Carisoprodol

What is Carisoprodol?

• Carisoprodol (Rela; Soma) is a centrally acting muscle relaxant that has been in use for more than fifty years.

(RS)-Carisoprodol Structural Formulae V.1

Carisoprodol molecule ball

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What are the uses of this medicine?

• Carisoprodol (Rela; Soma) used for the relief of discomfort associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions in adults.

Limitations of use:

• Carisoprodol should only be used for acute treatment periods up to two or three weeks.
• Not recommended in pediatric patients less than 16 years of age.

How does this medicine work?

• The mechanism of action of carisoprodol in relieving discomfort associated with acute painful musculoskeletal conditions has not been clearly identified.
• In animal studies, muscle relaxation induced by carisoprodol is associated with altered interneuronal activity in the spinal cord and in the descending reticular formation of the brain.

Who Should Not Use this medicine ?

This medicine cannot be used in patients:

• with a history of acute intermittent porphyria.
• hypersensitivity reaction to a carbamate such as meprobamate.

What drug interactions can this medicine cause?

• Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Be sure to mention any of the following:

• aspirin
• benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Diastat, Valium, Valtoco), estazolam, flurazepam, lorazepam (Ativan), and triazolam (Halcion)
• fluvoxamine (Luvox)
• medications for allergies, coughs, or colds
• omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegrid)
• opioid (narcotic) pain medications such as hydrocodone (Hysingla, in Anexsia), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Methadose), morphine, oxycodone (Oxaydo, Xtampza, in Percocet, others), and tramadol (Conzip, Qdolo, Ultram, in Ultracet, others)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• sedatives
• sleeping pills
• tranquilizers
• tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) such as amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Silenor), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), protriptyline, and trimipramine.
• St. Johns wort

Is this medicine FDA approved?

• Carisoprodol was approved for use in the United States in 1959 and is widely used with more than 10 million prescriptions filled yearly.
• It is available by prescription only and is classified as a Schedule IV agent, meaning that it has low potential for abuse and physical or psychological dependence and has an accepted medical usefulness.

How should this medicine be used?

Recommended dosage:

• The recommended dose of Carisoprodol is 350 mg three times a day and at bedtime.
• The recommended maximum duration of Carisiprodol use is up to two or three weeks.

Administration:

• Carisoprodol comes as a tablet to take by mouth.
• It usually is taken with or without food three times a day and at bedtime.
• Do not take this drug for more than 3 weeks without talking to your doctor.
• Carisoprodol can be habit-forming.
• Do not take a larger dose or take it more often or for a longer period of time than prescribed by your doctor.

What are the dosage forms and brand names of this medicine?

This medicine is available in fallowing doasage form:

• As Tablets 350 mg

This medicine is available in fallowing brand namesː

• Rela; Soma

What side effects can this medication cause?

The most common side effects of this medicine include:

• drowsiness, dizziness, and headache

Less common side effects, may include:

• Cardiovascular: Tachycardia, postural hypotension, and facial flushing.
• Central Nervous System: Drowsiness, dizziness, vertigo, ataxia, tremor, agitation, irritability, headache, depressive reactions, syncope, insomnia, and seizures.
• Gastrointestinal: Nausea, vomiting, and epigastric discomfort.
• Hematologics: Leukopenia, pancytopenia

What special precautions should I follow?

• Carisoprodol may have sedative properties. Since carisoprodol may cause drowsiness and/or dizziness, patients should be advised to assess their individual response to carisoprodol before engaging in potentially hazardous activities such as driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery.
• Patients should be advised to avoid alcoholic beverages while taking carisoprodol and to check with their doctor before taking other CNS depressants such as benzodiazepines, opioids, tricyclic antidepressants, sedating antihistamines, or other sedatives.
• Carisoprodol, cases of dependence, withdrawal, and abuse have been reported with prolonged use. To reduce the chance of Carisoprodol dependence, withdrawal, or abuse, Carisoprodol tablets should be used with caution in addictionprone patients and in patients taking other CNS depressants including alcohol, and Carisoprodol should not be used more than two to three weeks for the relief of acute musculoskeletal discomfort.
• There have been postmarketing reports of seizures in patients who received Carisoprodol.
• Carisoprodol has no significant evidence for causing hepatic injury.

What to do in case of emergency/overdose?

Symptoms of overdosage may include:

• CNS depression
• coma
• respiratory depression
• hypotension
• seizures
• delirium
• hallucinations
• dystonic reactions
• nystagmus
• blurred vision
• mydriasis
• euphoria
• muscular incoordination
• rigidity
• headache

Management of overdosage:

• In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline of your country. In the United States, call 1-800-222-1222.

• Overdose related information is also available online at poisonhelp.org/help.
• In the event that the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services. In the United States, call 911.
• Induced emesis is not recommended due to the risk of CNS and respiratory depression, which may increase the risk of aspiration pneumonia.
• Gastric lavage should be considered soon after ingestion (within one hour).
• 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 severe CNS depression, airway protective reflexes may be compromised and tracheal intubation should be considered for airway protection and respiratory support.

Can this medicine be used in pregnancy?

• Pregnancy Category C.
• There are no data on the use of carisoprodol during human pregnancy.

Can this medicine be used in children?

• The efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of carisoprodol in pediatric patients less than 16 years of age have not been established.

What are the active and inactive ingredients in this medicine?

Active ingredients:

• CARISOPRODOL

Inactive ingredients:

• LACTOSE MONOHYDRATE
• MAGNESIUM STEARATE
• CELLULOSE, MICROCRYSTALLINE
• POVIDONE K30
• METHYLCELLULOSE (100 CPS)
• SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE
• SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO
• SILICON DIOXIDE
• STEARIC ACID

Who manufactures and distributes this medicine?

Manufactured by:

• West-ward Pharmaceutical Corp
• Eatontown, NJ

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

• Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F).
• Dispense contents in a tight, light-resistant container with a child-resistant closure.

Muscle relaxants

• Baclofen
• Carisoprodol
• Chlorzoxazone
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Dantrolene
• Metaxalone
• Methocarbamol
• Orphenadrine
• Tizanidine

• Dailymed label info on Carisoprodol
• FDA Carisoprodol

Carisoprodol Resources
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