Somadril is used to relax certain muscles in your body and relieve the stiffness, pain, and discomfort caused by strains, sprains, or other injury to your muscles. However, exercise or physical therapy, these medicines do not take the place of rest, or other treatment that your doctor may recommend for your medical problem. Methocarbamol also has been used to relieve some of the muscle problems caused by tetanus.

Somadril acts in the central nervous system (CNS) to produce their muscle relaxant effects. Their actions in the CNS may also produce some of their side effects.

In the U.S. , these medicines are available only with your doctor's prescription. In Canada , some of these medicines are available without a prescription.

Special precautions

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For Somadril , the following should be considered:

Allergies— Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to any of the skeletal muscle relaxants or to carbromal, mebutamate, meprobamate (e.g., Equanil), or tybamate. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as preservatives, foods, or dyes.

Pregnancy— although Somadril has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems, studies on birth defects have not been done in pregnant women. Studies in animals with metaxalone have not shown that it causes birth defects.

Breast-feeding— Carisoprodol passes into the breast milk and may cause drowsiness or stomach upset in nursing babies. It is not known whether chlorphenesin, metaxalone, chlorzoxazone, or methocarbamol passes into the breast milk. However, these medicines have not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.

Children— Studies with Somadril have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of these medicines in children with use in other age groups. However, carisoprodol and chlorzoxazone have been used in children. They have not been reported to cause different side effects or problems in children than they do in adults.

Older adults— many medicines have not been tested in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information about the use of Somadril in the elderly.

Other medicines— although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary.

Other medical problems— the presence of other medical problems may affect the use of Somadril . Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Allergies, history of, or

• Blood disease caused by an allergy or reaction to any other medicine, history of, or

• Drug abuse or dependence, or history of, or

• Kidney disease or

• Liver disease or

• Porphyria—Depending on which of Somadril you take, the chance of side effects may be increased; your doctor can choose Somadril that is less likely to cause problems

• Epilepsy—Convulsions may be more likely to occur if methocarbamol is given by injection

Side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• Less common

• Fainting; stinging or burning of eyes; slow heartbeat (methocarbamol injection only); skin rash, itching, hives, or redness; shortness of breath, troubled breathing, tightness in chest, and/or wheezing; mental depression; hive-like swellings (large) on face, eyelids, mouth, lips, and/or tongue; fever; fast heartbeat; stuffy nose and red or bloodshot eyes

• Rare

• Blood in urine; vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds; unusual tiredness or weakness; unusual bruising or bleeding ; swollen and/or painful glands; sore throat and fever with or without chills; sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips or in mouth; puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes; pinpoint red spots on skin; pain, tenderness, heat, redness, or swelling over a blood vessel (vein) in arm or leg (methocarbamol injection only); painful or difficult urination; muscle cramps or pain (not present before treatment or more painful than before treatment); lower back or side pain ; fast or irregular breathing; cough or hoarseness; convulsions (seizures) (methocarbamol injection only); bloody or black, tarry stools; yellow eyes or skin

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

• More common

• Blurred or double vision or any change in vision; dizziness or lightheadedness; drowsiness

• Less common or rare

• Abdominal or stomach cramps or pain; trouble in sleeping; trembling; pain or peeling of skin at place of injection (methocarbamol only); nausea or vomiting ; muscle weakness; hiccups; heartburn; headache ; flushing or redness of face; excitement, restlessness, nervousness, or irritability; diarrhea; constipation; confusion; clumsiness or unsteadiness; uncontrolled movements of eyes (methocarbamol injection only)

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory.

Do not let anyone else take your medicine.