Fainting, seizures, and a rapid heart rate are potentially serious side effects of carisoprodol that require medical attention. However, most side effects of the medication are mild and either do not require treatment or can be treated easily. Some of these more common carisoprodol side effects include dizziness, headaches, and drowsiness.
An Introduction to Carisoprodol Side Effects
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with carisoprodol (Soma®). However, not everyone who takes the medication will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider.
There are a number of possible side effects with carisoprodol that you should report to your healthcare provider. These include, but are not limited to:
- Seizures
- Fainting
- A rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
- Depression
- Feeling a need to take carisoprodol more often than prescribed or when a medical problem no longer exists (see Soma Abuse)
- Signs of an allergic reaction, including unexplained rash, hives, itching, unexplained swelling, wheezing, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.
Carisoprodol has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials. In these studies, the side effects that occur in a group of people taking the drug are documented and are then compared to side effects that occur in another group of people not taking the medicine. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
In these studies, the most common carisoprodol side effects included:
- Drowsiness — in up to 17 percent of people
- Dizziness — up to 8 percent
- Headaches — up to 5 percent.
Final Thoughts on Carisoprodol Side Effects
It is possible that you may experience some or none of the carisoprodol side effects listed in this article. Unfortunately, there is no way for your healthcare provider to know beforehand if you will have side effects from a medicine that you have never tried. Therefore, make sure to let your healthcare provider know if you develop any side effects while taking carisoprodol or if something “just does not seem right.” While it may not be a side effect of carisoprodol, your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose and treat the problem.
Source: http://pain.emedtv.com/carisoprodol/side-effects-of-carisoprodol-p2.html
