Carisoprodol is a skeletal muscle relaxant whose active metabolite is meprobamate. Skeletal muscle relaxants are used to relieve stiffness and discomfort caused by severe sprains and strains, muscle spasms, or other muscle problems. They may be prescribed in conjunction with other treatment methods, such as physical therapy. Muscle relaxants such as carisoprodol depress activity in the central nervous system, which in turn interferes with the transmission of nerve impulses from the spinal cord to the muscles. It may also relieve pain by calming your nervous system. It is marketed in the United States under the brand name Soma, and in the United Kingdom and other countries under the brand name Carisoma.

Carisoprodol has a rapid onset of action, with the aforementioned effects lasting for approximately 4-6 hours.

Muscle relaxants are not really a class of drugs, but rather a group of different drugs that each has an overall sedative effect on the body. These drugs do not act directly on the muscles, rather they act centrally (in the brain) and are more of a total body relaxant. Typically, muscle relaxants are prescribed early in a course of back pain, on a short-term basis, to relieve low back pain associated with muscle spasms.

Before taking any prescription medicine, it is important that you consult your doctor!