on pain meds feel weird

[themadhatter]

So I seperated my shoulder and have been given a muscle relaxer and naproxen 500mg. I am supposed to take the muscle relaxer four times a day but it is making me feel weird. I talked to the prescribing doctor and pharmacist but they both said it should be ok with my meds (as in my sig) but the muscle relaxer is making me groggy and thick headed. I can't think straight and have issues with simple things like walking. The relaxer I am on is methocarbamol 500 mg and I am supposed to take 2 tabs four times a day. I think the prudent thing would be to stop the relaxer but just wanted to get some opinions before going off. I am torn at the fact that they are helping my shoulder but making me funky. I am worried the relaxers may cause a mood swing.

[celestia]

The relaxer I am on is methocarbamol 500 mg and I am supposed to take 2 tabs four times a day.

Holy shitballs that's a LOT. Are you sure?

I used to take 500 3x a day and I thought that was a lot.

[themadhatter]

typed it right off the label, i thought it was a lot too. it makes me feel drunk all the time

[Ophelia]

typed it right off the label, i thought it was a lot too. it makes me feel drunk all the time

I looked it up. The dosage seems accurate.

Drugs.com

Methocarbamol Dosage and Administration

500 mg - Adults:

initial dosage, 3 tablets q.i.d.; maintenance dosage, 2 tablets q.i.d.

750 mg - Adults:

initial dosage, 2 tablets q.i.d.; maintenance dosage 1 tablet q.4h or 2 tablets t.i.d.

So, the maintenance dosage is exactly what you are on, two 500mg pills 4 times a day. Now, that does not necessarily mean that it is the right dosage *for you*. Maybe you should contact you doctor and see if you can lower your dosage to 3 times a day or something. It may also just be that this specific muscle relaxer is not right for you and you might need to try a different one.

[themadhatter]

thanks for the info. I am gonna call the doc tomorrow, they are out of the office now, and see what they think about lowering the dose or changing the med

[celestia]

Ophelia makes a good point, not all muscle relaxers are created equal. If it remains a problem, maybe they could swap it for something else like Flexeril or Soma, or something.

[bpladybug]

So I seperated my shoulder and have been given a muscle relaxer and naproxen 500mg. I am supposed to take the muscle relaxer four times a day but it is making me feel weird. I talked to the prescribing doctor and pharmacist but they both said it should be ok with my meds (as in my sig) but the muscle relaxer is making me groggy and thick headed. I can't think straight and have issues with simple things like walking. The relaxer I am on is methocarbamol 500 mg and I am supposed to take 2 tabs four times a day. I think the prudent thing would be to stop the relaxer but just wanted to get some opinions before going off. I am torn at the fact that they are helping my shoulder but making me funky. I am worried the relaxers may cause a mood swing.

The ever delicate and creative bipolar brain chemistry can have odd reactions. You know about mania from prednisone I am sure. But I have also had hypomania from narcotics and seen a close relative with bipolar fly off into a crazy, irritable hypomania from vicodin. So it makes sense to me that you are having a strong reaction to a muscle relaxant. That med is supposed to give you some relief and help those muscles relax! duh If it is too strong than I would reduce it. Only take what helps you. You might want to try Flexeril. Yes, I think it is possible that it could push you into a mood swing.

[Catnapper]

Soma has been a good muscle relaxer for me in the past. I have BP II. I didn't feel drunk or dizzy or anything, but it did make me a bit sleepy.