Soma pill over Tramadol: Is it a good alternative?

With a sharp rise in Tramadol abuse and addiction, it is now finally banned across the world. Although it was the best go-to medication for anyone suffering from unruly body pain, it had numerous side effects and health risks which one could not avoid.

Not only its high potential for addiction but there were also other risks like neurotoxicity due to drug accumulation, easily increased tolerance, physical dependence leading to severe withdrawal symptoms and the like. In most cases, it also caused seizures low motor coordination of the body.

So now the question arises as which other medication can be equally/more effective but comes with no such health hazards. It is a tricky question because painkillers mechanism can differ from person to person. But Carisoprodol (sold under the brand name Soma) can be one such alternative which you might want to consider, provided you have an approval from your doctor.

Let us find out how this pain relief medication works as an alternative.

What does Soma pill do?

Soma pill (or Carisoprodol) is a pain relief medication, more popularly known as a muscle relaxer. It can help in the treatment of any type of muscle pain occurring due to an injury, viral/bacterial infection, surgery, excess physical activity, burns or severe cuts.

It is a milder form of pain reliever compared to other painkillers. Still, it can treat both mild and moderate pain. It is the most effective painkiller for breakthrough acute pain which can occur as a result of a sudden injury.

This medication is also prescribed for lower acute back pain as well as neck pain. Even at lower doses, it can effectively treat such painful conditions and help you recover from it quickly.

The kick-in time of this medication is also very low. This means that it takes only around 30 minutes and instantly provides relief from the pain. Also, it stays in the bloodstream for only a matter of 2 hours and hence, reduces the risk of serotonin accumulation in the brain.

How should one take Soma pill?

This muscle relaxer is an oral prescription medication which needs to be taken under a doctor’s supervision only. The effectiveness of the medication will greatly depend on the dose you are taking. So, make sure that you are rightly following the doctor’s instructions for the same.

Certain guidelines for taking Carisoprodol can be as follows-

The recommended dose is 250 to 350 mg which you can take 3 times a day and at bedtime. Do not take more than the prescribed number of times.

Soma 500 mg is the maximum dose which you should not take without the doctor’s prescription. This dose is powerful for the treatment of severe pain and hence, should be used under severe conditions only.

You can take it with or without food. There are no hard and fast restrictions on the amount of food intake with this medication.

The approximate half-life of Carisoprodol is approximately 2 hours after which it is completely eliminated from your system through renal routes and non-renal routes. So the chances of drug accumulation in the body are reduced.

Make sure that you do not increase or decrease its dose without a prior prescription from the doctor. Also, avoid the consumption of alcohol or other sedatives with these medications.

Conclusion on Soma vs. Tramadol

So, can it be a good alternative?

Well, there’s no definitive answer to this question but Soma pill can definitely be a safer alternative. The effectiveness will, however, depend on your age, health condition, other medications you take and also, the type/intensity of body pain you are suffering from.

So, it is always advisable to consult with a proper healthcare professional before you decide to switch medications.