Soma
Generic Name: carisoprodol (kar eye soe PROE dole)
Brand Names: Soma, Vanadom,
What is the most important information I should know about Soma?
This medication may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Soma should never be given to another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. You may have withdrawal symptoms when you stop using Soma after using it over a long period of time. Do not stop using this medication suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. Soma can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase drowsiness and dizziness caused by Soma.
What is Soma?
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.
Soma may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Soma?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to Soma or meprobamate (Equanil, Miltown), or if you have porphyria.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
liver disease; or
kidney disease.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Soma, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
This medication may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Soma should never be given to another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. You may have withdrawal symptoms when you stop using Soma after using it over a long period of time. Withdrawal symptoms include stomach pain, sleep problems, headache, nausea, and seizure (convulsions). Do not stop using this medication suddenly without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Soma passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medication to a child younger than 12 years old..
How should I take Soma?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Take each dose with a full glass of water. Store Soma at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose of Soma?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose with Soma?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Symptoms of a Soma overdose may include shallow breathing, vision problems, fast heartbeat, confusion, hallucinations (seeing things), muscle stiffness, feeling light-headed, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).
What should I avoid while taking Soma?
Soma can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by Soma.
Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase drowsiness and dizziness caused by Soma.
What are the possible side effects of Soma?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Soma and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
paralysis (loss of feeling);
extreme weakness or lack of coordination;
feeling light-headed, fainting;
fast heartbeat;
seizure (convulsions);
vision loss; or
agitation, confusion.
Continue using Soma and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:
drowsiness, dizziness, tremor;
headache;
depression, feeling irritable;
blurred vision;
sleep problems (insomnia); or
nausea, vomiting, hiccups, upset stomach.
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?
There may be other drugs that can affect Soma. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Where can I get more information on Soma?
Your pharmacist has information about Soma written for health professionals that you may read.
What does my medication look like?
Carisoprodol is available with a prescription under the brand name Soma. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.
Soma 350 mg--white, round tablets
And from another site...Are you taking ANYTHING else thats new? Cold medicine maybe? ( see below)
What are carisoprodol tablets? (Back to top)
CARISOPRODOL (Rela, Soma) is a muscle relaxant. Carisoprodol is used to relieve muscle spasms and pains associated with acute injuries. It should only be used for a short time and should be combined with rest, physcial therapy or other non-drug therapies. Generic carisoprodol tablets are available.
What should my health care professional know before I take carisoprodol? (Back to top)
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
kidney disease
liver disease
porphyria
an unusual or allergic reaction to carisoprodol, carbamate, sulfite, tartrazine, or any other substance
pregnant or trying to get pregnant
breast-feeding
What drug(s) may interact with carisoprodol? (Back to top)
alcohol
barbiturate medicines for inducing sleep or treating seizures (convulsions), like phenobarbital
cimetidine
isoniazid (INH)
medicines for colds, hay fever or other allergies
medicines for HIV or AIDS
medicines for mental depression, anxiety, or emotional disturbances
medicines for pain
medicines for seizures (convulsions) or epilepsy
medicines for sleep
modafinil
omeprazole
other muscle relaxants
rifampin, rifabutin, or rifapentine
voriconazole
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
What side effects may I notice from taking carisoprodol? (Back to top)
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
confusion
difficulty breathing
fainting spells
skin rash or redness
trembling
unsteadiness
unusual weakness or tiredness
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
dizziness
drowsiness
flushing (reddening of the skin)
headache
nausea, vomiting
What are carisoprodol tablets? (Back to top)
CARISOPRODOL (Rela, Soma) is a muscle relaxant. Carisoprodol is used to relieve muscle spasms and pains associated with acute injuries. It should only be used for a short time and should be combined with rest, physcial therapy or other non-drug therapies. Generic carisoprodol tablets are available.
