Soma: History, Uses, Side Effects, and Withdrawal

Soma is popular brand name skeletal muscle relaxant prescribed for pain management. But how safe and reliable is this drug?

History

The original creation of Soma took place in early 1959, by Dr. Frank M. Berger, in association with Wallace Laboratories. The drug, Carisoprodol by scientific name, was created in hopes of establishing a superior antiseptic. In June of 1959, several Pharmacologists met at Detroit, Michigan's Wayne State University to study and discuss the new drug. It was then realized that while Carisoprodol did have minor antiseptic qualities, its ability to treat pain and relaxed muscles outweighed the creator's original intent.

Carisoprodol was soon introduced to the United States market under the brand name, Soma, and most of Europe as the brand names, Sanoma and Carisoma.

In July of 2002, the State of Florida declared Soma to be a Schedule CIV Controlled Substance, due to its overwhelming potential to produce addiction, dangerous side effects, and an extreme withdrawal period sometimes resulting in death.

As of 2007, Carisoprodol was taken off the Swedish market, due to increasing reports of addiction, side effects, and frightening withdrawal.

Uses

Along with all brand name Carisoprodol drugs, Soma is solely prescribed for management of pain. Carisoprodol medications are sometimes prescribed alone, but more often in conjunction with opioid narcotic pain killing drugs, such as Lortab, Oxycontin, and even Methadone.

Soma is a muscle relaxant and is used to treat a wide variety of painful conditions, from a pulled muscle to slipped disks and even cancer.

Due to its newly found dangers and potential for creating addiction, many physicians have grown wary of prescribing Soma. Many pain patients are now required to visit a Pain Management Specialist in order to receive this powerful muscle relaxant.

Side Effects

Carisoprodol medications offer a wide array of unpleasant side effects, including: euphoria, loss of motor functions, periods of amnesia or "black out", seizure, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, inability to think clearly, slurred speech, a false sense of well being, headache, mood swings, inability to walk, loss of control over limbs, impaired judgment, loss of appetite, extreme appetite, sleepiness, drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, hallucination, fatigue, sore throat, fever, slow and weak heart beat, respiratory depression and shallow breathing, and lack of concentration.

High doses or overdose of Carisoprodol drugs cause extremely dangerous side effects, including: periods of amnesia or "black out", passing out or a loss of consciousness, very weak and slow heart beat, shallow breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, and even death.

Withdrawal

While the physical and psychological addictive qualities of Soma and all Carisoprodol drugs has long been argued, it is only recently becoming clear within the medical community and general public just how dangerous and potentially life-threatening these drugs really are.

Withdrawal symptoms of Carisoprodol drugs include: seizure, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, heavy sweating, muscle and joint pain, "creepy crawly" feeling in arms and legs, paranoia, loss of appetite, insomnia, fatigue, impaired judgment, inability to concentrate or think clearly, irrational behavior, nightmares, chills, flu-like symptoms, weakness, dehydration, depression, and even thoughts of suicide.

Physicians estimate that as little as two weeks of use of Carisoprodol drugs can create a physical and psychological addiction and dependence within users. Even patients following their prescriber's dosing instructions are at risk when using these drugs.

Individuals wishing to stop their intake of Carisoprodol drugs are advised to seek immediate medical help before stopping or changing their daily dosing habits. A medically supervised "taper" (a "taper plan" is the commitment to a gradual reduction in intake, over the period of several weeks or even months, depending upon history of use) is the recommended course of action for Soma users, as sudden change or decrease in use will begin the onset of acute withdrawal symptoms, which are potentially life-threatening.

Carisoprodol drugs have become an increasingly popular street drug over recent years, contributing to the current prescription drug epidemic. Users and dealers will often "doctor shop", or visit various physicians until one agree to prescribe their desired drug, in order to obtain a prescription for Soma. Others may send injured or ill family members or friends to receive a prescription on their behalf.

Sadly, Soma remains available for sale on most internet pharmacies, without a prior prescription.

What is being done about the dangers of Carisoprodol drugs? Very little, unfortunately. Florida is currently the only state to declare Soma a Controlled Substance, while the Drug Enforcement Agency still believes these drugs to be safe.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/carisoprodol

http://www.drugs.com/pdr/soma.html