carisoprodol
Carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant used to treat Muscle Cramp, Muscle Rigidity, Muscle Spasticity, Myositis.
Muscle Relaxant · by Pointview Hldings
Generic of Soma
Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Carisoprodol
- Drug class
- Muscle Relaxant
- Form
- Tablet
- Strength
- Carisoprodol 350MG
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Generic
- May treat
- muscle cramp, muscle rigidity, muscle spasticity
- Manufacturer
- Pointview Hldings
- Half-life
- about 2 hours (how long it stays in your system)
- What the pharmacy pays
- ~$2.00 for 30 — not your price
- FDA application
- ANDA211789
What is Carisoprodol?
From the FDA label:Carisoprodol Tablets, USP are available as 350 mg, round, white tablets for oral administration. Carisoprodol is a white, crystalline powder, having a mild, characteristic odor and a bitter taste. It is slightly soluble in water; freely soluble in alcohol, in chloroform, and in acetone; and its solubility is practically independent of pH. Carisoprodol is present as a racemic mixture. Chemically, carisoprodol is (±)-2-Methyl-2-propyl-1,3-propanediol carbamate isopropylcarbamate and the molecular formula is C 12 H 24 N 2 O 4 , with a molecular weight of 260.33. The structural formula is: Other ingredients in Carisoprodol Tablets, USP include lactose monohydrate NF, sodium starch glycolate NF, povidone NF, sodium lauryl sulfate NF, microcrystalline cellulose (PH 101) NF, and magnesium stearate NF. Carisoprodol Structural Formula
How to use
The recommended dose of Carisoprodol Tablets is 250 mg to 350 mg three times a day and at bedtime. The recommended maximum duration of Carisoprodol Tablets use is up to two or three weeks. Recommended dose is 250 mg to 350 mg three times a day and at bedtime. (2)
Side effects
Most common adverse reactions (incidence > 2%) are drowsiness, dizziness, and headache (6.1) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Granulation Technology, Inc. at 1-973-276-0740 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Studies Experience Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect rates observed in practice. The data described below are based on 1387 patients pooled from two double blind, randomized, multicenter, placebo controlled, one-week trials in adult patients with acute, mechanical, lower back pain [see Clinical Studies (14)]. In these studies, patients were treated with 250 mg of Carisoprodol, 350 mg of Carisoprodol, or placebo three times a day and at bedtime for seven days. The mean age was about 41 years old with 54% females and 46% males and 74 % Caucasian, 16 % Black, 9% Asian, and 2% other. There were no deaths and there were no serious adverse reactions in these two trials. In these two studies, 2.7%, 2%, and 5.4%, of patients treated with placebo, 250 mg of Carisoprodol, and 350 mg of Carisoprodol, respectively, discontinued due to adverse events; and 0.5%, 0.5%, and 1.8% of patients treated with placebo, 250 mg of Carisoprodol, and 350 mg of…
Warnings
Important safety information
Due to sedative properties, may impair ability to perform hazardous tasks such as driving or operating machinery (5.1) Additive sedative effects when used with other CNS depressants including alcohol (5.1) Cases of abuse, dependence and withdrawal (5.2, 9.2, 9.3) Seizures (5.3) 5.1 Sedation Carisoprodol has sedative properties (in the low back pain trials, 13% to 17% of patients who received Carisoprodol experienced sedation compared to 6% of patients who received placebo) [ see ADVERSE REACTIONS (6.1) ] and may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks such as driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery. There have been post-marketing reports of motor vehicle accidents associated with the use of Carisoprodol. Since the sedative effects of Carisoprodol and other CNS depressants (e.g., alcohol, benzodiazepines, opioids, tricyclic antidepressants) may be additive, appropriate caution should be exercised with patients who take more than one of these CNS depressants simultaneously. 