The misuse and abuse of meprobamate and other muscle relaxing drugs was an item of great concern in the 1950s and 1960s . Carisoprodol was developed in the 1950s by Dr. Frank M. Berger at Wallace laboratories on the basis of meprobamate, hoping that it would have better muscle-relaxing properties, less abuse potential, and less risk of overdose than meprobamate.

The substitution of one hydrogen atom with an isopropyl group on one of the carbamyl nitrogens was intended to yield a molecule with new pharmacological properties.

Initial pharmacokinetic studies using a canine model indicated that carisoprodol was metabolized to hydroxy-carisoprodol. The metabolism of carisoprodol to meprobamate was described in mice in 1969. But it was only after a description of a carisoprodol intoxication in 1976, that it was acknowledged that carisoprodol was mostly metabolized to meprobamate in humans.

Carisoprodol is sold in most countries. Some countries like Spain sell it over-the-counter, but in most countries a prescription is required.

Carisoprodol was approved for marketing before the FDA required that safety and efficacy be proved in clinical studies.