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Carisoprodol withdrawal induced delirium: A case study
Karen Ni1, Margaret Cary, Paul Zarkowski
1School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. kni@u.washington.edu
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
|March 21, 2009
Summary
This case study highlights carisoprodol withdrawal delirium, a rare condition mimicking alcohol withdrawal. Abrupt cessation of this muscle relaxant can lead to severe neurological symptoms, emphasizing its potential for abuse.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neurology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Carisoprodol is a centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant.
- It is frequently obtained online and misused.
- Chronic use can lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms.
Observation:
- A patient using high doses of carisoprodol developed delirium with confusion and hallucinations after abrupt cessation.
- Symptoms included attention deficits, disorientation, and visual hallucinations.
- The patient's condition rapidly improved with lorazepam treatment guided by the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale (CIWA) protocol.
Findings:
- This is the first reported case of carisoprodol withdrawal-induced delirium.
- Withdrawal symptoms are consistent with carisoprodol's mechanism of action, similar to sedative-hypnotics.
- The ease of online acquisition increases the risk of carisoprodol abuse.
Implications:
- Clinicians should be aware of potential carisoprodol withdrawal delirium.
- The study underscores the risks associated with online prescription drug acquisition.
- Further research into carisoprodol's abuse potential and withdrawal syndromes is warranted.
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