SOMA - Some basic things to know

Soma is a muscle relaxant which blocks pain sensations from going to our brain. It is largely Carisoprodol which is present as a racemis mixture. Other ingredients include alginic acid, potassium sorbate, tribasic calcium phosphate and magnesium stearate.

While soma is originally a pain reliever and muscle relaxant, it is known to be habit forming and thus should be used strictly as prescribed. You may not use a higher dose than recommended or change scheduling originally set by your doctor.

Soma should not be given to people with a history of addiction. To be on the safe side, it should be kept in a secure place and only in amount needed.

It may have withdrawal effects if you have been taking the medication for too long. The symptoms are nausea, insomnia, seizure, and stomach pain. To avoid uneasiness and discomfort, you should never stop the usage of Soma abruptly. It is a good practice to discuss it with your doctor as soon as you think you no longer need the medicine, and then get rid of the medicine slowly.

While on treatment, avoid the use of alcohol, sleep inductive drugs, or relaxants other than doctor’s permission as they may intensify the effects and cause dizziness, or even unconsciousness.

Avoid taking Soma if you are allergic to any ingredient in it or if you’ve had problems such as liver or kidney disease, porphyria, epilepsy, or seizures. Informing your doctor of your case history will help him/her devise a dosage suitable for you or prescribe another drug in case Soma is not suitable for you.

Soma may affect an unborn child or harm him/her so tell your doctor in advance if you’re pregnant or plan on being pregnant any time soon. Your doctor should be informed if you are or plan to breastfeed your child while on treatment.