Carisoprodol

(RS) -2 - Isopropylcarbamidsäure carbamoyloxymethyl 2- methylpentylester (IUPAC)

M03BA02

Muscle relaxants

Attention

1320 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, rat, oral)

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Carisoprodol (trade name: Soma (USA) ) is a centrally acting muscle relaxant whose active metabolite is meprobamate.

Indications

In neurogenic muscle spasms ( cramps ) and certain forms of arthritis, such as a paravertebral (along the spine) muscle tension due to spinal degeneration. Carisoprodol relaxes muscles. It relieves pain from strains, sprains, spasms or other muscle injuries.

Carisoprodol is not a pain reliever. It should therefore not be used for the treatment of general body aches.

Side effects and allergy

The intake of Carisoprodol may cause stomach upset, heartburn, headache, dizziness or drowsiness. Allergic reactions to Carisoprodol are very rare. The symptoms that occur can be rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, and difficulty breathing.

In Carisoprodol a possible acute urticaria (hives) and a fixed drug eruption is described as an allergic reaction.

Carisoprodol is excreted via the breast milk. Nursing mothers should refrain from taking Carisoprodol preparations.

Pharmacokinetics

Carisoprodol is quickly absorbed by the body. The effect starts after about 30 minutes and lasts for about two to six hours. It is metabolised by the liver via the cytochrome P450 isoenzyme CYP2C19 and. The half -life of about eight hours. It is excreted by the kidneys. A considerable proportion of carisoprodol is metabolized to meprobamate. The sedative meprobamate is known for abuse and dependence. This explains the abuse potential of carisoprodol.

History

On 1 June 1959 gathered at Wayne State University in Detroit / Michigan several American pharmacologists to discuss the newly developed drug Carisoprodol. Originally it was thought that carisoprodol has antiseptic, but then discovered the central muscle relaxing properties. Carisoprodol was developed by Frank M. Berger at Wallace Laboratories. The development was based on meprobamate. The substitution of a hydrogen atom by means of an isopropyl group on one of the two nitrogen atoms was carbamyl to obtain a molecule with new pharmacological properties for the purpose.

The trade name of carisoprodol in the launch in 1959 was Soma. The Greek word σῶμα ( SOMA ) means body. The name Soma, however, is also the name of a fictional drug in Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World by 1932.