Index
Technical Report Documentation Page
Introduction
Cannabis/Marijuana
Carisoprodol (and Meprobamate)
Cocaine
Dextromethorphan
Diazepam
Diphenhydramine
Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB, GBL,
and 1,4-BD)
Ketamine
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
Methadone
Methamphetamine (and Amphetamine)
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine
(MDMA, Ecstasy)
Morphine (and Heroin)
Phencyclidine (PCP)
Toluene
Zolpidem (and Zaleplon, Zopiclone)
Biographical Sketches of Lead
Authors and Main Contributors |
|
Carisoprodol is a white, crystalline powder. Meprobamate is a white
powder. Both are available in tablet form.
Synonyms:Carisoprodol: N-isopropyl-2-methyl-2-propyl-1,3-propanediol
dicarbamate; Soma®, Sodol®, Soprodol®, Soridol®. Meprobamate:
Miltown®, Equanil®, Equagesic®, Meprospan®.
Source: Carisoprodol and meprobamate are
available by prescription only. Carisoprodol itself is not a federally
scheduled compound, while meprobamate is a Schedule IV drug. Soma® is
available as a 350 mg strength round, white tablet; Soma® Compound
is a 250 mg strength two-layered, white and light orange round tablet
(also contains aspirin); and Soma® Compound with Codeine is a 250
mg strength two-layered, white and yellow oval tablet (also contains
aspirin and codeine phosphate) and is a schedule III controlled substance.
Miltown® is available as a 200 mg and 400 mg strength white tablet;
Equanil® is a 200 mg and 400 mg strength tablet; and Equagesic® is
a 200 mg strength two-layered, pink and yellow, round tablet (also contains
aspirin).
Drug Class:Carisoprodol: muscle relaxant,
CNS depressant; Meprobamate: antianxiety, CNS depressant.
Medicinal and Recreational Uses: Carisoprodol
is a centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant prescribed for the treatment
of acute, musculoskeletal pain. Meprobamate is a major metabolite of
carisoprodol, and is a CNS depressant in its own right, indicated for
the management of anxiety disorders or for short-term treatment of anxiety
symptoms. Use of these drugs begins with prescription for muscular pain
or anxiety, and abuse develops for their sedative-hypnotic effects, resulting
in increased dosage without medical advice, or continued use after pain
or anxiety has subsided.
Potency, Purity and Dose: Carisoprodol is
present as a racemic mixture. During treatment, the recommended dose
of carisoprodol is for one 350 mg tablet taken three times daily and
at bedtime (1400 mg/day). The usual dose for meprobamate is one
400 mg taken four times daily, or daily divided doses of up to 2400
mg. To control chronic pain, carisoprodol is often taken concurrently
with other drugs, particularly opiates, benzodiazepines, barbiturates,
and other muscle relaxants.
Route of Administration: Oral.
Pharmacodynamics: The pharmacological effects
of carisoprodol appear to be due to the combination of the effects of
carisoprodol and its active metabolite, meprobamate. Meprobamate is equipotent
to carisoprodol. There is some evidence suggesting carisoprodol is a
GABA A receptor indirect agonist with CNS chloride ion channel conductance
effects. In animals, carisoprodol produces muscle relaxation by blocking
interneuronal activity and depressing transmission of polysynaptic neurons
in the descending reticular formation and spinal cord. It is unknown
if this mechanism of action is also present in humans. In addition to
the desired skeletal muscle relaxing effects, carisoprodol and meprobamate
produce weak anticholinergic, antipyretic and analgesic properties.
Pharmacokinetics: Carisoprodol is rapidly
absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and rapidly distributed throughout
the CNS. Protein binding is approximately 60%. Carisoprodol is predominantly
dealkylated to meprobamate in the liver, and to a lesser extent hydroxylated
to hydroxycarisoprodol and hydroxymeprobamate, followed by conjugation
and excretion. The half-life of carisoprodol is approximately 100 minutes.
Some individuals have impaired metabolism of carisoprodol, and exhibit
a half life of 2-3 times that in normal subjects. The half-life of meprobamate
is many times longer, between 6 and 17 hours. As a result of the significantly
longer half-life of meprobamate relative to carisoprodol, accumulation
of meprobamate during chronic therapy may occur.
