Robaxin

The generic name for Robaxin is methocarbamol and it is a prescription medicine. This medication is used to treat muscle spasms that result from injuries, pain, and Tetanus. Robaxin decreases your body's messages of pain. It is used to slow down your nervous system so that your muscles relax. When your muscles relax, you will experience relief from the pain caused by the muscle spasm.

Your doctor can prescribe this medicine to you as a single treatment or with other medications if you are being treated for other conditions. 

Robaxin is part of a family of drugs called Skeletal Muscle Relaxants. 

• Skeletal Muscle - Skeletal muscles are one of the muscle tissues in the body. These muscles represent the majority of your muscle tissue, and it powers your movements in your skeleton, such as when you lift or walk. Muscle spasms happen when your skeletal muscle contracts, but does not go back into place. These spasms are involuntary and forceful. When the spasm is sustained, it becomes a muscle cramp. Any skeletal muscle in your body can cramp. Charley Horse is another term used for these cramps. 

Studies have not proven Robaxin is effective or safe for children under the age of 16.

Benefits of Robaxin

Studies have shown medicines that contain paracetamol and methocarbamol (Robaxin) are more beneficial than any risks that might be involved with their use in treating muscle spasms, especially those in the lower back. 

Side Effects From Robaxin

Robaxin is broken down by your liver. If you are suffering from liver disease, Robaxin might build up in your body, as it cannot be broken down properly. This buildup may increase the risk of side effects. If you have liver disease, your doctor may start you on a lower dose, or use a different schedule for your treatment with Robaxin. 

If you are pregnant, Robaxin is a category C drug and this means two things:

• Studies have shown animals who were pregnant and given Robaxin had adverse effects on the fetus
• There have not been sufficient studies conducted on humans to determine how Robaxin can affect the fetus

If you are breastfeeding your baby, Robaxin can pass into your breast milk and cause side effects for your child. You should talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding as it may be suggested you stop breastfeeding while on this medication.

Another area of concern is for seniors as your kidneys may not be working as well as they use to. If your kidneys are not functioning properly, Robaxin may stay in your system longer which increases your risk of side effects. Talk to your doctor about this concern, as they may be able to prescribe a lower dose or put you on a different schedule for treatment.

Drinking alcohol while taking Robaxin may increase the sedation effects of this drug. If you plan or know you will be drinking while taking Robaxin, you should discuss this with your physician. 

The oral tablet of Robaxin comes with a possible allergic reaction. If you should experience:

• Swelling of your tongue or throat
• Rash
• Hives
• Difficulty breathing

You should contact your physician immediately, or call the poison control center. If the symptoms are severe, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency center right away. If you experience any of these allergic reactions, do not resume taking Robaxin as the results could be fatal. 

Common side effects from Robaxin include:

• Sedation
• Headaches
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness

These common side effects typically go away after a few days or weeks. If they do not go away after a couple of weeks, talk to your doctor about a change in dosage or schedule of your treatment.

Severe side effects from Robaxin include:

• Angioneurotic edema- with symptoms that include
  • Swelling of your voice box
  • Pain in your abdomen
  • Swollen tissues
• Flushing
• Low blood pressure
• Reduced heart rate
• Jaundice- with symptoms that include
  • a yellowing of the white's of your eyes or skin
• Loss of memory
• Confusion
• Allergic reactions- with symptoms that include
  • Chest tightness
  • Rash
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Itching
  • Swelling of your tongue, throat, face, or eyes
  • Hives
• Injection site reactions- with symptoms that include
  • Redness at the injection site
  • Swelling of the vein at the injection site
  • Pain at the injection site
  • Peeling of the skin at the injection site
• Lack of coordination
• Vertigo
• Sleeplessness
• Seizures
• Side effects that could affect vision- with symptoms that include
  • Uncontrolled eye movements
  • Double vision
  • Blurred vision
• Pink eye- with symptoms that include
  • Itchy eyes
  • Red eyes
  • Watery eyes

Interaction of Robaxin with Other Medications

An interaction is when you take another medication or drug that will change how Robaxin should work in your system. An interaction can be harmful, or not allow Robaxin to work as well as it should. Robaxin can interact with vitamins, herbs, or other medications, so you should discuss all vitamins, herbs, supplements, or other medications with your doctor before starting a Robaxin treatment. 

