This is an unofficial archive of PsychonautWiki as of 2025-08-08T03:33:20Z. Content on this page may be outdated, incomplete, or inaccurate. Please refer to the original page for the most up-to-date information.
WARNING: Always start with lower doses due to differences between individual body weight, tolerance, metabolism, and personal sensitivity. See responsible use section.
DISCLAIMER: PW's dosage information is gathered from users and resources for educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation and should be verified with other sources for accuracy.
Carisoprodol, also known by the brand name Soma, is a carbamate sedative-hypnotic. Carisoprodol is used medically as a centrally-acting muscle relaxant, anxiolytic and hypnotic for the short-term treatment of insomnia. Carisoprodol also has weak analgesic effects. Carisoprodol is sometimes found in formulations also containing caffeine and acetaminophen. Carisoprodol produces similar effects to barbiturates. Carisoprodol acts as a prodrug to meprobamate, meaning it is metabolized to meprobamate when it enters the body.
Carisoprodol, like barbiturates, has been primarily replaced by benzodiazepines due to a larger therapeutic window, having less severe adverse effects and being safer in overdose.
Chemically, carisoprodol is classified as a carbamate. It is extremely similar in structure to meprobamate, the only difference being an isopropyl group bonded to an amine group. Carbamates are derivatives of carbamic acid. The empirical formula is carisoprodol is C12H24N2O4 and has a molar mass of 260.33 grams per mole.
Pharmacology
Carisoprodol is a prodrug that is metabolized to meprobamate, besides having its own effects. The precise mechanism of meprobamate is not completely understood. However it is believed that meprobamate acts similarly to benzodiazepines and barbiturates, acting as a positive allosteric modulator of a GABAA receptor[2]. Unlike barbiturates and benzodiazepines, in animal studies meprobamate has been shown to retain most of its effects without having gamma-aminobutyric acid present[2]. Meprobamate has also been noted to be an adenosine reuptake inhibitor, making it unique among hypnotics[3].
Carisoprodol is metabolized by the cytochrome P450 2C19 enzyme in the liver and has a biological half-life of about two hours. Carisoprodol and its metabolites are excreted by the kidneys in urine.
Carisoprodol is a prodrug to meprobamate (pictured).
Subjective effects
Disclaimer: The effects listed below cite the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), an open research literature based on anecdotal user reports and the personal analyses of PsychonautWikicontributors. As a result, they should be viewed with a healthy degree of skepticism.
It is also worth noting that these effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠.
Physical effects
Sedation - In terms of energy level alterations, this drug has the potential to be extremely sedating and often results in an overwhelmingly lethargic state. However, unlike benzodiazepines, carisoprodol causes direct GABA-A agonism at higher doses, resulting in more significant sedation in comparison. It can be described as more akin to barbiturates.
Physical euphoria - This effect generally occurs only at heavier doses, but may be present at lower doses as well. The euphoria felt on carisoprodol is significantly stronger than that felt on benzodiazepines.
Delusions of sobriety - This is the false belief that one is perfectly sober despite obvious evidence to the contrary such as severe cognitive impairment and an inability to fully communicate with others. It most commonly occurs at heavy dosages.
Experience reports
There are currently 0 experience reports describing the effects of this substance in our experience index. You can also submit your own experience report using the same link.
Carisoprodol likely has moderate toxicity relative to dose. However, carisoprodol is [[Toxicity::potentially lethal when mixed with depressants like alcohol or opioids]]. Carisoprodol has been taken off the market is several countries such as Sweden and Indonesia due to side effects and abuse.
Carisoprodol is extremely physically and psychologically addictive. Carbamate withdrawal, like barbiturate withdrawal, is medically serious and can potentially cause a life-threatening withdrawal syndrome that can cause seizures, psychosis, and death. Drugs which lower the seizure threshold such as tramadol and amphetamine should be avoided during withdrawal.
Tolerance will develop to the sedative-hypnotic effects of carisoprodol after prolonged use. It is unknown exactly how long it takes for tolerance to reach baseline.
Dangerous interactions
Warning:Many psychoactive substances that are reasonably safe to use on their own can suddenly become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with certain other substances. The following list provides some known dangerous interactions (although it is not guaranteed to include all of them).
Always conduct independent research (e.g. Google, DuckDuckGo, PubMed) to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe to consume. Some of the listed interactions have been sourced from TripSit.
Dissociatives - This combination can unpredictably potentiate the amnesia, sedation, motor control loss and delusions that can be caused by each other. It may also result in a sudden loss of consciousness accompanied by a dangerous degree of respiratory depression. If nausea or vomiting occurs before consciousness is lost, users should attempt to fall asleep in the recovery position or have a friend move them into it.
Stimulants - Stimulants mask the sedative effect of depressants, which is the main factor most people use to gauge their level of intoxication. Once the stimulant effects wear off, the effects of the depressant will significantly increase, leading to intensified disinhibition, motor control loss, and dangerous black-out states. This combination can also potentially result in severe dehydration if one's fluid intake is not closely monitored. If choosing to combine these substances, one should strictly limit themselves to a pre-set schedule of dosing only a certain amount per hour until a maximum threshold has been reached.
Legal status
In most jurisdictions, carisoprodol is considered a prescription-only and/or controlled drug.
Germany: Carisoprodol is a prescription medicine, according to Anlage 1 AMVV.[4]
United States: In the United States, carisoprodol is a Schedule IV Controlled Substance[5]. Therefore, it is prescription-only and anyone caught in possession of the substance with or without intent to distribute is punishable by law.
↑Phillis, J. W., Delong, R. E. (1 June 1984). "A purinergic component in the central actions of meprobamate". European Journal of Pharmacology. 101 (3–4): 295–297. doi:10.1016/0014-2999(84)90174-2. ISSN0014-2999.
