Carisoprodol Alternatives Compared

View side-by-side comparisons of medication uses, ratings, cost, side effects and interactions.
Carisoprodol	Cyclobenzaprine	Tizanidine	Enter another drug to compare

Carisoprodol

Cyclobenzaprine

Tizanidine

Prescription only

Carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant; however, its use is limited by its potential for dependence, sedative effects, and the length of time it lasts which means it requires dosing several times a day... View more

Prescription only

Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant that may be used short-term to treat muscle spasms caused by musculoskeletal conditions, in addition to rest and physical therapy. Sedation is a common side... View more

Prescription only

Tizanidine may be used to reduce muscle spasms but common side effects include sleepiness, a drop in blood pressure, and a dry mouth. The dosage of tizanidine should be tailored to each person and... View more

More about Carisoprodol

More about Cyclobenzaprine

More about Tizanidine

Ratings & Reviews

Carisoprodol has an average rating of 8.9 out of 10 from a total of 310 ratings on Drugs.com. 87% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 7% reported a negative effect.

Cyclobenzaprine has an average rating of 6.0 out of 10 from a total of 618 ratings on Drugs.com. 47% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 30% reported a negative effect.

Tizanidine has an average rating of 6.2 out of 10 from a total of 380 ratings on Drugs.com. 48% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 29% reported a negative effect.

View all 310 reviews

View all 618 reviews

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Side Effects Experienced by Users Side effects are reported in Drugs.com user reviews and not clinically verified.

Drowsiness (8.1%)
Muscle spasms (3.5%)
Dizziness (2.6%)
Pain (2.6%)
Nausea (2.3%)
Withdrawal (2.3%)
Addiction (1.9%)

View all Carisoprodol side effects

Drowsiness (19.9%)
Dry mouth (8.3%)
Tiredness (7.6%)
Sleepy (5.3%)
Dizziness (4.2%)
Hangover (2.8%)
Confusion (2.4%)

View all Cyclobenzaprine side effects

Drowsiness (18.9%)
Dry mouth (8.9%)
Hallucinations (6.8%)
Dizziness (6.1%)
Tiredness (5.5%)
Vivid dreams (4.2%)
Headaches (3.7%)

View all Tizanidine side effects

Drug Class

Skeletal muscle relaxants

Skeletal muscle relaxants

Skeletal muscle relaxants

Generic Availability

Lower cost generic

Pricing and Coupons * Prices are without insurance

Quantity	14 tablet
Strength	350 mg
Per unit^*	$0.89
Cost^*	$12.41

View all Carisoprodol prices

Quantity	3 tablet
Strength	10 mg
Per unit^*	$3.63
Cost^*	$10.90

View all Cyclobenzaprine prices

Quantity	50 each
Strength	4 mg
Per unit^*	$0.61
Cost^*	$30.51

View all Tizanidine prices

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Dosage Forms

Oral tablet

Oral capsule, extended release
Oral tablet

Oral capsule
Oral tablet

Half Life Drug half-life is the time required for plasma concentration to reduce to half its original value.

8 hours

72 hours

2.5 hours

CSA Schedule ¹ View glossary of CSA terms

Some potential for abuse

Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Pregnancy Category

Category C Risk cannot be ruled out

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Category B No proven risk in humans

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Category C Risk cannot be ruled out

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Drug Interactions

A total of 373 drugs are known to interact with Carisoprodol:

28 major drug interactions (148 brand and generic names)
344 moderate drug interactions (1389 brand and generic names)
1 minor drug interactions (3 brand and generic names)

A total of 448 drugs are known to interact with Cyclobenzaprine:

92 major drug interactions (470 brand and generic names)
350 moderate drug interactions (1393 brand and generic names)
6 minor drug interactions (13 brand and generic names)

A total of 638 drugs are known to interact with Tizanidine:

240 major drug interactions (862 brand and generic names)
396 moderate drug interactions (1569 brand and generic names)
2 minor drug interactions (4 brand and generic names)

Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions

Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of carisoprodol such as dizziness, drowsiness... View more

Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of cyclobenzaprine such as dizziness... View more

Using tiZANidine together with alcohol may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness... View more

Disease Interactions

First Approval Date

April 09, 1959

August 26, 1977

November 27, 1996

WADA Class View classifications

N/A

More Information

Patient Resources

Carisoprodol uses

Cyclobenzaprine uses

Tizanidine uses

Professional Resources

¹ The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) schedule information displayed applies to substances regulated under federal law. There may be variations in CSA schedules between individual states.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Carisoprodol Alternatives Compared

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