Report on Soma Side Effects and Usage by AskDocWeb

About Soma

What is Soma?

Soma (carisoprodol) is a skeletal muscle relaxant that is used to relax certain muscles in your body and relieve the stiffness, pain, and discomfort caused by strains, sprains, or other injury to your muscles. It is used with rest and physical therapy to treat acute, painful muscle conditions. Soma/Carisoprodol may also be used for purposes other than those listed.

Common names are Soma, Soma Carisoprodol, Carisoprodol and Carisprodel.

How does Soma work?

Soma works by blocking the nerve impulses (or pain sensations) that are sent to your brain through the Central Nervous System. Soma begins working in about 30 minutes and lasts for approximately 2?6 hours.

How to use Soma

Take Soma/Carisoprodol exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand the directions, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse to explain them to you. Take each dose with a full glass of water. If this medicine upsets your stomach, it may be taken with food.

What happens if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose of Soma, take it as soon as possible. If you do not remember until later, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take two doses at once to make up for a missed one.

What side effects do Soma users report?

The side effects of Soma that may go away during treatment, include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, clumsiness, changes in vision and headache.

Of the patients who experienced side effects, most of them reported the side effects showed up within the period of the first to the fourth dose.

Tell your doctor if you experience; drowsiness or dizziness; headache; depression; blurred vision or small pupils; insomnia; hiccups; faint ringing in the ears; or nausea, vomiting, constipation, lack of bladder control, irritability or trouble sleeping. You may need a reduced dosage.

Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or especially bothersome. There could be other side effects other than those listed here. Your doctor can tell you if it is safe to continue to take Soma/Carisoprodol.

What are the symptoms of overdose?

Serious side effects include difficulty breathing, fever, severe weakness, changes in vision, swelling or skin rash, closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; paralysis (loss of feeling) or extreme agitation or tremor; red, black, or bloody stools, blood in your vomit, or uncontrollable muscle contractions. If you experience any of these, stop taking Soma/Carisoprodol. You may be having an allergic reaction and should seek emergency medical attention.

If you suspect an overdose has occurred, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Conditions you should tell your Doctor about before taking Soma:

Inform your doctor of any medical conditions including kidney disorders, allergies, liver disease, pregnancy, or breast-feeding.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to carisoprodol, meprobamate (Equanil, Meprospan, Miltown, Neuramate), or any other drugs.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

For Women: If you plan on becoming or become pregnant, talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of using Soma.

Tell Your Doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

Inform your doctor or pharmacist of any prescriptions and over-the-counter medicine you are taking such as medications for allergies, coughs, or colds; muscle relaxants; sedatives; sleeping pills; tranquilizers; and vitamins.

It is especially important that your doctor know if you are taking any of the following:

• Alcohol
• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants
• Tricyclic antidepressants such as
• amitriptyline (Elavil)
• amoxapine (Asendin)
• clomipramine (Anafranil)
• desipramine (Pertofrane)
• doxepin (Sinequan)
• imipramine (Tofranil)
• nortriptyline (Aventyl)
• protriptyline (Vivactil)
• trimipramine (Surmontil)

Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking any drugs that can make you sleepy such as other muscle relaxants, sleeping pills, tranquilizers, antidepressants, barbiturates or any phychotropic drugs.

Drug Interactions

Many drugs can increase the effects of Soma/Carisoprodol and lead to heavy sedation.

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)

codeine (Fiorinal, Fioricet, Tylenol #3, others)

sedatives such as

• phenobarbital (Solfoton, Luminal)
• amobarbital (Amytal)
• secobarbital (Seconal)

phenothiazines such as

• chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
• fluphenazine (Prolixin)
• mesoridazine (Serentil)
• perphenazine (Trilafon)
• prochlorperazine (Compazine)
• thioridazine (Mellaril)
• trifluoperazine (Stelazine)

antidepressants such as

• doxepin (Sinequan)
• imipramine (Tofranil)
• nortriptyline (Pamelor)
• fluoxetine (Prozac)
• paroxetine (Paxil)
• sertraline (Zoloft)
• phenelzine (Nardil)
• tranylcypromine (Parnate)

Other drugs that should not be combined with aspirin and Carisoprodol include

• steroids such as prednisone (Deltasone)
• oral antidiabetic drugs such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta)
• lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune)

Things to avoid while taking Soma

Using this medicine may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how Soma affects you.

Breast-feeding

Carisoprodol passes into the breast milk and may cause drowsiness or stomach upset in nursing babies.

Storing Soma

Store this medicine at room temperature, away from heat, light and children (not in the bathroom).

General Notes on Soma

While you are taking Soma, rising quickly from a sitting or lying position may cause dizziness or lightheadedness. Change positions slowly and use caution on stairs. Avoid activities requiring alertness if dizziness or drowsiness occurs.

Tell you doctor if you experience any muscle stiffness, rapid heart rate or difficulty urinating.

If you visit your dentist while taking Soma/Carisoprodol, tell them you are using this medicine.

If you have emergency care or surgery, tell them you using this medicine.

Alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.

If you are using this medicine for an extended period of time, obtain refills before your supply runs out.

Studies with Soma/ have been done only in adult patients. There is no specific information comparing use of this medicine in children with use in other age groups. However, carisoprodol has been used in children. It has not been reported to cause different side effects or problems in children than in adults.

Common Misspellings for Soma

Soma is often misspelled, as many people hear the word verbally, write it down and spell it incorrectly. Here are a few of the most common misspellings for Soma: Somma, Somia, Somas, Somes, and Somya.

Soma Feedback

We invite you to read what others say or add your comments below.

Most recent post: June 11, 2016

---

If you find this page useful share it with others. If you have used Soma, use the form below to add your review of Soma, feedback or suggestions that may help others. Please note that all addresses are held confidential.