Carisoprodol is a medication used to manage injuries involving muscles and bones. According to Drugs.com, carisoprodol belongs to a class of medications called muscle relaxants. It interferes with the perception of pain and relaxes muscles. Carisoprodol is available as a tablet, and your doctor will typically prescribe 350mg of it to be taken three times a day and prior to sleeping.
Common Side Effects
Carisprodol's common side effects typically involve the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). According to Drugs.com, it can cause a headache, depression, irritability, dizziness, tremors and trouble sleeping. It may also effect the digestive tract and cause vomiting, nausea, the hiccups and stomach problems. These common effects are not dangerous, but it is important to inform your physician if these symptoms last for about four to five days.
Serious Side Effects
Carisoprodol can potentially threaten your life as it may provoke difficulty breathing. According to the National Library of Medicine, it can instigate such troubling side effects as tachycardia (fast heartbeat), postural hypotension (low blood pressure, especially with positional changes) and leukopenia (low white blood cell counts). Postural hypotension can lead to fainting spells because not enough blood is circulating to the brain. Leukopenia increases your risk of contracting all sorts of infections. Drugs.com says that carisoprodol can cause convulsions, confusion, lack of coordination and paralysis. Convulsions are the result of erratic electric activity in your brain. Prolonged convulsions can cause permanent brain damage and even death. Call your physician when carisoprodol causes these side effects.
Additional Concerns
Avoid carisoprodol if you are allergic to it. An allergic response includes such life-threatening symptoms as trouble breathing, hives, and swelling of your face, tongue or lips. Call 911 in such cases.
The National Library of Medicine says that carisoprodol is found at high concentrations in breast milk. Do not breastfeed your baby while taking carisoprodol. It is unclear whether carisoprodol can affect your unborn fetus, but tell your physician if you are pregnant.
Avoid discontinuing carisoprodol abruptly. Only discontinue this medication under your doctor's supervision. Failure to do so can result in such withdrawal symptoms as headache, nausea, stomach pain and trouble sleeping.
Tell your doctor if you have liver, kidney, seizures or epilepsy disorders. Carisoprodol can worsen these conditions.
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