September 6, 2023 Dr. James D Jablonski

Difference between Carisoprodol and Tramadol

A number of people around the world suffer from the problem of body pain every day and look for effective treatment.

To get rid of this pain, many people trust on two most effective medicines i.e., Carisoprodol and Tramadol.

Many people require an explanation about these drugs by comparing their effectiveness and working to know which is better.

Usually, Carisoprodol and Tramadol provide relief from pain but have diverse classes and alleviate additional pain.

If we talk about Carisoprodol and tramadol, these are pre-eminent painkillers covering their way to improve chronic and acute pain.

Their outstanding potency makes it common for people to compare Carisoprodol and Tramadol.

In this blog, you will come to know the difference between Carisoprodol & tramadol and accordingly choose the best one.

What is Carisoprodol?

When it comes to Carisoprodol, Soma and Pain O Soma is the trading name for this prescription medicine.

It is a non-benzodiazepine muscle relaxant prescribed by doctors to provide relief from spasms and muscle injuries.

This medication is used for adjunct rest, physical therapy, and other measures to decrease painful and acute musculoskeletal ailments. 

In this medicinal world, you can find several Carisoprodol alternatives nowadays.

You can find Carisoprodol in 350-milligram tablets but when taken in dosages more than suggested by the doctor, it causes side effects.

Some very common side effects of Carisoprodol tablets include drowsiness and giddiness.

It is digested into Meprobamate which is a Schedule IV controlled medicine with possible abuse.

If we talk about the FDA’s pregnancy safety ranking for medicines, Carisoprodol is rated C.

Doctors prescribe this medication only for 3 weeks and not more than that because there is insufficient evidence for its usage.

Patients suffering from pain can take the recommended dosage of Carisoprodol 250-300mg three times a day.

How does Carisoprodol work in the body?

Carisoprodol is a centrally-acting muscle relaxant that is effective for patients suffering from short-term acute pain.

When it is taken with rest and physical therapy, Carisoprodol acts against your skeletal muscle conditions caused by sprain, strain & injury.

The working mechanism of carisoprodol provides relief from pain and affects communication between the nerve & central nervous system.

It is absorbed in your liver and then further excreted by the kidneys. In the liver, Carisoprodol is metabolized to Meprobamate.

As a patient, if you have a low level of CYP2C19 then there can be increased concentration of Carisoprodol in your body.

Almost 25% of Carisoprodol dosage taken is further converted to Meprobamate, showing that it is 3.25 times stronger than Carisoprodol.

In simple words, it can be said that 200mg of Meprobamate is equivalent to 650mg of Carisoprodol.

What do you mean by Tramadol?

Tramadol is a strong painkiller that belongs to a class of drugs known as opiates or narcotics.

This medicine effectively treats moderate-to-severe pain after a serious injury or operation.

In the United States under the trade name Ultram, Tramadol was accepted as a non-controlled analgesic in year 1995.

Tramadol is a Schedule IV controlled medicine, and there have been several reports of diversion and abuse right after its approval.

Nevertheless, numerous adverse events and abuse of Tramadol are similar to other opioid analgesics available in the market.

So, if you need to buy Tramadol, it is necessary to have a valid prescription from a licensed doctor.

You can find Tramadol online easily in extended-release tablet, injection, tablet, and patch form.

When it is consumed incorrectly, extended-release tablets act in increased concentrations causing overdosing symptoms.

Tramadol: Know it’s working mechanism

Tramadol is considered a centrally-acting opioid agonist analgesic that is available only after a doctor’s prescription.

This medicine is effective for patients suffering from moderate to serious intramuscular, intravenous, and postoperative pain.

Tramadol works in your body by obstructing the body’s pain sensation that travels to brain receptors, causing a sense of pain relief.

Further, it prevents serotonin reuptake, i.e., delaying pathways that transmit pain.

To form five different kinds of metabolites, this medication undergoes hepatic metabolism.

Desmetramadol (INN) is considered the most noteworthy metabolite because it has 200 times the affinity of Tramadol.

Moreover, the elimination half-life of Desmetramadol (INN) is 9 hours compared to Tramadol which is 6 hours.

Carisoprodol vs Tramadol: Doses and administration

Correct dosage administration is important to keep all kinds of unpleasant effects at bay. You can find Soma pill in two dosages:

350mg is also called Dan 5513 white round pill and O 111 pill

Soma 500mg

Beginners must start with a low dose of muscle relaxer that can be further increased depending upon the seriousness of the pain.

The maximum dose of the Soma pill is just three to four times a day and must not be prescribed for long-term usage.

The standard dosage of Tramadol is 100mg, but it is better and safe to start with a low dose i.e., 25mg.

The maximum dose of Tramadol is 400mg regularly and should be administered only three to four times based on your pain.

Carisoprodol is available as oral pills and Tramadol is sold in different forms including solutions, capsules, tablets, and suspensions.

Soma pill and Tramadol intake are not recommended by doctors for over three constant weeks.

Long-term usage of Carisoprodol and Tramadol can also increase your risk of experiencing addiction and dependency.

Carisoprodol vs. Tramadol: Effectiveness and time of action

Onset and time of action play a vital role in controlling the effectiveness of Carisoprodol and Tramadol pills. 

Yet, a long onset time can be a deal breaker for some people because very less patients prefer slow-acting medicine.

The onset of action of Carisoprodol is just 30 minutes while its muscle-relaxing & pain-relieving effects last for 5-6 hours.

On the other hand, the effect of Tramadol starts after an hour of intake and reaches its peak within 2 to 4 hours.

Tramadol’s immediate release lasts for 4 to 6 hours and its extended-release formulation for 12-24 hours.

So, if you want to get relief from pain effectively then Carisoprodol and Tramadol can be good options.

Make sure to consult a doctor once and then start your treatment accordingly to enjoy the benefits.