PRECAUTIONS
Patients with impaired renal or hepatic function
The safety and pharmacokinetics of Soma Compound (carisoprodol and aspirin) in patients
with renal or hepatic impairment have not been evaluated.
Carisoprodol
Since carisoprodol is excreted by the kidney and is
metabolized in the liver, caution should be exercised if carisoprodol is
administered to patients with impaired renal or hepatic function. Carisoprodol
is dialyzable by hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
Seizures
There have been postmarketing reports of seizures in
patients who received carisoprodol. Most of these cases have occurred in the
setting of multiple drug overdoses (including drugs of abuse, illegal drugs,
and alcohol) (see OVERDOSAGE).
Aspirin
Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions
In addition to serious gastrointestinal adverse reactions,
the use of aspirin is also associated with gastritis, gastrointestinal
erosions, abdominal pain, heartburn, vomiting, and nausea (see WARNINGS,
Serious Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions).
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
No long-term studies of carcinogenesis have been done with
Soma Compound (carisoprodol and aspirin) .
Carisoprodol: Long term studies in animals
have not been performed to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of carisoprodol.
Carisoprodol was not formally evaluated for genotoxicity. In
published studies, carisoprodol was mutagenic in the in vitro mouse lymphoma cell assay in the absence of metabolizing enzymes, but was not mutagenic in the
presence of metabolizing enzymes. Carisoprodol was clastogenic in the in vitro chromosomal aberration assay using Chinese hamster ovary cells with or without
the presence of metabolizing enzymes. Other types of genotoxic tests resulted
in negative findings. Carisoprodol was not mutagenic in the Ames reverse
mutation assay using S. typhimurium strains with or without metabolizing
enzymes, and was not clastogenic in an in vivo mouse micronucleus assay of
circulating blood cells.
Carisoprodol was not formally evaluated for effects on
fertility. Published reproductive studies of carisoprodol in mice found no
alteration in fertility although an alteration in reproductive cycles
characterized by a greater time spent in estrus was observed at a carisoprodol
dose of 1200 mg/kg/day. In a 13-week toxicology study that did not determine
fertility, mouse testes weight and sperm motility were reduced at a dose of
1200 mg/kg/day. In both studies, the no effect level was 750 mg/kg/day,
corresponding to approximately 2.6 times the human equivalent dosage of 350 mg
four times a day, based on a body surface area comparison.
The significance of these findings for human fertility is
not known.
Aspirin: Administration of aspirin for 68 weeks in the feed of
rats was not carcinogenic. In the Ames Salmonella assay, aspirin was not mutagenic;
however, aspirin did induce chromosome aberrations in cultured human fibroblasts.
Aspirin has been shown to inhibit ovulation in rats (see Pregnancy.)
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category D.
It is not known whether Soma Compound (carisoprodol and aspirin) can cause fetal harm
when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity.
Adequate animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Soma
Compound. Soma Compound (carisoprodol and aspirin) should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly
needed.
Carisoprodol: There are no data on the use of
carisoprodol during human pregnancy. Animal studies indicate that carisoprodol
crosses the placenta and results in adverse effects on fetal growth and
postnatal survival. The primary metabolite of carisoprodol, meprobamate, is an
approved anxiolytic. Retrospective, post-marketing studies do not show a
consistent association between maternal use of meprobamate and an increased
risk for particular congenital malformations.
Teratogenic effects
Animal studies have not adequately evaluated the teratogenic
effects of carisoprodol. There was no increase in the incidence of congenital
malformations noted in reproductive studies in rats, rabbits, and mice treated
with meprobamate. Retrospective, post-marketing studies of meprobamate during
human pregnancy were equivocal for demonstrating an increased risk of
congenital malformations following first trimester exposure. Across studies
that indicated an increased risk, the types of malformations were inconsistent.
Nonteratogenic effects
In animal studies, carisoprodol reduced fetal weights,
postnatal weight gain, and postnatal survival at maternal doses equivalent to 1
to 1.5 times the human dose (based on a body surface area comparison). Rats
exposed to meprobamate in-utero showed behavioral alterations that persisted
into adulthood. For children exposed to meprobamate in-utero, one study found
no adverse effects on mental or motor development or IQ scores. Carisoprodol
should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the
risk to the fetus.
Aspirin: Teratogenic effects
Prior to 30 weeks gestation, aspirin should be used during
pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the
fetus. Starting at 30 weeks gestation, aspirin should be avoided by pregnant
women as premature closure of the fetal ductus arteriosus which may result in
fetal pulmonary hypertension and fetal death. Salicylate products have also
been associated with alterations in maternal and neonatal hemostasis mechanisms,
decreased birth weight, increased incidence of intracranial hemorrhage in
premature infants, stillbirths, and neonatal death. Studies in rodents have
shown salicylates to be teratogenic when given in early gestation, and
embryocidal when given in later gestation in doses considerably greater than
usual therapeutic doses in humans.
Labor and Delivery
Carisoprodol: There is no information about
the effects of carisoprodol on the mother and the fetus during labor and
delivery.
Aspirin: Ingestion of aspirin within one week
of delivery or during labor may prolong delivery or lead to excessive blood
loss in the mother, fetus, or neonate. Prolonged labor due to prostaglandin
inhibition has been reported with aspirin use.
Nursing Mothers
Carisoprodol: Very limited data in humans show
that carisoprodol is present in breast milk and may reach concentrations two to
four times the maternal plasma concentrations. In one case report, a breast-fed
infant received about 4 to 6% of the maternal daily dose through breast milk
and experienced no adverse effects. However, milk production was inadequate and
the baby was supplemented with formula. In lactation studies in mice, female
pup survival and pup weight at weaning were decreased. This information
suggests that maternal use of carisoprodol may lead to reduced or less
effective infant feeding (due to sedation) and/or decreased milk production.
Caution should be exercised when carisoprodol is administered to a nursing
woman.
Aspirin: Nursing mothers should avoid the use of aspirin because
salicylate is excreted in breast milk which may lead to bleeding in the infant.
Pediatric Use
The efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of Soma Compound (carisoprodol and aspirin)
in pediatric patients less than 16 years of age have not been established.
Geriatric Use
The efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of Soma Compound (carisoprodol and aspirin)
in patients over 65 years old have not been established.