Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking metaxalone as follows:
- Metaxalone could potentially interact with a lot of other medications and precipitate serious reactions. If you are being newly started on metaxalone, discuss with your physician regarding all your current medications and their safety with metaxalone. Also, notify your physician regarding any current metaxalone intake, if you are being started on any new medications and discuss their safety with metaxalone.
- Metaxalone must be avoided for a safer alternative or used with extra caution in individuals with history of severe head injury and brain damage. Individuals with history of head injury and brain damage can be at a high risk to present with severe depression of brain and associated respiratory centers with metaxalone, leading to complications such as, coma, breathing difficulty, and respiratory arrest, which can be fatal. Individuals must notify the physician regarding history of head injuries and brain damage, if any, to discuss their safety with metaxalone intake.
- Metaxalone intake can sometimes result in breakdown of red blood cells in the circulation. Patients can present with symptoms of anemia, such as pale skin and mucous membranes, exacerbation of shortness of breath, dizziness due to reduced oxygen supply to the brain, and weakness. Damaged red blood cells also contribute to elevated bilirubin pigment in the blood, thus contributing to findings of jaundice, such as, itching, dark urine, yellowing of skin and white of the eyes, nausea and vomiting, poor metabolism, and fatigue. Closely observe for any symptoms of worsening anemia and jaundice, to report them to your physician immediately, for appropriate changes in the plan of care to be considered.
- Metaxalone can take some time, about a week or two, to fairly adjust to your body, before any optimal relief with muscle spasms and easing of side-effects is experienced. So, do not discontinue taking the medication without your physician’s consult, as you failed to see the desired result immediately after taking the medication.
