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Methocarbamol: Difference between revisions

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{{MedTemplate
{{MedTemplate
| generic           = Methocarbamol
| generic           = Methocarbamol
| brand             = Robaxin
| brand             = Robaxin (oral, injectable)
| structure         =  
| structure         =
| classes           = Muscle relaxant
| classes           = [[:Category:Skeletal muscle relaxants|Skeletal muscle relaxant (centrally-acting)]]
| mechanism          = CNS mechanism incompletely understood
| uses              = <vote slug="acute-muscle-spasm-use">Short-term relief of muscle spasm from acute musculoskeletal conditions (FDA)</vote>, <vote slug="tetanus-adjunct-use">Tetanus adjunct (FDA, IV; rarely needed in current practice with immunization coverage)</vote>
| uses              =  
| starting_dose     = Oral: 1500 mg PO QID for 2-3 days (load), then 750-1500 mg QID maintenance. IV/IM: 1000 mg every 8 hours for acute spasm
| starting_dose     =  
| preparations     = Tablets 500, 750 mg; injection 100 mg/mL
| preparations       =  
| fda_max          = 8 g/day (oral, short-term load); 6 g/day (chronic)
| routes            =
| pill_id           =
| onset              =  
| routes            = Oral, intramuscular, intravenous
| duration           =  
| onset            = ~30 minutes (oral)
| halflife          =  
| duration         = 4-6 hours
| bioavailability    =  
| halflife          = 1-2 hours<ref name="robaxin-label">FDA Prescribing Information, Robaxin (methocarbamol), Pfizer/various, current revision. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/011011s032lbl.pdf</ref>
| pregnancy         =  
| bioavailability   = ~100% (oral; near-complete absorption)<ref name="robaxin-label" />
| legal              =  
| pregnancy        = Limited human data.{{citation needed}}
| intro              =  
| legal             = [[USLegal:Prescription only|Rx-only]] in US. Not a controlled substance, distinguishing it from carisoprodol which is Schedule IV<ref name="robaxin-label" />
| pharmacokinetics   =  
| mechanism        = <vote slug="methocarbamol-mech-claim">Centrally-acting skeletal muscle relaxant with mechanism not fully elucidated; effects appear mediated through general central nervous system depression rather than direct muscle relaxation or specific receptor activity. The lack of receptor-specific action explains both the relatively mild side-effect profile and the variable efficacy across patients.</vote> May cause harmless '''brown, black, blue, or green urine discoloration''' (the classic counseling point). Not associated with the abuse-liability concerns of carisoprodol or the anticholinergic burden of cyclobenzaprine, making methocarbamol a reasonable choice in elderly patients<ref name="robaxin-label" />.
| pharmacodynamics  =  
| indications        =  
| dosing             =  
| effects            =  
| contraindications  =  
| interactions      =  
| pregnancy_details  =
| monitoring        =
| counseling         =
| anecdotes          =
| seealso            =
| references        =  
}}
}}


[[Category:Muscle_Relaxants]]
== References ==
<references />


[[Category:Skeletal muscle relaxants]]

Latest revision as of 07:02, 23 May 2026

Skeletal muscle relaxant (centrally-acting)
Methocarbamol
Robaxin (oral, injectable)

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Summary
Classes
Skeletal muscle relaxant (centrally-acting)
Common uses
Short-term relief of muscle spasm from acute musculoskeletal conditions (FDA)0, Tetanus adjunct (FDA, IV; rarely needed in current practice with immunization coverage)0
Pharmacy
Starting dose
Oral: 1500 mg PO QID for 2-3 days (load), then 750-1500 mg QID maintenance. IV/IM: 1000 mg every 8 hours for acute spasm
Preparations
Tablets 500, 750 mg; injection 100 mg/mL
US FDA Max
8 g/day (oral, short-term load); 6 g/day (chronic)
Pharmacology
Routes
Oral, intramuscular, intravenous
Onset
~30 minutes (oral)
Duration
4-6 hours
Half-life
1-2 hours[1]
Bioavailability
~100% (oral; near-complete absorption)[1]
Pregnancy
Limited human data.[citation needed]
Legal status
Rx-only in US. Not a controlled substance, distinguishing it from carisoprodol which is Schedule IV[1]
Purported mechanism
Centrally-acting skeletal muscle relaxant with mechanism not fully elucidated; effects appear mediated through general central nervous system depression rather than direct muscle relaxation or specific receptor activity. The lack of receptor-specific action explains both the relatively mild side-effect profile and the variable efficacy across patients.0 May cause harmless brown, black, blue, or green urine discoloration (the classic counseling point). Not associated with the abuse-liability concerns of carisoprodol or the anticholinergic burden of cyclobenzaprine, making methocarbamol a reasonable choice in elderly patients[1].

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 FDA Prescribing Information, Robaxin (methocarbamol), Pfizer/various, current revision. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/011011s032lbl.pdf
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