MUSCLE RELAXANTS, SKELETAL

Brand & Generic Names

Carbacot	Rela
CARISOPRODOL	Robamol
CHLORPHENESIN	Robaxin
CHLORZOXAZONE	Robaxisal
Delaxin	Robomol
Marbaxin	Skelaxin
Maolate	Skelex
METAXALONE	Sodol
METHOCARBAMOL	Soma
Paraflex	Soprodol
Parafon Forte	Soridol

Basic Information

• Habit forming? Possibly
• Prescription needed? Yes
• Available as generic? Yes, for some.
• Drug class: Muscle relaxant

Uses

Adjunctive treatment to rest, analgesics, and physical therapy for muscle spasms.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Tablets--Swallow with liquid. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet and take with liquid or food. Instructions to take on empty stomach mean 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating.

When to take:
As needed, no more often than every 4 hours.

If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember. Wait 4 hours for next dose.

What drug does:
Blocks body's pain messages to brain. Also causes sedation.

Time lapse before drug works:
60 minutes.

Don't take with:
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, headache. May progress to severe weakness, difficult breathing, sensation of paralysis, coma.

WHAT TO DO:

• Dial 911 (emergency) or O (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• See EMERGENCY Information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

Hives, rash, intense Seek emergency itching, faintness treatment immediately. soon after a dose (anaphylaxis); extreme weakness, transient paralysis, temporary vision loss.

Common:

• Drowsiness, dizziness.
• Orange or red-purple urine.

Infrequent:

• Agitation, constipation or diarrhea, nausea, cramps, vomiting, wheezing, shortness of breath, headache, depression, muscle weakness, trembling, insomnia, uncontrolled eye movements, fainting.
• Blurred vision.

Rare:

• Black, tarry or bloody stool; convulsions.
• Rash, hives, or itch; sore throat; fever; jaundice; tiredness; weakness; hiccups.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You are allergic to any skeletal muscle relaxant.
• You have porphyria.

Before you start, consult your doctor:

• If you have had liver or kidney disease.
• If you plan pregnancy within medication period.
• If you are allergic to tartrazine dye.
• If you suffer from depression.

Over age 60:
Adverse reactions and side effects may be more frequent and severe than in younger persons.

Pregnancy:
Safety not proven. Avoid if possible. Consult doctor.

Breast-feeding:
Drug passes into milk. Avoid drug or discontinue nursing until you finish medicine. Consult doctor for advice on maintaining milk supply.

Infants & children:
Not recommended.

Prolonged use:

• Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check liver function, kidney function, complete blood counts (white blood cell count, platelet count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit).
• Safety beyond 8 weeks of treatment not established.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
Don't drive or pilot aircraft until you learn how medicine affects you. Don't work around dangerous machinery. Don't climb ladders or work in high places. Danger increases if you drink alcohol or take medicine affecting alertness and reflexes, such as antihistamines, tranquilizers, sedatives, pain medicine, narcotics and mind-altering drugs.

Discontinuing:
Don't discontinue without doctor's advice until you complete prescribed dose, even though symptoms diminish or disappear.

Others:

• May affect results in some medical tests.
• Advise any doctor or dentist whom you consult that you take this medicine.

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Antidepressants*	Increased sedation.
Antihistamines*	Increased sedation.
Clozapine	Toxic effect on the central nervous
	system.
Central nervous	Increased depressive effects of
system (CNS)	both drugs.
Dronabinol	Increased effect of dronabinol on
	central nervous system. Avoid
	combination.
Mind-altering drugs*	Increased sedation.
Muscle relaxants,	Increased sedation.
Narcotics*	Increased sedation.
Sedatives*	Increased sedation.
Sertraline	Increased depressive effects of
	both drugs.
Sleep inducers*	Increased sedation.
Tranquilizers*	Increased sedation.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Increased sedation.
Beverages:	None expected.
Cocaine:	Lack of coordination, increased
	sedation.
Foods:	None expected.
Marijuana:	Lack of coordination, drowsiness,
	fainting.
Tobacco:	None expected.