Methocarbamol (
Robaxin®) is a prescription muscle relaxant approved for relieving the pain associated with short-term, painful "musculoskeletal conditions," such as muscle spasms due to an injury. It should be used in combination with rest, physical therapy, and other treatments.
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with methocarbamol. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience problems. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can be treated easily by you or your healthcare provider. Serious reactions are less common.
Some of the possible side effects of methocarbamol include but are not limited to:
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Confusion.
(Click Methocarbamol Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking this medication if you have:
- Kidney disease, such as kidney failure (renal failure)
- Seizures or epilepsy
- Any allergies, including to food, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
How Does Methocarbamol Work?
It is not clear exactly how this medication helps to 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.
Some general considerations to keep in mind when taking methocarbamol include the following:
- Methocarbamol comes in tablet form. It is usually taken three or four times daily.
- An injectable form of this drug is also available for injection into a vein or a muscle.
- You can take this medication with or without food.
- For methocarbamol to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed.
Dosing Information for Methocarbamol
The dose of methocarbamol your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- How you respond to this medication
- The severity of your condition
- Other medications you take
- Any other medical conditions you may have.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically tells you to do so.
What If I Take an Overdose of Methocarbamol?
An overdose with this medication may be dangerous, and some deaths have been reported. If you happen to take too much methocarbamol, seek medical attention right away.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?
If you forget to take your methocarbamol, simply skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
Can I Buy Generic Methocarbamol?
This medication is available in generic form
(see Generic Robaxin for more information).
Brand-name methocarbamol tablets are made by Schwarz Pharma, while brand-name injectable methocarbamol is made by Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Generic versions are made by various manufacturers.
Methocarbamol tablets come in one strength --
methocarbamol 750 mg. At one point, 500-mg tablets were available, but the manufacturer of methocarbamol has decided to stop making this strength. Generic versions of the 500[mg tablets are still available. An injectable form is also available in 10-mL, single-dose vials (with 100 mg of medication per mL).
