metaxalone vs trazodone
Side-by-side comparison of metaxalone and trazodone. 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: Tell your doctor immediately if you experience shivering, sweating, or a very high fever while taking these medications.
Skelaxin
Desyrel
Metaxalone is a muscle relaxant. It helps relieve discomfort from painful muscle and bone problems.
Trazodone is a medicine used to treat depression. It helps to improve your mood and can help you sleep better.
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.
Trazodone is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. This medicine can help improve your mood and reduce symptoms of depression. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about why you are taking this medication.
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.
Trazodone is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It works by increasing the amount of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a chemical that helps regulate mood.
- • Drowsiness
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • Nervousness or irritability
- • Nausea
- • Swelling
- • Blurred vision
- • Fainting
- • Drowsiness
- • Tiredness
- Suicide 261
- Tiredness 196
- Pain 195
- Feeling sick to your stomach 190
- Headache 166
- Tiredness 1,129
- Feeling sick to your stomach 1,097
- Head pain 906
- General discomfort 806
- Loose stools 792
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.
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults. Your doctor will monitor you closely for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts. Trazodone is not approved for use in children.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is important to consider the risk of untreated depression during pregnancy. There is a pregnancy registry to monitor outcomes in women exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy. You can register by calling 1-844-405-6185.
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How to Read This metaxalone vs trazodone Comparison
metaxalone is classified in the Muscle Relaxant drug class, while trazodone sits within the Serotonin Antagonist and Reuptake Inhibitor (SARI) 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, metaxalone has 1,008 submissions while trazodone has 4,730. 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 taking these two drugs together can cause a build-up of serotonin in your body, which can be life-threatening if levels become too high.. 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 trazodone - 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.