How Long Does Soma (Carisoprodol) Stay in Your System?

Muscle Relaxant Effects Over Time

By Buddy T | Reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD
Updated April 29, 2018

Soma (carisoprodol) is a muscle relaxant and is used to help relieve pain and discomfort caused by strains, sprains, and other muscle injuries. Learn how it affects your body and how long it remains in your system so you can avoid side effects and drug interactions.

How Soma Affects Your System

Soma is available in tablets and it is also available in combination products that include aspirin or codeine and aspirin.

It is taken several times a day as prescribed. Soma works by affecting the communication between nerves in the central nervous system. It produces muscle relaxation and pain relief.

You should take Soma with milk or food as it can cause an upset stomach.

In the body, carisoprodol is absorbed and begins to have effects after 30 minutes and the effects last for 4 to 6 hours. It is broken down into meprobamate in the body, which is also active in its effects. Peak concentrations are seen in an hour for carisoprodol and almost 3 hours for its meprobamate metabolite. The half-life of carisoprodol is about 100 minutes, but depending on individual metabolism that can be extended for up to three times as long. The half-life of meprobamate is very long, between 6 and 17 hours, which can lead to accumulation with multiple doses.

Both carisoprodol and its metabolite meprobamate are excreted in the urine and can be detected for several days after use.

Precautions With Soma

To prevent side effects and drug interactions, be sure to discuss all prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking or plan to take with your doctor. Especially discuss muscle relaxants, sedatives, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, vitamins, and medications for allergies, coughs, or colds.

Your metabolism of Soma can be affected if you have ever had liver or kidney disease. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant, discuss with your doctor what the implications may be for taking Soma.

Soma can make you drowsy, so it's important to take precautions for driving or operating machinery. Side effects can include headache, fast heartbeat, drowsiness, confusion, slowed thinking, upset stomach, skin rash, and sluggish movements.

Avoid Severe Side Effects of Soma

Soma should be taken exactly as directed. To avoid severe side effects do not take more than prescribed or take it more often than directed by your healthcare provider. Some of the severe side effects of Soma include:

Contact your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms. In very large doses, Soma will produce a meprobamate overdose, which can include coma.

With long-term use, you may also develop tolerance and experience mild withdrawal symptoms that can last for 2 to 4 days after your last dose.

How Long Soma Stays in Your System

If you abruptly discontinue using Soma after long-term use, you may experience mild withdrawal symptoms 12 to 48 hours after your last dose, and these symptoms can last for another 12 to 48 hours.

Carisoprodol and meprobamate can be detected on a screen for prescription or over-the-counter drugs in blood and urine, as may be done in the case of a suspected overdose. They typically aren't included in a urine drug screen such as done for employment. However, if you are taking the combination product that includes codeine, that will be detected. Be sure to disclose your medications to the testing lab so they are able to better interpret the test results.

Sources:

Carisoprodol. MedlinePlus NIH. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682578.html

Carisoprodol (And Meprobamate). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/research/job185drugs/carisoprodol.htm.

Test ID: PDSU Drug Screen, Prescription/OTC, Urine. Mayo Medical Laboratories. http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/88760.