Published on 25 January 2023

Carisoprodol For Anxiety: How Does It Work?

Soma (Carisoprodol) CARISOPRODOL-FOR-ANXIETY
Table of Contents

Anxiety is a persistent illness; the exact causes of Anxiety are not known. But some trigger agents will make you feel anxious and worried. Anxiety weakens your mental and physical health, causing Loss of interest, being alone, etc. 

Some people find it difficult to cope with it; Untreated Anxiety will lead to suffering from rapid heartbeat, shakiness, and the mental collapse of suicidal thoughts. It is necessary to look carefully and seek help immediately.

Many drugs are available to treat your illness; here, Carisoprodol is mentioned for Anxiety. Whether it works for it? Moreover, Carisoprodol is the Most helpful muscle relaxant for people with musculoskeletal conditions and disorders. But can we use Carisoprodol for Anxiety? Let us understand more in detail. 

What Is Carisoprodol?

Carisoprodol is a medication used in the treatment of Muscle pain. It belongs to the class of Muscle relaxant agents or Musflex Pills. It is available under a brand name called Soma. The drug is mainly used in combination therapy with rest and physical therapy with other medications.

It is a Food and drug administration-approved drug for treating similar conditions like Muscle pain, injury, muscle spasms, strain, etc.  

How Does Carisoprodol Work?

Carisoprodol Belongs to the class of skeletal muscle relaxers; it is a Central nervous system depressant. It helps to block your nervous system from sending pain signals from the CNS in your brain region. It should not take along with substances like alcohol or other CNS depressants.

Carisoprodol is not approved for children under 12 years of age; You should not use the drug for extended periods due to its severe effects. It can be used only for up to 2 to 3 weeks. 

Can You Use Carisoprodol for Anxiety?

Carisoprodol is approved for muscles as a relaxing agent and has soothing properties that work as a central nervous system depressant. If you have a short-term period of Anxiety level, it can be used to decrease your Anxiety state. 

Extended periods of Anxiety will not be much more effective in treating your illness; it is not approved for Anxiety. Besides Carisoprodol, many groups like SSRI and Benzodiazepine drugs are available to treat such conditions. 

Does Carisoprodol Have Withdrawal Symptoms?

The drug Carisoprodol is Prescribed only for short-term periods. You may suffer from dependence if you continuously take the medication with other substances. It leads to Abuse. Also, if you suddenly stop using drugs, your body finds coping difficult. You may suffer from withdrawal symptoms like, 

  • Increased heartbeat
  • Seizure attack
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Hallucination
  • Stomach ache
  • Delirium
  • Insomnia
  • Headache 
  • Anxiety
  • Loss of coordination
  • Weakness

Frequently asked questions

After taking the drug, it leads to suffering from drowsiness and sleepiness. So it should not be mixed with alcohol; if you are older than 65, using it should not be recommended due to severe drowsiness and falling, etc.
Increased serotonin in the brain leads the drug to show signs of intoxicated symptoms such as hallucinations, agitation, fast heartbeat, twitching, etc.
Yes, Carisoprodol is a schedule IV controlled substance due to addiction. It should be used only for a limited period.
Some drug substitutes are Diazepam, Methocarbamol, Robaxin, Valium, etc.

Is Carisoprodol Addictive?

Severe drug addiction will begin when used for longer-term. Your body depends on drugs, and this is an addiction to Carisoprodol. Some studies show a low potential to cause Abuse. However, there is evidence that drugs form habits while taking other medications for a combination of therapy, like sedatives and Opioid drugs.

When you consume a more significant amount, Soma shows side effects like, 

  • Difficulty in concentration
  • Euphoric effects
  • Irritability
  • Seizure
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Insomnia
  • Fainting 

If you are facing these symptoms and become addicted to the drug, you might have to visit a doctor and get things resolved. 

How Much Should You Take?

Carisoprodol can be taken with or without food; if you have stomach issues, you can take the drug after the food. You should not overdose on your drug; this leads to dangerous effects; you should take the medication exactly as your physician prescribes. The drug dosage for Carisoprodol,

  • Starting dose: 250 or 350 mg daily at bedtime
  • Maintenance dose: for up to 2 to 3 weeks.         

Possible Side Effects

Side effects are adverse reactions to the drug; they can vary from one to another according to the health condition. Some effects can go by independently; if you face severe side effects for longer days, you should immediately seek emergency help. 

Common Side Effects

Severe Side Effects

Headache

Increased heartbeat

Nausea

Low blood pressure

Vomiting

Fainting

Dizziness

Nervous issues

Drowsiness

Loss of coordination

Insomnia

Seizure

Tremor

Decreased levels in white blood cells.

Precautions Of Carisoprodol

It is necessary to check your progress state; whether the drug is working for you or facing any side effects, you should note down. If you are allergic to some inactive ingredients present in the pharmaceutical, Soma leads to suffering from

  • hives
  • trouble breathing
  • swelling in the face, tongue or throat, etc
  • itching

People with other health conditions should not take Carisoprodol:

  • Kidney Problems
  • Liver problem
  • Porphyria
  • Alcohol: The drug should not be mixed with alcohol because it leads to severe drowsiness. So consult the doctor about your health condition, and avoid taking alcohol.
  • During Pregnancy: If you are planning to get pregnant and you are pregnant, you should talk to your doctor about consuming the medicine; they might instruct you about the medicine consumption.
  • During Breastfeeding: While breastfeeding, the drug passes into your breast milk, so it is advisable to stop the medicine. 

Can You Overdose On Carisoprodol?

According to the National Survey Reports people over the age of 12 years in the US, around 2 million people use Soma for non-medical purposes. When you become addicted to the drug, you start to take too many doses of the medication, more than prescribed.

There is a difference between soma side effects and overdose effects. Side effects can be controlled, but overdose symptoms lead to a fatal condition. 

Some of the overdose symptoms of the drug are, 

  • Frequent heartbeat
  • Vision problems
  • Hallucinations
  • Mental illness 
  • Convulsions
  • Coma
  • Shallow breathing.

Drug interaction

Drug interaction is interacting the drug with another substance at the same time. Not every drug interaction harms your health, but some may cause unwanted effects. Hence, it is better to consult your doctor. 

Before taking the drug, inform your healthcare provider about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or any vitamin or herbal products you are taking. This will help you to avoid such unwanted interactions. So speak to your doctor about the health conditions. 

  • Avoid Taking Benzodiazepines such as
  • Alprazolam, 
  • Diazepam etc
  • Avoid taking Opioid drugs such as Oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, etc., because they cause you to suffer from drowsiness.
  • Tricyclic antidepressants like Amitriptyline, doxepin, or imipramine.  

Bottom Line From Practical Anxiety Solutions

So far, you understand the drug Carisoprodol. It is a food and drug administration-approved drug for the treatment of Musculoskeletal system conditions like Muscle pain, injury, strain, and muscle spasms. It is an effective one, but due to the addiction and habit forming due to the drug, it should not be used for more than three weeks.

For dealing with Anxiety, Soma can help treat your Anxiety level to some extent; when you suffer from severe Anxiety, you should visit your doctor. It is advisable to use some effective drug to improve your Anxiety. Moreover, Carisoprodol is not approved for Anxiety. You can see your healthcare provider for further information regarding the drug. 

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