Molecular Interactions / Receptor Chemistry: The
cytochrome P450 2C19 isoenzyme is responsible for the conversion of carisoprodol
to meprobamate. Potential inhibitors of the 2C19 isoenzyme could decrease
the rate of drug elimination if administered concurrently, while potential
inducers of the 2C19 isoenzyme could increase the rate of elimination.
Blood to Plasma Concentration Ratio: Data
not available for carisoprodol; 3.3 to 5.0 for meprobamate.
Interpretation of Blood Concentrations: Following
therapeutic doses of carisoprodol, blood concentrations are typically
between 1 and 5 mg/L for carisoprodol, and between 2 and 6 mg/L for meprobamate.
A single oral dose of 350 mg carisoprodol produced average peak plasma
concentrations of 2.1 mg/L carisoprodol at one hour, declining to 0.24
mg/L at 6 hours. Following a single oral dose of 700 mg, average peak
plasma concentrations of carisoprodol were 3.5 mg/L at 45 minutes, and
meprobamate concentrations of 4.0 mg/L were obtained in 220 minutes.
A single oral dose of 700 mg carisoprodol has also produced peak plasma
concentrations of 4.8 mg/L carisoprodol. Following administration of
meprobamate in the treatment of anxiety, concentrations are typically
around 10 mg/L, but can range between 3 and 26 mg/L. A single oral dose
of 1200 mg meprobamate produced concentrations of 15.6 mg/L at 4 hours.
Plasma meprobamate concentrations of greater than 100 mg/L have been
associated with deep coma; light coma between 60 and 120 mg/L; and patients
with levels below 50 mg/L are invariably conscious.
Interpretation of Urine Test Results: Both
drugs are excreted into the urine and are likely be detectable for several
days following cessation of use. Less than 1% of a single oral dose of
carisoprodol is excreted unchanged in the 24 hour urine, with meprobamate
accounting for 4.7% of the dose. Following administration of meprobamate,
up to 11% of a single dose is excreted in the urine in 24 hours.
Effects:
Psychological: Dizziness, drowsiness, sedation, confusion,
disorientation, slowed thinking, lack of comprehension, drunken behavior,
obtunded, coma.
Physiological: CNS depression, nystagmus (becoming more evident
as concentrations increase), loss of balance and coordination, sluggish
movements, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, ataxia, tremor, sleep disturbances.
Side Effect Profile: Agitation, tremor, paresthesia, irritability,
depression, facial flushing, headache, vertigo, postural hypotension,
fainting, weakness, loss of balance and coordination, impairment of visual
accommodation, tachycardia, nausea, vomiting, and stomach upset. In abuse
or overdose, subjects are consistently sedated and obtunded, frequently
becoming comatose. Overdose symptoms may include shallow breathing, clammy
skin, dilated pupils, weak and rapid pulse, paradoxical excitement and
insomnia, convulsions, and possible death. Meprobamate overdose can produce
drowsiness, ataxia, severe respiratory depression, severe hypotension,
shock, heart failure, and death.
Duration of Effects: The effects of carisoprodol
begin within 30 minutes of oral administration, and last for up to 4-6
hours. In overdose, coma may last from several hours to a day or more.
Meprobamate has a much longer duration of effect than carisoprodol due
to a much longer half-life.
Tolerance, Dependence and Withdrawal: Development
of abuse and moderate physical and psychological dependence can occur
with chronic use of both carisoprodol and meprobamate. Abrupt discontinuation
of long-term use can be followed by mild withdrawal symptoms such as
anxiety, abdominal cramps, insomnia, headache, nausea, vomiting, ataxia,
tremor, muscle twitching, confusion, and occasionally chills, convulsions
and hallucinations. Onset of withdrawal from meprobamate occurs within
12-48 hours following cessation of use, and can last a further 12-48
hours. Carisoprodol has been shown to produce cross-tolerance to barbiturates.
Drug Interactions: Alcohol enhances the impairment
of physical abilities produced by carisoprodol, and increased sedation,
extreme weakness, dizziness, agitation, euphoria and confusion may be
observed. Alcohol also inhibits the metabolism of meprobamate and produces
an additive depressant effect on the CNS that includes sleepiness, disorientation,
incoherence and confusion. The concurrent administration of other centrally
acting drugs such as opiates, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and other
muscle relaxants can contribute to impairment. Meprobamate may enhance
the analgesic effects of other drugs.
