A centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant whose mechanism of action is not completely understood but may be related to its sedative actions. It is used as an adjunct in the symptomatic treatment of musculoskeletal conditions associated with painful muscle spasm. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p1202)
For the relief of discomfort associated with acute, painful, musculoskeletal conditions.
Carisoprodol is a muscle relaxer that blocks pain sensations between the nerves and the brain. Carisoprodol is used together with rest and physical therapy to treat skeletal muscle conditions such as pain or injury.
Carisoprodol should only be used for short periods (up to two or three weeks) because there is no evidence of its effectiveness in long term use and most skeletal muscle injuries are generally of short duration.
Carisoprodol is used as a skeletal muscle relaxant. One of its metabolites, meprobamate, is available as an anxiolytic agent.
You should not take carisoprodol if you have porphyria (a genetic enzyme disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system).
Though it helps many people, this medication may sometimes cause addiction. This risk may be higher if you have a substance use disorder (such as overuse of or addiction to drugs/alcohol). Take this medication exactly as prescribed to lower the risk of addiction. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
Carisoprodol is a central nervous system depressant that acts as a sedative and skeletal muscle relaxant. Rather than acting directly on skeletal muscle, carisoprodol interrupts neuronal communication within the reticular formation and spinal cord, resulting in sedation and alteration in pain perception. Its exact mechanism of action is not yet known.
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Carisoprodol can pass into breast milk and may cause drowsiness in a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.
Metabolism: Hepatic. Metabolized in the liver via the cytochrome P450 oxidase isozyme CYP2C19.
Route of elimination: Carisoprodol is eliminated by both renal and non-renal routes.
Half life: 8 hours
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects.Some medical conditions may interact with Carisoprodol.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions.
Common carisoprodol side effects may include: drowsiness, dizziness or headache.
Symptoms of overdose include drowsiness, giddiness, nausea, indigestion, or rash. Other adverse effects attributed to therapeutic use of carisoprodol include dizziness, irritability, insomnia, diplopia, temporary loss of vision, ataxia, weakness, headache, and dysarthria. Non-CNS adverse effects include gastrointestinal complaints, tachycardia, and postural hypotension. Patients sensitive to sulfites or tartrazine may experience wheezing, allergic rashes including erythema multiforme, or anaphylaxis after using some preparations of carisoprodol which contain such additives
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider.
