Methocarbamol

Registered South African indications:

• Muscle spasms

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any of its excipients
• CNS depressed, coma or pre-coma states
• Known brain damage
• Epilepsy
• Myasthenia gravis

Cautions

• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Renal impairment
• Severe hepatic impairment
• Elderly
• May impair ability to drive and operate machinery

Forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: tab

Muscle spasm associated with acute musculoskeletal conditions

• Oral (tab): Initial: 1500mg, 6hrly for 2-3 days; Maintenance: 750-1000mg, 6hrly; Max: 8g/24hrs

Not established for use in children

Pregnancy

• Caution
• It is also not known whether methocarbamol can cause foetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Safe use of methocarbamol has not been established with regard to possible adverse effects upon foetal development. There have been very rare reports of foetal and congenital abnormalities following in utero exposure to methocarbamol. Therefore methocarbamol tablets should not be used in women who are or may become pregnant and particularly during early pregnancy unless in the judgement of the physician the potential benefits outweigh the possible hazards

Breastfeeding

• Caution; not recommended 
• Methocarbamol and/or its metabolites are excreted in the milk of dogs: however, it is not known whether methocarbamol or its metabolites are excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when methocarbamol tablets are administered to a nursing woman

Renal Impairment

• Caution; no dose adjustment recommended

Hepatic Impairment

• Mild to moderate: No dose adjustment recommended
• Severe: Caution; dose adjustment recommended
  Administer normal dose every 12hrs; Treatment duration: Up to 5 days

Elderly

• Caution; dose adjustment recommended
  Reduce dose by  ≥ 50%; Sufficient to produce a therapeutic response

Porphyria Information

• Not yet classified (NC)

Drugs in Sport

• Permitted - No warnings

Central Nervous System Disorders

• Restlessness
• Anxiety
• Tremor
• Amnesia
• Confusion
• Diplopia
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Vertigo
• Drowsiness
• Insomnia
• Mild muscular incoordination
• Nystagmus
• Seizures
• Headache

Cardiovascular System

• Bradycardia
• Flushing
• Hypotension
• Syncope

Gastrointestinal Disorders

• Dyspepsia
• Nausea and vomiting

Hepatobiliary Disorders

• Jaundice

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders

• Pruritus
• Rash
• Urticaria

Immune, Blood and Lymphatic Systems Disorders

• Anaphylactic reactions
• Leucopenia
• Angioneurotic oedema
• Fever

Sensory Disorders

• Blurred vision
• Conjunctivitis with nasal congestion
• Metallic taste

• Central nervous system depressants
• Central nervous system stimulants
• Anticholinergics
• Antimuscarinics
• Pyridostigmine

None routine

Methocarbamol's exact mechanism of action is not known. It acts centrally to produce relaxation of skeletal muscles.

Tablet 500mg 

• Robaxin (Pharmacare) originator

Tablet 750mg 

• Robaxin (GSK) originator