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Chapters

0:00 Introduction
0:15 Uses of Methocarbamol
0:40 Usage for Methocarbamol
1:24 Side effects of Methocarbamol
2:01 Warnings



Methocarbamol, sold under the brand name Robaxin among others, is a medication used for short-term musculoskeletal pain.[3][4] It may be used together with rest, physical therapy, and pain medication.[3][5][6] It is less preferred in low back pain.[3] It has limited use for rheumatoid arthritis and cerebral palsy.[3][7] Effects generally begin within half an hour.[3] It is taken by mouth or injection into a vein.[3]

Common side effect include headaches, sleepiness, and dizziness.[3][8] Serious side effects may include anaphylaxis, liver problems, confusion, and seizures.[4] Use is not recommended in pregnancy and breastfeeding.[3][4] Because of risk of injury, skeletal muscle relaxants should generally be avoided in geriatric patients.[3] Methocarbamol is a centrally acting muscle relaxant.[3] How it works is unclear, but it does not appear to affect muscles directly.[3]

Methocarbamol was approved for medical use in the United States in 1957.[3] It is available as a generic medication.[3][4] It is relatively inexpensive as of 2016.[9] In 2019, it was the 136th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 4 million prescriptions.[10][11] Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant used to treat acute, painful musculoskeletal spasms in a variety of musculoskeletal conditions.[12] However, there is limited and inconsistent published research on the medication's efficacy and safety in treating musculoskeletal conditions, primarily neck and back pain.[12]

Methocarbamol injection may have a beneficial effect in the control of the neuromuscular spasms of tetanus.[6] It does not, however, replace the current treatment regimen.[6]

It is not useful in chronic neurological disorders, such as cerebral palsy or other dyskinesias.[3]

Currently, there is some suggestion that muscle relaxants may improve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis; however, there is insufficient data to prove its effectiveness as well as answer concerns regarding optimal dosing, choice of muscle relaxant, adverse effects, and functional status.[7]
Comparison to similar agents

The clinical effectiveness of methocarbamol compared to other muscle relaxants is not well-known.[12] One trial of methocarbamol versus cyclobenzaprine, a well-studied muscle relaxant, in those with localized muscle spasm found there was no significant differences in their effects on improved muscle spasm, limitation of motion, or limitation of daily activities.[12]