Patient/caregiver was instructed upon therapeutic uses of Carisoprodol as follows:
Fibromyalgia
- Fibromyalgia is a condition affecting the musculoskeletal system, probably secondary to altered processing of pain signals by the brain and spinal cord.
- Pain signals travel along the nerves to reach brain and spinal cord, where the signals are realized and processed. This helps with awareness of pain and contributes to taking necessary steps for pain control.
- In individuals with fibromyalgia these signals are amplified contributing to significantly increased pain perception. This contributes to severe body pains and multiple tender points in the body. Poorly controlled pain leads to sleep disturbances, altered mood, and fatigue. Also, exaggerated pain levels limit the activity and range of motion in the joints, leading to stiffness and tightness in various body parts, which contributes to further pain.
- Carisoprodol, probably by controlling and relieving the stiffness and tightness, relaxes the muscle, and contributes to relief of pain and improvement of symptoms in individuals with fibromyalgia.
Tension headaches
- Tension headache is a diffuse pain in the head, often precipitated by poorly controlled stress in life.
- This can present as mild to moderate headache with a feeling of tight band around the head, involuntary muscle contractions in the face, neck, & scalp, and heightened sensitivity to pain.
- Carisoprodol use, along with use of other medications such as, pain killers, can help with controlling the spasms and relief from pain & discomfort.
- Carisoprodol use, probably by depressing the brain and spinal cord, leads to sedation and dizziness, contributing to overall pain relief.
Other muscle pains and headaches
- Carisoprodol along with use of other medications such as, pain killers, can be used for relief of muscle spasms, muscle pain, and headaches secondary to various other injury and inflammatory conditions, such as, sciatica and migraine.
