cyclobenzaprine vs methocarbamol
Side-by-side comparison of cyclobenzaprine and methocarbamol Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
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Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant. It helps relieve muscle spasms and pain.
Methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant. It helps to relieve discomfort from painful muscle problems.
This medicine treats muscle spasms caused by painful conditions. It is meant to be used with rest and physical therapy. It should only be used for a short time, usually 2 to 3 weeks.
This medicine treats the discomfort caused by painful muscle problems. It is used along with rest and physical therapy. It does not directly relax your muscles.
Cyclobenzaprine works in the brain and spinal cord to relax your muscles. It reduces muscle spasms, which helps to relieve pain and improve movement. It does not directly work on the muscles themselves.
Methocarbamol is a central nervous system depressant. It likely works by making you feel calm and relaxed. This may help to relieve muscle discomfort.
- • Drowsiness
- • Dry mouth
- • Fatigue
- • Headache
- • Drowsiness
- • Dizziness
- • Lightheadedness
- • Blurred vision
- • Nausea
- Pain 4,873
- Tiredness 3,808
- The medicine is not working 3,434
- Feeling sick to your stomach 3,304
- Headache 3,292
- Pain 1,637
- Feeling sick to your stomach 1,563
- Feeling tired 1,529
- The medicine is not working 1,431
- Headache 1,201
You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. You should not take this medicine if you are taking a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor or have taken one in the past 14 days. Taking cyclobenzaprine with an MAO inhibitor can cause serious problems, including seizures and death. Also, do not take it if you have heart problems or an overactive thyroid.
Methocarbamol can interact with alcohol and other drugs that affect your central nervous system. Be careful when taking these together.
It is not known if cyclobenzaprine can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
It is not known if methocarbamol can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
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How to Read This cyclobenzaprine vs methocarbamol Comparison
cyclobenzaprine is classified in the Muscle Relaxant drug class, while methocarbamol sits within the Muscle Relaxant class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, cyclobenzaprine has 18,711 submissions while methocarbamol has 7,361. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between cyclobenzaprine and methocarbamol — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.