Key takeaways
- Methocarbamol and cyclobenzaprine are both prescribed for short-term musculoskeletal conditions, but cyclobenzaprine is specifically approved for muscle spasms, while methocarbamol helps ease muscle pain and stiffness.
- You should not take these medications together due to the increased risk of side effects like drowsiness and dizziness, which can impair driving or operating machinery.
- While both drugs can be effective for different indications, they have different dosages, potential side effects, and suitability for different age groups and health conditions, so a doctor should determine the best option based on individual needs.
Overview
This article explains how methocarbamol oral tablet and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet are similar and different. You can view detailed articles about methocarbamol oral tablet and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet if you’d like more information about these drugs.
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Uses of methocarbamol and cyclobenzaprine
Here’s a summary of the approved uses of methocarbamol oral tablet and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet:
| methocarbamol oral tablet | cyclobenzaprine oral tablet | |
|---|---|---|
| Approved uses | to help relieve discomfort due to short-term painful musculoskeletal conditions | to help relieve muscle spasms due to short-term painful musculoskeletal conditions |
| Prescribed to | adults and children ages 16 years and older | adults and children ages 15 years and older |
These medications are prescribed alongside rest, physical therapy, and other nondrug measures for symptoms due to short-term, painful musculoskeletal conditions.
If you’d like to know more about taking either medication for your condition, ask your doctor. They can recommend whether methocarbamol oral tablet or cyclobenzaprine oral tablet is an option to consider.
Dosage of methocarbamol and cyclobenzaprine
The following are dosages provided by the drugmakers of methocarbamol oral tablet and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes either medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. They’ll advise the dosage that’s best for your condition. Do not adjust your dosage without first talking with your doctor.
Methocarbamol oral tablet’s dosage
Here is a summary of methocarbamol oral tablet’s recommended dosage in adults and certain children. Strength is expressed in milligrams (mg). The dosage varies depending on whether you’re prescribed the 500-mg or 750-mg oral tablet.
| Purpose | How it’s taken | Usual recommended dosage |
|---|---|---|
| to help relieve discomfort due to short-term, painful musculoskeletal conditions in adults and children ages 16 and older | by mouth | 1,500 mg taken four times per day for the first 2 to 3 days, followed by: • 1,000 mg taken four times per day or, • 750 to 1,500 mg taken three times per day |
Cyclobenzaprine oral tablet’s dosage
Here is a summary of cyclobenzaprine oral tablet’s recommended dosage in adults and certain children. Strength is measured in milligrams (mg).
| Purpose | How it’s taken | Usual recommended dosage |
|---|---|---|
| to help relieve muscle spasms due to short-term, painful musculoskeletal conditions in adults and children ages 15 years and older | by mouth | 5 to 10 mg three times per day |
Side effects of methocarbamol and cyclobenzaprine
Methocarbamol oral tablet and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Some of the more common mild side effects of each drug are listed as follows. Serious side effects of methocarbamol oral tablet and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet are also listed.
Keep in mind that your side effects may differ from those listed here. They can vary based on your overall health, any other medications you take, and your age.
This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of these medications. To find more information, you can view the prescribing information for methocarbamol oral tablet and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet. You can also check out these articles about methocarbamol oral tablet side effects and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet side effects.
Mild side effects
Here are some of the mild side effects reported with methocarbamol oral tablet and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet:
| methocarbamol oral tablet* | cyclobenzaprine oral tablet | |
|---|---|---|
| drowsiness | ✓ | ✓ |
| dry mouth | ✓ | |
| fatigue | ✓ | |
| headache | ✓ | ✓ |
| dizziness | ✓ | ✓ |
| changes in taste | ✓ | ✓ |
| mild allergic reaction | ✓ | ✓ |
* These side effects are possible with methocarbamol oral tablet. But it’s unclear whether they occurred in the drug’s studies or after the drug became available for use.
Serious side effects
Here are serious side effects reported with methocarbamol oral tablet and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet:
| methocarbamol oral tablet* | cyclobenzaprine oral tablet | |
|---|---|---|
| serotonin syndrome (high levels of serotonin in your body) | ✓ | |
| seizures | ✓ | ✓ |
| fast heart rate | ✓ | |
| slow heart rate | ✓ | |
| low blood pressure and fainting | ✓ | ✓ |
| heart rhythm problems | ✓ | |
| depression and anxiety | ✓ | |
| hallucinations | ✓ | |
| double vision | ✓ | ✓ |
| central nervous system (CNS) depression | ✓ | ✓ |
| low white blood cell level | ✓ | |
| liver problems, including yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes | ✓ | ✓ |
| serious allergic reaction | ✓ | ✓ |
* These side effects are possible with methocarbamol oral tablet. But it’s unclear whether they occurred in the drug’s studies or after the drug became available for use.
With a lot of drugs, serious side effects are possible, but they’re not common. If you have serious side effects from methocarbamol oral tablet or cyclobenzaprine oral tablet, call your doctor right away. If your symptoms are severe or you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.
