Robaxin methocarbamol vs Flexeril cyclobenzaprine Side Effects & Uses

You may report side effects to FDA at FDA-1088 or at /medwatch. Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

• They range from simple rest to a series of physical therapies to bring affected areas back to normal.
• Typically, muscle relaxers can cause sedative effects or block pain signals from nerves to your brain.
• Robaxin can decrease the effectiveness of pyridostigmine bromide, a medication used to treat myasthenia gravis.

More often, they are prescribed when other more conservative treatments, like over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), fail to provide relief. There is limited research as to which muscle relaxers work “better” than others. Finding the right one often involves a process of trial and error. In the end, the choice is largely based on personal preference, possible side effects, and the potential for abuse and drug dependence.

If you take them together, the side effects are much more intense, which can be dangerous. Duloxetine (Cymbalta), a selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, appears safe for spine-related nerve pain like sciatica. Avoid most tricyclic antidepressants because of potential side effects. Nortriptyline (Pamelor) and desipramine (Norpramin) are better tolerated at lower doses. Tell your medical provider what other medications, OTC drugs, dietary supplements, or herbs that you take to avoid interactions and side effects.

What Happens If You Take Too Much Methocarbamol?

In terms of abuse, Robaxin may cause dependency as it is possible to be abused by patients with a previous history of sedative/hypnotic misuse. Moreover, this medication is unsafe for adults over the age of 65 or under 16. For the medication Soma, medical professionals from North Carolina how long does flexeril take to kick in reported that even Carisoprodol, the generic of Soma, can cause drug dependence and withdrawal. While comparing Methocarbamol vs Soma, it is important to note their collective similarity, which is the ability to relieve spasms and pain, as they both come from the same drug class.

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Providers mainly prescribe antispasmodic skeletal muscle relaxants for musculoskeletal and myofascial pain, especially lower back pain, and muscle spasms. Methocarbamol is the best-known brand, while Robaxin is an effective muscle relaxant recommended as a pain reliever for short-term muscle pain and muscle spasms. Methocarbamol is helpful in the treatment of seizures and muscle spasms as a result of the ingestion of toxic substances in cats and dogs. SMRs, including methocarbamol, are commonly prescribed for non-specific musculoskeletal pain.

Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 3 Sep 2023), Cerner Multum™ (updated 28 Aug 2023), ASHP (updated 10 Aug 2023) and others. Knowing the activity of the medication helps in understanding the efficacy of drugs. Usually, when patients cannot use Robaxin, other muscle relaxants are being used as an alternative. Aside from muscle relaxants, opioid analgesics like Vicodin are also considered.

Cyclobenzaprine has been compared to Valium (diazepam) and Soma (carisoprodol) in clinical trials. Cyclobenzaprine was similarly effective to these drugs for treating acute low back pain. Commonly, people who abuse muscle relaxers use them in combination with other substances to produce an enhanced high. However, mixing muscle relaxers with other substances such as opioids or alcohol can be very dangerous and, in some cases, life-threatening. Methocarbamol can be compared to cyclobenzaprine, which is another skeletal muscle relaxant.

Are you currently using Methocarbamol?

Side effects include seizures, anaphylaxis, light-headedness, dizziness, urticaria, N/V, rash, conjunctivitis, blurred vision, headache, fever, bradycardia, hypotension, and thrombophlebitis. Methocarbamol has no direct effect on the contractile mechanism of striated muscle, the motor end plate or the nerve fiber. During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. Before taking methocarbamol, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Together with physical therapy and rest, it effectively provides pain relief with less sedating effects. While there are fewer incidences of overdose and abuse for methocarbamol compared to other muscle relaxers, significant risks remain. Meanwhile, serious side effects include liver damage, seizures, anaphylaxis, and confusion. A medication used since the late 1970s, cyclobenzaprine helps treat muscle spasms that suddenly arise. The drug reduces pain in the first few days and works for up to two weeks.

Possible Side Effects and Risks

Some have stronger sedative effects than others, while others are used to treat specific medical conditions (for example, injuries or diseases of the spinal cord). The generic name for Robaxin is Methocarbamol and Cyclobenzaprine is the generic name of Flexeril. Robaxin and Flexeril are both effective treatments for musculoskeletal pain and muscle spasms.