A review of carisoprodol deaths in Jefferson County, Alabama.
BACKGROUND
Carisoprodol is a skeletal muscle relaxant with the potential for abuse. A carisoprodol overdose is rarely considered fatal. Nevertheless, we encountered carisoprodol in several cases, prompting review of our experience.


METHODS
We did a retrospective study of cases examined at the Jefferson County Coroner/Medical Examiner Office from January 1, 1986, to October 31, 1997, reviewing investigative reports and autopsy findings.


RESULTS
Carisoprodol was present in 24 cases. Seventeen decedents died of acute drug intoxication. Carisoprodol was never the sole drug detected at autopsy, nor was it ever the sole cause of death. Propoxyphene was a co-intoxicant in 8 of the 24 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Carisoprodol causes respiratory depression. Since the mechanism of death was respiratory depression in 82% of the decedents who died of acute intoxication, we consider that carisoprodol was probably responsible, in part, for those deaths. The simultaneous use of propoxyphene and carisoprodol seems to be especially dangerous.
Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
G G
GG
Davis
C B
CB
Alexander
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000407:Alabama / Q000453:epidemiology; D002328:Carisoprodol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D002423:Cause of Death; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners; D011431:Dextropropoxyphene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning; D062787:Drug Overdose; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000506:poisoning*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D002328:Carisoprodol; D011431:Dextropropoxyphene