Soma Directions For Use

Generic Name: Carisoprodol

Soma is a muscle relaxant. It works by blocking nerve impulses (or pain sensations) that are sent to your brain. Codeine is a pain reliever. Codeine is in a class of drugs called narcotic analgesics and it works by changing the way your body feels pain. Soma is used, along with rest and physical therapy, to treat injuries and other painful muscular conditions.

Do not take Soma if you have acute intermittent porphyria. Codeine is habit forming and should only be used under close supervision if you have an alcohol or drug addiction.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, liver disease, an ulcer in your stomach or intestines, a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder, urinary retention, an enlarged prostate, hypothyroidism, a head injury, or Addison's disease.

You may not be able to take Soma, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above. Do not take aspirin and Soma without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. Do not take aspirin and Soma without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Soma is not approved for use in children younger than 12 years of age.

Take Soma exactly as directed by your doctor. Take each dose with a full glass of water. The maximum amount of Soma you should take in one day is 1600 mg of carisoprodol, 2600 mg of aspirin, and 128 mg of codeine (eight tablets).

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Soma may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.

Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking Soma. Also, in combination with aspirin, alcohol can be very damaging to your stomach. Do not share Soma with others for whom it was not prescribed, since they may have a problem that is not effectively treated by this drug.

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Soma and seek emergency medical attention:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives); paralysis (loss of feeling) or extreme weakness; vision loss; agitation or tremor; red, black, or bloody stools; or blood in your vomit.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Soma and talk to your doctor if you experience drowsiness or dizziness; headache; depression; blurred vision or small pupils; insomnia; hiccups; faint ringing in the ears; or nausea, vomiting, or constipation. Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Many drugs can increase the effects of Soma and lead to heavy sedation. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

antihistamines such as brompheniramine (Dimetane, Bromfed, others), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton, Teldrin, others), azatadine (Optimine), clemastine (Tavist), and many others; narcotics (pain killers) such as meperidine (Demerol), morphine (MS Contin, MSIR, others), propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet), hydrocodone (Lorcet, Vicodin), oxycodone (Percocet, Percodan), fentanyl (Duragesic), and codeine (Fiorinal, Fioricet, Tylenol #3, others); sedatives such as phenobarbital (Solfoton, Luminal), amobarbital (Amytal), and secobarbital (Seconal); phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), mesoridazine (Serentil), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine), thioridazine (Mellaril), and trifluoperazine (Stelazine); or antidepressants such as doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate).

Aspirin will decrease the effects of some drugs. Tell your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Soma if any of the following drugs have been prescribed for you:

probenecid (Benebid) and sulfinpyrazone (Anturane); angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors used to treat high blood pressure and other heart conditions such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), and enalapril (Vasotec); other commonly used ACE inhibitors, including fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace); and beta-blockers used to treat high blood pressure and other heart conditions such as acebutolol (Sectral), metoprolol (Lopressor), propranolol (Inderal), atenolol (Tenormin), and carteolol (Cartrol).

Other over-the-counter and prescription drugs may increase the effects of aspirin and cause dangerous side effects:

oral anticoagulants such as warfarin (Coumadin); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Rufen, others), ketoprofen (Orudis, Oruvail), and naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, Aleve) other commonly used NSAIDs, including diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), etodolac (Lodine), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), sulindac (Clinoril), and tolmetin (Tolectin); other salicylates (forms of aspirin) such as salsalate (Disalcid), choline salicylate, and magnesium salicylate; bismuth subsalicylate in drugs such as Pepto-Bismol; and calcium supplements and antacids.

Other drugs that should not be combined with aspirin and carisoprodol include steroids such as prednisone (Deltasone), oral antidiabetic drugs such as glipizide (Glucotrol) and glyburide (Micronase, Diabeta), alcohol, lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others), and cyclosporine (Sandimmune).

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Soma. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include cold and clammy skin, low body temperature, slowed breathing, slowed heartbeat, drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, seizures, deep sleep, and loss of consciousness.