Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: METAXALONE versus OZOBAX.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: METAXALONE versus OZOBAX.
METAXALONE vs OZOBAX
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Metaxalone is a centrally acting muscle relaxant whose exact mechanism is unknown. It is thought to produce skeletal muscle relaxation by depressing the central nervous system (CNS), possibly through general CNS depression or by blocking polysynaptic reflexes in the spinal cord.
OZOBAX (carisoprodol) is a centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant that does not directly relax skeletal muscle. Its mechanism of action is thought to be related to its sedative properties and its metabolite, meprobamate, which has anxiolytic and sedative effects. Carisoprodol acts as a GABA-A receptor agonist and may also inhibit interneuronal activity in the spinal cord and reticular formation.
800 mg orally 3 to 4 times daily
OZOBAX (baclofen) oral: Initial 5 mg three times daily, may increase by 5 mg per dose every 3 days to max 80 mg/day (20 mg four times daily). Intrathecal: Test dose 50-100 mcg, then continuous infusion via pump 22-900 mcg/day.
None Documented
None Documented
Clinical Note
moderateMetaxalone + Venlafaxine
"The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Metaxalone is combined with Venlafaxine."
Clinical Note
moderateMetaxalone + Nefazodone
"The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Metaxalone is combined with Nefazodone."
Clinical Note
moderateMetaxalone + Stiripentol
"The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Metaxalone is combined with Stiripentol."
Clinical Note
moderateMetaxalone + Clomipramine
Terminal elimination half-life is approximately 0.5 to 1.5 hours, reflecting rapid clearance and supporting short-lived clinical effects.
Terminal elimination half-life is approximately 12-15 hours in adults with normal renal function. This supports twice-daily dosing in most patients.
Primarily renal; approximately 90% of a dose is excreted in urine as glucuronide conjugates and unchanged drug, with less than 1% eliminated in feces via biliary excretion.
Primarily renal excretion of unchanged drug (approximately 70-80% of the dose) with minor biliary/fecal elimination (10-15%).
Category A/B
Category C
Skeletal Muscle Relaxant
Skeletal Muscle Relaxant
"The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Metaxalone is combined with Clomipramine."