Can you take naproxen (Aleve) and methocarbamol (Robaxin) together?
Usually yes for plain naproxen plus plain methocarbamol — different mechanisms, commonly prescribed together for acute back pain — but methocarbamol makes you drowsy, and both sides are sold as combination products that hide a second drug: Aleve PM is still naproxen, and some methocarbamol prescriptions contain aspirin.
Why
Plain methocarbamol shares no ingredient with plain Aleve, and there is no chemical interaction between the two molecules. The real cautions are methocarbamol's sedation, naproxen's stomach, heart and kidney warnings, and the combination products on each side — Aleve PM still contains naproxen sodium 220 mg per caplet, and methocarbamol is also sold combined with aspirin 325 mg per tablet, which makes adding Aleve double-NSAID dosing.
What to watch for
Check both boxes before you combine them. Plain Aleve is naproxen sodium 220 mg per tablet, and its OTC ceiling is lower than most people assume: "take 1 tablet every 8 to 12 hours while symptoms last," you may take 2 tablets within the first hour for the first dose, "do not exceed 2 tablets in any 8- to 12-hour period," and "do not exceed 3 tablets in a 24-hour period" — 660 mg of naproxen sodium in a day. Stop at 10 days; the label says to see a doctor if "pain gets worse or lasts more than 10 days," or if "fever gets worse or lasts more than 3 days." Aleve PM is not a sleep aid sitting beside your Aleve — it is naproxen too. Its Drug Facts panel lists "Naproxen sodium 220 mg (naproxen 200 mg) (NSAID)" alongside "Diphenhydramine hydrochloride 25 mg," and directs "adults and children 12 years and over: take 2 caplets at bedtime. Do not take more than 2 caplets in 24 hours." That is 440 mg of naproxen sodium at bedtime, plus a second sedating drug landing on top of the muscle relaxant. Do not take it on top of daytime Aleve. Read the methocarbamol side too. Some prescriptions are not plain methocarbamol but methocarbamol 400 mg and aspirin 325 mg per tablet (formerly Robaxisal), prescribed for "acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions" — the same reason you would reach for Aleve. Aspirin is an NSAID, and that label warns: "Aspirin may increase the likelihood of hemorrhage due to its effect on the gastric mucosa and platelet function (prolongation of bleeding time)." Adding Aleve to it is double-NSAID dosing. If your label says anything besides plain methocarbamol, do not add naproxen without asking the pharmacist. Never take naproxen alongside another NSAID — do not "take other drugs containing prescription or nonprescription NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or others)." Take the first dose of methocarbamol at home, in the evening, and do not drive until you know how it hits you; the label warns it "may impair mental and/or physical abilities required for performance of hazardous tasks, such as operating machinery or driving." Skip alcohol entirely while you are on it. Stop naproxen and call a doctor now if you "feel faint," "vomit blood," "have bloody or black stools," or "have stomach pain that does not get better" — those are stomach bleeding, and NSAID bleeds can be painless until they are serious. Stop methocarbamol and seek help for fainting, a very slow heartbeat, confusion, a rash or hives, swelling of the face or throat, or yellowing of the eyes or skin. Ask a pharmacist before starting this pair if you are pregnant or might become pregnant: "Do not take naproxen around or after 20 weeks of pregnancy, unless you are told to do so by your doctor" — NSAIDs that late can damage the fetal kidneys and lower amniotic fluid — and methocarbamol's label says it "should not be used in women who are or may become pregnant and particularly during early pregnancy unless in the judgment of the physician the potential benefits outweigh the possible hazards." Ask first as well if you have kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, or a history of ulcer or GI bleeding; if you take a blood thinner, a steroid, an SSRI, lithium, methotrexate, or a diuretic or blood-pressure drug; if you have myasthenia gravis, because "Methocarbamol may inhibit the effect of pyridostigmine bromide"; if you already take anything sedating such as an opioid, a benzodiazepine, gabapentin, or a sleep aid; if you are 60 or older, where bleeding risk rises and sedation causes falls; or before giving either drug to a child.
Sources
- DailyMed — ALEVE (naproxen sodium) tablet label ↗
- DailyMed — Naproxen Sodium Tablets USP 220 mg, OTC Drug Facts (warnings and directions) ↗
- DailyMed — ALEVE PM (diphenhydramine hydrochloride and naproxen sodium) tablet ↗
- MedlinePlus (NIH) — Naproxen (pregnancy warning) ↗
- DailyMed — ROBAXIN (methocarbamol) tablet, film coated ↗
- DailyMed — Methocarbamol tablet label (Precautions, Adverse Reactions, Dosage) ↗
- DailyMed — Methocarbamol and Aspirin tablet (methocarbamol 400 mg / aspirin 325 mg) ↗
- MedlinePlus (NIH) — Methocarbamol ↗
This is general reference, not medical advice, and not a guarantee of safety. Interactions depend on your doses, health conditions, and other medicines. Always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining products, and follow the dosing on each label.