Soma is also known by its generic name of Carisoprodol. It is a drug that relaxes the skeletal muscles, and relieves the acute pain arising out of muscle tissue injuries. It is a pain reliever, anti-depressant, and a sedative. This drug should not be used for general muscle and body pain, and should only be used for acute muscle pain conditions, and has to be prescribed by the doctor.

The medication is usually prescribed to be taken immediately after meals or with food to avoid any irritation in the stomach.  You should not increase or decrease the dose on your own. This should be done under your doctor's advice, and in no situation the drug should be stopped suddenly. You need your doctor's advice as to how you should stop taking Soma. The dosage is usually reduced gradually before stopping it altogether. The drug is not a cure for your muscle damages if any. It provides a temporary relief from pain as you go through physiotherapy to tone up your muscles.

The medication may cause side effects when you first start on the drug. You could have nausea, and lack of orientation, lack of coordination, headache, dizziness, heartburn, stomach upset, and so on. These are side effects which should reduce by themselves, but if any of these prolong, or re-occur, you should see your doctor immediately. Soma cannot be prescribed to people who are already having any sort of anti-depressants, or sedative. If you are addicted to alcohol, or any drug, you cannot be prescribed with Soma, since it will cause drug overdose. Drug overdose may be fatal at times, and even can cause death.

If you have allergic tendency after having Soma, you need to report that to your doctor. Even if you have a history of allergic conditions from any drug that you have taken earlier, that has to be told to your doctor. Always remember that, even if you take Soma in its normal dose, this will add to any drug effect if you are an alcoholic, taking any drug of abuse, or having anti-depressants, and/or sedatives.

Tell your doctor about your previous illnesses and the medicines that you have been taking so far. If you have or had liver, blood disorders, or kidney diseases, you should not hesitate to inform the doctor. Soma reacts in the liver to metabolize into meprobamate. This is a kind of barbiturate which relaxes the muscles, acts as an anti-depressant and a sedative. If Soma is taken longer than prescribed, you may get habituated with this drug. You should not drive a car when you are on Soma. The drug causes dizziness which could be dangerous when you are driving a car.  

Mothers who are breastfeeding their children should be cautious in taking Soma. Women, who plan to get pregnant during the time of taking Soma, must inform the doctor about it. Soma has been found in the breast-milk of mothers, and this could be harmful for the children being breast-fed. There are experiments going on regarding the effect of Soma on rats and mice. Not much data has yet been collected. Never-the-less, precautions are necessary in considering administering Soma to pregnant women.