Soma is a narcotic???

[road2recovery]

i didn't know that either...but you know what i am glad you let everyone know that..i cannot take them..i have out of body experiences..And i think most OD's are because most pain management patients take both at the same time..So if it is a narcotic then they are taking twice the amount they think they are.
i know someone that was in the hospital 3 times from OD'ing..She goes to pain managment and takes both..She probably takes 15 to 20 lortabs a day, and she told me she likes somas more than lortabs, so knowing this now , i think that is why she oded..
It is good to make everyone aware of how strong soma's are..I have heard people say that is is like a SOMA COMA...thanks for the info jen
R2R

[lady_m]

R2R - I know, I was clueless, and I still have some in the house.  Remember the other night I had a really bad/weird reaction after taking it?  You told me about the soma coma, now it makes sense.  I had never been told it was a narcotic.  No idea.  None.

I don't know, Shel.  I wondered the same thing about having the same effect.  When my back gets really bad I still take a muscle relaxer occasionally.  Now I know I won't be taking Soma.

[lady_m]

I must have pasted it twice when I copied it... ooops!

I have been on my share of pain killers and muscle relaxers, including Soma.  I was talking to someone and they said Soma was a narcotic.  I didn't think so, so I looked it up and found this:

Soma
Soma (generic name carisoprodol) is a narcotic muscle relaxer more cautiously prescribed than other muscle relaxers, especially if a patient is taking narcotic pain medication.

Cautions: Soma is metabolized by the liver and excreted by the kidney, thus caution should be taken if patient has compromised kidney or liver functioning. This is important to avoid the excess accumulation of the drug in the body. Soma is a narcotic and should not be taken in conjunction with alcohol, psychotropic drugs or central nervous system depressants.

I didn't know it was a narcotic...I have been on my share of pain killers and muscle relaxers, including Soma.  I was talking to someone and they said Soma was a narcotic.  I didn't think so, so I looked it up and found this:

Soma
Soma (generic name carisoprodol) is a narcotic muscle relaxer more cautiously prescribed than other muscle relaxers, especially if a patient is taking narcotic pain medication.

Cautions: Soma is metabolized by the liver and excreted by the kidney, thus caution should be taken if patient has compromised kidney or liver functioning. This is important to avoid the excess accumulation of the drug in the body. Soma is a narcotic and should not be taken in conjunction with alcohol, psychotropic drugs or central nervous system depressants.

I didn't know it was a narcotic...

[shelby74]

I did not think it was either - it does not have the same affect on the brain chemically wise - does it??

[tzt2lady]

Wow!  I had no idea!   I have taken them for months at a time and then stopped without ANY wds!  HMMMM!   Interesting.
Thanks for the info.
tzt

[beach777]

Soma is carispropodal and it is only a Schedule IV, not opiod related. It does how some "buzz" effects and it is a strong muscle relaxer but it is not addicting.  It is an old muscle relaxer and a commonly requested drug by "drug seekers" per my brother the Dr. Translation, I wouldn't take it, but I wouldn't freak out either......no w/d.....just a doorway back into a place you don't want to go.

[lady_m]

Yeah, it is something that is good to know.  Now that I know I can stick to the other non-narcotic ones.  I know it's not the same, but it''s too close for me personally.  In fact the reason I was prescribed Soma is because I asked for that one - knowing a lot of drug users used it in combination with vicodin for the buzz.

[swany]

Hi everyone,

It's Swany.  I've been posting on here for a couple of days now.  I am an RN.  I have my Nursing Drug Handbook and Soma is NOT a narcotic.  It's listed under Skeletal muscle relaxants.  Generic name:  Carisoprodol.  Available tabs:  350mg.  Indications & Dosages:  for adjunctive treatment for acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions.....Adults - 350mg PO t.i.d (which is three times a day) and h.s. (which is at bedtime).  Action:  Unknown  Appears to modify central perception of pain without modifying pain reflexes.  Muscle relaxant effects may be related to sedative properties.   OK.......It does increase CNS (central nervous system) depression when used with other CNS depressants.  Don't use with alcohol.  It does say to not stop using abruptly because it may cause mild withdrawal effects such as insomnia, h/a, nausea and abdominal cramps and last but not least may be habit-forming.

Whew...............just wanted to let you guys know what was in my drug book.  So although it isn't a narcotic, it CAN be habit-forming and may cause mild w/d sysmptoms if stopped abrubtly.

Hope that helped.  Didn't mean to poke my nose in,  just wanted to help.

Swany :)

[Mangee]

"Technically"  is the key word that is used when someone is unsure. Point...It either is or isn't. There is no middle ground when it comes to any drug. Drug companies use the words "May cause, There is a possibility,"  etc. This way they cover all bases. It's like saying that allergies may or may not be caused by......! When there is no exact emphasis on anything then it is open to question.

[lady_m]

I'm confused.  After reading your post I called a pharmacist.  He said Soma is technically listed as a narcotic...?

[lady_m]

I told him there was a discussion of whether it was or wasn't and he said "yes, it is techically listed (I think he actually said 'classified') as a narcotic".  He didnt sound unsure, he just sounded like he was saying what it is actually/technically classified as.

