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Avatar universal

Soma is 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...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...
38 Responses
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Avatar universal
Soma did not used to be a narcotic. It is a fast acting skeletal muscle relaxer. Usually taking effect in 15 minutes. It does tend to make the patient a little drunk feeling for around 30 minutes then that feeling is over. As for muscle relaxers all have the potential for abuse and if you take to many at one time you just may end up not breathing and die due to the fact that it is our skeletal muscles that make our lungs function. Soma has been abused over the years till the FDA classified it as a low class narcotic, just like Sudafed is now monitored due to people abusing it and not taking it for what it was meant for (I have allergies and since early childhood) so I suffer from severe sinus headaches till I am allowed to get more. I have severe cervical and thoracic spinal problems and after being put on numerous muscle relaxers, Soma is the only thing that manages my back problems. Yes I also take narcotic pain medications. I also have taken these medications for 12 years now. If I miss a dose I do not have withdraw symptoms. It is a few who look for what they call a buzz who ruin it for everyone else who actually need these medications. Lastly I have worked in healthcare (nursing home) for 26 years. Without my medication I am unable to walk down the middle of the hall without staggering due to the issues with my cervical spine. We would not have this problem if people would not abuse medications. I know, that will never stop. So in the mean time the ones who need these medications will just suffer...
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Avatar universal
Many years ago, I took Soma...I almost died.  I had been taking it for years, and one day I took it, and I turned bright red, got itchy and ran to the emergency room.  My throat closed.  Be careful, I don't know what kind of drug it is I just know it's a drug that's dangerou!!!!
Helpful - 0
5944308 tn?1396478749
If you go to drugs . com It is not listed as a narcotic. I personally know alot of people who can take alot of it and come of CT with no problem.... and just to let you know drugs website is not state based. I never got high off the stuff I hated soma because im one to want energy not relaxed feeling. and Yes I know that a high can be relaxed or energy feeling,
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Avatar universal
Lost my brother to his abuse of this and combining it with other pain killers.  He was an addict so no whining and excuses here. He told me Soma was just a sleep agent.  I never checked it out.  After his death, I looked this up on the web and could not believe the BLACK BOX  warnings about this drug.  His doc was a friend of his and prescribed whatever he wanted anytime, any day.  I just read about how cocktailing this with other painkillers and booze was so toxic=== I can't believe he survived until 49 years old.  He did this for years and I want to skewer his friend/doctor for giving him unlimited access to these drugs but it will not bring him back.  I love you brother.  Almost 3 years and it still hurts.
Helpful - 0
5348581 tn?1366825550
I used to be big into Somas, and they are no joke. I am in treatment for opiate addiction and if I couldn't find any pain pills, Somas was an alternative. I would take 4 at a time just to get the high and now I realize how lucky I am to be alive. thought I would share that
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A narcotic is, simply stated, any drug that numbs or deadens. Cocaine is considered a narcotic but the term is mostly associated with opiates.

I think the best advice given above is to call a pharmacist for questions. The active metabolite in Soma IS Meprobamate. Meprobamate is highly addictive.
These are true statements, previously posted by my mayberry.

Also, if anyone has any doubt about Soma as an addictive drug, please do your research...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I worry about the misinformation being shared here. If you have any doubts, call a pharmacist. Soma is NOT a narcotic; however, it IS a controlled substance due to its propensity to be addictive. Someone mentioned that Meprobromate is the active ingredient in Soma. NOT TRUE. There is no Meprobromate in Soma, and Meprobromate is NOT a controlled substance, nor is it addictive. The active ingredient in Soma is Carisoprodol. Some claim that Soma potentiates narcotic pain meds, but that is not really the case. Basically, it's just the combo of two euphoric highs making one feel even more high. It's a shame that Soma has been abused to the point that Drs no longer like to prescribe it because it is by far the single best muscle relaxant on the market, especially for tension and occipital headaches.
Helpful - 0
3197167 tn?1348968606
As of Jan 2012, Soma was reclassified by the FDA as a controlled substance.
I took Soma for yrs for back pain....I LOVED it too much.....got addicted to it......my dr told me after she weaned me off benzos (but I was still taking hydros for severe back issues) that she didn't want to prescribe the Soma any longer to me because it "chemically" breaks down like a benzo.

I didn't have as severe w/drawals getting off Soma as I did Xanex, but I surely went thru w/drawals.  Many dr's are NOT prescribing Soma now for the above reasons and are instead prescribing Flexeril.....for me, today...
I'm chosing to be clean from ALL meds and re-evaluate my pain once I've healed for awhile longer.

Helpful - 0
4722421 tn?1360708571
I remember the first time I took Soma, I was like "wow! this is awesome! I can finally sleep with this horrible back pain and wake up feeling fresh." Then I had to take it 3x a day for almost all of 2012 due to cervical and lumbar spine problems and it was VERY habit forming. I would say with any medication, please proceed with caution. I stopped taking it CT along with my other meds and not sure if Soma caused my WDs but it took me a couple of weeks of misery before I started to feel human again. Just saying....

Glad to know it helps people (it sure did for me when I was in bed with all my muscles in spasms for months) but also very grateful to not have to take it. Again, take with caution.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been taking soma and atavan now for a few months. 500mg soma and 2 mg atavan together. Every six hours or so...not so much for the physical pain I have... but emotional pain. Don't know how much more of this stress I can endure. There is a violent man child in our home. And the taking of these medication s lessons the emotional pain I am enduring. For a while....can't wait till he is gone.
Helpful - 0
4775557 tn?1359034681
soma is good if you are taking in a controlled manner but the thing is anything can be dangerous if you will not take that according to dose. I really appreciate that you took a good step to aware of your experience but do not neglected if needed. As it could be life saver also.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I agree with you about Soma.  I have four herniated disks in the neck,and nerve palsy in my dominant shoulder. Also lumbar disk & hip degeneration.
I take soma during the day, only if I am in spasm.  I take one at night, which eases the spasms, in my neck & shoulder & allows me to sleep. Occasionally I will need a second after four or five hours.
I think any drug can be addictive , if you have that type of personality.  My Drs.  Know I will not abuse it.  It is a lifesaver for me.  
Helpful - 0
2179793 tn?1337666922
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 words just a doorway back into a place........
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Soma is not a narcotic.Anyone that tells you it is doesn't know what there talking about.A true narcotic is an opiod which comes directly from the opium poppy.There are also synthetic narcotics such as oxycodone and dilaudid.The DEA classifies some other highy abused drugs that are not opiates as narcotics.Soma is not a narcotic or federally controlled drug.
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Avatar universal
Jim~  I remember when you did that!     So,what happened with the CT scan? Still having headaches?
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1135275 tn?1586565652
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.
Helpful - 0
176495 tn?1301280412

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
Helpful - 0
1135275 tn?1586565652
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.
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1135275 tn?1586565652
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)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
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. :-(
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
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
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
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.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
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   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..
Helpful - 0
171791 tn?1358214381
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.  
Helpful - 0
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