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metaxalone vs methocarbamol

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.

Drug Class
metaxalone Muscle Relaxant
methocarbamol Muscle Relaxant
Type
metaxalone Prescription
methocarbamol Prescription
Summary
metaxalone

Metaxalone is a muscle relaxant. It helps relieve discomfort from painful muscle and bone problems.

methocarbamol

Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant. It helps to relieve discomfort from painful muscle problems.

What It Treats
metaxalone

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.

methocarbamol

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.

How It Works
metaxalone

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

Methocarbamol is a central nervous system depressant. It likely works by making you feel calm and relaxed. This may help to relieve muscle discomfort.

Common Side Effects
metaxalone
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Nervousness or irritability
  • Nausea
methocarbamol
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Lightheadedness
  • Blurred vision
  • Nausea
FAERS Reports
metaxalone
  • Suicide 261
  • The medicine didn't work 202
  • Tiredness 196
  • Pain 195
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 190
methocarbamol
  • Pain 1,637
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 1,563
  • Feeling tired 1,529
  • The medicine is not working 1,431
  • Headache 1,201
Serious Warnings
metaxalone

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

Methocarbamol can interact with alcohol and other drugs that affect your central nervous system. Be careful when taking these together.

Pregnancy
metaxalone

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.

methocarbamol

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.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

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 1,044 submissions while methocarbamol has 7,361. 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 metaxalone and methocarbamol — 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.