Carisoprodol

carisoprodol

Carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant prescribed to treat painful muscle spasms. It is still prescribed in some countries but in the UK marketing authorisation was withdrawn in 2008. When misused it gives a short-lived ‘street Valium’ like high and is also used along with other benzodiazepines and opioids to enhance the effect.

Although relatively rare, illicitly manufactured pills containing carisoprodol and the opioid analgesic tapentadol (known as “Red Apples’) are available on the illicit drug market in the UK. Carisoprodol has been detected in 10 or more deaths in each of the last three years, usually along with meprobamate and/or an opioid or benzodiazepines.

Carisoprodol is currently covered by the Psychoactive Substances Act, but the ACMD have recently recommend that it is made a class C drug.

Drugs A-Z