5.2 Abuse, Dependence, and Withdrawal Carisoprodol has been subject to abuse, dependence, and withdrawal, misuse and criminal diversion [ see Drug Abuse and Dependence (9.1, 9.2, 9.3) ] . Abuse of Carisoprodol poses a risk of overdosage which may lead to death, CNS and respiratory depression, hypotension, seizures and other disorders [ see Overdosage (10) ] . Post-marketing experience cases of carisoprodol abuse and dependence have been reported in patients with prolonged use and a history of drug abuse. Although most of these patients took other drugs of abuse, some patients solely abused carisoprodol. Withdrawal symptoms have been reported following abrupt cessation of Carisoprodol after prolonged use. Reported withdrawal symptoms included insomnia, vomiting, abdominal cramps, headache, tremors, muscle twitching, ataxia, hallucinations, and psychosis. One of carisoprodol’s metabolites, meprobamate (a controlled substance), may also cause dependence [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . To reduce the risk of Carisoprodol abuse assess the risk of abuse prior to prescribing. After prescribing, limit the length of treatment to three weeks for the relief of acute musculoskeletal discomfort, keep careful prescription records, monitor for signs of abuse and overdose, and educate patients and their families about abuse and on proper storage and disposal. 5.3 Seizures There have been post-marketing reports of seizures in patients who received Carisoprodol. Most of these cases have occurred in the setting of multiple drug overdoses (including drugs of abuse, illegal drugs, and alcohol) [ see Overdosage (10) ].
Who should not take Carisoprodol
Carisoprodol Tablets are contraindicated in patients with a history of acute intermittent porphyria or a hypersensitivity reaction to a carbamate such as meprobamate. Acute intermittent porphyria (4) Hypersensitivity reactions to a carbamate such as meprobamate (4)
Overdose — what happens if you take too much
Clinical Presentation Overdosage of Carisoprodol commonly produces CNS depression. Death, coma, respiratory depression, hypotension, seizures, delirium, hallucinations, dystonic reactions, nystagmus, blurred vision, mydriasis, euphoria, muscular incoordination, rigidity, and/or headache have been reported with Carisoprodol overdosage. Serotonin syndrome has been reported with carisoprodol intoxication. Many of the carisoprodol overdoses have occurred in the setting of multiple drug overdoses (including drugs of abuse, illegal drugs, and alcohol). The effects of an overdose of carisoprodol and other CNS depressants (e.g., alcohol, benzodiazepines, opioids, tricyclic antidepressants) can be additive even when one of the drugs has been taken in the recommended dosage. Fatal accidental and non-accidental overdoses of Carisoprodol have been reported alone or in combination with CNS depressants. Treatment of Overdosage Basic life support measures should be instituted as dictated by the clinical presentation of the Carisoprodol overdose. Vomiting should not be induced because of the risk of CNS and respiratory depression, and subsequent aspiration. Circulatory support should be administered with volume infusion and vasopressor agents if needed. Seizures should be treated with intravenous benzodiazepines and the reoccurrence of seizures may be treated with phenobarbital. In cases of…
U.S. Poison Control: call or text 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7). In an emergency call 911. From the FDA label; not medical advice.
Interactions
CNS depressants (e.g., alcohol, benzodiazepines, opioids, tricyclic antidepressants) - additive sedative effects ( 5.1, 7.1 ) 7.1 CNS Depressants The sedative effects of Carisoprodoland other CNS depressants (e.g., alcohol, benzodiazepines, opioids, tricyclic antidepressants) may be additive. Therefore, caution should be exercised with patients who take more than one of these CNS depressants simultaneously. Concomitant use of Carisoprodol and Meprobamate, a metabolite of Carisoprodol, is not recommended [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. 7.2 CYP2C19 Inhibitors and Inducers Carisoprodol is metabolized in the liver by CYP2C19 to form meprobamate [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. Co-administration of CYP2C19 inhibitors, such as omeprazole or fluvoxamine, with Carisoprodol could result in increased exposure of carisoprodol and decreased exposure of meprobamate. Co-administration of CYP2C19 inducers, such as rifampin or St. John’s Wort, with Carisoprodol could result in decreased exposure of carisoprodol and increased exposure of meprobamate. Low dose aspirin also showed an induction effect on CYP2C19. The full pharmacological impact of these potential alterations of exposures in terms of either efficacy or safety of Carisoprodol is unknown.
