Can I take Robaxacet if I am breastfeeding?

Hello ma'am, thank you for your question, I'm sorry to read about your troubles!

The muscle relaxant in Robaxacet is methocarbamol (in addition to acetaminophen). Not much information is available about its safety during breastfeeding. However, one-time exposure would not seem to cause problems.

That being said, a recent review of the literature has shown that this muscle relaxant (and the others too!) is not very effective for much more than causing a lot of drowsiness. As such, it should be avoided if you have to perform tasks that require alertness such as driving or caring for a child.

For back pain, anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil are a better option. However, if your pain is 6 or 7/10, it is 'normal' for Advil not to reduce it to 0/10. Any improvement can be considered effective. The important thing is to look at your level of function. If you are able to perform your normal activities, that is what we need to look at to consider an effective treatment.

I also strongly suggest a consultation with a physiotherapist. They are the professionals best placed to assess the pain and develop a treatment plan with you to help relieve and prevent it in the future. Most group insurance plans cover this type of service.

I hope this has been helpful to you, and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions!

Tom Samaha, pharmacist