| Item |
Information |
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Drug Groups
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approved |
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Description
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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) |
| Indication |
For the relief of discomfort associated with acute, painful, musculoskeletal conditions. |
| Pharmacology |
Carisoprodol is used as a skeletal muscle relaxant. One of its metabolites, meprobamate, is available as an anxiolytic agent. |
| Toxicity |
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 |
| Affected Organisms |
| • |
Humans and other mammals |
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| Biotransformation |
Hepatic. Metabolized in the liver via the cytochrome P450 oxidase isozyme CYP2C19. |
| Half Life |
8 hours |
| Protein Binding |
60% |
| Elimination |
Carisoprodol is eliminated by both renal and non-renal routes. |
| Clearance |
* oral cl=0.772 L/hour/kg [Women]
* oral cl=0.38 L/hour/kg [Men] |
| References |
| • |
Toth PP, Urtis J: Commonly used muscle relaxant therapies for acute low back pain: a review of carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride, and metaxalone. Clin Ther. 2004 Sep;26(9):1355-67.
[Pubmed]
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| • |
Chou R, Peterson K, Helfand M: Comparative efficacy and safety of skeletal muscle relaxants for spasticity and musculoskeletal conditions: a systematic review. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2004 Aug;28(2):140-75.
[Pubmed]
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| • |
Littrell RA, Hayes LR, Stillner V: Carisoprodol (Soma): a new and cautious perspective on an old agent. South Med J. 1993 Jul;86(7):753-6.
[Pubmed]
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| External Links |
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