How long does Carisoprodol stay in your body?
The elimination half-life of carisoprodol is about 2 hours — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. The label reports a terminal elimination half-life of about 2 hours for carisoprodol itself (1.7 ± 0.5 hours after a 250 mg dose, 2.0 ± 0.5 hours after 350 mg, in 24 healthy adults). But carisoprodol is converted by liver CYP2C19 into meprobamate, an active metabolite with sedative and anxiolytic properties and a half-life of about 10 hours — roughly five times longer than the parent drug, so sedation can outlast carisoprodol itself. People who are CYP2C19 poor metabolizers (about 3-5% of white and Black Americans, 15-20% of people of Asian descent) have about 4-fold higher carisoprodol exposure and about 50% lower meprobamate exposure; the label says to use carisoprodol with caution in them. Exposure to carisoprodol is also about 30-50% higher in women than men on a weight-adjusted basis. The label does not give half-life numbers for kidney or liver impairment, and states that pharmacokinetics in adults over 65 have not been established — so the ~2-hour figure is for healthy adults only. There is no extended-release carisoprodol: all US products are immediate-release tablets (250 mg and 350 mg).
This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: Carisoprodol Tablets, 350 mg — FDA Prescribing Information, Section 12.3 Pharmacokinetics (DailyMed SPL, Oxford Pharmaceuticals, updated Dec 2024).
Drug class
How this class works, per Cyclobenzaprine - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.
May treat (source: NIH RxClass)
See how Carisoprodol ranks — best-rated muscle relaxant for:
Dosage forms
Tablet
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
Ask for the generic
Same active ingredient, far cheaper. Is there a generic? →
Request a 90-day supply
Bulk fills usually lower the per-dose price vs monthly refills.
Use copay cards
Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.
Compare alternatives
A same-class option may cost less. See alternatives →
Frequently asked questions
- What does Carisoprodol treat?
- Carisoprodol (Carisoprodol) may be used to treat muscle cramp, muscle rigidity, muscle spasticity, myositis, pain, spasm, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How does Carisoprodol work?
- Carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant. Most muscle relaxants work in the brain and spinal cord rather than on the muscle itself: they damp down the overactive nerve signals and reflexes that keep muscles tense, easing spasms and tightness. Some specialized agents instead act directly on muscle calcium release.
- How much does Carisoprodol cost?
- Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $2.00 for 30, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins. Pharmacies pay less for a same-class option, Amrix — about $0.63 on the same basis.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Carisoprodol?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Carisoprodol. To pay less, Carisoprodol is already a generic — usually the lowest-cost version — so the main levers are comparing cash prices between pharmacies and using a pharmacy discount-card service. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Carisoprodol?
- Carisoprodol is marketed by Pointview Hldings. You can see Pointview Hldings's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Carisoprodol a brand-name or generic drug?
- Carisoprodol is a generic medication; its active ingredient is Carisoprodol. Generics contain the same active ingredient as the brand-name original and are usually lower cost.
- Is Carisoprodol available over the counter?
- No. Carisoprodol is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Carisoprodol come in?
- Carisoprodol is currently marketed as tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- What class of drug is Carisoprodol?
- Carisoprodol is classified as muscle relaxant, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
- Is Carisoprodol FDA-registered?
- Carisoprodol is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number ANDA211789. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
- Is Carisoprodol safe?
- There's no single safe-or-not verdict, and we don't yet have a composite recall-safety score for Carisoprodol. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings below, and always consult a licensed professional.
- What are the side effects of Carisoprodol?
- Carisoprodol's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: Most common adverse reactions (incidence > 2%) are drowsiness, dizziness, and headache (6.1) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Granulation Technology, Inc. at 1-973-276-0740 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
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