Questions posted in the The Addiction Forum have been answered by Steven Adelman, M.D. and by Richard C. Bozian M.D. F.A.C.P. of Harvard Vanguard Medical Group.

Question Title: soma/esgig

Forum: The Addiction Forum
Topic: Drugs

Posted by Travis on July 08, 1999 at 23:19:56

My father died a few years ago due to an overdose of the combination of soma and esgig ( it stoped his heart). I am wondering if his death is due to combining the two drugs or if he just took too many muscle relaxers. Another question I have is that he knew he had a very very severe prescription drug addiction and he was Getting to the point that he thought it would take his life. at that time he still had a refill on soma and he knew in the future that he would end up filling it and go on another binge. Therefore he told his father (my grandfather) to go to the pharmacy and tell the pharmacist that under NO condition he is to refill this prescription and he told the pharmacist about his addiction. The pharmacst said "ok" and posted a note in the computer. three days later my dad was found dead due to the overdose of the refill of that prescription.- The pharmacy still refilled my dad's prescription and did not pay any attention to the note in the computer. I am wondering if the pharmacy is at fault for his death at all and if what they did is legal. Please let me know.


Posted by SA, M.D. - HVMA on July 16, 1999 at 12:48:52


Dear Travis,

What a sad and unfortunate tale. As I am not a lawyer and not a medical malpractice expert, I wouldn't begin to venture an expert opinion about your question regarding liability. However, I would suggest to others in similar situations to be in contact with the prescribing physician and to have the prescribing physician contact the pharmacy in order to discontinue the medication and to prevent refills from being filled.

Soma, or carisoprodol, is metabolized by the body into meprobamate, which is a highly-addictive sedative-hypnotic. I have never understood why the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. has not classified carisoprodol as a controlled substance. People get into more trouble with it than they would otherwise because of this.

My condolences to you and your family.

DrSteve: http://www.drsteve.org

Keywords: Soma, carisoprodol, meprobamate




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