What should my health care professional know before I take carisoprodol? (Back to top)
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
kidney disease
liver disease
porphyria
an unusual or allergic reaction to carisoprodol, carbamate, sulfite, tartrazine, or any other substance
pregnant or trying to get pregnant
breast-feeding
What drug(s) may interact with carisoprodol? (Back to top)
alcohol
barbiturate medicines for inducing sleep or treating seizures (convulsions), like phenobarbital
cimetidine
isoniazid (INH)
medicines for colds, hay fever or other allergies
medicines for HIV or AIDS
medicines for mental depression, anxiety, or emotional disturbances
medicines for pain
medicines for seizures (convulsions) or epilepsy
medicines for sleep
modafinil
omeprazole
other muscle relaxants
rifampin, rifabutin, or rifapentine
voriconazole
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.
What side effects may I notice from taking carisoprodol? (Back to top)
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
confusion
difficulty breathing
fainting spells
skin rash or redness
trembling
unsteadiness
unusual weakness or tiredness
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
dizziness
drowsiness
flushing (reddening of the skin)
headache
nausea, vomiting
Hi again..
I know i told you that my friend died from Soma overdose, but if you look through the stats on RX drug deaths, Soma is in the top 5...Apparently kids from close to the border go down to Mexico, where they can buy the drug without an RX and then either use or sell them...its considered one of the "rage" drugs right now and is supposed to be changed to a higher controlled class V drug to try to combat the deaths/usuage
Not sure if it already has been changed to a triplicate RX butin my opinion, they should be....no one thinks about how long it takes the body to break a pill down, or how our bodies metabolize it, but Soma is just plain frightening...if your heart is a big muscle, then muscle relaxants are dangerous....
okay, so now you have more information...what you do with it is up to you...i really hope that you can get off of the Soma, and if you have a medical reason to be on a relaxant, you be given a less dangerous way to manage it...
MOTHER LOSES HER SON TO SOMA USE
Stacy Halls son, Adam, would have been 21 this year. Instead, Adam died on February 17, 2003 from a drug overdose. He was 18.
The night before his tragic death, Adam had gone out with a friend and together they abused prescription medications, along with illegal drugs, to get high. Neither could have imagined that night would be their last.
Adam -- active, popular with friends, engaged in sports and activities -- was like so many other teenagers from good families.
The way Adam passed away is burned in my memory to this day, said Stacy of Mesa, Arizona. I was paralyzed with fear when the paramedics told me Adam did not survive. I could not believe I had really lost my son.
When I went to tell Adams siblings that he had died, my 8-year-old daughter looked up at me with tear-filled eyes and asked why we couldnt just take her brother to the hospital and fix him, said Stacy. I had no answers for her. Our entire family was devastated.
Adam active, popular with friends, engaged in sports and activities was like so many other teenagers from good families. But one of Adams lesser-known extracurricular activities was using drugs; and his mother Stacy was simply unaware of it.
While
Stacy Hall's son Adam would have been 21 this year.
Adams death was caused by a toxic overdose. Of cocaine, methadone, diazepam and anti-depressants, his drug of choice was the prescription muscle relaxant Soma. Soma is used to treat musculoskeletal pain and muscle spasms, such as in lower back pain. According to Stacy, Adam and his friends got Soma by crossing the border into nearby Mexico and obtaining the drug without much difficulty.
Stacy readily admits that it took her a while to realize that her son was abusing drugs because the typical signs were not evident to her.
Adam came home one evening apparently drunk his speech was slurred and he could barely walk or even stand up straight, but there was no alcohol smell, said Stacy. Adam wasnt drunk he was high on Soma and when I confronted him about his drug use, Adam assured me that he was fine and had everything under control. I wanted so badly to believe him, so I did.
I never imagined that my children could be affected by drug abuse, but now I realize that nobody is immune. Drugs ruin families and they destroy dreams.
