METHOCARBAMOL belongs to the group of medicines called 'muscle relaxants'. It is mainly used to relieve pain and muscle spasms occurring due to acute musculoskeletal problems. Muscle spasm is the painful and involuntary contraction that occurs when the nerve impulses that control the muscle movements are damaged or interrupted. Secondly, it also treats tetanus conditions (lockjaw) which are characterized by painful tightening of muscles. Tetanus is a nerve disorder leading to painful muscle contraction, mainly affecting the jaw and neck muscles.
METHOCARBAMOL consists of methocarbamol. It works by blocking pain impulses sent to the spinal cord and brain, thereby helps to maintain muscle strength and relieving muscle spasms or stiffness.
METHOCARBAMOL can be taken with or without food. You may experience sleepiness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, headache, flushing, dry mouth, a metallic taste, and diarrhea in some cases. Most of these side effects are mild and subside over time. However, if these persist contact your doctor immediately.
METHOCARBAMOL should be taken until your doctor advises you to stop. This medicine should be avoided in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. As a result, notify your doctor before beginning treatment with METHOCARBAMOL. METHOCARBAMOL is not recommended for children unless prescribed by a pediatrician. Inform your doctor or lab technician about the usage of METHOCARBAMOL as this medicine is known to interfere with the test results. Inform your doctor if you have kidney problems, seizures attack (fits/epilepsy), and muscle problems (myasthenia gravis) as METHOCARBAMOL is not recommended under such conditions. Let your doctor know about all your current medicines and your health condition to rule out any unpleasant side effects.
Musculoskeletal pain, Tetanus
METHOCARBAMOL contains Methocarbamol which is a skeletal muscle relaxant. It works by stopping pain signals (nerve impulses) to the brain, thereby helps relieve muscle stiffness or muscle spasm associated with pain and injury. METHOCARBAMOL used to treat painful muscle spasms associated with musculoskeletal disorders, like spasms in the lower back, injuries, sprains and strains. METHOCARBAMOL is more effective with rest and physical therapy to treat muscle conditions such as pain and injury. Additionally, METHOCARBAMOL is also used to provide relief from tetanus (lockjaw) which causes painful tightening of the muscles.
Drug-Drug Interaction: METHOCARBAMOL may interact with antiepileptics (carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, lamotrigine, topiramate, zonisamide) appetite suppressants (orlistat), anticholinergic (benztropine, clidinium, cyclopentolate, dicyclomine), an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (pyridostigmine bromide), antianxiety (alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide, clonazepam, lorazepam, diazepam), antidepressants (amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine, imipramine, nortriptyline).
Drug-Food Interaction: Avoid alcohol intake and tobacco consumption with METHOCARBAMOL as it may cause increased drowsiness, dizziness and lack of concentration.
Drug-Disease Interaction: METHOCARBAMOL may have interactions with liver disease, kidney dysfunction, seizures (fits), have ever suffered any brain damage or coma, muscle weakness (a disease called myasthenia gravis) and autonomic dysreflexia (spinal cord injury).
Avoid consumption of alcohol during treatment with METHOCARBAMOL as it may increase drowsiness.
METHOCARBAMOL is a pregnancy category C drug. So, METHOCARBAMOL should be avoided in pregnant women. Hence, consult your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.
METHOCARBAMOL is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers. Hence, consult your doctor before starting treatment with METHOCARBAMOL your doctor will decide whether METHOCARBAMOL can be taken by breastfeeding mothers or not.
METHOCARBAMOL causes sleepiness and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery that requires metal contectration unless you are alert.
Dose adjustment may be needed in patients with severe liver problem as it contains paracetamol. Please consult your doctor if you have a liver impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Patients with kidney disease should proceed with caution. Hence, consult your doctor if you have kidney impairment or any concerns regarding this as dose adjustment may be needed in patients
METHOCARBAMOL is not recommended for children below 16 years of age as the safety and effectiveness are not established.
Muscle spasm: It is a sudden involuntary contraction of the muscle that can be painful and uncomfortable. When the nerve impulses controlling the muscle movements are damaged or interrupted, it leads to muscle spasms. Symptoms include muscle tightness, joint stiffness, unusual posture, difficulty moving, and pain in affected muscles and joints. Conditions that can trigger muscle spasms include fatigue (weakness), stress, extreme heat or cold, infection, and tight clothing. Muscle relaxants, together with rest and exercise, can treat muscle spasms. Muscle relaxants sedate the muscle and help inhibit painful contractions. Exercise stretches muscles so that it makes them less likely to spasm, tear and sprain.
Tetanus: Also known as lockjaw, it is a bacterial infection caused by Clostridium tetani. After invading the body, these bacteria start to produce a toxin that causes painful muscle contractions. It causes neck or jaw muscles to lock, making it hard to open the mouth or swallow food/drinks.