title: Carisoprodol intoxications and serotonergic features.
abstract: The symptoms and signs of carisoprodol intoxications do not resemble those caused by its metabolite meprobamate. Meprobamate most probably produces its effects through the GABAergic neurotransmitter system. The signs and symptoms of carisoprodol intoxications, however, are not easily explained by interaction with this neurotransmitter system. In the present study, four cases of carisoprodol intoxications are presented with emphasis on the presence of serotonergic signs and symptoms. All four cases fulfilled three different sets of criteria for the diagnosis of serotonin syndrome. These findings could indicate that an increased serotonin level in the central nervous system could explain some of the symptoms and signs of carisoprodol intoxications. This may have implications for the clinical evaluation and treatment of such intoxications. Since few laboratories routinely screen for carisoprodol it is important to keep this drug in mind when encountering intoxications displaying serotonergic symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Division of Forensic Toxicology and Drug Abuse, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. jorgen.bramness@labmed.uio.no
authors.forename: Jørgen G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Bramness
authors.forename: Jørg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mørland
authors.forename: Hanne Kristin
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Sørlid
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rudberg
authors.forename: Dag
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002328:Carisoprodol / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D020230:Serotonin Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D002328:Carisoprodol