As we enter into the later part of 2019, some people, especially in the younger generation, have never even heard of carisoprodol, or “Soma”. It is a drug that was popular in the 80’s and 90’s for its sedative effects, but it has all but been replaced in terms of medical use and illegal abuse by modern benzodiazepines such as klonopin and xanax. Still, it is important to know about soma, especially if you are prone to addiction or know someone who is taking soma and is prone to addiction. It may be in your medicine cabinet just waiting to be abused by your son or daughter, and so it is important that you know the facts.
Soma, or carisoprodol, is a muscle relaxer that blocks pain sensations between the nerves and the brain. It is used in the treatment of skeletal muscle conditions or muscle injuries, and is known for it pain killing and sedative effects on the brain. The common side effects of taking soma are dizziness, drowsiness, increased clumsiness, headache, increased heart rate, nausea, vomiting, and skin rash. Other side effects can include euphoria, depression, temporary loss of consciousness, difficulty speaking, double vision, confusion and disorientation. It has a very intoxicating effect as a result of these side effects, making the potential for abuse and addiction strong.
“The therapeutic effect of Soma is effectively to interfere with pain sensation signaling that occur between peripheral pain receptors and certain areas of the central nervous system.” (The Effects of Soma Use). Many people who take soma find its sedative and intoxicating effects to be pleasant, which can lead to taking more of the drug for non-medical reasons. For this reason, soma is generally considered as a substance of potential abuse, and the chemical that soma metabolizes to, called meprobomate, is classified by the DEA as a schedule IV controlled substance.
In order to increase the intoxicating nature of soma, many users will combine it with other substances such as alcohol or opioids, which can be extremely dangerous and lead to overdose. Overdose on soma is categorized by symptoms with include chills, palpitations, vomiting, extreme sedation, difficulty breathing, shock and coma, and combining it with other substances can easily lead to death.
Because of its potential for abuse, soma is a potentially addictive drug, both physically and psychologically. Users who take the drug for extended periods of time may experience difficulty when they stop using the drug. This is because of the physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms that take place when a body and mind that is used to a drug’s presence suddenly has to adjust for an absence of the drug. Soma withdrawal has symptoms such as insomnia, vomiting, tremors, muscle twitching, anxiety, ataxia, hallucinations and delusions. If you know someone who is experiencing these symptoms, they may be addicted to soma, and may require immediate help to find relief.
Soma addiction, while not as common anymore, is still a problem, as is any other drug addiction, but it is important to know that there is a solution if you are addicted. Contact us, and we will fill you in on the best way to free yourself from a debilitating addiction.