Soma

(1 vote)

Generic Name: carisoprodol (kar eye soe PROE dole)

Soma is a muscle relaxer that works by blocking pain sensations between the nerves and the brain. Soma is used together with rest and physical therapy to treat injuries and other painful musculoskeletal conditions.
What is the most important information I should know about Soma?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Soma may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.
• Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking Soma.

What is Soma?
• Soma is a muscle relaxant . It works by blocking nerve impulses (or pain sensations) that are sent to your brain.
• Soma is used, along with rest and physical therapy , to treat injuries and other painful muscular conditions.
• Soma may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Who should not take Soma?
• Do not take Soma if you have acute intermittent porphyria.
• Before taking Soma, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease . You may need a lower dose or special monitoring during your therapy.
• It is not known whether Soma will harm an unborn baby. Do not take Soma without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
• It is also not known whether Soma passes into breast milk . Do not take Soma without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
• Soma is not approved for use in children younger than 12 years of age.

How should I take Soma?
• Take Soma exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
• Take each dose with a full glass of water.
• The maximum amount of Soma you should take in one day is 1,400 mg (4 tablets).
• Store Soma at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication. Try to keep your doses at least 4 hours apart.

What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention.
• Symptoms of a Soma overdose include low blood pressure (weakness, fainting, confusion), decreased breathing, and unconsciousness.

What should I avoid while taking Soma?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Soma may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.
• Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking Soma.

What are the possible side effects of Soma?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Soma and seek emergency medical attention:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· paralysis (loss of feeling) or extreme weakness;
· vision loss; or
· agitation or tremor.
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Soma and talk to your doctor if you experience
· drowsiness or dizziness;
· headache;
· depression;
· blurred vision;
· insomnia; or
· hiccups.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Soma?
• Many drugs can increase the effects of Soma, which can lead to heavy sedation. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
· antihistamines such as brompheniramine (Dimetane, Bromfed, others), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton, Teldrin, others), azatadine (Optimine), clemastine (Tavist), and many others;
· narcotics (pain killers) such as meperidine (Demerol), morphine (MS Contin, MSIR, others), propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet), hydrocodone (Lorcet, Vicodin), oxycodone (Percocet, Percodan), fentanyl (Duragesic), and codeine (Fiorinal, Fioricet, Tylenol #3, others);
· sedatives such as phenobarbital (Solfoton, Luminal), amobarbital (Amytal), and secobarbital (Seconal);
· phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), mesoridazine (Serentil), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine), thioridazine (Mellaril), and trifluoperazine (Stelazine); or
· antidepressants such as doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate).
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Soma. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

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Previous reviews

Paul

effective but hard to get

My aunt suffers from osteoarthritis, neuropathy, and fibromyalgia (yes, it does exist). She has been taking Soma for at least 4 years, if not more, and it has made a big difference in her ability to get up and live her daily life as much as she can. She has been through dozens of different therapies, ranging from pills to injections and lots of other things, but Soma seems to be the one treatment that makes the most difference. Doctors just seem to loathe the drug, though. She had to switch doctors just to get it in the first place and then they’ve cut her dosage multiple times, even though it increases her suffering. They just don’t seem to understand the kind of difference that Soma makes in her life. Sure it doesn’t make the pain disappear, but it makes it possible for her to function by decreasing the pain enough. It frustrates me that doctors seem to think so clinically and not practically for the needs of the patient. It works for her, so even if it’s not what works for everyone, why not let her have it? She thinks that she may need to change doctors again to find someone who will increase her dose again. Her current doctor has lowered it to about half of what she found to be successful. Certainly, I don’t condone the ongoing use of a drug like this if you have a temporary condition such as a broken bone, and your pain will naturally go away, but my aunt’s condition is ongoing, and since this works better than anything else that she has tried, it only makes sense that she should continue on it as long as it keeps working. It’s all a matter of quality of life.