Dosing & Uses
Dosage Forms & Strengths
tablet: Schedule IV
- 250mg
- 350mg
Musculoskeletal Conditions
250-350 mg q8hr and HS; not to exceed 2-3 weeks; taper slowly (over 14 days) in patients with history of long term use to avoid withdrawal symptoms, including insomnia, anxiety, or irritability
Dosing Modifications
Renal impairment: Caution; not studied
Hepatic impairment: Caution; not studied
Dosage Forms & Strengths
tablet: Schedule IV
- 250mg
- 350mg
Musculoskeletal Conditions
<16 years: Not recommended
>16 years: 250-350 mg q8hr and HS; not to exceed 2-3 weeks; taper slowly (over 14 days) in patients with history of long term use to avoid withdrawal symptoms, including insomnia, anxiety, or irritability
Not drug of choice in elderly, owing to risk of orthostatic hypotension and CNS depression
Interactions
Interaction Checker
No Results

Contraindicated
Serious - Use Alternative
Significant - Monitor Closely
Minor

Adverse Effects
>10%
Drowsiness (13-17%)
1-10%
Dizziness (7-8%)
Headache (3-5%)
Frequency Not Defined
Orthostatic hypotension
Syncope
Tachycardia
Agitation
Irritability
Depression
Allergic/idiosyncratic reactions (pruritus, rash, dizziness, etc)
Epigastric distress
N/V
Facial flushing
Weakness
Warnings
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to carisoprodol, meprobamate, mebutamate, tybamate
History of acute intermittent porphyria
Cautions
Caution in hepatic/renal impairment
May cause CNS depression; use caution when performing tasks which require mental alertness (eg, operating heavy machinery); sedating effects potentiated when used with other CNS-depressant drugs or ethanol
Severe weakness may occur
Seizures reported with its use in patients with or without seizure history
Risk of allergic reactions
Use caution in patients with history of drug abuse or acute alcoholism; drug dependency may occur and withdrawal symptoms experienced with abrupt cessation, especially with long-term use; limit use to 2-3 weeks
Pregnancy & Lactation
Pregnancy
Data over many decades of use of drug in pregnancy have not identified drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes; data on meprobamate, the primary metabolite of carisoprodol, do not show consistent association between maternal use and increased risk of major birth defects
Animal data
- In a published animal reproduction study, pregnant mice administered carisoprodol orally at 2.6- and 4.1-times maximum recommended human dose of 1400 mg per day [350 mg QID] based on body surface area comparison) from gestation through weaning resulted in reduced fetal weights, postnatal weight gain, and postnatal survival
Lactation
Data from published literature report that carisoprodol and its metabolite, meprobamate, are present in breastmilk; there are no data on effect on milk production; there is one report of sedation in an infant who was breastfed by a mother taking carisoprodol; because there have been no consistent reports of adverse events in breastfed infants over decades of use, the developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with mother’s clinical need for therapy and any potential adverse effects on breastfed infant or from underlying maternal condition; infants exposed to drug through breast milk should be monitored for sedation
Pregnancy Categories
A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.
B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk. C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done. D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk. X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist. NA: Information not available.Pharmacology
Mechanism of Action
Not clearly known; may block interneural activity and depress polysynaptic neuron transmission
Absorption
Onset: 30 min
Duration: 4-6 hr
Peak plasma time: 1.5-2 hr
Metabolism
Metabolized by liver microsomal enzymes (CYP2C19)
Elimination
Half-life: 2 hr; meprobamate (8 hr)
Dialyzable: Yes (HD, PD)
Excretion: Urine
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Patient Handout
Formulary
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