Soma
What is Soma?
What does Soma look like?
How is Soma abused?
Soma, a trade name for the prescription
drug carisoprodol, is a
muscle relaxant legitimately prescribed
to relieve pain from muscle
injuries and spasms. When taken in
dosages exceeding those recommended
by physicians, Soma causes
drowsiness, giddiness, and relaxation.
Soma is metabolized into
meprobamate, a Schedule IV drug
with a potential for abuse.
Soma is available as a 350-
milligram tablet. The round, convex,
white tablets are inscribed with SOMA
on one side and 37 WALLACE 2001
on the other. Soma also is available in
tablet form combined with codeine or
aspirin. Soma and codeine are combined
in oval, two-layered, white and
yellow tablets inscribed with SOMA
CC on one side and WALLACE 2403
on the other—because of the codeine,
this tablet is scheduled. Soma and
aspirin are combined in round, twolayered,
white and lavender tablets
inscribed with Par 246.
Abusers typically ingest Soma
orally. Many abusers take it in combination
with other drugs to enhance
the effects of those drugs. Alcohol,
codeine, diazepam, heroin,
hydrocodone (especially Vicodin),
Who abuses Soma?
What are the risks?
Meprobamate, and propoxyphene
commonly are abused in combination
with Soma. Abusers who combine Soma
with Vicodin claim that this combination
produces effects similar to those of
heroin.
Individuals of all ages abuse Soma.
Data reported in the National Survey on
Drug Use and Health indicate that
2,276,000 U.S. residents aged 12 and
older used Soma nonmedically at least
once in their lifetime.
Law enforcement officers indicate
that youths living in Arizona and
California often obtain carisoprodol at
pharmacies in Mexico. Carisoprodol is
sold in Mexico under the brand name
Somacid. Prescriptions for Soma and
Somacid can be purchased from some
doctors and pharmacists in Mexico.
Soma is generally safe when prescribed
by a physician and used as
directed. However, individuals who
abuse Soma can develop psychological
addictions to the drug.
Common side
effects of Soma abuse include blurred
vision, dizziness, drowsiness, and loss
of coordination. More serious side
effects include chills, depression, racing
heartbeat, tightness in chest, vomiting,
and unusual weakness. Withdrawal
symptoms associated with Soma
dependency include abdominal cramps,
Is it illegal to abuse Soma?
headache, insomnia, and nausea.
Signs that an overdose has occurred
include difficulty in breathing, shock,
and coma. A Soma overdose may result
in death.
Yes, abusing Soma is illegal. Reports
of Soma abuse have resulted in a
number of states scheduling Soma
as a controlled substance. States that
have taken this action are Alabama,
Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia,
Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota,
New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, and
West Virginia. Soma is not scheduled
at the federal level. However, reports of
Soma abuse are being monitored by
the Drug Enforcement Administration,
and Soma could be listed under
the Controlled Substances Act if
warranted.
