Soma
What To Know
Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous
activities. Soma / Carisoprodol 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 / Carisoprodol. Also, in combination with aspirin, alcohol can be very
damaging to your stomach. Watch for bloody, black, or tarry stools or blood in
your vomit. This could mean damage to your stomach. Never take more of this
medication than is prescribed for you. If your pain is not being adequately
treated, talk to your doctor.
What Is It
Carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant. It works by blocking nerve impulses (or pain
sensations) that are sent to your brain. Soma / Carisoprodol may also be used
for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
How To Use
Take Soma / Carisoprodol exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not
understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain
them to you. Take each dose with a full glass of water. The maximum amount of
Soma / Carisoprodol you should take in one day is 1600 mg of Carisoprodol, 2600
mg of aspirin. Store Soma / Carisoprodol at room temperature away from moisture
and heat.
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for
your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled
dose. Do not take a double dose of Soma / Carisoprodol. Keep your doses at least
4 hours apart from one another.
Over Dose
Seek emergency medical attention. Symptoms of an aspirin Soma / Carisoprodol
overdose include headache; ringing in the ears; dim vision, small pupils;
nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; sweating; increased thirst; low blood pressure
(weakness, fainting, confusion); decreased breathing; and unconsciousness.
Side Effects
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Soma /
Carisoprodol 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 / Carisoprodol 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.
Precautions
Do not take Soma / Carisoprodol 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 / Carisoprodol, or you may
require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of
the conditions listed above. It is not known whether Soma / Carisoprodol will
harm an unborn baby. Do not take Soma / Carisoprodol without first talking to
your doctor if you are pregnant. It is also not known whether Soma /
Carisoprodol passes into breast milk. Do not take Soma / Carisoprodol without
first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Soma /
Carisoprodol is not approved for use in children younger than 12 years of age.
Drug Interactions
Many drugs can increase the effects of Soma / Carisoprodol 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). 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 / Carisoprodol. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any
prescription or over-the-counter medicines.