Can carisoprodol be used as a GABA(a) substitute for a benzodiazepene?

[winterlongone]

From the reading and research I have seen here and other places, carisoprodol does have a similar (apparently, not exactly the same) effect on GABA(a) as benzodiazepines. It appears it can be used partially - I'm sensitive to the overdose potential - as a temporary substitute with a reduced amount of benzos. At least, that's how it seems from what I've read.

I'm far from being a pharmacologist, so I cannot tell if my research is sound.

My problem is that I am trying to determine if using carisoprodol while I am running short on benzos is a reasonable or useful substitute until I receive more benzos. I'm all too aware of the risk of seizure if you go through an abrupt drop in benzo intake, and I do not want to risk that.

I'm being paranoid, as I still have approximately 3 weeks before I would be in serious trouble, but better safe than sorry - I will not be functional quite quickly from the withdrawal alone, and carisoprodol is the only easily available substitute if I have to go past my buffer zone. I'd rather start introducing it now and stretching out my benzos until I've built my buffer zone back up.

I'm currently on 2mg clonazepam and 4 1mg alprazolam per day, if that helps.

TIA for any information....

[winterlongone]

*sigh*

oh well, i'm giving it a try anyway. i know i'm new, so i didn't know if someone would answer. i'll let you guys know if i think it makes a difference. started substitution today for 1mg xanax.

[chibi curmudgeon]

#1. Don't talk about "I". We talk about "someone who isn't me" here, even if it's a legal prescribed drug.

#2. Carisoprodol does have GABAergic activity, and if someone's taking the dose of benzos you mentioned, sudden withdrawal can be dangerous. But any doctor/NP/even pharmacist with any sense of ethics would realize that someone on this dose cannot suddenly run out. They'd give out a few days' worth until a new prescription can be obtained.

If the person you mentioned is trying to taper off the clonazepam and alprazolam...it'll probably take longer than 3 weeks. That's how slowly he'll have to go. There's no real trick to it, just very, very gradually reduce the dose...probably of only one drug at a time. While carisoprodol wouldn't hurt, it might be counterproductive--not someone someone should get into a habit of taking, either--and might end up creating a kind of cross-addiction.

And if I read the 2nd post correctly--I hope I didn't--it's not something that can just be substituted for Xanax. 1 mg Xanax is a considerable amount. If I had to guess--and this is a wild guess--I'd say it might be equivalent to at least 1400 mg carisoprodol.

So, long story short, it's probably not something that'll prevent benzo withdrawal, and it's not safe to find out the hard way if it will. Benzo withdrawal is more serious than heroin withdrawal.