If you are taking pyridostigmine bromide and begin a Robaxin treatment, it could reduce the effectiveness of this medication. Other medications that can cause an interaction include:

• Antidepressants
  • Imipramine
  • Doxepin
  • Amitriptyline
  • Talk to your doctor about any antidepressant you are taking to determine if it will cause an interaction with Robaxin
• Anxiety medications
  • Alprazolam
  • Clonazepam
  • Diazepam
  • Lorazepam
  • Talk to your doctor about any anxiety medications you are taking to determine if they will cause an interaction with Robaxin
• Herbal products
  • Valerian root
  • Kava-kava
  • Talk to your doctor about any herbal products you are currently taking to determine if they will cause an interaction with Robaxin
• Antipsychotics
  • Quetiapine
  • Haloperidol
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Tal to your doctor about any antipsychotics medications you are currently taking to determine if they will cause an interaction with Robaxin
• Pain medications
  • Morphine
  • Tramadol
  • Hydrocodone
  • Oxycodone
  • Talk to your physician about any pain medications you are currently using to determine if they will have an interaction with Robaxin

Dosage Information for Robaxin in Oral Form

Dosage information for taking Robaxin depends on:

• How you react to the first dosage
• Your age
• Medical conditions you are currently treating
• How severe the condition is for wanting Robaxin
• Why you are being treated

The following dosage amounts are for the oral tablet of Robaxin. This list does not include all forms and dosages and the amounts or form you are prescribed will be determined by your physician. 

There are two strengths of Robaxin in an oral tablet form:

• 500 mg
• 750 mg

The dosage for patients 16 years of age to 64 years of age when treating muscle stiffness and pain include:

• Starting dosage of 6,000 mg a day
• The typical maintenance dosage is 4,000-4,500 mg a day
• Your physician may start you out on higher dosage, and then decrease it after three days of treatment 

It has not been determined if Robaxin is effective or safe for children under the age of 16. Seniors over the age of 64 may require a different dosage or schedule of treatment. 

Dosage Information for Robaxin in Injectable Form

Robaxin can be administered by injection in an undiluted form directly into your vein. This medication can also be administered through an intravenous drip when added to a drip of Sodium Chloride Solution. 

The total adult dosage should not exceed 30 ml, or 3 vials a day. It should not be administered for more than three consecutive days unless you are being treated for tetanus. Frequency and dosage should be based on how severe your condition is and your therapeutic responses. 

If you are prescribed to use Robaxin as an intramuscular route, you should not have more than 5 ml or one vial in each of your gluteal regions. The injections can be repeated every eight hours if needed. Once you have reached a satisfactory level of pain relief, tablets are generally used from there as maintenance. 

Alternatives for Robaxin

If you are concerned with using Robaxin, there are a few alternatives:

• If you are suffering neck pain, Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) can treat muscle spasms occurring in the neck
  
• If you are suffering from symptoms related to anxiety, Valium (Diazepam) is an alternative for Robaxin
• If you are suffering from pain in your back, Metaxall or Skelaxin are muscle relaxants that may help relieve your pain

Storage of Robaxin

If you are taking Robaxin by tablet form, they should be kept between 68-77 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are taking this medication by injection, the preparations should be kept between 59-86 degrees Fahrenheit.

In Conclusion

Robaxin is a muscle relaxant and central nervous depressant prescribed to treat symptoms of muscle spasms and pain. It can also be used to treat symptoms of opioid withdrawal. The medication will block sensations of pain being sent to your brain and may cause some dizziness or drowsiness. If you taking Robaxin, your doctor should go over all side effects and discuss your medical history to ensure this is the right treatment for you.