Skelaxin Uses

Skelaxin is used for treating adults and adolescents (age 12 and older) who have muscle spasms due to injuries, overuse, or similar problems. This prescription muscle relaxant can help relieve pain, tenderness, and stiffness due to muscle spasms. Skelaxin is a short-term medication and works by affecting the central nervous system, rather than the muscles directly. One off-label Skelaxin use includes treating pain associated with fibromyalgia.

Skelaxin Drug Information

What Is Skelaxin Used For? -- An Overview

Skelaxin^®(metaxalone) is a prescription medication used to treat muscle spasms. As a muscle relaxant, the drug can help relieve pain due to muscle spasms. Skelaxin is approved for use along with rest, physical therapy, and other treatments to relieve pain from acute (short-term) painful muscle spasms. It may be less likely to cause drowsiness and "grogginess," compared to other muscle relaxants.

A muscle spasm is an uncontrollable contraction of a muscle. Muscle spasms can cause pain, tenderness, and stiffness. They are a frequent cause of back pain. Most often, muscle spasms are caused by injury, overuse, or similar problems (like sleeping in a strange position). Skelaxin usually works quite well for these types of muscle spasms.

How Does Skelaxin Work?

It is not clear exactly how Skelaxin helps relieve muscle spasms. However, it is known to work mostly in the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord), not directly on the muscles.

Skelaxin Use in Children

Skelaxin is approved for use in children as young as 12 years old. Talk with your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using the drug in children. The Skelaxin dosage for children age 12 and older is the same as the dosage for adults.

(Skelaxin Uses Continued: Page 2)