A Case of Combined Baclofen and Carisoprodol Withdrawal: The Hidden Dangers of Muscle Relaxants

Muscle relaxant prescriptions are on the rise for the treatment of chronic pain, although physician education about the effects of overdose, medication interactions, and withdrawal is limited. Simultaneous use of the muscle relaxants baclofen and carisoprodol can result in withdrawal at relatively l...

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Main Authors: Rachel P. Sarnoff, Daniel J. Brownstein, Julio Meza, Angela K. Kleiber
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American College of Physicians 2024-06-01
Series:Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases
Online Access:https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2023.1474
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author Rachel P. Sarnoff
Daniel J. Brownstein
Julio Meza
Angela K. Kleiber
author_facet Rachel P. Sarnoff
Daniel J. Brownstein
Julio Meza
Angela K. Kleiber
author_sort Rachel P. Sarnoff
collection DOAJ
description Muscle relaxant prescriptions are on the rise for the treatment of chronic pain, although physician education about the effects of overdose, medication interactions, and withdrawal is limited. Simultaneous use of the muscle relaxants baclofen and carisoprodol can result in withdrawal at relatively low doses, possibly because of their synergistic effect. Prior case reports have described withdrawal from either of these muscle relaxants. However, this case report describes the course of a patient who was experiencing withdrawal from both baclofen and carisoprodol. To address such scenarios appropriately, it is important for prescribers to be aware of the withdrawal syndromes associated with these medications.
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publisher American College of Physicians
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spelling doaj-art-865028cb03594bf199bf7771a7b901d72025-08-20T02:11:45ZengAmerican College of PhysiciansAnnals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases2767-76642024-06-013610.7326/aimcc.2023.1474A Case of Combined Baclofen and Carisoprodol Withdrawal: The Hidden Dangers of Muscle RelaxantsRachel P. Sarnoff0Daniel J. Brownstein1Julio Meza2Angela K. Kleiber31University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States2Department of Emergency Medicine, UC San Diego Health, San Diego, California3Department of Addiction Medicine, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California1University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesMuscle relaxant prescriptions are on the rise for the treatment of chronic pain, although physician education about the effects of overdose, medication interactions, and withdrawal is limited. Simultaneous use of the muscle relaxants baclofen and carisoprodol can result in withdrawal at relatively low doses, possibly because of their synergistic effect. Prior case reports have described withdrawal from either of these muscle relaxants. However, this case report describes the course of a patient who was experiencing withdrawal from both baclofen and carisoprodol. To address such scenarios appropriately, it is important for prescribers to be aware of the withdrawal syndromes associated with these medications.https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2023.1474
spellingShingle Rachel P. Sarnoff
Daniel J. Brownstein
Julio Meza
Angela K. Kleiber
A Case of Combined Baclofen and Carisoprodol Withdrawal: The Hidden Dangers of Muscle Relaxants
Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases
title A Case of Combined Baclofen and Carisoprodol Withdrawal: The Hidden Dangers of Muscle Relaxants
title_full A Case of Combined Baclofen and Carisoprodol Withdrawal: The Hidden Dangers of Muscle Relaxants
title_fullStr A Case of Combined Baclofen and Carisoprodol Withdrawal: The Hidden Dangers of Muscle Relaxants
title_full_unstemmed A Case of Combined Baclofen and Carisoprodol Withdrawal: The Hidden Dangers of Muscle Relaxants
title_short A Case of Combined Baclofen and Carisoprodol Withdrawal: The Hidden Dangers of Muscle Relaxants
title_sort case of combined baclofen and carisoprodol withdrawal the hidden dangers of muscle relaxants
url https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2023.1474
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