Since it is a highly effective drug, Carisoprodol is the number one medication when it comes to the treatment of muscle injuries such as spasms, strains or sprains. It has been approved by FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and it is used by a lot of professional athletes, but when it comes to who can and should use it, there are certain restrictions and facts that you should be aware of.
When it comes to the age restrictions, since the safety and effectiveness of Carisoprodol have not been verified in children younger than sixteen, as well as in people older than sixty five, they should under no circumstances use this drug on their own. It is necessary that they first consult their doctor.
Although rarely, Carisoprodol may still be harmful to an unborn baby and it can pass into the breast milk, so if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or if you are breast-feeding, make sure that you consult your doctor before you start with the treatment.
Of course, there are also some conditions where you should either avoid taking Carisoprodol or take lower dosages, but your doctor will also decide on this. Of course, if you are allergic to carisoprodol or meprobamate, which is the substance carisoprodol is metabolized into, you should immediately tell your doctor about it. Also, you should tell your doctor if you suffer from a condition called intermittent porphyria which is a kind of metabolic disorder and may be affected by Carisoprodol. If you have ever suffered from any kind of kidney or liver disease, if you have asthma or seizures and if you have a history of drug and alcohol abuse, make sure that you inform your doctor.
When interactions with some other drugs are concerned, there are some potential combinations that can affect the efficacy of Carisoprodol. For instance, armodafinil, barbiturates and benzodiazepines may change the effectiveness of Carisoprodol and increase the risk of side effects, whereas carbamazepine is known to decrease the concentration of Carisoprodol and in that way decrease it efficacy as well. Carisoprodol may also interact with some antibiotics which can both increase and decrease its effectiveness, while narcotics, opiates and some sleep medications may increase the risk of some more serious side effects. So if you do take any of these or any other medication as well, do tell your doctor about it.
Carisoprodol may also interact with alcohol which will then increase the risk of side effects and it is possible that some serious ones may occur, so do not consume alcohol during your treatment.
All in all, there are certain restrictions on the use of Carisoprodol. However, in most of the abovementioned cases you will still be able to take Carisoprodol, only in lower dosages, but it is very important that you inform you doctor if you suffer or have suffered from any of the mentioned conditions or if you take any other medication. When you take Carisoprodol properly, it will only bring you benefits.