Later that summer, Adam went on a Boy Scout camping trip and Stacy was startled when she received a call from Scout leaders who discovered over 300 Soma tablets in Adams possession. It soon became clear to her that not only was Adam abusing this prescription medication, he was selling it as well.
Only after Adam began coming home high regularly did I begin to see he had a drug problem, said Stacy. I just never thought that it could happen to one of my children. He would always tell me Mom, I wont do it again and No, I dont have a problem.
Shortly after this episode, Stacy sent Adam to an intensive drug rehabilitation facility and at the conclusion of the six-week program, she seemed to have her son back.
When Adam arrived home, I saw my beautiful boy again, said Stacy. He was excited to see his family and had a bright outlook for his future. I
"I will never again let my guard down," said Stacy.
was convinced that Adam was fixed so I stopped drug testing him at home. I gave him back my trust.
But after just one year, Adam was abusing Soma once again.
One night I confronted Adam about the Soma tablets I knew he had in his pocket, said Stacy. I was angry that he had not learned anything from his rehabilitation program; I was angry because of the negative example he was setting for his siblings and I was angry that he had let himself fall into a pattern of drug use again.
Stacy took the Soma tablets from Adam and flushed them down the toilet. Visibly upset and looking somewhat terrified, Adam pleaded with his mother not to dispose of the pills. He told her that he owed someone for the drugs and was fearful for his safety if he couldnt deliver them. Stacy could not believe her sons addiction had led him to such desperation.
After Adams death, Stacys family continued to battle prescription drug abuse: Stacys 19-year-old daughter began abusing prescription drugs as she tried to cope with the loss of her older brother. Though she has struggled with many hurdles, she is now on the road to recovery from a serious addiction to Soma. But I will never again let my guard down, said Stacy. I know that at any time my daughter could go down the very same path Adam did.
Millions of teenagers are abusing a variety of prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) medications to get high. According to the most recent data from the Partnership, approximately one in five teenagers has abused a prescription painkiller to get high, and one in 11 has abused OTC products, like cough medicine. Todays teens are more likely to have abused an Rx painkiller than they are to have experimented with a variety of illicit drugs including Ecstasy, cocaine, crack and LSD. The Partnerships first campaigns addressing the issue are launching soon.
I know i told you that my friend died from Soma overdose, but if you look through the stats on RX drug deaths, Soma is in the top 5...Apparently kids from close to the border go down to Mexico, where they can buy the drug without an RX and then either use or sell them...its considered one of the "rage" drugs right now and is supposed to be changed to a higher controlled class V drug to try to combat the deaths/usuage
Not sure if it already has been changed to a triplicate RX butin my opinion, they should be....no one thinks about how long it takes the body to break a pill down, or how our bodies metabolize it, but Soma is just plain frightening...if your heart is a big muscle, then muscle relaxants are dangerous....
okay, so now you have more information...what you do with it is up to you...i really hope that you can get off of the Soma, and if you have a medical reason to be on a relaxant, you be given a less dangerous way to manage it...
MOTHER LOSES HER SON TO SOMA USE
Stacy Halls son, Adam, would have been 21 this year. Instead, Adam died on February 17, 2003 from a drug overdose. He was 18.
The night before his tragic death, Adam had gone out with a friend and together they abused prescription medications, along with illegal drugs, to get high. Neither could have imagined that night would be their last.
Adam -- active, popular with friends, engaged in sports and activities -- was like so many other teenagers from good families.
The way Adam passed away is burned in my memory to this day, said Stacy of Mesa, Arizona. I was paralyzed with fear when the paramedics told me Adam did not survive. I could not believe I had really lost my son.
When I went to tell Adams siblings that he had died, my 8-year-old daughter looked up at me with tear-filled eyes and asked why we couldnt just take her brother to the hospital and fix him, said Stacy. I had no answers for her. Our entire family was devastated.
Adam active, popular with friends, engaged in sports and activities was like so many other teenagers from good families. But one of Adams lesser-known extracurricular activities was using drugs; and his mother Stacy was simply unaware of it.
