1. Relax Your Injured Muscles
Methocarbamol, or the brand name version Robaxin, is usually prescribed after a physical injury like a sprain, strain or other type of muscle injury. It relaxes the injured muscle, decreasing muscle pain and spasms. Methocarbamol is used along with rest and physical therapy to treat the injury. Since it's prescribed to help heal injured muscles, methocarbamol is usually only prescribed for about two to three weeks, and is generally not meant to be taken for a long period of time.
2. Methocarbamol Goes With Food
Take your Methocarbamol right after you eat a meal or with a snack or glass of milk. If you take Methocarbamol on an empty stomach, it will upset your stomach and could cause nausea or indigestion. Eating before taking the medication also helps your body absorb the medication better. Be sure to drink plenty of water when you take Methocarbamol. This keeps dehydration at bay and helps your body restore itself faster.
3. Alcohol and Methocarbamol Don't Mix
Limit your alcohol consumption when you take methocarbamol. It can make you dizzy or drowsy, especially when you first start taking it, and alcohol can intensify these side effects. Skip the alcohol while you're taking methocarbamol and healing from your injury, and you'll get the most benefit from your medication.
4. Brace Yourself for Side Effects
You may experience lightheadedness, blurred vision, headaches, nausea or vomiting when you take methocarbamol. These side effects are common and will go away in a few days. This drug can also cause your urine to darken and turn a greenish black color. This side effect is temporary and subsides as your body adjusts to the medication. If these or other side effects don't go away in a few days, talk to your doctor.
5. Share Your Medications
Methocarbamol can interact or alter the effectiveness of some prescription and non-prescription medicines. Provide your doctor or pharmacist with a list of any other drugs you're currently taking. Methocarbamol can affect anti-depressive, anti anxiety and anti-seizure prescriptions, tranquilizers, narcotic pain relievers and antihistamines. If you're using any medications that cause drowsiness, ask your pharmacist whether you should stop taking these until you've finished taking your methocarbamol.
