Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxer used to treat muscle spasm and pain, and it has slight sedative effects as well. This compound may be prescribed not only for muscle conditions, but also for tetanus in both children and adults. The condition being treated is the main variable that determines an appropriate methocarbamol dose for an individual. Other factors such as the age and weight of a person, as well as certain pre-existing medical conditions, may also influence the dosage used.
Adults taking this drug as part of a therapy for muscle spasms generally take an initial methocarbamol dose for the first few days, followed by a lower maintenance dose for a more prolonged amount of time. An initial dose starts at 1,500 milligrams (mg) taken orally every six hours for two to three days. For severe spasms, up to 2,000 mg per dose may be taken, but no more than that. Afterward, doses of 4,000 mg to 4,500 mg each day may be taken, divided into three or four separate dosing times. Injections totaling no more than 3,000 mg a day can be given instead, but oral dosing is preferred.
Tetanus, an infectious disease, uses an initial intravenous (IV) methocarbamol dose of 1 gram (g) to 2 g immediately, with another 1 g to 2 g given right afterward, for a sum of 3 g. The IV dose is repeated at six-hour intervals until the patient can receive oral doses through a nasogastric tube, since their jaw may not be functioning. Oral dosages of up to 24 g a day are given through this route, until symptoms subside.
Children may receive tetanus relief with a methocarbamol dose based on weight. The initial IV dose is 15 mg per kilogram (kg), or 2.2 pounds (lb), of body weight. This dose is repeated at six-hour intervals as well. Unlike with adults, children do not use a nasogastric tube for their maintenance dose, instead receiving smaller maintenance doses through the IV route as well.
Other medical conditions can influence the methocarbamol dose that person receives. Kidney, or renal, damage may necessitate use of oral dosages of this medication, since the IV preparation contains polyethylene glycol, a compound that the body may be unable to excrete when the kidneys are not functioning properly. Individuals with epilepsy may have to use lower IV doses as well, if the drug cannot be given orally, because there is a risk of seizures in response to the injection.