Brand name: Robaxin
Generic name: Methocarbamol
Robaxin is a medication that belongs to a group of drugs called muscle relaxants, and it’s taken to relieve pain or discomfort in injured muscles.
It also helps patients relieve muscle spasms caused by sprains and strains along with enough rest and physical therapy.
It’s a prescription drug that can be found as standard pills that come in different doses, 500 mg and 750 mg.
Robaxin is a central nervous system depressant, so its use may result in drowsiness or slow down reaction time. Be careful when taking this medicine if you drive or need to do anything that requires you to stay alert.
This unwanted effect is increased when people combine Robaxin with alcoholic beverages. Breastfeeding and pregnant women must use it with enough caution. This drug isn’t intended to be taken by patients who are less than 16 years old.
According to some reports and reviews, some people tend to abuse this medication for narcotic-like effects based on the fact that it causes drowsiness.
However, the latest research proves that Robaxin has only some little narcotic effect. It’s not allowed to take it in high doses for this reason.
This medication is also approved by the FDA to treat cats, dogs and horses as an effective muscle relaxant. It’s used to treat any muscle spasms caused by different conditions, including slipped disks, injuries and ingestion toxic substances.
For this purpose, you can find Robaxin as standard tablets that contain 500 mg. Its use requires a prescription from qualified vets and regular doses must be based on weights.
Possible side effects caused by this medication may get worse if you have any liver or kidney conditions. Besides, older patients have a higher risk of experiencing unwanted symptoms when undergoing this treatment.
It’s not advisable to combine Robaxin with alcoholic beverages and other meds that work by depressing the central nervous system, because this combination leads to serious complications.
Some of the most common adverse effects caused by this drug include:
Most of these symptoms are quite mild, but they require medical attention if they get worse.
If you experience the following rare severe side effects, go to the hospital at once:
Inform doctors about any other meds that you’re using, including vitamins, herbal remedies, diet supplements, prescription pills, over-the-counter medications, etc.
That’s because some of them may result in dangerous drug interactions, including the meds that suppress the central nervous system.
Don’t combine Robaxin with drugs taken for depression, anxiety, sleeping problems, seizures, pain and others.
The most common dosage is 6 g taken each day, but it can be increased or decreased based on your tolerance and condition.
Avoid overdosing, because it leads to severe symptoms, such as blurred vision, nausea, seizures, low blood pressure, severe drowsiness and even loss of consciousness. Call a doctor if you suspect overdosing.