[somaangel]

I've been taken to the hospital 3 times because people have seen me in my Soma Coma...only do I wake up in the hospital going what? As we know the Soma does wear off

[peanut93]

what amount is the most someone has taken that is addicted to soma

[SHELLBELL79]

Soma itself is not a narcotic.  I used to take it for years. Soma Compound is a narcotic b/c it contains codiene. Soma is a very stong muscle relaxer. It says that it is not addicting but you can become dependant on it. I used to take a lot of it in the past 2 years and haven't taken it in almost a year. I never had w/d's from it and am 29 and took it since I was 18 for debilitating migraines and Interstitial cystis and vulvodynia. The reason I stopped taking it was b/c I was taking way too much for it to work, which is very dangerous. I know a lot of people that OD on them. I know people that have taken 20 to 30 somas...reg. soma's w/o the codiene. Doctors don't really perscribe it much anymore b/c people abuse it so much, like qualudes. I have asked many pharm. and Doctors about soma.

[nuggetone]

thanks swany for clearing these people.  SOMA is not a narcotic.  It does have a benzo metabolite but it is NOT a narcotic.  I have had back surgery and my nuerosurgeon prescibes these.  I have to have surgery again.  If it werent for soma I could not get any relief as every narcotic makes me sick to the point I puke!!!!!!!!!!!!  It is addicting if you have a addictive personality so to speak anything can be addicting.  I know one that takes 10 at a time cause she is so addictive.  She has done this for at least 12 yrs and yes she gets into that soma coma as earlier said.  I use them to relieve the muscle spasms and pain and to get rest.  I take 2 at 5:oopm and 2 at 9:00pm.  I work during the day and do not take anything.  But after my work this is the only way I get relief.  Sure I hurt at work but I cant take them due to side effects which all meds have.  SO I dont know where these people get info that is incorrect.  Read your litature that comes with your meds.  They can show positive for benzo's on drug screen because of the benzo metabolite.  FYI  any feedback is appreciated.  

[isis196340]

soma actually is a narcotic.  year ago it wasnt.. but due to abuse about 12 years ago is started a class as a narcotic. My doc and I have talked about it.  I have lupus and fibromylgia (fibromyalgia)   and bad disc from accident and osteoarthrits.    . so I have taken hydro for 7 years, soma (this time for 3) hate taking pills.  they dont work well at all any more no mater what the dose..my doc told me its because my body is so used to them,  I have become dependent it is physical and mental,  i do fins the soma helps me relax from the terrible nervousness you feel when you are out of hydro.  it makes it easier.  im going to get in to pain management .. doc tells me too but hate to get anything stronger. dealing with this is bad enough!!  good luck to all..

[midnightdoc]

My dad took soma for 16 years and had to go to drug rehab for 6 weeks I believe to get off of it. That's the most he has ever missed going to church. Anyone can get addicted to it whether it is a narcotic or not.

[NautyOne]

its not a narcotic and be stopped CT.........I took it for years and lots of it back in the day and did not need to taper.  If you don't have it, you dont' need it.......I know some say you must taper off.......well, I'm living proof you don't.  I survived no problem with no withdrawal.  Just don't leave a bottle with me...........

Nauty..........

Bty.......you can get addicted to anything.  Even tanning......lol

[Ufcfan1972]

Soma is a muscle relaxer NOT a narcotic. You dont get high taking Soma by itself. However, if you take Soma with a narcotic like Percocet or Lortab it makes the "high" effect 4 times stronger than without the Soma. In other words it increases the intensity of the narcotic you take with it. Think about this: you will not fail a drug test when you take Soma????? You do not get physically dependent on Somas by themself ???? Its been labeled since it intensifies OTHER narcotics! They do have a benefit of having like a "xanax" agent in them. It is a VERY good muscle relaxer. Overtaking them you WILL die even more so than a narcotic pain pill because your heart is a muschle and over taking Soma will cause the heart to relax so much that it stops working. :-(

[my_mayberry]

yes some people DO get high from soma. thats incorrect information. most states do not have this as a controlled substance...however, it's active metabolite, MEPROBAMATE, is a controlled substance. meprobamate is the generic name for Miltown, a drug HIGHLY abused during its peak....why? because it acts on the same receptors as benzodiazepines and barbiturates....so yes indeed, soma can be VERY addicting and form both a psychological and physical dependency. that being said, not everyone enjoys its high. infact, some people don't even get high from it...just as some people can't stand opiates and do not get high from them (like myself)....

i know this post is old but i'd hate for anyone to suffer under the misinformation that this drug is not dangerous. indeed, it may as well be considered a barbiturate because of the blanket effect it has on the entire CNS....even though chemically it isn't. to say this drug isn't addicting is to also say drugs like seconal, nembutal, valium, and xanax are not addicting. they all effect the same receptor sites (although they do go about it slightly differently)

[my_mayberry]

oh and also...anyone saying this doesn't need a taper is unfortunately giving VERY poor advice. just ask your doctor and they'll disagree that this med can be done cold turkey. seizures are a very real possibility.

[Beargizmo]

I was taking SOMA recently to help with tension headaches/neck pain while taking Aleve.  When that didn't help my doctor's PA gave me fiorocett and I mentioned that I was also taking SOMA.. big whoops...I was walking around bumping into walls, fell  down the stairs twice and couldn't carry on a lucid conversation..out both of them went..after a kind soul on here pointed out the danger of combining the 2 as they both go for the same receptors in the brain....down the terlet they went.

But I've also been on SOMA for extended periods for back spasms and quit CT with no problems.


Jim

[my_mayberry]

yes...taking fioricet and soma together is a scary thought...particularly if you were to have taken either one in excess. its surprising really that they prescribed them together without so much as a warning.

[vicki595]

Jim~  I remember when you did that!     So,what happened with the CT scan? Still having headaches?