Patient/caregiver was educated on contraindications for using Skelaxin as follows:
- Skelaxin use, especially in individuals with seizure history, can occasionally result in deterioration of seizure control and fresh episodes of seizures. Skelaxin must either be avoided for an alternative or used with extra caution in individuals with seizure history, to prevent exacerbation of seizure episodes.
- Skelaxin must be avoided in individuals with history of severe head injury and brain damage. Individuals with history of head injury and brain damage can be at a very high risk to present with severe depression of brain and associated respiratory centers with skelaxin, leading to complications such as, coma, breathing difficulty, and respiratory arrest, which can be fatal.
- Skelaxin use can sometimes result in poor red blood cell integrity, predisposing the cells to lysis, contributing to development of hemolytic anemia. Anemic individuals can present with pallor of skin, episodes of confusion, dizziness, exacerbated shortness of breath, and compromised endurance. Also, breakdown of red blood cells with skelaxin intake, can result in elevated levels of the yellow pigment, bilirubin, in the blood, leading to signs and symptoms of jaundice, such as, itching, dark urine, yellowing of skin and eyes, nausea and vomiting, poor metabolism, and fatigue. Skelaxin is contraindicated in individuals with history of hemolytic anemia or used with extreme caution, with close watch maintained for development of symptoms of jaundice and anemia.
- Skelaxin use in expectant mothers could increase risk for pregnancy complications. Newborns could also present with harmful side-effects of the medication. Use of skelaxin is discouraged in pregnant women, unless the potential benefits of use significantly outweigh the potential risks for the fetus. So, skelaxin is either avoided for an alternative safer drug or cautiously administered with careful monitoring for complications during pregnancy and in women planning for pregnancy. Women in the child-bearing age group taking skelaxin regularly must employ effective contraceptive measures in order to avoid getting pregnant.
