Lupus Support Group

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Safety and Side Effects
There are few side effects associated with SKELAXIN® 800mg (metaxalone) Tablets. There is a very small chance you will feel drowsy.1,2,7,11 SKELAXIN® is not habit forming. It is not a narcotic. Therefore, there are no withdrawal symptoms.6,12

The most common reactions to SKELAXIN® include nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, and headache. You may also feel drowsy, dizzy, nervous, or irritable.6

What Else Should I Know About SKELAXIN®?
Talk with your healthcare professional about other drugs you are taking. SKELAXIN® may enhance the effects of alcohol. It may also enhance the effects of certain drugs that depress the central nervous system (CNS).6

Taking SKELAXIN® with food may enhance general CNS depression. Elderly patients are prone to this effect.6

SKELAXIN® may impair mental and/or physical abilities. Use caution when performing unsafe tasks. These include operating heavy machinery or driving a motor vehicle.6

Here is the URL for the complete side effects:skelaxin.com/pdf/Skelaxin_Web_PI.pdf" title="http://www.skelaxin.com/pdf/Skelaxin_Web_PI.pdf" target="_blank"> http://www.skelaxin.com/pdf/Skelax...

Basically this is a muscle relaxant, pretty standard, similar to all the others.

As for understanding, do you have fibro? Because that's when docs usually gived muscle relaxants like this or Flexeril. It helps you get a deeper level of sleep and so the fibro doesn't hurt as much. MTX is designed to slow the disease processes down (whether it's SLE or RA or cancer). It's taken 1 X a week, 15 mg p.o. or subQ. Often, patients and docs get confused and the patients take MTX too MANY times a week instead of once.

What else did you want to know?

Tracy

I've taken Skelaxin off and on for severe tendonitis. I can only handle 1/2 of a 400 mg tablet (200 mg). It makes me VERY sleepy so I only take it at night. Causes wierd dreams for me and I'm always tired and groggy the next day but it does help with the pain. I certainly wouldn't want to take it daily. And I would never drive while taking it. Hope this helps some.

Dear Tracey, thanks for your reply. I do have SLE. I had no idea MTX was used to slow down the SLE. I am not as freaked out about using it anymore. I can do without the muscle relaxer. I had a horrible time sleeping. I appreciate your insight and I appreciate reading your postings.

As Tracy and Eyes mentioned this drug does affect motorskills and mental alertness. I do not take it, but on occasion take Tramadol, this is also a drug which can make it dangerous for operating equipment, decision making (signing documents) and driving.

So everybody, read the fineprint on the drug info sheet and be very wary of doing any of the above activities if you are taking strong medication.

Earthwalker, thank you. It's funny I read the fine print, conduct research however, when I raise questions to my doctor responds by saying that my questions frustrate him! Mainly because he does spend a significant amount of time with me during my visit. What I think he does not understand (even though I tell him all the time) for some reason when trying to digest a great deal of information I tend to go into a fog where I seem to get lost in. I am grateful to all of you. Thank you.