Psychosomatic effects

[BroomJockey]

I've had a really stiff neck, and a headache for the past couples days, so I've been taking a relatively high dose of Robaxisal, which has an active ingredient of methocarbamol. Today, out of curiosity, I looked up the potential side effects and LD-50 information. There IS no LD-50 information. Joy. Read this, though:

Stop using methocarbamol and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

slow heart rate;

feeling like you might pass out;

jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes);

confusion, spinning sensation, loss of balance; or

seizure (convulsions).

Less serious side effects may include:

dizziness, drowsiness;

nausea, vomiting;

warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin;

fever;

headache;

memory problems;

blurred vision;

sleep problems (insomnia);

stuffy nose; or

mild skin rash or itching.

So I'm trying to think if I've had any of that, or if I have any of that now, and of course thinking if I have it sorta induces low-grade having it. Doesn't help that I've chronic sleep issues, terrible balance, random occasions of nearly passing out from a low heart rate on a regular basis, and had a resperatory infection for the past few days. So separating out what's just normal me stuff, what's that infection, and what's from taking too much of this stuff, and what's paranoia is basically impossible. Can't stop taking it though, since it's the only stuff letting me function in an upright position right now.

[lordlundar]

It's pretty much a case of don't think of it. Just like there's the power of positive thought, where having a placebo can help you fight an illness if you feel strongly enough that it will work, there's the opposite effect, where if you think you have the symptoms or side effects strongly enough, your body will start giving the appropriate signals to produce those issues. Hypochondriacs take this effect to an extreme, where they think they are suffering from a disease all the time.

So best advice is don't think about it.

[Greenday]

A lot of times companies will put warnings out for random stuff just to cover their ass in case someone says they didn't know it could happen, even though the company has no reason to believe the drug would cause the side-effect.

[Rapscallion]

No LD50? There's LD50 tests for water and salt, yet a prescription or over-the-counter medication?

Odd.

Rapscallion

[Greenday]

There has to be an LD50. It just might not be for humans. Sometimes the LD50s are for random animals like rats and mice.

[BroomJockey]

No LD50? There's LD50 tests for water and salt, yet a prescription or over-the-counter medication?

Odd.

Rapscallion

None published that I could find. It's all about effects when combined with other things like alcohol or similar meds.

[Rapscallion]

There has to be an LD50. It just might not be for humans. Sometimes the LD50s are for random animals like rats and mice.

Um, I've yet to hear of an LD50 test on humans...

Rapscallion

[BroomJockey]

Um, I've yet to hear of an LD50 test on humans...

Rapscallion

I heard of one group that didn't mind performing them, but that was a few decades ago. And they weren't very popular. /Godwin

[Flyndaran]

Um, I've yet to hear of an LD50 test on humans...

Rapscallion

As long as one is taking the prescribed dose I don't see why it would really matter. It's kind of assumed your doctor doesn't want to kill you.

[BroomJockey]

As long as one is taking the prescribed dose

And if I had a prescription, rather than an OTC bottle, I'd be taking that. But since it's just a bottle off the shelf, I'm taking "enough to let me function." Rather more than is the side of the bottle's recommended dose.

[AFPheonix]

As long as one is taking the prescribed dose I don't see why it would really matter. It's kind of assumed your doctor doesn't want to kill you.

Ah ha...ha ha ha ha ha!
Oh sorry, I've just seen too many stupidly written prescriptions to believe that.

You guys get methocarbamol OTC? It's prescription only as Robaxin down here.
There's always going to be side effects with any chemical you put in your body, even if it's as innocuous as acetaminophen or even caffeine. If you can live with them, and if you're taking the medication the way it was intended, then go with it. If you can't, then try another drug. There are a number of different muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories to try.

[BroomJockey]

You guys get methocarbamol OTC?

Well, it's Robaxisal, and you can get it with either acetaminophen, aceteasalicyclic acid, or ibuprofen as an additional agent, though they get progressively more expensive. But yeah, no prescription needed. Not aware of any other OTC muscle relaxants however, or I'd give them a shot.

[violetyoshi]

I've had a really stiff neck, and a headache for the past couples days, so I've been taking a relatively high dose of Robaxisal, which has an active ingredient of methocarbamol. Today, out of curiosity, I looked up the potential side effects and LD-50 information. There IS no LD-50 information. Joy. Read this, though:


So I'm trying to think if I've had any of that, or if I have any of that now, and of course thinking if I have it sorta induces low-grade having it. Doesn't help that I've chronic sleep issues, terrible balance, random occasions of nearly passing out from a low heart rate on a regular basis, and had a resperatory infection for the past few days. So separating out what's just normal me stuff, what's that infection, and what's from taking too much of this stuff, and what's paranoia is basically impossible. Can't stop taking it though, since it's the only stuff letting me function in an upright position right now.

I can imagine how confusing that is. Perhaps it would be better to assess this after you recover from the illness you have.

[AFPheonix]

Well, it's Robaxisal, and you can get it with either acetaminophen, aceteasalicyclic acid, or ibuprofen as an additional agent, though they get progressively more expensive. But yeah, no prescription needed. Not aware of any other OTC muscle relaxants however, or I'd give them a shot.

I don't know about Canada, but there aren't any at all OTC in the States. Gosh, you guys have all the fun. 222s and robaxin?