metaxalone vs methocarbamol
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of metaxalone and methocarbamol. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Skelaxin
Robaxin
Metaxalone is a muscle relaxant. It helps relieve discomfort from painful muscle and bone problems.
Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant. It helps to relieve discomfort from painful muscle 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.
This medicine treats the discomfort caused by painful muscle problems. It is used along with rest and physical therapy. It does not directly relax your muscles.
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.
Methocarbamol is a central nervous system depressant. It likely works by making you feel calm and relaxed. This may help to relieve muscle discomfort.
- • Drowsiness
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • Nervousness or irritability
- • Nausea
- • Drowsiness
- • Dizziness
- • Lightheadedness
- • Blurred vision
- • Nausea
- Completed Suicide 261
- Fatigue 196
- Pain 195
- Nausea 190
- Headache 166
- Pain 1,639
- Nausea 1,565
- Fatigue 1,531
- Headache 1,201
- Diarrhoea 1,078
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.
Methocarbamol can interact with alcohol and other drugs that affect your central nervous system. Be careful when taking these together.
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.
It is not known if methocarbamol can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
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How to Read This metaxalone vs methocarbamol Comparison
metaxalone is classified in the Muscle Relaxant drug class, while methocarbamol sits within the Muscle Relaxant class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory, but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. 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, metaxalone has 1,008 submissions while methocarbamol has 7,014. 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 represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for metaxalone or methocarbamol.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.