Prescription medication · Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxant
carisoprodol
Also sold as Soma. Carisoprodol treats the pain and discomfort caused by acute muscle and bone conditions.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 18,851
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 4
- InteractionsFew interactions
- 94% less
- Generic vs brandHuge savings
- $10.33
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
carisoprodol (Soma) is a prescription Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxant, reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (18,851 FDA reports), whose generic costs a fraction of the brand (about 94% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
carisoprodol (Soma) is a prescription Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxant. Carisoprodol treats the pain and discomfort caused by acute muscle and bone conditions.
Carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant. It helps relieve discomfort from painful muscle and bone problems.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$10.33/unit
Generic Price
$0.61/unit
Generic Savings
94%
Generic Available
Yes (8 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Carisoprodol treats the pain and discomfort caused by acute muscle and bone conditions.
Common side effects
Drowsiness (13-17% of users), Dizziness (7-8% of users), Headache (3-5% of users)
Key warnings
Carisoprodol can be habit-forming.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from carisoprodol's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Carisoprodol works in the brain and spinal cord to relax muscles. It blocks pain signals between your nerves and brain. This helps to reduce muscle spasms and pain.
How to Take It
Take one 350 mg tablet three times a day and at bedtime. You can take it with or without food. Do not take it for more than two or three weeks. Talk to your doctor if your pain does not improve.
This is a plain-language summary of carisoprodol's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Studies in animals showed some negative effects on the baby at high doses. Carisoprodol passes into breast milk. One report noted sedation in an infant. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of breastfeeding while taking this medicine.
This is a plain-language summary of carisoprodol's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of carisoprodol's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 18,851 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for carisoprodol, by number of reports
- Pain
Pain
1,615 reports
- Suicide
Suicide
1,458 reports
- Feeling sick to your stomach
Feeling sick to your stomach
1,280 reports
- Headache
Headache
1,092 reports
- Feeling worried or nervous
Feeling worried or nervous
988 reports
- Feeling sad
Feeling sad
984 reports
- Feeling tired
Feeling tired
975 reports
- Poisoning from different things
Poisoning from different things
903 reports
- Trouble sleeping
Trouble sleeping
830 reports
- Throwing up
Throwing up
805 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for carisoprodol each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where carisoprodol sits
carisoprodol has more FDA adverse-event reports than 54% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is carisoprodol; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 18,851 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2001–2025.
Total Reports
18,851
Reports Mentioning Death
3,997
21.2% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
4,623
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PAIN | 1,615 |
| 2 | COMPLETED SUICIDE | 1,459 |
| 4 | NAUSEA | 1,280 |
| 5 | HEADACHE | 1,093 |
| 6 | ANXIETY | 989 |
| 7 | DEPRESSION | 985 |
| 8 | FATIGUE | 976 |
| 9 | TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 904 |
| 10 | INSOMNIA | 830 |
| 11 | VOMITING | 806 |
| 12 | DRUG DEPENDENCE | 795 |
| 13 | FALL | 789 |
| 14 | DYSPNOEA | 736 |
| 15 | OVERDOSE | 736 |
| 16 | BACK PAIN | 711 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Carisoprodol can be habit-forming. Do not take it if you have a history of drug abuse. Stopping it suddenly after long-term use can cause withdrawal symptoms like insomnia, vomiting, and hallucinations. Carisoprodol can also cause seizures, especially if you take too much or mix it with other drugs or alcohol. This medicine can make you sleepy and impair your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Known Drug Interactions
Co-administration of CYP2C19 inhibitors, such as omeprazole or fluvoxamine, with carisoprodol could result in increased exposure of carisoprodol and decreased exposure of meprobamate.
Mechanism: Omeprazole slows down the liver enzyme that breaks down carisoprodol, which can cause the drug to stay in your body longer.
What to do: Watch for extra sleepiness or dizziness and ask your doctor if your dose needs to be lowered.
Low dose aspirin also showed an induction effect on CYP2C19.
Mechanism: Aspirin makes your liver work faster to break down carisoprodol. This can cause the carisoprodol to leave your body too quickly and not work as well.
What to do: Your doctor may need to adjust your dose to make sure the medicine still works. Let your provider know if your symptoms are not being managed.
Co-administration of CYP2C19 inducers, such as rifampin or St.
Mechanism: Rifampin speeds up the liver enzymes that process carisoprodol. This can lower the amount of medicine in your system and make it less effective.
What to do: Your doctor may need to increase your dose of carisoprodol. Monitor your symptoms closely and report any changes to your healthcare provider.
Co-administration of CYP2C19 inhibitors, such as omeprazole or fluvoxamine, with carisoprodol could result in increased exposure of carisoprodol and decreased exposure of meprobamate.
Mechanism: Fluvoxamine slows down the liver's ability to process carisoprodol. This can cause the drug to build up in your body, which may increase side effects.
What to do: Your doctor may need to lower your dose of carisoprodol. Watch for signs of extra sleepiness or dizziness.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
Can I drive while taking carisoprodol?
Can I drink alcohol while taking carisoprodol?
How long should I take carisoprodol?
What should I do if I think I am having a side effect?
Can I take carisoprodol with other medications?
What happens if I overdose on carisoprodol?
Is carisoprodol addictive?
Can I stop taking carisoprodol suddenly?
What does carisoprodol look like?
What if this medicine doesn't seem to be working?
What are the common side effects of carisoprodol?
Does carisoprodol interact with other medications?
What drug class is carisoprodol?
Is there a generic version of carisoprodol?
Is carisoprodol safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxant
Other drugs grouped near carisoprodol - same-class peers and common alternatives.
baclofen
Lioresal, Gablofen
Baclofen is a muscle relaxant.
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botulinum toxin A
Botox
Botox is a drug that blocks nerve signals to muscles.
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chlorzoxazone
Parafon Forte
Chlorzoxazone is a muscle relaxant.
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cyclobenzaprine
Flexeril, Amrix
Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant.
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dantrolene
Dantrium
Dantrolene is a muscle relaxant.
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for carisoprodol
The FDA label for carisoprodol (sold under brand names such as Soma) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxant class. Carisoprodol treats the pain and discomfort caused by acute muscle and bone conditions. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Drowsiness (13-17% of users), Dizziness (7-8% of users), Headache (3-5% of users).
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 18,851 voluntary reports. The database also lists 4 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.61 versus $10.33 for the brand - a 94% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: December 24, 2024
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages