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Centrally Acting Skeletal Muscle Relaxant

Methocarbamol

Brand names: Robaxin, Robaxisal

Methocarbamol is a centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant used as an adjunct for the symptomatic relief of acute painful muscle spasm.

Dosing — being independently re-sourced

ClinCalc Pro is rebuilding its dose data from primary open sources — the manufacturer SmPC (eMC), the WHO Model Formulary and other official references — under clinician review. This drug's structured dose is not yet published here. Confirm all doses against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Clinical monograph

How it works

Its muscle-relaxant effect is thought to result from central nervous system depression rather than a direct action on skeletal muscle.

Prescribing in practice

  • It can cause drowsiness and sedation, so warn patients about driving and operating machinery and take care when combined with other CNS depressants including alcohol.
  • Use with caution in elderly patients and those with hepatic impairment, and it is generally intended for short-term use.
  • Caution is advised in patients with a history of seizures or significant CNS disorders.

Monitoring

No routine laboratory monitoring is required, but review sedation, treatment response and the continued need for therapy.

Counselling the patient

  • This medicine may make you drowsy, so do not drive or operate machinery until you know how it affects you.
  • Avoid alcohol and other sedating medicines while taking it.
  • It is intended for short-term relief of muscle spasm.

Evidence & guidelines

Methocarbamol is a recognised short-term option for acute muscle spasm, with sedation being its principal limiting effect.

Reference: SPC Robaxin; Cochrane Review (Muscle relaxants for acute low back pain, 2003); NICE CG88 (Low Back Pain); Toth and Urtis, Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2004; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Related

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Pathways