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chronic pain health center/chronic pain a-z list/skelaxin vs baclofen article
Skelaxin vs. Baclofen
What are Skelaxin vs. baclofen
What are the side effects of Skelaxin and baclofen?
What is the dosage for Skelaxin vs. baclofen?
What drugs interact with Skelaxin and baclofen?
Are Skelexin and baclofen safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
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Skelaxin (metaxalone) and baclofen are skeletal muscle relaxants.
A main difference is that Skelaxin is used mostly for short-term painful muscle and skeletal conditions, while baclofen may be used long-term for spasms of skeletal muscles, muscle rigidity, muscle clonus, and pain caused by disorders like multiple sclerosis.
Brand names for baclofen include Gablofen and Lioresal.
Side effects of Skelaxin and baclofen that are similar include dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, and vomiting.
Side effects of Skelaxin that are different from baclofen include nervousness, irritability, upset stomach, rash, anemia, low white blood cell count, yellowing skin and eyes (jaundice), and allergic reactions
Side effects of baclofen that are different from Skelaxin include weakness, seizures, low blood pressure, constipation, confusion, respiratory depression, inability to sleep (insomnia), and increased urinary frequency or urinary retention.
Suddenly stopping oral baclofen may cause withdrawal reactions such as seizures and hallucinations. Suddenly stopping intrathecal baclofen may result in high fever, rebound spasticity, muscle rigidity, and rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) that can progress to failure of several organs, including the kidney, and even death.
Skelaxin (metaxalone) is an oral drug that relaxes skeletal muscle, the muscles that control movement of the body. Skelaxin is prescribed as an adjunct to physical therapy for the treatment of short-term painful muscle and skeletal conditions.
Baclofen is a medication that relaxes skeletal muscles. Baclofen is prescribed for the treatment of spasms of skeletal muscles, muscle rigidity, muscle clonus, and pain caused by disorders like multiple sclerosis. Chemically, baclofen is related to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a naturally occurring neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA released by some nerves causes the activity of other nerves to decrease. It is thought baclofen acts like GABA and blocks the activity of nerves within the part of the brain that controls the contraction and relaxation of skeletal muscle.
The most common side effects with metaxalone are:
drowsiness,
nervousness,
nausea,
vomiting, and
Other important, but less common, side effects include:
rash,
low white blood cell count,
jaundice, and
Common side effects of baclofen are:
weakness,
seizures,
low blood pressure,
respiratory depression,
inability to sleep, and
increased urinary frequency or urinary retention.
Abrupt discontinuation of oral baclofen may cause seizures and hallucinations. Abrupt discontinuation of intrathecal baclofen may result in:
high fever,
rebound spasticity,
muscle rigidity, and
rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) that can progress to failure of several organs, including the kidney, and even death.
Metaxalone usually is taken at a dose of 800 mg, three or four times daily. Benefits are seen within one hour of ingestion. Food high in fat content increases the absorption of metaxalone.
The usual starting dose of oral baclofen for treating spasticity in adults is 5 mg given three times daily. Based on the response, the dose can be increased by 5 mg every three days to a maximum of 80 mg/day in divided doses.
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No important drug interactions have been described with metaxalone. Metaxalone may increase the sedative effects of alcohol and drugs that cause sedation, for example, benzodiazepines (Valium), antidepressants, opioids (morphine).
Use of baclofen with other drugs that also depress the function of nerves may lead to additional reduction in brain function.
In addition to the risk of depressing brain function, the use of baclofen and tricyclic antidepressants (for example, amitriptyline [Elavil, Endep], doxepin [Sinequan, Adapin]) together may cause muscle weakness.
Use of baclofen and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (for example, phenelzine [Nardil], tranylcypromine or [Parnate]) can result in greater depression of brain function as well as low blood pressure.
Because baclofen can increase blood sugar, doses of antidiabetic drugs may need to be adjusted when baclofen is begun.
Metaxalone has not been adequately studied in pregnant women.
It is not known whether metaxalone is excreted in breast milk. Safety for use in the nursing mother has not been established.
The use of baclofen by pregnant women has not been evaluated.
Baclofen can be detected in the breast milk of mothers taking oral baclofen. No information is available on the presence of baclofen in the breast milk of mothers receiving baclofen intrathecally.
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Skelaxin (metaxalone) and baclofen are skeletal muscle relaxants. A main difference is that Skelaxin is used mostly for short-term painful muscle and skeletal conditions, while baclofen may be used long-term for spasms of skeletal muscles, muscle rigidity, muscle clonus, and pain caused by disorders like multiple sclerosis.
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Muscle spasms are involuntary muscle contractions that come on suddenly and are usually quite painful. Dehydration, doing strenuous exercise in a hot environment, prolonged muscle use, and certain diseases of the nervous system may cause muscle spasms. Symptoms and signs of a muscle spasm include an acute onset of pain and a possible bulge seen or felt beneath the skin where the muscle is located. Gently stretching the muscle usually resolves a muscle spasm.
Multiple sclerosis or MS is an autoimmune disorder in which brain and spinal cord nerve cells become demyelinated. This damage results in symptoms that may include numbness, weakness, vertigo, paralysis, and involuntary muscle contractions. Different forms of MS can follow variable courses from relatively benign to life-threatening. MS is treated with disease-modifying therapies. Some MS symptoms can be treated with medications.
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Muscle pain (myofascial pain syndrome) is muscle pain in the body's soft tissues due to injury or strain. Symptoms include muscle pain with tender points and fatigue. Treatment usually involves physical therapy, massage therapy, or trigger point injection.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Symptoms and Treatments
Multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms vary from person to person, and can last for days to months without periods of remission. Symptoms of MS include sexual problems and problems with the bowel, bladder, eyes, muscles, speech, swallowing, brain, and nervous system. The early symptoms and signs of multiple sclerosis usually start between age 20 and 40. MS in children, teens, and those over age 40 is rare. Treatment options for multiple sclerosis vary depending on the type and severity of symptoms. Medications may be prescribed to manage MS symptoms.
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Baclofen, brand names Gablofen, Lioresal, is a muscle relaxant prescribed for the treatment of skeletal muscle spasms, rigidity, muscle clonus, and pain caused by diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and cystic fibrosis. Flexeril, generic name cyclobenzaprine, also is a muscle relaxant prescribed to treat acute, short-term muscle spasms and associated pain.
Baclofen and Flexeril have similar side effects, for example, confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, and nausea. Side effects of baclofen that are different from Flexeril include weakness, vomiting, low blood pressure, insomnia, and seizures. Side effects of Flexeril that are different from baclofen include dry mouth, fatigue, blurred vision, acid reflux, nervousness, and stomach or belly pain.
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Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a degenerative disease of the covering around the nerves in the central nervous system (CNS). Researchers and doctors don't know the exact cause, but many theorize that it may be due to environmental triggers, an autoimmune disease, and viruses (infections).
Symptoms of MS include vision changes, paralysis, vertigo, heat intolerance, slurred speech, sexual dysfunction, and urinary incontinence (the inability to urinate).
There's no vaccine or cure for MS, but the progression and symptoms of the disease can be treated.
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What are the differences between muscle spasms and cramps? Learn about the causes of muscle spasms and cramps (charley horse) in the calf, leg, and more.
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