Cost of methocarbamol and cyclobenzaprine
As with the cost of other medications, the cost of methocarbamol oral tablet and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet can vary. Their price may be affected by:
- whether they’re covered by health insurance, if you have coverage
- the pharmacy they’re purchased from
Coupons and cost savings
To view drug prices when Optum Perks coupons are applied, see this coupon page for methocarbamol oral tablet and this coupon page for cyclobenzaprine oral tablet. You can also check with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.
The options described in this article may also help you save on your prescription.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
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Get free cardBrand-name versions
Methocarbamol oral tablet and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet are generic medications. The brand-name version of methocarbamol is Robaxin. The brand-name version of cyclobenzaprine is Amrix.
A generic medication is an identical copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a medication work.) Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name versions.
If your doctor prescribed methocarbamol oral tablet or cyclobenzaprine oral tablet, but you’d like to know about taking its brand-name version, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They can help determine whether the brand-name version is right for you.
Questions about methocarbamol and cyclobenzaprine
Find answers to some common questions about methocarbamol oral tablet and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet as follows.
Is methocarbamol stronger than cyclobenzaprine?
Not necessarily. Like all drugs, you may respond differently to one medication than another. This may depend on:
- the condition you’re taking the drug to treat and the severity of your symptoms
- the dosage you’re prescribed
- other medical conditions you have
- other medications you take
- your age
Methocarbamol and cyclobenzaprine are both approved to treat symptoms related to short-term, painful musculoskeletal conditions. But cyclobenzaprine is approved specifically to help relieve muscle spasms. And methocarbamol is approved to help ease muscle pain and stiffness. Depending on your symptoms, one drug may work better than the other.
If you have questions about whether methocarbamol or cyclobenzaprine is a better choice for you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can I take methocarbamol and cyclobenzaprine together?
No, it usually isn’t recommended to take methocarbamol and cyclobenzaprine together. This is because taking the drugs together could worsen side effects, such as drowsiness and dizziness. And either drug can affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
If you find that either of these drugs isn’t managing your symptoms, talk with your doctor. They can review your treatment plan or suggest other options that are a better choice for treating your condition.
Between methocarbamol and cyclobenzaprine, which one is a better treatment for muscle pain or spasms?
Doctors may prescribe either methocarbamol oral tablet or cyclobenzaprine oral tablet to treat symptoms due to short-term painful musculoskeletal conditions. In studies, methocarbamol oral tablet and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet were both effective for this purpose.
That said, these medications differ in some ways. Cyclobenzaprine is approved specifically to help relieve muscle spasms. Methocarbamol is not. It does not directly relax tense muscles. There are also some other differences. For instance, they:
- have some similar and different side effects
- have different dosages
- may be used in different age groups
- may have different drug interactions
Keep in mind that your results from taking methocarbamol oral tablet or cyclobenzaprine oral tablet may differ from those seen in studies.
How do methocarbamol and cyclobenzaprine compare with tizanidine?
Tizanidine (Zanaflex) is another form of skeletal muscle relaxant. It’s most often used to treat muscle spasticity caused by conditions like multiple sclerosis. In this way, it’s more similar to cyclobenzaprine than methocarbamol. However, it may have a slightly different indication and cause different side effects.
Your doctor can help determine whether one option is better for your condition. They’ll recommend this based on your specific needs and health factors. Talk with your doctor if you’d like to learn more about which drug is right for you.
Warnings for methocarbamol oral tablet and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet
Some medications may not be recommended for you if you have certain factors affecting your health. These are referred to as a drug’s warnings.
Some people should not take methocarbamol oral tablet or cyclobenzaprine oral tablet, and others should take either medication with caution.
Before taking either medication, talk with your doctor about your health conditions, past surgeries, and any medications you take. Your doctor can recommend whether either drug is safe for you.
Warnings for methocarbamol oral tablet and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet are summarized in the following table:
| methocarbamol oral tablet | cyclobenzaprine oral tablet | |
|---|---|---|
| heart rhythm problems, heart failure, or a recent heart attack | ✓ | |
| thyroid problems | ✓ | |
| serotonin syndrome | ✓ | |
| urinary retention | ✓ | |
| angle-closure glaucoma or increased pressure in the eye | ✓ | |
| liver problems | ✓ | |
| use of alcohol or other CNS depressants during treatment | ✓ | ✓ |
| current use of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor or use within the past 14 days | ✓ | |
| use of anticholinergic drugs | ✓ | ✓ |
| allergic reaction to either drug or any of their ingredients | ✓ | ✓ |
| being age 65 years or older | ✓ | ✓ |
| currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant | ✓ | ✓ |
| currently breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed | ✓ | ✓ |
You can view more detailed articles about methocarbamol oral tablet and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet if you’d like to know more about warnings for these drugs. You can also view the prescribing information for methocarbamol oral tablet and cyclobenzaprine oral tablet.
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.