Skelaxin vs. Valium

• Are Skelaxin and Valium the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Skelaxin?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Valium?
• What Is Skelaxin?
• What Is Valium?
• What Drugs Interact with Skelaxin?
• What Drugs Interact with Valium?
• How Should Skelaxin Be Taken?
• How Should Valium Be Taken?

Skelaxin (metaxalone) and Valium (diazepam) are prescribed for the short-term treatment of painful muscle spasms.

Valium is also used to treat anxiety, seizures, and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

Skelaxin is a skeletal muscle relaxant and Valium is a benzodiazepine.

Side effects of Skelaxin and Valium that are similar include drowsiness, dizziness, irritability, nausea, and skin rash.

Side effects of Skelaxin that are different from Valium include headache, nervousness, vomiting, and upset stomach.

Side effects of Valium that are different from Skelaxin include tired feeling, spinning sensation (vertigo), fatigue, constipation, loss of balance, memory problems, restlessness, muscle weakness, drooling, dry mouth, slurred speech, blurred or double vision, itching, and loss of interest in sex.

Both Skelaxin and Valium may interact with alcohol and other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing (sleeping pill, narcotics, prescription cough medicines, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety, depression, or seizures).

Valium may also interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice.

Do not stop using Valium suddenly, or you could have increased seizures or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Common side effects of Skelaxin include:

• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• headache,
• nervousness,
• irritability,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• upset stomach, or
• skin rash.

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Skelaxin including stomach pain, loss of appetite, low fever, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects of Valium include:

• drowsiness,
• tired feeling,
• dizziness,
• spinning sensation,
• fatigue,
• constipation,
• ataxia (loss of balance),
• memory problems,
• restlessness,
• irritability,
• muscle weakness,
• nausea,
• drooling,
• dry mouth,
• slurred speech,
• blurred or double vision,
• skin rash,
• itching, or
• loss of interest in sex.

Skelaxin (metaxalone) is a skeletal muscle relaxant prescribed for the short-term treatment of painful muscle spasms. Skelaxin is available as a generic drug.

Valium is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders or for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety or tension associated with the stress of everyday life usually does not require treatment with an anxiolytic.

Significant drug interactions have not been reported with Skelaxin although it may increase the sedative effects of alcohol and drugs that cause sedation.

Centrally Acting Agents

If Valium is to be combined with other centrally acting agents, careful consideration should be given to the pharmacology of the agents employed particularly with compounds that may potentiate or be potentiated by the action of Valium, such as phenothiazines, antipsychotics, anxiolytics/sedatives, hypnotics, anticonvulsants, narcotic analgesics, anesthetics, sedative antihistamines, narcotics, barbiturates, MAO inhibitors and other antidepressants.

Alcohol

Concomitant use with alcohol is not recommended due to enhancement of the sedative effect.

Antacids

Diazepam peak concentrations are 30% lower when antacids are administered concurrently. However, there is no effect on the extent of absorption. The lower peak concentrations appear due to a slower rate of absorption, with the time required to achieve peak concentrations on average 20 - 25 minutes greater in the presence of antacids. However, this difference was not statistically significant.

Skelaxin's usual dose is 800 mg taken three or four times daily.

Take Valium exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Valium to take and when to take it.

Talk to your healthcare provider about slowly stopping Valium to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

If you take too much Valium, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.