Performance Effects: Very limited studies
are available for carisoprodol, however, single oral doses of 700 mg
have not been shown to affect psychomotor and cognitive tests within
3 hours of dosing, to a significant degree. In contrast, single doses
of meprobamate are capable of causing significant performance impairment.
Performance effects include impaired divided attention, impaired coordination
and balance, slowed reflexes and increased reaction time. With chronic
dosing of either drug, it is likely that decrements in psychomotor performance
would be even more pronounced.
Effects on Driving: The drug manufacturer
suggests patients should be warned that carisoprodol and meprobamate
may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance
of potentially hazardous tasks, such as driving a motor vehicle. Reported
signs of psychomotor and cognitive impairment in subjects found to be
driving under the influence of carisoprodol/meprobamate include poor
perception, impaired reaction time, slow driving, confusion, disorientation,
inattentiveness, slurred or thick speech, slow responses, somnolence,
lack of balance and coordination, unsteadiness, and difficulty standing,
walking or exiting vehicles.
Logan et al., 2000 describes 21 driving under the influence cases where
carisoprodol and/or meprobamate were the only drugs detected. The mean
carisoprodol and meprobamate concentrations were 4.6 mg/L (range 0-15
mg/L) and 14.5 mg/L (range 1-36 mg/L), respectively. Signs of impairment
were noted at blood concentrations as low as 1 mg/L of meprobamate, however,
the most severe driving impairment and the most overt symptoms of intoxication
occurred in drivers whose combined carisoprodol and meprobamate blood
concentrations were greater than 10 mg/L. Signs consistent with CNS depression
were typically observed, including poor balance and coordination, horizontal
gaze nystagmus, slurred speech, dazed or groggy appearance, depressed
reflexes, slow movements, disorientation to place and time, and a tendency
to dose off or fall asleep. Many subjects were involved in accidents,
and other observed driving behaviors included extreme lane travel and
weaving, striking other vehicles and fixed objects, slow speed, and hit
and run accidents where the subject appeared unaware they had hit another
vehicle.
DEC Category: CNS depressant
DEC Profile: Horizontal gaze nystagmus present;
vertical gaze nystagmus may be present in high doses; lack of convergence
present; pupil size normal to dilated; reaction to light slow; pulse
rate normal to down; blood pressure normal to down; body temperature
normal to down. Other characteristic indicators may include slurred speech,
drowsiness, disorientation, drunken behavior without the odor of alcohol,
and poor performance on field sobriety tests.
Panel’s Assessment of Driving Risks: A
single therapeutic dose of carisoprodol is unlikely to cause significant
performance impairment. However, single therapeutic doses of meprobamate
and chronic doses of carisoprodol may produce moderate to severe impairment
of psychomotor skills associated with safe driving.
References and Recommended Reading:
Bailey DN, Shaw RF. Interpretation of blood glutethimide, meprobamate,
and methyprylon concentrations in non-fatal and fatal intoxications. J
Tox Clin Tox 1983;20:133-45.
Baselt RC. Drug effects on psychomotor performance. Biomedical
Publications, Foster City, CA; pp 74-5, pp 238-40;2001.
Finkle BS. The identification, quantitative determination, and distribution
of meprobamate and glutethimide in biological material. J Forensic
Sci 1967;12(4):509-28.
Logan BK, Case GA, Gordon AM. Carisoprodol, meprobamate, and driving
impairment. J Forens Sci 2000;45(3):619-23.
Maddock RK, Bloomer HA. Meprobamate overdosage: evaluation of its severity
and methods of treatment. JAMA 1967;201:123-7.
Marinetti-Scheff L, Ludwig RA. Occurrence of carisoprodol in casework
associated with driving under the influence violations by the forensic
toxicology subunit of the Michigan state police crime laboratory. Presented
at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, New
York, NY, 1997.
Physicians’ Desk Reference, Medical Economics Company,
Montvale, NJ, 2002.
Reeves RR, Pinkofsky HB, Carter OS. Carisoprodol: A drug of continuing
abuse. JAMA 1997;97(12):723-4.
Rust GS, Hatch R, Gums JG. Carisoprodol as a drug of abuse. Arch
Fam Med 1993;2:429-32.
Weatherman R, Crabb DW. Alcohol and medication interactions. Alc
Res & Health 1999;23(1):40-53. |