Methocarbamol and Paracetamol

Muscle Relaxant · Para-aminophenol derivative/Skeletal muscle relaxant

Indications

Short-term symptomatic relief of muscle spasm.

Dosage

Adults: 2 tab 4 times daily; may be reduced to 2 tab 3 times daily. Children: Not recommended.

Adverse Effects

Nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia; hypersensitivity reactions (including urticaria, angioedema, anaphylaxis); fever, headache, drowsiness, dizziness, hypotension, bradycardia, confusion, amnesia, restlessness, anxiety, CNS stimulations, tremor, seizures; blurred vision, nasal congestion; cyanosis, rash, pruritus, skin eruptions, leucopenia, cholestatic jaundice, hypoglycaemia.

Risk Factor (Pregnancy/Lactation)

Pregnancy: Risk cannot be ruled out. Lactation: Caution advised or effect undetermined. Contraindications: Coma or pre-coma, brain damage, epilepsy, Myasthaenia gravis. Precautions: Drowsiness may affect performance of skilled tasks (e.g. driving); effects of alcohol enhanced. Impaired hepatic function.

Interactions

METHOCARBAMOL: Alcohol, CNS depressants, CNS stimulants, anticholinergics, anticholinesterases. PARACETAMOL: Drugs which delay gastric emptying (e.g. anticholinergics, narcotics).

Advice to Patient

Take with meals or immediately after meals. Contact prescriber if there is fever, chills, yellowing of skin or eyes, convulsions, difficulty in breathing, swelling on face/lips/tongue/throat. Avoid alcohol during therapy. Change position slowly from sitting or lying to standing.

Pharmacokinetics

METHOCARBAMOL: Onset: 30 mins. Absorption: Oral: Rapidly and almost completely absorbed from the GI tract. Metabolism: Hepatic. Half-life elimination: 1-2 hrs. Time to peak, plasma: 1.1 hrs. Excretion: Urine (mainly). Faeces (small amounts). PARACETAMOL: Onset of action: Oral: <1 hr. IV: Analgesia: 5-10 min. Antipyretic: Within 30 min. Peak effect: IV: Analgesic: 1 hr. Duration: IV, Oral: Analgesia: 4-6 hrs. IV: Antipyretic: =6 hrs. Absorption: Primarily absorbed in small intestine, minimal absorption from stomach (varies by dosage form). Metabolism: Hepatic. Half-life elimination: Neonates: 7 hrs. Infants: Approx. 4 hrs. Children: 3 hrs. Adolescents: Approx. 3 hrs. Adults: Approx. 2 hrs. CrCl<30 mL/min: 2-5.3 hrs. Time to peak, serum: Immediate release: 10-60 min. IV: 15 min. Excretion: Urine.

Compiled by Healify Pharmacy from published drug references. How we compile it →

Always consult a pharmacist or doctor.