Soma is the marketed name of a centrally-acting skeletal muscle relaxant known as Carisoprodol. The medicine was created in hopes that it would have less potential for abuse than meprobamate, another muscle relaxant that is classified as a sedative-hypnotic and that is used as the main metabolite for the drug; unfortunately, Soma had the same effects, but was, however, a more potent muscle relaxant, and is now most commonly used as a muscle-relaxant to relieve pain associated with muscle spasms or muscle strain.

The drug is no longer available in Sweden where it was pulled off the shelves due to the abuse potential and where the group overseeing pharmacists suggests that there are drugs with less risk of abuse that are as effective as Soma.

This medication may also no longer be available in many countries that are part of the European Union since they have recommended to all members that they remove authorization for the selling and marketing of Soma, favoring cyclobenzaprine, instead, for the lower risk of abuse. If you want to buy soma online then make sure you understand the pros and cons fully before you purchase it and never use it longer than recommended by your doctor.

The drug remains a popularly prescribed muscle-relaxant in North America, despite the risks of abuse of the drug, both by itself and as a reagent that enhances other drugs. Soma, itself, has a very quick onset of effects - usually within thirty minutes - and can last for up to six hours.

The medicine works by blocking the electrical signals that relay pain from reaching the brain, effectively convincing your brain that the muscle is not in pain and allowing it to relax. Together with rest, Soma allows many patients to recover from painful conditions related to muscle strain. To this extent, it is also sometimes used with Aspirin, a more powerful pain-relieving medication.

Soma enjoys popularity with recreational drug users thanks to it enhancing sensitivity to other popular drugs, and also having a mild effect on its own. Although popular in many parts of the world among drug users, Soma is most easily accessible in North America because of restrictions in Europe. As with all recreational drugs, it has a high risk of dependence, and that risk is not mitigated through legal and prescription use of Soma. Use as medication sometimes includes withdrawal symptoms when you no longer use the medication to relieve muscle pain. The withdrawal symptoms of Soma are common among many medications and can include nausea and vomiting, and are typically not severe.

Side effects through normal use include dizziness in greater than ten percent of all people who use Soma, so it is not recommended that you operate any heavy machinery within a few hours of taking the medication. It is also not advisable to take it with any other medication and you should not take it if you are pregnant unless the risks outweigh the consequences it could have to your unborn child. Soma can increase sensitivity to other drugs, so use carefully if you do decide to mix it with anything else, and consult a doctor before doing so.