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Carisoprodol

Pronouncation: (car-eye-so-PRO-dole)
Class: Skeletal muscle relaxant, centrally acting

Trade Names:
Soma
- Tablets 350 mg

Pharmacology

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Muscle Spasm
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Produces skeletal muscle relaxation, probably as result of its sedative properties.

Pharmacokinetics

Metabolism

Metabolized in the liver.

Elimination

Eliminated via the urine.

Onset

30 min.

Duration

4 to 6 h.

Indications and Usage

Adjunctive treatment of acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions (eg, muscle strain).

Contraindications

Acute intermittent porphyria; hypersensitivity to related compounds such as meprobamate; suspected porphyria.

Dosage and Administration

Adult

PO 350 mg 3 or 4 times daily.

General Advice

Give with food or milk if GI upset occurs.

Storage/Stability

Store in tightly closed container in cool, dry place.



Drug Interactions

Alcohol and other CNS depressants

May cause additive CNS depression.

Laboratory Test Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Cardiovascular

Tachycardia; orthostatic hypotension; facial flushing.

CNS

Dizziness; drowsiness; vertigo; ataxia; tremor; agitation; irritability; headache; depressive reactions; syncope; insomnia.

GI

Nausea; vomiting; hiccoughs; epigastric distress.

Miscellaneous

Allergic or idiosyncratic reactions within first to fourth doses, including skin rash, erythema multiforme, pruritus, eosinophilia, and fixed drug eruption; severe reactions include asthma, fever, weakness, dizziness, angioneurotic edema, hypotension, and anaphylactoid shock.

Precautions

Monitor

Idiosyncratic response

Monitor for signs of idiosyncratic response: disorientation, agitation, vision disturbances, impaired verbal communication, extreme weakness, transient quadriplegia, dizziness, ataxia, euphoria. These reactions may appear within minutes or hours of first dose. Symptoms usually subside over several hours. If such reactions occur, withhold drug and notify health care provider.


Pregnancy

Undetermined.

Lactation

Excreted in breast milk.

Children

Not recommended in children younger than 12 yr of age.

Renal Function

Use with extreme caution.

Hepatic Function

Use with extreme caution.

Tartrazine Sensitivity

Some products contain tartrazine, which may cause allergic reactions (including bronchial asthma) in susceptible individuals. Such patients often also have aspirin hypersensitivity.

Drug dependency

Use with caution in addiction-prone patients.

Overdosage

Symptoms

Stupor, coma, shock, respiratory depression.

Patient Information

  • Instruct patient to take last daily dose at bedtime.
  • Tell patient to take medication with meals if GI upset occurs.
  • Instruct patient to report these symptoms to health care provider: palpitations, tremors, hiccough, ataxia.
  • Advise patient to avoid intake of alcoholic beverages or other CNS depressants.
  • Caution patient that drug may cause drowsiness and to use caution while driving or performing other tasks requiring mental alertness.



More Carisoprodol resources:

Drugs.com Soma

PDR Carisoprodol

MedFacts Carisoprodol

Micromedex Carisoprodol - Includes detailed dosage instructions.

FDA Soma

FDA Carisoprodol

Carisoprodol Images

Carisoprodol Drug Interactions

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Muscle Spasm

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