Soma: Your Personal Pain Manager

Soma, which comes as a brand name for Carisoprodol, is a wonder drug for people suffering from severe muscle pain. Muscle pain is inevitable and can occur for numerous reasons like a muscle injury, severe illness, excessive physical activity, carrying heavy objects, burns, cuts and so on. However, it is not untreatable.

When we check the same with a doctor or a physician, he usually recommends a painkiller while treating the underlying reason at the same time. Soma 350 mg pill is one such muscle relaxer that has been widely accepted by the masses for treating muscle pain. It works the best when used in combination with rest and physiotherapy.

It is to be kindly noted that Soma (or Carisoprodol) is a pain relief medication which helps in blocking out the pain sensations between the brain and the nerves and does not help in treating the underlying causes of pain.

Important information before taking Soma (Carisoprodol):

•    Soma is not recommended for people with a medical history of cardiovascular, renal or liver related problems.

•    Inform your doctor about any current medication you are taking at present, so as to avoid unwanted drug interaction.

•    The outcome of using Soma during pregnancy is not known and hence, should not be taken by pregnant women.

•    Carisoprodol can also pass into breast milk and hence, should not be taken by a breastfeeding mother as it can harm the baby.

•    It is not recommended for children and young adults under 16 years of age.

•    Read the drug-related information clearly before its consumption so as to avoid any kind of possible allergies.

How should I take Soma?

Given below is the ideal set of dosing instructions which should be followed only under your doctor’s supervision:

•    The recommended dosage for Soma is 250-350 mg which can be taken three times a day and even at bedtime

•    Soma 500 mg is the maximum dosage and should be taken only after prior prescription

•    The maximum recommended period is 2 to 3 weeks

Side effects of Soma:

Common side effects of Soma are-

•    Mild headache

•    A sore throat

•    Dizziness

•    Drowsiness

•    Nausea

•    Vomiting

•    Upset stomach

This is not a complete list of side effects and one should report to the doctor immediately if any other additional side effects are noticed.

Symptoms of overuse:

Soma is a prescribed drug but it is often abused for its sedative effects. It was listed as a Schedule IV drug under the Controlled Substance Act of 1970 as the reports of drug abuse increased eventually over the years.The resultant symptoms include the following-

•    Hallucinations

•    Confusion at work

•    Having trouble speaking, swallowing and even breathing

•    Unusual facial expressions

•    Irregular movement of eyeballs

•    Frequent blinking

Carisoprodol was primarily used to relieve one from anxiety. Later it was developed to treat muscle pain too. Stress and anxiety are the primary causes of pain. Treating these can ultimately relieve one from the discomfort of pain. Soma is not just a muscle relaxer but also a mental relaxer as it helps us to relax our mind and forget the excruciating muscle pain. It is, in fact, the king of all muscle relaxers used to treat acute pain.