Flumazenil reversal of carisoprodol (Soma) intoxication.

Author(s): Roberge RJ, Lin E, Krenzelok EP

Affiliation(s): Department of Emergency Medicine, Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Pittsburgh 15224, USA.

Publication date & source: 2000-01, J Emerg Med., 18(1):61-4.

Publication type: Case Reports

A 52-year-old woman presented with central nervous system depression and a Glasgow Coma Score of 9 secondary to ingestion of carisoprodol, a centrally acting muscle relaxant analgesic. After administration of i.v. flumazenil, the patient's neurologic status normalized and she required no further therapy. Carisoprodol and its active sedative-hypnotic metabolite, meprobamate, are gamma aminobutyric acid receptor indirect agonists with central nervous system chloride ion channel conduction effects similar to the benzodiazepines, thus making flumazenil a potentially useful antidote in toxic presentations.