Every person suffers from pain at some point in time in their life. Pain can be mild to severe. Several disorders or diseases may cause pain such as arthritis, cancer, etc. Luckily, there are various medicines available to manage the pain in people. Among those, Carisoprodol and Methocarbamol are two of them. Today, in this blog we will be discussing these medications with a Carisoprodol vs Methocarbamol comparison that will help you to choose the best one according to your needs.
Nowadays, both medications are getting attention from healthcare experts. Let us now learn about these two drugs and explore the differences between them.
What is a Carisoprodol Drug?
People who use Carisoprodol medicine suffer from muscle pain or injury. They can take this drug for 2 or 3 weeks with or without meals. This medicine is also used in treating nocturnal leg cramps in persons. It is a controlled drug.
What is a Methocarbamol Drug?
When people are suffering from muscle problems, they can take Methocarbamol medicine for the treatment of this health condition. It is also useful in treating tetanus, headache, and opioid withdrawal in individuals. This withdrawal problem occurs due to nausea, anxiety, vomiting, abdominal pain, etc. It is not a controlled drug.
Comparison: Carisoprodol vs Methocarbamol Medicine
Both drugs may be compared in various ways. These are the following:
FDA approval-
In the year 1959, the FDA Approved Carisoprodol medicine.
Methocarbamol medicine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the year 1957.
Brand names-
Soma is the brand name of Carisoprodol medicine.
The brand names that are commonly used in Methocarbamol drugs are Robaxin and Carbacot.
Dosages: Carisoprodol vs Methocarbamol
Both Carisoprodol and Methocarbamol drugs consist of dosage strengths in the treatment of muscle spasms. Read the following dosage strengths of both these medication drugs:
Carisoprodol Medicine
Carisoprodol medicine has different dosages that are used in the treatment of muscle problems in adults and children above 16 years of age. The brand name Soma of this medicine is available in oral tablet form only. The dosage strengths of oral tablets are Soma 250 mg and Soma 350 mg.
Methocarbamol Medicine
Methocarbamol medicine can be used by adults when they are suffering from muscle pain. It is available in the form of oral tablets and injectable solution. The dosage strengths of the oral tablets are 500 mg and 750 mg and that of the injectable solution is 100 mg/ml.
Functions and Half-life-
Carisoprodol and Methocarbamol have the same functions and different half-life. Read the following functions and half-life of these two medication drugs:
Carisoprodol Medicine
Carisoprodol drug acts as a skeletal muscle relaxant in the Central Nervous System (CNS). It works by relieving discomfort which helps to reduce muscle problems in individuals. This medicine has a half-life of 8 hours in an individual’s body.
Methocarbamol Medicine
Methocarbamol medicine calms the overactive nerves which helps to relax muscles in an individual’s body. The half-life of this drug is 2 hours when they take this medicine for the treatment of muscle pain.
Drug Interactions-
Both drugs can interact with different medicinal drugs. Read the following drug interactions of Carisoprodol and Methocarbamol medicines:
Carisoprodol Drug:
There are various medications that interact with Carisoprodol medicine. These can include Lexapro (Escitalopram), Benadryl (Diphenhydramine), Singulair (Montelukast), Synthroid (Levothyroxine), Zyrtec (Cetirizine), etc.
Methocarbamol Medicine
Methocarbamol medicine has a higher chance of interacting with other medicinal drugs. These drugs are Acetylcarbamol, Bendroflumethiazide, Bisoprodol, Methyclothiazide, Morphine Liposomal, Ramelteon, Tizanidine, Valproic acid, Zuranolone, Ziconotide, Tiagabine, Trichloromethiazide and so on.
Side Effects: Carisoprodol vs Methocarbamol
The side effects of both medicines are as follows-
Carisoprodol Medicine
There are different side effects of Carisoprodol medicine. These are as follows:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dryness in mouth
- Fear or nervousness
- Upset stomach
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Swelling or redness in the face
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness or fainting
- Stomach pain
- Blurred vision
- Breathing problems
- Seizures (convulsions)
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Low blood pressure
- Anaphylaxis
- Decreased appetite
- Cough
Methocarbamol Medicine
Methocarbamol medicine causes different side effects in individuals. These include the following:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Swollen glands
- Weakness in arms and legs
- Hallucinations
- Breathing problems
- Blurred vision
- Heartburn
- Ataxia
- Tremor
- Tachycardia
- Chest pain
- Irritability
- Agitation (severe anxiety)
- Chills
- Swallowing problems
- Sweating
- Diarrhea
- Skin rashes, itching, or hives
- Swelling in tongue, throat, face, or lips
- Shivering
- Jaundice (yellow eyes or skin)
- Belching
- Mood or behavioural change
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this blog explains the comparison between Carisoprodol and Methocarbamol medicines ‘Carisoprodol vs Methocarbamol’. Both of them are used in the treatment of muscle problems in patients.
Consult with a doctor if you are experiencing porphyria disease. Do not take any of these drugs if suffering from this health problem. Contact with a doctor immediately if an individual experiences some problems such as asthma, breathing problems, glaucoma, abdominal pain etc., after taking these medication drugs.