Choosing a Skeletal Muscle Relaxant

Thus, if you are in a higher dosage range for Robaxin (i.e., 1500 mg/day or higher), then brand-name Flexeril is less expensive on a per day treatment basis. Please note that cost should not be your primary consideration in determining which of these drugs is right for you. It is intended for general informational purposes and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911.

Conditions treated by Robaxin and Flexeril are almost the same, such as muscle spasms, pain, injury. Robaxin can also be used to treat tetanus, whereas Flexeril can be used off-label for fibromyalgia, a condition that causes intense fatigue, disturbed sleep and pain. With medical big data and proven AI algorithms, eHealthMe provides a platform for everyone to run phase IV clinical trials. Our analysis results are available to researchers, health care professionals, patients testimonials , and software developers open API. Neither Robaxin nor Flexeril should be taken if you are taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), or have been using them within the past two weeks. On the other hand, Cyclobenzaprine acts centrally within the brainstem to provide its muscle-relaxing effects, mainly utilized for short-term relief from acute muscle injuries.

It is based on methocarbamol the active ingredients of Robaxin and Robaxin the brand name. The information provided in this article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely upon the content provided in this article for specific medical advice. For musculoskeletal problems, what is flexeril 10 mg such as acute neck or back pain, both cyclobenzaprine and tizanidine were proven to be helpful. Methocarbamol is classified as Pregnancy Category C, as it has not been systematically studied in pregnant women. In addition, based on animal studies, methocarbamol is known to cross the placenta and is excreted in breast milk.

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Other treatments may be available, like nerve blocks or radiofrequency ablation, that may not only be safer over the long term but provide more effective, sustained relief. As a general rule, muscle relaxers are used for the short-term treatment of musculoskeletal pain. They can be used “on demand” when acute pain strikes but are generally not the drugs of choice for chronic musculoskeletal pain. There have been multiple studies evaluating the abuse potential of methocarbamol. Methocarbamol should be used with caution in those prescribed multiple central nervous system (CNS) depressants, benzodiazepines, opioids, and those who have known substance use disorders.

Popularity of Robaxin and Flexeril

Dr. Ahmed Zayed has a passion for writing medical and healthcare articles and focuses on providing engaging and trustworthy information to readers. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Muscle relaxants should be avoided or monitored before operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle. Muscle relaxants like Robaxin or Flexeril can cause increased dizziness or drowsiness and impair cognitive performance. Robaxin can decrease the effectiveness of pyridostigmine bromide, a medication used to treat myasthenia gravis.

It depends on your condition and medical history, which will be more effective for you. The recommended monitoring of methocarbamol is to evaluate the clinical response and mitigate risk for the emergence of adverse effects. There is no need to check blood chemistry in follow-up, nor blood levels of the drug. Specific populations at risk for toxicity include those on multiple CNS depressants, patients with cirrhosis, renal impairment, substance use disorders, and, most importantly, the elderly. These medications are specifically dangerous for people of age 65 years and above or 16 and below. It is highly recommended to seek professional help if any signs of addictive behavior have been noticed in patients.

What conditions is Flexeril approved to treat?

Drugs that have CNS depressant effects include barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Because methocarbamol may possess a general CNS-depressant effect, patients should be cautioned about combined effects with alcohol and other CNS depressants. There are no adequate studies of cyclobenzaprine in pregnant women. However, studies in animals suggest no important effects on the fetus. Cyclobenzaprine therefore can be used in pregnancy if the physician feels that it is necessary. It should be avoided in nursing mothers to prevent any adverse effects to the newborn.

• However, it’s crucial to note that an increase in dosage should only be considered if there is no significant improvement in muscle spasms and discomfort after two weeks of treatment at the initial lower dose.
• Robaxin (methocarbamol) is a muscle relaxant used together with rest and physical therapy to treat skeletal muscle conditions such as pain or injury.
• This article explains how muscle relaxers work, when they are used, and which types are available for people with osteoarthritis and other types of musculoskeletal pain.
• Anyone with a history of substance abuse should mention this medical history to their doctor.
• You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.

Talk to your provider if you experience any bothersome side effects. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness or clear vision until you can do it safely.

Moreover, take note that when switching medications, it is very important to consult a medical doctor. It’s important to note that while Flexeril offers effective relief from muscle spasms, its use could potentially disturb sleep patterns leading to insomnia. Less commonly experienced are urinary retention issues or significant weight changes. Drug comparisons between cyclobenzaprine and methocarbamol in terms of side effects do not reveal many differences. Both medications can cause adverse effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, and fatigue. Also, cyclobenzaprine can cause dry mouth because it has anticholinergic effects.

Selection of a skeletal muscle relaxant should be individualized to the patient. If there are tender spots over the muscle or trigger points on physical examination, a skeletal muscle relaxant is a reasonable adjunct to analgesic treatment of low back pain. Skeletal muscle relaxants may also be used as an alternative to NSAIDs in patients who are at risk of gastrointestinal or renal complications. Although in Methocarbamol vs Baclofen comparison,  both of these medications are under the same drug class called muscle relaxants, these two offer different indications. For those considering the better option between Robaxin vs Baclofen, the former is used mainly for spasticity, as a regimen for individuals suffering from a spinal injury. However, it may not be considered the first choice for muscle pain.