While
Stacy Hall's son Adam would have been 21 this year.
Adams death was caused by a toxic overdose. Of cocaine, methadone, diazepam and anti-depressants, his drug of choice was the prescription muscle relaxant Soma. Soma is used to treat musculoskeletal pain and muscle spasms, such as in lower back pain. According to Stacy, Adam and his friends got Soma by crossing the border into nearby Mexico and obtaining the drug without much difficulty.
Stacy readily admits that it took her a while to realize that her son was abusing drugs because the typical signs were not evident to her.
Adam came home one evening apparently drunk his speech was slurred and he could barely walk or even stand up straight, but there was no alcohol smell, said Stacy. Adam wasnt drunk he was high on Soma and when I confronted him about his drug use, Adam assured me that he was fine and had everything under control. I wanted so badly to believe him, so I did.
I never imagined that my children could be affected by drug abuse, but now I realize that nobody is immune. Drugs ruin families and they destroy dreams.
Later that summer, Adam went on a Boy Scout camping trip and Stacy was startled when she received a call from Scout leaders who discovered over 300 Soma tablets in Adams possession. It soon became clear to her that not only was Adam abusing this prescription medication, he was selling it as well.
Only after Adam began coming home high regularly did I begin to see he had a drug problem, said Stacy. I just never thought that it could happen to one of my children. He would always tell me Mom, I wont do it again and No, I dont have a problem.
Shortly after this episode, Stacy sent Adam to an intensive drug rehabilitation facility and at the conclusion of the six-week program, she seemed to have her son back.
When Adam arrived home, I saw my beautiful boy again, said Stacy. He was excited to see his family and had a bright outlook for his future. I
"I will never again let my guard down," said Stacy.
was convinced that Adam was fixed so I stopped drug testing him at home. I gave him back my trust.
But after just one year, Adam was abusing Soma once again.
One night I confronted Adam about the Soma tablets I knew he had in his pocket, said Stacy. I was angry that he had not learned anything from his rehabilitation program; I was angry because of the negative example he was setting for his siblings and I was angry that he had let himself fall into a pattern of drug use again.
Stacy took the Soma tablets from Adam and flushed them down the toilet. Visibly upset and looking somewhat terrified, Adam pleaded with his mother not to dispose of the pills. He told her that he owed someone for the drugs and was fearful for his safety if he couldnt deliver them. Stacy could not believe her sons addiction had led him to such desperation.
After Adams death, Stacys family continued to battle prescription drug abuse: Stacys 19-year-old daughter began abusing prescription drugs as she tried to cope with the loss of her older brother. Though she has struggled with many hurdles, she is now on the road to recovery from a serious addiction to Soma. But I will never again let my guard down, said Stacy. I know that at any time my daughter could go down the very same path Adam did.
Millions of teenagers are abusing a variety of prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) medications to get high. According to the most recent data from the Partnership, approximately one in five teenagers has abused a prescription painkiller to get high, and one in 11 has abused OTC products, like cough medicine. Todays teens are more likely to have abused an Rx painkiller than they are to have experimented with a variety of illicit drugs including Ecstasy, cocaine, crack and LSD. The Partnerships first campaigns addressing the issue are launching soon.
Please keep in mind Im very rushed but I wanted to put my thoughts on this.
Habit Forming????
Thats whayt they said about Ultram & it almost was the death of me.I feel ANYTHING Habit forming,addictive etc in the hands of a newly recovery addict can set them back
In all honesty I would look into all nature NON HABIT FORMING ....NON addictive Tthings to help with sleep
JMO
Thank you
molly
Habit Forming????
Thats whayt they said about Ultram & it almost was the death of me.I feel ANYTHING Habit forming,addictive etc in the hands of a newly recovery addict can set them back
In all honesty I would look into all nature NON HABIT FORMING ....NON addictive Tthings to help with sleep
JMO
Thank you
molly
