PatientsLikeMe ™
Already a member? Log in
with patients just like you.
- Select a community
- All Communities
Methocarbamol
What is methocarbamol?
Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant. It works by blocking nerve impulses (or pain sensations) that are sent to your brain.
Methocarbamol is used together with rest and physical therapy to treat skeletal muscle conditions such as pain or injury.
Methocarbamol may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Precautions
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to methocarbamol.
Before using methocarbamol, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have myasthenia gravis.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby, especially during early pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Methocarbamol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Methocarbamol can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid drinking alcohol while you are taking methocarbamol. It may cause dangerous side effects.
Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by methocarbamol. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these medicines, or any other muscle relaxer.
Instructions
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of methocarbamol can be fatal.
Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, nausea, blurred vision, feeling like you might pass out, or seizure (convulsions).
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Side-effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using methocarbamol and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- slow heart rate;
- feeling like you might pass out;
- jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes);
- confusion, spinning sensation, loss of balance; or
- seizure (convulsions).
Less serious side effects may include:
- dizziness, drowsiness;
- nausea, vomiting;
- warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin;
- fever;
- headache;
- memory problems;
- blurred vision;
- sleep problems (insomnia);
- stuffy nose; or
- mild skin rash or itching.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
Interactions
The following drugs can interact with methocarbamol. Tell your doctor if you are using any of these:
- pyridostigmine (Mestinon);
- donepezil (Aricept);
- galantamine (Reminyl);
- rivastigmine (Exelon); or
- tacrine (Cognex).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with methocarbamol. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04