Methocarbamol

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Jul 25, 2022

Warnings

Methocarbamol Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Methocarbamol can cause severe health problems, especially in certain high-risk patients. Some of the risks of methocarbamol use include:

Use During Activities Requiring Mental Alertness: Methocarbamol can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired focus and concentration. You should avoid driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery until you know how methocarbamol affects you. The risk of this occurring is higher in older adults (65 years of age and older), those taking other drugs that also cause drowsiness, and those who drink alcohol or use illicit drugs.
Use with Alcohol and Other CNS Depressants: There is clinical evidence that methocarbamol has a depressant effect on the central nervous system. For this reason, it should be used with caution in conjunction with alcohol and other CNS depressants such as benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax) and certain sleep aids. The combined effect of methocarbamol and other CNS depressants can lead to severe drowsiness, dizziness, impaired thinking, blurred vision, low blood pressure, seizures, and coma.
Fetal and Congenital Abnormalities: Animal studies have not been done with methocarbamol. It is unknown whether methocarbamol can affect a woman’s fertility, cause harm to an unborn baby, or be secreted into human breast milk. There have been some reports of adverse effects and congenital abnormalities related to methocarbamol use, especially when used during early pregnancy. Therefore, methocarbamol should be given to pregnant women or nursing mothers only if there is a clear need and the potential benefits outweigh the risks.
Use in Special Populations: Methocarbamol should be used with caution in older adults, people with renal impairment (reduced kidney function), and those with hepatic impairment (cirrhotic patients due to alcohol abuse).

Talk to your doctor for medical advice if you are at a high risk of complications or adverse effects from methocarbamol use and want to opt out of using this medicine. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you find other safer alternatives.

Precautions Before Starting Methocarbamol

Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to methocarbamol, any active or inactive ingredients in methocarbamol tablets, or any other medications. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your healthcare provider a complete medical history. Methocarbamol may not be right for people with certain medical conditions.

Give your doctor a complete list of all your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid serious drug interactions between methocarbamol and your other medications.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding. The safety of methocarbamol has not been established in a pregnant or nursing woman.

Talk to your doctor for medical advice if you are an older adult (age 65 years or above). Other safer alternatives may be available to treat muscle spasms and pain.

Precautions During Use of Methocarbamol

Keep all your doctors’ appointments while on methocarbamol.

Call your doctor if you become pregnant while on methocarbamol.

Methocarbamol can cause drowsiness and dizziness. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.

Avoid drinking alcohol while on methocarbamol.

Methocarbamol Drug Interactions

Using methocarbamol with other medicines may affect how each of the medications works. Interactions between many drugs can also increase the risk of serious side effects. Your healthcare professional may choose a different drug combination, change the dose or frequency of one or both medicines, and/or closely monitor you for side effects if there are known interactions between methocarbamol and your other drugs.

There can be possible drug interactions between methocarbamol and the following medications:

Anti-anxiety medications such as diazepam, alprazolam, lorazepam, and clonazepam
Antidepressants such as amitriptyline, imipramine, and doxepin
Antipsychotic drugs like haloperidol, chlorpromazine, quetiapine
Pain medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, tramadol, and morphine
Pyridostigmine (Mestinon), a medication used to treat myasthenia gravis
Herbal products like valerian root and kava-kava

Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products.

Also, tell your doctor if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription drugs.

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