What is the use of Methocarbamol (Robaxin)?

From the Guidelines

Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant medication that can be used to treat muscle spasms and pain associated with musculoskeletal conditions, with a typical adult dosage of 1500 mg four times daily for the first 2-3 days, then reduced to 1000 mg four times daily as symptoms improve, as recommended by recent studies 1. The medication works by depressing the central nervous system and has sedative properties that help relieve muscle spasticity. Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, and headache, so patients should avoid driving or operating machinery until they know how the medication affects them. It's best taken with food to minimize stomach upset. Some key points to consider when using methocarbamol include:

• Methocarbamol is often prescribed alongside other pain medications like NSAIDs or acetaminophen for more effective pain relief 1.
• Patients should inform their healthcare provider about all medications they're taking, as methocarbamol can interact with alcohol, other CNS depressants, and certain medications.
• It's not recommended for long-term use due to potential for dependence and should be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that may include physical therapy and rest.
• In certain situations, such as preoperative management, methocarbamol may need to be held on the day of the surgical procedure, as recommended by the Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement (SPAQI) consensus statement 1.
• Other options for managing muscle cramps in patients with cirrhosis include baclofen, albumin, orphenadrine, and quinidine, although methocarbamol has been proposed as a potential treatment option 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

Methocarbamol Tablets, USP are indicated as an adjunct to rest, physical therapy, and other measures for the relief of discomfort associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions. The primary use of Methocarbanol is for the relief of discomfort associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions.

• It is used as an adjunct to rest, physical therapy, and other measures.
• The mode of action of methocarbamol has not been clearly identified, but may be related to its sedative properties 2. Methocarbanol does not directly relax tense skeletal muscles in man.

From the Research

Overview of Methocarbanol

• Methocarbanol is a skeletal muscle relaxant used to treat musculoskeletal conditions, including low back pain and muscle spasms 3, 4, 5, 6.
• The effectiveness of methocarbanol compared to other skeletal muscle relaxants is not well established, with limited data available 4, 5, 6.

Efficacy and Safety

• Studies have shown that methocarbanol is less sedating than other skeletal muscle relaxants, such as cyclobenzaprine and tizanidine 3, 6.
• However, the efficacy of methocarbanol is not well established, with one study finding that it did not improve outcomes more than placebo in patients with acute low back pain 5.
• Adverse effects, including dizziness and drowsiness, have been reported with methocarbanol, although the frequency and severity of these effects are not well established 3, 4, 6.

Usage Patterns

• Methocarbanol is widely used in the United States, with its use increasing in recent years 7.
• However, the use of methocarbanol varies by geographic region, with the highest prevalence in the South and the lowest in the Northeast 7.
• The median treatment duration with methocarbanol is 14 days, although a small percentage of patients use it for longer than 90 days 7.