Editorial

Is It Time for Carisoprodol to Become a Controlled Substance at the Federal Level?

Authors: Roy R. Reeves DO, PhD, Randy S. Burke PhD

Abstract

Carisoprodol (N-isopropyl-2 methyl-2-propyl-1,3-propanediol dicarbamate; N-isopropylmeprobamate; Soma) is a commonly prescribed, centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant. As the chemical nomenclature suggests, carisoprodol is structurally related to meprobamate. In fact, the primary active metabolite of carisoprodol is meprobamate. Meprobamate is a schedule IV controlled substance at the federal level with a known risk for causing addiction. Research has shown the abuse potential of meprobamate to be equal to, if not greater than, that of benzodiazepines.1

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