robaxin
Pharmaranks rates Robaxin 3.6/5 for recall safety — an independent score from its FDA recall history and its manufacturer's record. Robaxin (Methocarbamol) is a muscle relaxant used to treat Muscle Cramp, Muscle Rigidity, Myositis, Pain.
Methocarbamol · by Hikma
Available as a generic: Methocarbamol
Based on 1 source · Recall-safety score from FDA recall history — this product's own recalls and its manufacturer's record. Not an efficacy or quality rating. methodology →
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Methocarbamol
- Drug class
- Muscle Relaxant
- Form
- Injectable
- Strength
- Methocarbamol 1GM/10ML (100MG/ML)
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Brand-name
- May treat
- muscle cramp, muscle rigidity, myositis
- Manufacturer
- Hikma
- Half-life
- about 1 to 2 hours (how long it stays in your system)
- What the pharmacy pays
- ~$1.27 for 30 — not your price
- FDA application
- NDA011790
What is Robaxin?
From the FDA label:ROBAXIN (methocarbamol injection, USP) Injectable, a carbamate derivative of guaifenesin, is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant with sedative and musculoskeletal relaxant properties. It is a sterile, pyrogen-free solution intended for intramuscular or intravenous administration. Each mL contains: methocarbamol, USP 100 mg, polyethylene glycol 300, NF 0.5 mL, Water for Injection, USP q.s. The pH is adjusted, when necessary, with hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide. The chemical name of methocarbamol is 3‑(2‑methoxyphenoxy)‑1,2-propanediol 1‑carbamate and has the empirical formula of C 11 H 15 NO 5 . Its molecular weight is 241.24. The structural formula is shown below: Methocarbamol is a white powder, sparingly soluble in water and chloroform, soluble in alcohol (only with heating) and propylene glycol, and insoluble in benzene and n ‑hexane. ROBAXIN Injectable has a pH between 3.5 and 6.0. AFTER MIXING WITH I.V. INFUSION FLUIDS, DO NOT REFRIGERATE. Structural formula
How to use
For Intravenous and Intramuscular Use Only. Total adult dosage should not exceed 30 mL (3 vials) a day for more than 3 consecutive days except in the treatment of tetanus. If the condition persists, a like course may be repeated after a drug-free interval of 48 hours. Dosage and frequency of injection should be based on the severity of the condition being treated and therapeutic response noted. For the relief of symptoms of moderate degree, one dose of 1 gram (one 10 mL vial) may be adequate. Ordinarily this injection need not be repeated, as the administration of the oral form will usually sustain the relief initiated by the injection. For the severest cases or in postoperative conditions in which oral administration is not feasible, additional doses of 1 gram may be repeated every 8 hours up to a maximum of 3 g/day for no more than 3 consecutive days. Directions for Intravenous Use ROBAXIN Injectable may be administered undiluted directly into the vein at a maximum rate of three mL per minute. It may also be added to an intravenous drip of Sodium Chloride Injection (Sterile Isotonic Sodium Chloride Solution for Parenteral Use) or five percent Dextrose Injection (Sterile 5 percent Dextrose Solution); one vial given as a single dose should not be diluted to more than 250 mL for I.V. infusion. AFTER MIXING WITH I.V. INFUSION FLUIDS, DO NOT REFRIGERATE. Care should be exercised…
Side effects
The following adverse reactions have been reported coincident with the administration of methocarbamol. Some events may have been due to an overly rapid rate of intravenous injection. Body as a whole: Anaphylactic reaction, angioneurotic edema, fever, headache Cardiovascular system: Bradycardia, flushing, hypotension, syncope, thrombophlebitis In most cases of syncope there was spontaneous recovery. In others, epinephrine, injectable steroids, and/or injectable antihistamines were employed to hasten recovery. Digestive system: Dyspepsia, jaundice (including cholestatic jaundice), nausea and vomiting Hemic and lymphatic system: Leukopenia Immune system: Hypersensitivity reactions Nervous system: Amnesia, confusion, diplopia, dizziness or light-headedness, drowsiness, insomnia, mild muscular incoordination, nystagmus, sedation, seizures (including grand mal), vertigo The onset of convulsive seizures during intravenous administration of methocarbamol has been reported in patients with seizure disorders. The psychic trauma of the procedure may have been a contributing factor. Although several observers have reported success in terminating epileptiform seizures with ROBAXIN Injectable, its administration to patients with epilepsy is not recommended (see PRECAUTIONS, General ). Skin and special senses: Blurred vision, conjunctivitis, nasal congestion, metallic taste, pruritus, rash,…
Warnings
Important safety information
Since methocarbamol may possess a general CNS depressant effect, patients receiving ROBAXIN Injectable should be cautioned about combined effects with alcohol and other CNS depressants. Safe use of ROBAXIN Injectable has not been established with regard to possible adverse effects upon fetal development. There have been very rare reports of fetal and congenital abnormalities following in utero exposure to methocarbamol. Therefore, ROBAXIN Injectable 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 (see PRECAUTIONS, Pregnancy ). Use in Activities Requiring Mental Alertness Methocarbamol may impair mental and/or physical abilities required for performance of hazardous tasks, such as operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle. Patients should be cautioned about operating machinery, including automobiles, until they are reasonably certain that methocarbamol therapy does not adversely affect their ability to engage in such activities.
