Increasing abuse of Soma

Soma, a prescription drug is prescribed for muscle relaxation. Soma can be fatal in overdose or combined with some medicines. Strict guidelines are required to stop abuse of Soma.
Carisoprodol, the generic name for Soma is prescribed frequently by physicians for muscle relaxation. Carisoprodol prescribers need to be made aware of its abuse potential. Stricter controls may be necessary in the future to properly control the prescribing and distribution of this potentially addictive agent.
To start with, some of the possible Side Effects are:-
Soma may cause dizziness, vertigo, ataxia, tremor, depressive reactions, syncope, agitation, irritability, headache and insomnia. Allergic or idiosyncratic reactions occasionally develop. They are usually seen within the period of the first to fourth dose in patients having had no previous contact with the drug. Skin rash, erythema multiforme, pruritus, eosinophilia, and fixed drug eruption with cross reaction to meprobamate have been reported with Soma. Severe reactions have been manifested by asthmatic episodes, dizziness, angioneurotic edema, fever, weakness, smarting eyes, anaphylactoid shock, and hypotension.
Soma, a non-scheduled prescription drug, is a centrally acting synthetic skeletal muscle relaxant structurally and pharmacologically related to meprobamate. This is a potential addictive agent.
Soma is ingested orally. Many abusers take it in combination with other drugs to enhance the effects of those drugs. Alcohol, heroin, hydrocodone (especially Vicodin), meprobamate, codeine, diazepam, and propoxyphene commonly are abused in combination with Soma. Abusers who combine Soma with Vicodin claim that this combination produces effects similar to those of heroin.
The substance undergoes hepatic biotransformation to three primary metabolites: hydroxycarisoprodol, hydroxymeprobamate, and meprobamate. The significant serum levels of meprobamate after chronic use of carisoprodol may lead to meprobarnate dependency:
Meprobamate dependence is a possible complication of chronic carisoprodol use due to hepatic conversion of carisoprodol to meprobamate.
Withdrawal symptoms may result in sever reactions like coma and seizures.
There have been reports of abuse of Soma, which is readily available on the internet, in the past and some of the cases were fatal.
A stern warning is issued to all users and would-be users of the drug to be very particular on prescribed dosages.
Soma is no doubt one of the most popular and so far proven most effective pain killers but when taken improperly, it may do more harm than good on the patient.