Should Carisoprodol Be Moved to Controlled Substances?
Official title: Notice of consultation: Removing carisoprodol from the Prescription Drug List
Health Canada wants to move carisoprodol—a muscle relaxant—from the Prescription Drug List to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Why? They're tightening controls on this medication. No products containing it are currently sold in Canada, but the change would restrict future sales, imports, and production.
Why This Matters
This one's pretty niche. Carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant that's not even sold in Canada right now. But if you work in pharmaceuticals, research, or import medications, this could affect what you can legally handle. The government wants to know if there are legitimate uses they should consider before tightening controls.
What Could Change
If carisoprodol gets added to Schedule V of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, selling, importing, exporting, or producing it would be prohibited without special authorization. Anyone possessing it for trafficking or export would face legal consequences.
Key Issues
- Are there legitimate uses for carisoprodol that should be considered?
- Should carisoprodol be added to Schedule V of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act?
How to Participate
- Review the Canada Gazette Part 1 notice explaining Health Canada's intent to add carisoprodol to Schedule V.
- Submit written comments by email to csd.regulatory.policy-politique.reglementaire.dsc@hc-sc.gc.ca, including information about current uses of carisoprodol.