It is available in the market in the strengths of 250 mg and 350 mg tablets. Carisoprodol is a crystalline, white powder with a bitter taste and mild odor. Other ingredients present in this drug are magnesium stearate, starch, alginic acid, potassium sorbate and tribasic calcium phosphate. Further, this drug is also available in combination with aspirin or codeine. Because of the presence of codeine, it is a scheduled drug. Soma and codeine are combined in two layered, oval, yellow and white pills while aspirin and soma are combined in two layered, round, lavender and white pills.
What is the mechanism of action of soma?
In animal studies, relaxation of muscles brought about by carisoprodol is related with changes in the interneuronal activity in the spinal cord and also in the descending reticular formation of the brain.It is a centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxer which does not directly relax skeletal muscles. Meprobamate, a metabolite of carisoprodol comes with sedative and anxiolytic properties.
If soma medicine is ingested in higher amounts than prescribed by the qualified medical practitioner, it causes giddiness, drowsiness and also relaxation. It is broken down into meprobamate, a schedule IV drug with a high abuse potential.
Abusers usually take this medication orally. Many a times, the abusers ingest it together with other medications to increase the effects of those medicines. This drug is frequently abused when taken in combination with the following medications:
- Codeine
- Heroin
- Alcohol
- Diazepam
- Hydrocodone – particularly vicodin
- Propoxyphene
- meprobamate
The combination of this drug with vicodin produces effects similar to those of heroin.
Soma pain medicine is abused by people of all age groups. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health data, 2,276,000 residents of the United States over the age of twelve years took soma for non-medical reasons at least once during their lifetime.
As per the law enforcement officers, young population residing in California and Arizona frequently obtains this medication at drug stores in Mexico. Carisoprodol is marketed in Mexico under the trade name Somacid. The prescriptions for somacid and soma can be bought from some pharmacists and doctors in Mexico.
This medication is usually safe when taken on the prescription of a medical practitioner and in the exact manner as recommended. However, people who abuse this drug may become psychologically addicted to it. Some of the common side effects linked with soma drug abuse include the following:
- Dizziness
- Lack of coordination
- Blurred vision
- Drowsiness
Some of the severe side effects of soma abuse are mentioned below:
- Depression
- Tightness in chest
- Chills
- Accelerated heartbeat
- Extreme weakness
- Vomiting
Dependency on this medication may also lead to the occurrence of withdrawal reactions if you abruptly discontinue taking it. The withdrawal symptoms include the following:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Abdominal cramps
- Insomnia
- Soma overdose
Many incidents of soma overdose have taken place in the setting of multiple drug overdoses that include illegitimate medications, drugs of abuse and also alcohol. The effects of an overdose of this drug as well as other CNS depressants, for example, benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, alcohol and opioids may be additive even when one of the medications has been ingested exactly as prescribed. Life-threatening accidental as well as non-accidental overdoses of this drug alone or when taken with CNS depressants have been reported. Soma pills are highly effective in dealing with muscle pain.
CNS depression is a common symptom of soma overdose. Other signs include the following:
- Respiratory depression
- Seizures
- Hypotension
- Delirium
- Coma
- Hallucinations
- Nystagmus
- Dystonic reactions
- Blurred vision
- Euphoria
- Rigidity
- Lack of muscular coordination
- Headache
Institution of basic life support measures is mandated by the clinical presentation of the soma overdosage. Induced emesis should not be done because of the risk of respiratory and CNS depression. It may lead to a higher risk of aspiration pneumonia. Gastric lavage may be considered within one hour of ingesting the medication. Circulatory support may be given along with vasopressor agents and volume infusion if required.
The treatment of seizures should be done with intravenous benzodiazepines while the reoccurrence of seizures should be treated with Phenobarbital. In incidents of serious CNS depression, airway protective reflexes should be compromised while tracheal intubation may be considered for respiratory support and airway protection.
The following treatments have been employed successfully with higher doses of meprobamate, a metabolite of this drug:
- Activated charcoal administered either orally or through nasogastric tube
- Peritoneal dialysis
- Forced diuresis
- Hemodialysis as carisoprodol is dialyzable
Urinary output should be carefully monitored and excess hydration should be avoided. You should watch out for signs of possible relapse because of delayed absorption and gastric emptying. Buy soma online if you do not want to miss a dose without venturing outdoors.
