Understanding the Prescription Muscle Relaxant: What is Mylospas?

October 7, 2025 •

3 min read

Mylospas is a prescription muscle relaxant used for the short-term treatment of muscle spasms associated with painful musculoskeletal conditions. Its active ingredient is methocarbamol, which helps to alleviate pain and discomfort from sprains, strains, and other muscle injuries by acting on the central nervous system. As with any prescribed medication, it is crucial to understand its function and proper usage to ensure safe and effective treatment.

Quick Summary

A prescription muscle relaxant with methocarbamol, Mylospas is for treating muscle spasms and pain from musculoskeletal conditions. It works on the central nervous system to relax stiff muscles and reduce discomfort, requiring a doctor's supervision for safe use.

Key Points

Active Ingredient: Mylospas contains methocarbamol, a centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant.
Primary Use: It treats muscle spasms and pain from acute musculoskeletal conditions like sprains and strains.
Mechanism of Action: Methocarbamol acts on the central nervous system to relax muscles and reduce nerve signals causing pain.
Prescription Only: Mylospas is not available over-the-counter and requires a doctor's prescription.
Side Effects: Drowsiness and dizziness are common side effects. Alcohol should be avoided.
Distinction from Myospaz: Mylospas is different from Myospaz, which has paracetamol and chlorzoxazone.

What is Mylospas and What are its Active Ingredients?

Mylospas is a prescription medication used as an adjunct to rest and physical therapy for acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions. It is not an over-the-counter painkiller. The active ingredient is methocarbamol, classified as a centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant. Mylospas typically requires a doctor's prescription and supervision.

The Mechanism of Action: How Mylospas Works

Mylospas's active ingredient, methocarbamol, works within the central nervous system (CNS) to relax muscles. It specifically targets internuncial neurons in the brain and spinal cord, reducing their activity and thus relaxing hypertonic muscles. This action helps to break the cycle of pain and muscle stiffness, improving movement and reducing discomfort. Methocarbamol is quickly absorbed after taking it orally, with effects often starting within approximately 30 minutes. It is metabolized in the liver and mainly excreted through urine.

Administration and Important Precautions

Proper use of Mylospas is essential and requires following a doctor's instructions precisely. The dosage and treatment duration are tailored to your condition.

Administration:

Always take the prescribed dose for the duration your doctor advises. Do not take more than prescribed or use it for longer than recommended to avoid increased side effect risks.
Tablets can be taken with or without food. Taking them with food might help prevent stomach upset.
Swallow the film-coated tablets whole with water. Avoid crushing, chewing, or breaking them.

Precautions:

Alcohol: Avoid alcohol entirely while taking Mylospas due to increased risk of excessive drowsiness and liver damage.
Driving: Mylospas can cause dizziness and sleepiness, so do not drive or operate machinery until you know how it affects you.
Medical History: Inform your doctor of any existing health issues, especially liver or kidney disease, as dosage adjustments might be necessary.
Contraindications: Do not take Mylospas if you are allergic to methocarbamol or have a history of brain damage, coma, epilepsy, or myasthenia gravis.

Potential Side Effects

Side effects can occur with Mylospas, and common ones include:

Dizziness
Sleepiness or drowsiness
Weakness
Upset stomach

Seek immediate medical attention for serious side effects, such as:

Severe allergic skin reactions
Gastrointestinal bleeding
Jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes)

Mylospas vs. Myospaz: Understanding the Difference

Confusion between Mylospas and Myospaz is common but important to clarify as they contain different active ingredients and are used for slightly different purposes. Mylospas contains methocarbamol, while Myospaz typically contains a combination of chlorzoxazone and paracetamol.

The following table highlights some key differences:


Feature	Mylospas	Myospaz	Myospaz Forte	Myospas D
Active Ingredient(s)	Methocarbamol	Paracetamol & Chlorzoxazone	Diclofenac, Paracetamol & Chlorzoxazone	Diclofenac & Metaxalone
Drug Class	Skeletal Muscle Relaxant	Analgesic & Muscle Relaxant	NSAID & Muscle Relaxant	NSAID & Muscle Relaxant
Primary Use	Acute muscle spasms & pain	Muscle spasms, pain, and fever	Reduces pain, inflammation, & swelling	Relieves muscle pain & inflammation
Key Side Effects	Drowsiness, dizziness	Dizziness, sleepiness, nausea	Nausea, vomiting, headache	Vomiting, stomach pain, sleepiness

Always confirm your medication's exact name and composition with a healthcare professional to ensure correct treatment.

Conclusion

Mylospas, containing methocarbamol, is a prescription muscle relaxant for short-term relief of muscle spasms and pain from acute musculoskeletal issues. It works on the CNS to relax muscles. Safe use requires following doctor's instructions, being aware of side effects like drowsiness, and taking the correct dosage as prescribed. Understanding the difference between Mylospas and similar names like Myospaz is also important. Always consult your doctor for medical advice.

For additional product information, consult the prescribing information available from Austell Pharmaceuticals.

Frequently Asked Questions

The active ingredient in Mylospas is methocarbamol, a skeletal muscle relaxant.

Mylospas is used for the short-term treatment of painful muscle spasms resulting from acute musculoskeletal conditions such as sprains and strains.

No, Mylospas is a prescription-only medication and is not available over the counter.

Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, and upset stomach.

No, you should avoid drinking alcohol while taking Mylospas, as it can increase drowsiness and potential side effects.

Mylospas (methocarbamol) acts on the central nervous system to relax muscles and reduce nerve impulses that cause spasms.

Mylospas contains methocarbamol, while Myospaz typically contains paracetamol and chlorzoxazone. They are different medications with different active ingredients.