There are several precautions and warnings with carisoprodol. Before starting treatment, it’s important to be aware of the side effects and drug interactions that may occur with this medication. To help minimize risks, you should also tell your healthcare provider about all other existing medical conditions you have and any other medications you are currently taking.
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Carisoprodol?
Prior to taking carisoprodol (Soma®), you should talk with your healthcare provider if you have:
- A history of drug or alcohol abuse
- Seizures or epilepsy
- Liver disease, such as liver failure, cirrhosis, or hepatitis
- Kidney disease, such as kidney failure (renal failure)
- Acute intermittent porphyria
- Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Some warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking carisoprodol include the following:
- Even though carisoprodol is not a controlled substance, the body metabolizes it into meprobamate, a different medication that is a controlled substance. As a result, carisoprodol may be abused, especially by people with a tendency toward alcohol or drug abuse (see Soma Abuse).
- Seizures have been reported in people who have taken carisoprodol, usually in combination with other medications.
- The liver and kidneys help remove carisoprodol from the body. If you have liver or kidney disease, your healthcare provider may need to monitor your response to carisoprodol more closely.
- Carisoprodol commonly causes drowsiness and dizziness, which may interfere with your ability to drive, operate heavy machinery, or focus mentally.
- Carisoprodol can potentially interact with many other medications (see Drug Interactions With Carisoprodol).
- Carisoprodol is considered a pregnancy Category C medication. This means that it may not be safe for use during pregnancy, although the full risks are not currently known (see Soma and Pregnancy).
- Carisoprodol passes through breast milk in humans. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Soma and Breastfeeding).
Final Thoughts on Carisoprodol Warnings and Precautions
There are a number of situations in which carisoprodol should not be taken, along with several precautions and warnings people should be aware of before taking the medication. However, it is possible that not all of the warnings or precautions with carisoprodol were discussed in this article. Therefore, you should talk with your healthcare provider about the specific warnings and precautions that may apply to you.
Source: http://pain.emedtv.com/carisoprodol/precautions-and-warnings-with-carisoprodol-p2.html
