Numerous medications could cause drug interactions with carisoprodol, including narcotics, carbamazepine, sleep medicines, and certain antidepressants. Some interactions can increase your risk of side effects (such as drowsiness, memory loss, or difficulty breathing), while others may affect the process in which the liver metabolizes carisoprodol into meprobamate. To help prevent carisoprodol interactions, tell your healthcare provider about all other drugs you are taking.
An Overview of Carisoprodol Interactions
Carisoprodol (Soma®) can potentially interact with several other medications. Some of these medicines that may lead to carisoprodol drug interactions include:
- Alcohol
- Armodafinil (Nuvigil™)
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Certain antibiotics or antifungal medications
- Delavirdine (Rescriptor®)
- Gemfibrozil (Lopid®)
- Modafinil (Provigil®)
Carisoprodol Interactions Explained
The following sections explain in detail the potentially negative interactions that can occur when carisoprodol is combined with any of the drugs listed above.
Alcohol
Combining alcohol with carisoprodol can increase your risk of side effects, such as drowsiness, confusion, memory loss, or difficulty breathing. Serious side effects may occur. It is best to avoid alcohol while taking carisoprodol.
Armodafinil (Nuvigil)
The liver metabolizes carisoprodol into meprobamate, a different drug with anti-anxiety properties. Armodafinil inhibits this process, increasing the level of carisoprodol and decreasing the level of meprobamate in the blood. It is not known how this interaction might change the effectiveness or side effects of carisoprodol.
Barbiturates
Taking a barbiturate with carisoprodol can increase your risk of side effects, such as drowsiness, confusion, memory loss, or difficulty breathing. Serious side effects may occur. Make sure to talk to your healthcare provider before taking carisoprodol with a barbiturate.
Benzodiazepines
Combining carisoprodol with a benzodiazepine can increase your risk of side effects, such as drowsiness, confusion, memory loss, or difficulty breathing. Serious side effects may occur. Make sure to talk to your healthcare provider before taking carisoprodol with a benzodiazepine.
Carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol)
The liver metabolizes carisoprodol into meprobamate, a different drug with anti-anxiety properties. Carbamazepine increases this process, decreasing the level of carisoprodol and increasing the level of meprobamate in the blood. It is not known how this interaction might change the effectiveness or side effects of carisoprodol.
Final Thoughts on Carisoprodol Interactions
It is possible that not all carisoprodol drug interactions were discussed in this article. Therefore, you should talk with your pharmacist or healthcare provider about any specific drug interactions with carisoprodol that may apply to you.
Source: http://pain.emedtv.com/carisoprodol/drug-interactions-with-carisoprodol-p4.html
