaxalone is a muscle relaxant. It helps relieve discomfort from painful muscle and bone problems.
Linezolid treats pneumonia, skin infections, and infections caused by certain drug-resistant bacteria. It can treat pneumonia that you get in the hospital or in the community. It also treats complicated and uncomplicated skin infections, including diabetic foot infections. Linezolid can also treat infections caused by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium.
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.
Linezolid works by stopping the growth of bacteria. It blocks bacteria from making proteins that they need to live and multiply. This helps your body fight off the infection.
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.
- • Diarrhea
- • Vomiting
- • Headache
- • Nausea
- • Anemia
- • Drowsiness
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • Nervousness or irritability
- • Nausea
- Thrombocytopenia 2,032
- Anaemia 1,601
- Drug Interaction 1,381
- Nausea 1,301
- Vomiting 1,063
- Suicide 261
- Tiredness 196
- Pain 195
- Feeling sick to your stomach 190
- Headache 166
Linezolid can cause several serious side effects. It can lower your blood cell counts, so your doctor will monitor your blood. It can also cause nerve problems, especially if you take it for more than 28 days. Tell your doctor right away if you have vision changes, numbness, or tingling. Linezolid can also interact with certain antidepressants and cause a dangerous condition called serotonin syndrome. Diarrhea can also occur.
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 or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if linezolid will harm your unborn baby. It can pass into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breastfeeding.
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 linezolid vs metaxalone Comparison
linezolid is classified in the Oxazolidinone Antibiotic 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, linezolid has 7,378 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 linezolid acts as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, which can cause serotonin levels to rise when taken with metaxalone. this combination increases the risk of a serious reaction 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 linezolid 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.