What Is Methocarbamol Used For?

An Overview of Methocarbamol Uses

Methocarbamol (Robaxin^®) is a prescription medication used to treat muscle spasms and associated pain. The medicine is approved to be used along with rest, physical therapy, and other treatments to relieve pain from acute (short-term) muscle spasms. The injectable form is also approved to treat tetanus (lockjaw) when used in combination with other standard treatments.

 

A muscle spasm is an uncontrollable contraction of a muscle. Muscle spasms can cause pain, tenderness, and stiffness, and are a frequent cause of back pain. Most often, they are caused by injury, overuse, or similar problems (like sleeping in a strange position). Methocarbamol usually works quite well for these types of muscle spasms.

 

How Does Methocarbamol Work?

It is not clear exactly how methocarbamol 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.

 

Can Children and Teens Use It?

Methocarbamol tablets are approved for individuals age 16 and older. The injectable form is not approved for pediatric use, which usually means in children and adolescents under the age of 18, except to treat tetanus. Talk with your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using methocarbamol in children.

 

Off-Label Uses of Methocarbamol

On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend this drug for something other than the conditions discussed in this article. At this time, there are no universally accepted off-label methocarbamol uses.