Who should not take Robaxin
ROBAXIN Injectable should not be administered to patients with known or suspected renal pathology. This caution is necessary because of the presence of polyethylene glycol 300 in the vehicle. A much larger amount of polyethylene glycol 300 than is present in recommended doses of ROBAXIN Injectable is known to have increased pre-existing acidosis and urea retention in patients with renal impairment. Although the amount present in this preparation is well within the limits of safety, caution dictates this contraindication. ROBAXIN Injectable is contraindicated in patients hypersensitive to methocarbamol or to any of the injection components.
Overdose — what happens if you take too much
Limited information is available on the acute toxicity of methocarbamol. Overdose of methocarbamol is frequently in conjunction with alcohol or other CNS depressants and includes the following symptoms: nausea, drowsiness, blurred vision, hypotension, seizures, and coma. In post-marketing experience deaths have been reported with an overdose of methocarbamol alone or in the presence of other CNS depressants, alcohol or psychotropic drugs. Treatment Management of overdose includes symptomatic and supportive treatment. Supportive measures include maintenance of an adequate airway, monitoring urinary output and vital signs, and administration of intravenous fluids if necessary. The usefulness of hemodialysis in managing overdose is unknown.
U.S. Poison Control: call or text 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7). In an emergency call 911. From the FDA label; not medical advice.
Interactions
See WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS for interaction with CNS drugs and alcohol. Methocarbamol may inhibit the effect of pyridostigmine bromide. Therefore, methocarbamol should be used with caution in patients with myasthenia gravis receiving anticholinesterase agents.
How long does Methocarbamol stay in your body?
The elimination half-life of methocarbamol is about 1 to 2 hours — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. The FDA label reports a mean plasma elimination half-life of 1 to 2 hours in healthy volunteers (about 1.1 hours in a younger group). It names no active metabolite: methocarbamol is cleared by dealkylation, hydroxylation and likely conjugation, and essentially all metabolites leave in the urine, with the label describing no lingering active one. Older adults clear it only slightly more slowly (mean 1.5 hours at a mean age of 69, vs 1.1 hours in a younger group). Kidney impairment barely changes the half-life — in 8 hemodialysis patients it was 1.2 hours vs 1.1 hours in normal subjects — even though total clearance fell about 40%. Liver disease matters most: in 8 patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis, total clearance dropped roughly 70% and the mean half-life rose to about 3.4 hours. Protein binding is 46-50% normally and drops to roughly 40-45% in cirrhosis and 41-43% in older adults. These figures come from immediate-release oral tablets and the IM/IV injection; the label covers no extended-release methocarbamol form.
This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: Methocarbamol Tablets USP — FDA label, Clinical Pharmacology (Pharmacokinetics), DailyMed.
Drug class
How this class works, per Cyclobenzaprine - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.
May treat (source: NIH RxClass)
See how Robaxin ranks — best-rated muscle relaxant for:
Dosage forms
Injectable
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
Ask for the generic
Same active ingredient, far cheaper. Is there a generic? →
Request a 90-day supply
Bulk fills usually lower the per-dose price vs monthly refills.
Use copay cards
Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.
Compare alternatives
A same-class option may cost less. See alternatives →
Frequently asked questions
- What does Robaxin treat?
- Robaxin (Methocarbamol) may be used to treat muscle cramp, muscle rigidity, myositis, pain, spasm, tetanus, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How does Robaxin work?
- Robaxin is a muscle relaxant. Most muscle relaxants work in the brain and spinal cord rather than on the muscle itself: they damp down the overactive nerve signals and reflexes that keep muscles tense, easing spasms and tightness. Some specialized agents instead act directly on muscle calcium release.
- How is Robaxin rated?
- pharmaranks gives Robaxin a composite score of 3.6 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.
- How much does Robaxin cost?
- Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $1.27 for 30, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins. Pharmacies pay less for a same-class option, Amrix — about $0.63 on the same basis.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Robaxin?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Robaxin. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Robaxin?
- Robaxin is marketed by Hikma. You can see Hikma's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Robaxin a brand-name or generic drug?
- Robaxin is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Methocarbamol. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Methocarbamol are available — ask your pharmacist.
- Is Robaxin available over the counter?
- No. Robaxin is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Robaxin come in?
- Robaxin is currently marketed as injectable, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- What class of drug is Robaxin?
- Robaxin is classified as muscle relaxant, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
- Is Robaxin FDA-registered?
- Robaxin is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA011790. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
- Has Robaxin been recalled by the FDA?
- Robaxin has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.
- Is Robaxin safe?
- There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Robaxin a recall-safety score of 72/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.
- What are the side effects of Robaxin?
- Robaxin's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: The following adverse reactions have been reported coincident with the administration of methocarbamol. Some events may have been due to an overly rapid rate of intravenous injection. Body as a whole: Anaphylactic reaction, angioneurotic edema, fever, headache Cardiovascular system: Bradycardia,… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
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robaxin
72/100