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WHAT IS METHOCARBAMOL USED FOR, ITS INTERACTION AND SIDE EFFECTS?

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Methocarbamol is basically a type of muscle relaxant which mainly works by relaxing and calming the nerves that are overactive in your body. It is used to treat the pain and stiffness in muscles and its brand name is Robaxin. This is only a prescription drug which is available as generic in the market. Generic drugs usually cost less than the regular ones. This drug also comes in an injectable solution, but this can only be given by your doctor or a healthcare professional. 

It is thought that this drug decreases the body’s messages of pain and slows down the nervous system, which then relaxes your muscles and gives you relief in pain. But if you want to know in detail what is methocarbamol used for, then we got you covered through this article.

As you scroll down, you will find out complete details about methocarbamol, such as what is it used for, what are the possible interactions it can make with other medicines, its symptoms and much more. So just keep reading below to check out all the info. 

What is methocarbamol used for and how to use it?

Methocarbamol is a skeletal muscle relaxant which acts centrally. These types of muscle relaxants basically act on the spine and brain and help to prevent any muscle spasm. This was developed by scientists to help get rid of acute musculoskeletal pain and it might prevent pain by reducing the frequency of muscle spasms, which can be both painful and uncomfortable at most times. 

A lot of doctors might also prescribe Methocarbamol off label for some conditions, which might be-

  1. Inflammatory arthritis
  2. Knee or hip replacement 
  3.  Rib fractures
  4. Non specific lower back pain, which can be either chronic or acute
  5. Fibromyalgia
  6. Myofascial pain, which is basically pain in specific groups of muscles
  7. Abdominal muscle cramps in people who have cirrhosis

It was once very common for doctors to use this for treating tetanus. However, it is now not a usual line of treatment, and it has been replaced by benzodiazepines. In addition to this, Methocarbamol is also very ineffective for treating the musculoskeletal prolongation which mainly originates from an injury to the upper motor neurons.

So it is very important to note that even though this has been approved by FDA to use it in 1957, there is still ongoing high quality research on its efficacy. 

Now apart from knowing what is methocarbamol used for and when it comes to using it, you should take this medicine by mouth with or without taking food, as it is directed by your doctor. Also do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or for a longer duration than it is prescribed to you. This is because your risk of side effects will certainly increase and your condition will not improve any faster. 

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Also, its dosage is complete based on your current medical conditions and response to the treatment. So you should inform your doctor at regular intervals about your progress or if there are no improvements and it’s getting even worse.

What are the possible interactions that might happen with this medication?

As you read above about what is methocarbaol used for & the right way to use this, it is also very important to note that you should not take this medication with any of the ones that are mentioned below-

  1. Narcotics medications used for cough

And it might also interact with-

  1. Alcohol
  2. Narcotic medications for pain
  3. Some medications takes for sleep or anxiety
  4. Antihistamines for cold, cough or allergy
  5. Medications which are used to relax the muscles for surgery 
  6. Certain medications which are taken for depression like sertraline, fluoxetine and more
  7. Some medications taken for seizures like primidone, phenobarbital and more
  8. Some general anaesthetics such as propofol, methoxyflurane and isoflurane
  9. Some local anaesthetics like tetracaine, lidocaine and pramoxine
  10. Phenothiazines such as thioridazine, prochlorperazine and chlorpromazine

This list might not still contain all the interactions that are possible. So it is always recommended to give your doctor a complete list of all the herbs, medications, dietary supplements & non-prescription drugs which you use. And also tell them if you drink, drink or use any illegal drug, as these things might seriously interact with your medicines.

What are the side effects of using Methocarbamol?

The most common side effect of Methocarbamol oral tablets is drowsiness. It has some other common side effects as well which includes- 

  1. Dizziness 
  2. Headaches 
  3. Sedation
  4. Lightheadedness
  5. Drowsiness
  6. Mild fever

If you experience any of these symptoms and they are mild, then these might go within a few days or mostly in a couple of weeks. And if these do not go away and are more severe, then you should talk to your pharmacist or doctor.

Serious side effects of Methocarbamol– As you know now what is methocarbomol used for, it is also important to know about its serious side effects so that you can get the treatment on time-

  1. Allergic Reactions- Its symptoms includes-
  • Chest tightness
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Rashes
  • Hives
  • Itching
  • Getting swelling on face, throat, eyes and tongue

2. Injection Site Reaction- Symptoms of this could be-

  • Redness at the site of injection 
  • Peeling of skin at the injection site
  • Swelling of the vein
  • Serious pain at the site of injection

3. Angioneurotic Edema- It has following symptoms-

  • Pain in the abdomen 
  • Swelling in your voice box
  • Swollen tissues

4. Low Blood Pressure

5. Slowed Rate of Heart Beat

6. Flushing

7. Loss of memory 

8. Feeling of confusion

9. Low count of white blood cells

10. Seizures and Vertigo

11. Sleeplessness and Lack of 

12. Coordination

13. Pink eye, symptoms of which could be-

  • Watery eyes 
  • Itchy eyes
  • Red eyes

And so if you experience any of the above mentioned serious side effects of Methocarbamol, then you should immediately consult with your doctor or call 911 if symptoms look life threatening to you or if you are having any kind of medical emergency.

Thus, this is complete information on what is methocarbamol used for, how to use it, what are the possible interactions it might make & its side effects. So just read out the whole article & be careful while taking this medication!

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