medical question - who knows anything about soma?

[Lindsey]

It's a muscle relaxer and I take it for back pain but I also seem to get a buzz - is this normal and what are the long-term negative side effects?

[Catch22Dem]

1. Soma?

Isn't that the drug from Brave New World?

[wtmusic]

2. Soma as in Brave New World Soma?

Mmm. Does it make you want to have casual sex with anyone?

[Lindsey]

3. I haven't read Brave New world

I just need to know if it's going to cause me medical harm regarding long=term effect (side effects).

[wtmusic]

4. I'd be surprised if any legit prescription drug was called 'Soma'

It was basically heavy duty Prozac that made everything OK and everyone horny. Someone in Marketing is asleep at the switch.

[liberalnurse]

13. Soma has been around a long time.

Typically used in combination with an analgesic.It is a relaxant of the skeletal muscles....Another brand name is Meprobamate.

[pink_poodle]

5. I thought it was the drug they gave the masses to make them..........

complacent in Brave New World.

[madrchsod]

6. ahhhh

this "might" help..<http://www.somaweb.org/>

[deek]

7. It's not really a muscle relaxer in the strict sense

It doesn't relax the muscles. It's more of a sensory buffer. I've taken Soma off and on for years. No side effects that I'm aware of aware of aware of (stupid little joke).

Never really got a buzz from it, but it made my friend very loopy. Get the generic. It's alot cheaper.

http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/rxdrugprofiles/drugs/som1409.shtml

http://www.medicinenet.com/carisoprodol/article.htm

[Lindsey]

10. What's a sensory buffer?

I've been taking it for my back.

[AlienGirl]

8. It is indeed a legit prescription drug

It's a powerful muscle relaxant and it metabolizes into a tranquilizer (that's why you get the buzz from it). It has the really interesting side effect of disinhibiting some people--they may say or do things that they wouldn't normally think of doing.

Long-term, the big worry is addiction--soma, like lots of tranquilizers, can be addictive.

I believe it was named after an herbal remedy from India, as was the drug in _Brave New Wrld_.

Tucker

[OneBlueSky]

9. I take it several times a day to supplement other pain meds . . .

other than making you drowsy and a little weak-kneed at times, there seem to be no significant side effects . . .

[Melsky]

11. In brave new world, their slogan was

a gram is better than a damn

as in, don't worry, just take some soma

[silverweb]

12. Soma Compound...

...is a muscle relaxant that is very effective in combination with pain killers for acute musculoskeletal conditions (such as back problems). Yes, it will give you a bit of a buzz at first, but if you take it for any length of time, that should go away.

Direct from the PDR:

=====
Indications
Carisoprodol is indicated as an adjunct to rest, physical therapy, and other measures for the relief of discomfort associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions. The mode of action of this drug has not been clearly identified, but may be related to its sedative properties. Carisoprodol does not directly relax tense skeletal muscles in man.

Warnings
Idiosyncratic Reactions --On very rare occasions, the first dose of carisoprodol has been followed by idiosyncratic symptoms appearing within minutes or hours. Symptoms reported include: extreme weakness, transient quadriplegia, dizziness, ataxia, temporary loss of vision, diplopia, mydriasis, dysarthria, agitation, euphoria, confusion, and disorientation. Symptoms usually subside over the course of the next several hours. Supportive and symptomatic therapy, including hospitalization, may be necessary.

Potentially Hazardous Tasks --Patients should be warned that this drug may impair the mental and/or physical abilities required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks such as driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery.

Additive Effects --Since the effects of carisoprodol and alcohol or carisoprodol and other CNS depressants or psychotropic drugs may be additive, appropriate caution should be exercised with patients who take more than one of these agents simultaneously.
=====

It's a reasonably safe medication, taken as directed. If you have any persistent side effects, of course, stop taking it and call your doctor.

[ClintonTyree]

14. I take it daily.................

each night before bed (sometimes during the day if I become too stiff to move). My pain managemant doctor swears by it. It does relax me to the point where I can get maybe 3 or 4 hours of uninterupted sleep. I have severe, chronic back pain ever since I had a spinal fusion 4 years ago. Soma in combination with Norco, is the only way I can lead any sort of "normal" life (that is, getting out of bed and moving around). I've taken it for about a year now and have had no residual side affects.