Methocarbamol (Ortoton®)

Methocarbamol is a centrally effective muscle relaxant for treating painful muscle tensions. The most famous brand product is Ortoton®. Methocarbamol is frequently used in acute back pain with muscle hardening.

The active ingredient relaxes the skeletal muscle without severely impairing arbitrary motor skills. It acts via the central nervous system and reduces pathologically increased muscle tension.

Methocarbamol is generally used as an accompanying medication together with painkillers and physiotherapy.

Methocarbamol acts centrally muscle-releasing:

Active mechanism:

• Inhibits polysynaptic reflexes in the spinal cord and brain stem
• Reduces pathologically increased muscle tone
• Breaks through the vicious circle of pain – tension – pain

speciality:

• Works primarily on the exaggerated muscle tension
• Normal muscle strength remains largely preserved
• Lower sedation than other muscle relaxants

Pharmacokinetics:

• Effect entry: about 30 minutes
• half-life: 1–2 hours
• metabolized in the liver

Methocarbamol is suitable for:

• Acute painful muscle tensions
• Back pain with muscular component
• neck and shoulder tensions
• Lumbago
• Muscle cramps after injuries

Recommended as:

• Accompanying therapy for analgesics
• Supplement to physiotherapy
• Short-term treatment (max. 2–3 weeks)

Not suitable:

• At Myasthenia gravis
• In epilepsy
• In severe kidney failure
• For children under 15 years

Tablets:

• 750 mg

Use dosage (adults):

• initial dose: 3 × 2 tablets (4500 mg/day) for 2–3 days
• Preservation dose: 3 × 1 tablet (2250 mg/day)

Language:

• Usually 2–3 weeks
• Not intended for long-term use

** The initial dose is consciously high in order to break the tension cycle quickly.

Intake:

• Take tablets unzerkaut with sufficient water
• Independent meals
• 3 times a day at regular intervals

Important notes:

• Restriction of traffic
• No alcohol during treatment (reinforced sedation)
• Can darken urine (harmlos)
• Do not drive a car at dizziness or fatigue

**Methocarbamol must not be taken at:* *

• hypersensitivity to methocarbamol
• Myasthenia gravis
• Comatious conditions
• Epilepsy
• Heavy kidney failure

Preview at:

• Liver insufficiency
• Moderate kidney failure
• Older patients

Pregnant period: Not recommended due to insufficient data.

Family (1–10 %):

• Squeeze
• fatigue, fatigue
• nausea
• Headaches

** Occasionally (0.1-1 %):* *

• Gastrointestinal complaints
• Allergic skin reactions
• visual disorders
• confusion

Selten:

• Bradycardia (reduced heartbeat)
• Anaphylactic reactions

Urin discoloration: Can dye the urine brown, black or greenish – is harmless.

Intensified sedation with:

• Alcohol
• benzodiazepines
• Opioids
• Antihistamines
• Tricyclic antidepressants

Other:

• Pyridostigmine: Effect can be weakened (Myasthenia gravis)
• Centrally active drugs in general: mutual increase in action

** Methocarbamol has relatively few clinically relevant interactions compared to other muscle relaxations.