While it does not work to directly relax tense skeletal muscle, Soma is a centrally acting musculoskeletal relaxant. Rather, it’s sedative effects decrease the severe muscle spasm.
Usually, Soma is prescribed as just one component of a pain-management regimen, which may also include rest, physical therapy and other strategies to help alleviate pain associated with severe musculoskeletal conditions. Soma may be contraindicated in those suffering from acute porphyria or who are allergic to carisoprodol or meprobamate related compounds.
Soma has the risk of causing dependence as well as a number of side effects. Most importantly, patients should realize that Soma has sedative properties which may make it hazardous for the user to drive or operate other machinery. Until the user can evaluate the full effect of this medication on his/her performance, care should be taken when doing these things.
There is definitely a chance of becoming dependent on Soma. Extreme caution should be exercised when prescribing Soma for people who have abused substances in the past. Extreme weakness, dizziness, temporary vision loss, agitation, confusion and disorientation are other side effects that may occur with use of this drug. Symptoms usually vanish within a few hours, but the patient may have to stay in the hospital for a short time to help manage the effects.
It has not yet been determined whether or not it is safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding to use Soma, so the use of this drug may not be wise for women who may become pregnant, who already are pregnant or who are breastfeeding. It has also been demonstrated that the concentration of Soma in users’ breast milk has a concentration two to four times that found in maternal plasma. It is not recommended that breastfeeding mothers use this product.
Some rare instances of seizures have been reported in patients who were using Soma, and this includes patients with a prior history of seizures and those without any such history. Furthermore, you should be aware of the fact that the kidneys metabolize and excrete Soma. This helps prevent excess accumulation in the body. For that reason, extreme caution should be exercised with administering Soma to patients with diminished liver or kidney function.
Tachycardia, flushing of the face, vertigo, dizziness, syncope, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, and more, are other side effects that may occur when taking the drug.
When someone overdoses on Soma, the central nervous system declines and the person can slip into a coma. An overdose can lead to shock, respiratory decline, seizures, and in a few cases, even death. Should any of the following symptoms occur, patients should obtain immediate medical assistance: blurred vision, tachycardia, euphoria, respiratory depression, headache, hallucination, confusion, muscular incoordination, or rigidity of the muscles.