Carisoprodol (Soma) Addiction, Side Effects & Treatment

Carisoprodol, also known by the brand name Soma, is a prescription skeletal muscle relaxant.
It is typically prescribed to relieve pain caused by muscle injuries like strains and sprains. This drug comes in tablet form and is taken by mouth, often several times a day when treating an injury. This medication is typically combined with physical therapy and other treatments in order to treat muscle pain. However, some people become addicted to carisoprodol and use it other than how it is intended.

Side Effects of Soma (Carisoprodol)

Carisoprodol causes muscle relaxation, sedation, and decreased anxiety. However, muscle relaxants like carisoprodol can also cause various unintended side effects. These side effects can become more severe, and even dangerous, when the drug is misused. The National Library of Medicine lists the following side effects of carisoprodol:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Increased clumsiness
• Headache
• Increased heart rate
• Upset stomach and vomiting
• Skin rash

Some side effects, like difficulty breathing, fever, weakness, or burning in the eyes, can indicate a severe reaction to carisoprodol and require immediate medical attention. The effects of carisoprodol generally set in within 30 minutes of taking the drug and generally last 4-6 hours.

Abusing carisoprodol can have many adverse effects on the body. The Drug Enforcement Administration lists the following physical effects:

• Agitation
• Irritability
• Depression
• Temporary loss of consciousness
• Tachycardia
• Hypotension
• Extreme weakness
• Cervical spine injury
• Difficulty speaking
• Temporary loss of vision
• Double vision
• Dilated pupils
• Euphoria
• Confusion
• Disorientation

These effects are typically short-lasting. However, continued abuse of the drug can cause permanent damage to the body. The heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and brain can all be adversely affected by abuse of prescription medications.

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Soma Addiction

According to Current Drug Abuse Reviews, carisoprodol causes addiction in similar ways to sedatives like benzodiazepines. This drug breaks down in the body to produce a metabolite called meprobamate, which can be addictive. People generally abuse carisoprodol for its relaxation and sedative effects.

Many people who become addicted to this drug were originally prescribed the medication by a doctor to treat an injury or other muscle pain. Some people who take the drug become addicted. Chances of becoming addicted to prescription medications increases if they are misused; if individuals attempt to self-treat muscle pain by taking larger doses than prescribed, or using the drug in ways other than how it is intended, they are more likely to become addicted to the substance.

Other people may first acquire carisoprodol through illicit means. Some people take this medication with other illicit substances in order to augment or enhance the effects. Because carisoprodol is relatively easy to acquire, abuse of this substance has increased in recent years, and physical dependence on the drug has become more common. OASAS reports that carisoprodol abuse has climbed in recent years, and in 2007, the rates of abuse were similar to rates of abuse for controlled substances like Klonopin and Librium.

Symptoms of Soma Withdrawal

Many people who are addicted to carisoprodol are physically dependent on this medication. Physical dependence occurs when the body becomes accustomed to a certain drug and then requires the drug in order to function normally. Once physical dependence occurs, the individual will experience a withdrawal syndrome whenever lessening or stopping use of the substance. Current Drug Abuse Reviews lists the following symptoms of carisoprodol withdrawal:

• Insomnia
• Vomiting
• Tremors
• Muscle twitching
• Anxiety
• Ataxia (loss of control over body movements)
• Hallucinations
• Delusions

Signs of Soma Addiction

Addiction to prescription medications like carisoprodol can affect every area of an individual’s life. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states that addiction is an enduring, relapsing brain disease that leads to drug-seeking and using behaviors despite negative consequences. Those suffering from addiction will find that much of their time is spent thinking about, acquiring, and using the addictive substance. They may spend less time with friends and family and stop participating in things they once enjoyed. Addiction can quickly lead to the deterioration of overall quality of life.

Sometimes, individuals may not realize they have a problem with drugs. Some symptoms of prescription drug abuse and addiction can be observed by friends and family, including the following:

• Stealing or forging prescriptions
• Taking higher doses than prescribed
• Unexplained mood swings or excessive hostility
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Appearing to have much more or less energy than usual
• Claiming to have lost prescriptions, so new ones must be written
• Seeking prescriptions from multiple doctors

Drug use that interferes with daily functioning is a sign that you may be suffering from an addiction. Use of carisoprodol should be carefully monitored to prevent physical dependence and abuse. If you’re concerned about your carisoprodol use, talk to the prescribing physician. Your physician may want to screen you for physical dependence and other issues. If an addiction is present, a referral to a mental health professional or treatment center may be given.

Treating Carisoprodol Addiction

If your physician believes you have become addicted to carisoprodol and you wish to stop using the drug, your doctor will instruct you to begin tapering your dosage. Tapering off carisoprodol, rather than stopping use suddenly, helps to avoid severe withdrawal symptoms. Completely tapering off carisoprodol usually takes at least a week.

Addiction involves more than physical dependence on a drug. Some people may experience withdrawal from carisoprodol but are not addicted to it, and they will not compulsively seek out and use the substance. Others, however, develop an addiction, which requires treatment beyond detox. Your physician can refer you to a therapist or addiction specialist.

There are currently no FDA-approved medications to treat addiction to muscle relaxants like carisoprodol. Talk therapy is the main method of treatment for this type of addiction. Individual and group therapy, as well as self-help and support groups, can all be useful in recovering from carisoprodol addiction.

Many different methods of behavioral therapy have been shown to be effective in treating addiction. Therapy, regardless of the particular methods used, is intended to provide clients with support and ways of coping that will help them avoid future drug use.

Addiction Recovery

Carisoprodol can be an effective medication in the treatment of various injuries and diseases; however, it does have abuse potential. Some people who begin using this medication for legitimate purposes can become physically dependent on the drug and may develop an addiction.

Addiction to prescription medications is a common problem, but treatment works. Many options are available for addiction treatment. The most effective treatment plans are tailored to meet individual needs; what works for one person may not work for another. Therapy offered through residential or outpatient programs, combined with group therapy and support groups, can restore individuals to balanced and happy lives.