Typical Dosing for Methocarbamol (Robaxin)

Tablets (adults and children over 16 years old): The typical starting dose is 1,500 mg by mouth four times a day. After the first 2 or 3 days, the dose will be lowered to 750 mg to 1,000 mg by mouth 3 or 4 times a day. Methocarbamol tablets are not FDA-approved for use in children under 16 years old.

Injection:

Muscle spasms (adults over 18): For moderate pain, the typical dose is 1,000 mg injected into a muscle or infused through an IV one time only. For severe pain or after surgery, the typical dose is 1,000 mg injected into a muscle or infused through an IV every 8 hours for no more than 3 days.
Tetanus (adults over 18 years old): The typical dose is 1,000 mg to 2,000 mg infused through an IV every 6 hours until you can take oral tablets.
Tetanus (children under 18 years old): The dose for children is based on weight. The typical dose is 15 mg/kg infused through an IV every 6 hours until you can take oral tablets.

Is Methocarbamol Good for Back Pain?

Methocarbamol is not FDA-approved for back pain, but providers will often prescribe it for this as well as other types of pain.

This is considered an “off-label” use of methocarbamol. It might work for you if your back pain is caused by muscle spasms.

If your pain is dull and achy or feels like pins and needles, it might not help much.

Pharmacist Tips for Robaxin (methocarbamol)

Methocarbamol can be taken with or without food. If you have a hard time swallowing pills, you can cut the tablets in half or crush them and mix them with a beverage or soft food like pudding or applesauce.

Methocarbamol is usually prescribed to be taken up to 4 times a day. You don’t have to take it that often if you aren’t having muscle pain or if you are having too many side effects. Methocarbamol can be taken as needed for muscle spasms and still be effective.

Side effects like dizziness and sleepiness are possible. Don’t drink alcohol while taking methocarbamol, as it can make these side effects worse.

Let your provider know if you use other medications that cause dizziness or drowsiness, such as opioids, benzodiazepines, or sleep aids. Methocarbamol can cause life-threatening drowsiness or trouble breathing when combined with these other medications.

Methocarbamol can affect your ability to focus and concentrate. Avoid driving or performing any activity that requires a lot of attention until you know how this medication affects you.

Is Robaxin Overdose Possible?

Limited information is available on the acute toxicity of methocarbamol. Overdose of methocarbamol is frequently in conjunction with alcohol or other CNS depressants and includes the following symptoms: nausea, drowsiness, blurred vision, hypotension, seizures and coma.

One adult survived the deliberate ingestion of 22 to 30 grams of methocarbamol without serious toxicity. Another adult survived a dose of 30 to 50 grams. The principal symptom in both cases was extreme drowsiness. Treatment was symptomatic and recovery was uneventful. However, there have been cases of fatal overdose.

Management of overdose includes symptomatic and supportive treatment. Supportive measures include maintenance of an adequate airway, monitoring urinary output and vital signs, and administration of intravenous fluids if necessary.

The usefulness of haemodialysis in managing overdose is unknown.

Reports suggest overdose is more likely when methocarbamol is used alongside alcohol or other sedative drugs.

Signs of overdose include:

- - severe drowsiness
  - severe dizziness
  - loss of consciousness
  - sweating
  - difficulty breathing
  - shaking on one side of the body
  - seizures

Is Methocarbamol a Narcotic?

Methocarbamol isn’t a narcotic. It’s a central nervous system (CNS) depressant and muscle relaxant used to treat muscle spasms, tension, and pain. It may be mistaken for a narcotic due to side effects like drowsiness and dizziness, which can feel like a drug “high.”

Read on to learn more about its uses, dosage, and side effects.

Is it addictive?

Methocarbamol isn’t addictive when used according to a doctor’s instructions. At higher doses, it has increased potential for abuse, especially among people who have a history of narcotic abuse.

However, methocarbamol doesn’t have the same properties as a narcotic:

- - It doesn’t relieve generalized pain.
  - It doesn’t produce a sense of euphoria or a “high.”

Higher doses also carry an increased risk of undesirable side effects, including drowsiness and dizziness. Given these characteristics, it has a relatively low potential for abuse.

Methocarbamol isn’t a narcotic

Methocarbamol isn’t a narcotic, although some of its effects are similar to those of narcotics. Unlike narcotics, methocarbamol isn’t addictive.

You should speak to a doctor or other healthcare provider if you experience unusual or severe side effects while taking methocarbamol.

If you use methocarbamol recreationally, let your doctor know. This allows them to monitor your overall health and help prevent serious side effects or drug interactions.

What is Methocarbamol (Robaxin) used for?

Muscle Spasm
Tetanus

How to take Methocarbamol (Robaxin)?

Use Methocarbamol (Robaxin) exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed. Methocarbamol is only part of a complete treatment program that may also include rest, physical therapy, or other pain relief measures.

Methocarbamol oral is taken by mouth. You may need to reduce your dose after the first 2 or 3 days of treatment. Carefully follow your doctor’s dosing instructions.

Methocarbamol injection is injected into a muscle or given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

Methocarbamol injection is usually given as a single dose before you start taking the oral form.

Tell your caregivers if you feel any burning, pain, or swelling around the IV needle when methocarbamol is injected.

This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using methocarbamol.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

methocarbamol Clinical Pharmacology

The mechanism of action of methocarbamol in humans has not been established, but may be due to general CNS depression. It has no direct action on the contractile mechanism of striated muscle, the motor end plate or the nerve fiber.

Pharmacokinetics

In healthy volunteers, the plasma clearance of methocarbamol ranges between 0.20 and 0.80 L/h/kg, the mean plasma elimination half-life ranges between 1 and 2 hours, and the plasma protein binding ranges between 46% and 50%.

Methocarbamol is metabolized via dealkylation and hydroxylation. Conjugation of methocarbamol also is likely. Essentially all methocarbamol metabolites are eliminated in the urine. Small amounts of unchanged methocarbamol also are excreted in the urine.

Special Populations

Elderly

The mean (± SD) elimination half-life of methocarbamol in elderly healthy volunteers (mean (± SD) age, 69 (± 4) years) was slightly prolonged compared to a younger (mean (± SD) age, 53.3 (± 8.8) years), healthy population (1.5 (± 0.4) hours versus 1.1 (± 0.27) hours, respectively). The fraction of bound methocarbamol was slightly decreased in the elderly versus younger volunteers (41 to 43% versus 46 to 50%, respectively).

Renally Impaired

The clearance of methocarbamol in 8 renally-impaired patients on maintenance hemodialysis was reduced about 40% compared to 17 normal subjects, although the mean (± SD) elimination half-life in these two groups was similar (1.2 (± 0.6) versus 1.1 (± 0.3) hours, respectively).

Hepatically Impaired

In 8 patients with cirrhosis secondary to alcohol abuse, the mean total clearance of methocarbamol was reduced approximately 70% compared to that obtained in 8 age- and weight-matched normal subjects. The mean (± SD) elimination half-life in the cirrhotic patients and the normal subjects was 3.38 (± 1.62) hours and 1.11 (± 0.27) hours respectively. The percent of methocarbamol bound to plasma proteins was decreased to approximately 40 to 45% compared to 46 to 50% in the normal subjects.