Aspirin Carisoprodol, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: analgesic (painkiller); skeletal muscle relaxant

Generic and brand names: Aspirin/carisoprodol; Soma Compound; Carisoprodol Compound

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is used to relax your muscles to relieve pain from sprains, spasms, or injuries.

It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• Addison's disease
• anemia or any bleeding disorder
• asthma
• diabetes
• gout
• heart problems
• kidney or liver problems
• nasal polyps
• porphyria (nerve pain or sensitivity to sunlight)
• problems with drug abuse
• prostate problems or trouble urinating
• seizures
• thyroid problems
• ulcer or intestinal problems

Tell you healthcare provider if you are taking any medicine that reduces the chance of blood clots forming, such as warfarin (Coumadin).

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more of it or take it longer than directed. Your healthcare provider will adjust your dosage depending on how the medicine works for you. Do not take more or take it more often than directed because its side effects may increase.

Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. You must reduce your dosage gradually. If you suddenly stop taking this medicine it can cause very serious side effects.

You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: headache, ringing in the ears, vision change, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, increased thirst, weakness, confusion, slow breathing, fainting, dizziness, fever, coma, fast heartbeat.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or lack of coordination. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

This medicine may make you feel dizzy or faint, especially when you get up from sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help.

This medicine may cause dry mouth. Use sugarless candy or gum, melt bits of ice in your mouth, or use a saliva substitute. If dry mouth lasts longer than 2 weeks, tell your healthcare provider about it.

Do not take additional aspirin or products containing aspirin unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider. This medicine also contains aspirin and it may increase your risk of bleeding. Taking an overdose can cause serious problems. If you think you have taken an overdose or notice any unusual bruising or bleeding, get medical care right away. If you are not sure about which products contain aspirin, ask your pharmacist.

Do not give medicines that contain aspirin to children and teenagers with flu symptoms or chickenpox without your healthcare provider's approval. A rare but serious illness known as Reye's syndrome may occur.

This medicine increases the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down your nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat), seizures.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Trouble breathing, unusual bruising or bleeding, bloody or dark urine, black or tarry stools, fainting, ringing or buzzing in the ears, rapid heart rate, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), severe muscle spasms, extreme weakness, slurred speech, unusual nervousness.

Other: Trouble urinating, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, headache, trouble sleeping, drowsiness, dry mouth, blurred vision.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• ACE inhibitors such as enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), fosinopril (Monopril), captopril (Capoten), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), and benazepril (Lotensin)
• alcohol
• antacids such as Maalox, Mylanta, or Amphojel
• antianxiety medicines such as clonazepam (Klonopin), alprazolam (Xanax), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and oxazepam (Serax)
• antifungal medicines such as fluconazole (Diflucan), miconazole, or ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), clemastine (Tavist), brompheniramine (Dimetane), and dexchlorpheniramine (Polaramine)
• antiseizure medicines such as phenytoin (Dilantin) and valproic acid (Depakote)
• beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), acebutolol (Sectral), pindolol, metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), sotalol (Betapace), nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), and carvedilol (Coreg)
• medicine that reduces the chance of blood clots forming such as warfarin (Coumadin) heparin, enoxaparin (Lovenox), ticlopidine (Ticlid), clopidogrel (Plavix), dipyridamole (Persantine), pentoxifylline (Trental), and dalteparin (Fragmin)
• celecoxib (Celebrex)
• corticosteroids such as cortisone (Cortone), prednisone (Meticorten), dexamethasone (Hexadrol), hydrocortisone (Hydrocortone, Cortef), triamcinolone (Aristocort, Kenacort), prednisolone (Delta-Cortef), and methylprednisolone (Medrol)
• diabetes medicines such as insulin, glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase, Glynase), metformin (Glucophage), acarbose (Precose) repaglinide (Prandin), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and pioglitazone (Actos)
• diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, Oretic), spironolactone (Aldactone), acetazolamide (Diamox), furosemide (Lasix), and hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene (Maxzide, Dyazide)
• fluvoxamine
• herbal remedies such as capsicum, ginseng, German chamomile, goldenseal, gotu kola, kava, lemon balm, St. John's Wort, valerian, fenugreek, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, horse chestnut, papain, passionflower, red clover, turmeric, and willow
• MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take an MAO inhibitor and this medicine within 14 days of each other)
• methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Folex)
• muscle relaxants such as chlorzoxazone (Parafon Forte), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), metaxalone (Skelaxin), orphenadrine (Norflex), tizanidine (Zanaflex), and methocarbamol (Robaxin)
• narcotic analgesics (painkillers) such as codeine, morphine, meperidine (Demerol), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), and oxycodone (Roxicodone, OxyContin, OxyIR, Percocet, Tylox), oxycodone/acetaminophen (Percocet, Tylox) hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin, Lortab), propoxyphene (Darvocet N-100), and fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq)
• NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Motrin IB, Nuprin), ketoprofen, naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve, Anaprox), nabumetone (Relafen), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), sulindac (Clinoril), piroxicam (Feldene), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), and oxaprozin (Daypro)
• other medicines that contain salicylates such as Alka Seltzer and Pepto Bismol
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), prochlorperazine (Compazine), and thioridazine
• probenecid
• proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid)
• rifampin (Rifadin)
• sleeping pills such as phenobarbital (Solfoton), amobarbital (Amytal), zolpidem (Ambien), butabarbital (Butisol), zaleplon (Sonata), eszopiclone (Lunesta), triazolam (Halcion), temazepam (Restoril), and flurazepam (Dalmane)
• sulfinpyrazone (Anturane)
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), and doxepin (Sinequan)

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.