Meprobamate soma
Meprobamate soma is a prodrug which is pharmacologically and structurally related to meprobamate. It is a trade name of Carisoprodol. Meprobamate soma is a skeletal muscle relaxant which is centrally acting.
Carisoprodol is metabolized into meprobamate which is a barbiturate-like drug used for the treatment of anxiety. Read more about mebrobamate here.
Meda Pharmaceuticals is the principle manufacturer and marketer of this drug in the US. The medicine is very cheap and the total cost for a complete course with Meprobamate soma is about 25$ only.
It has been banned in a few countries because of its potential for abuse and its side effects.
Its possibility and capability of being used abused as an addiction were studied in somewhat detail by a study in Norway.
Chemical structure of Meprobamate soma
IUPAC name is the following –
(RS)-2-{[(aminocarbonyl)oxy]methyl}-2-methylpentyl isopropylcarbamate
Chemical formula
The chemical formula of Meprobamate soma is C12H24N2O4
Therapeutic uses of Meprobamate soma
The following the the different uses of this medicine:
- Analgesic action
- Euohoric feeling
- Help in sleeping
- Anti anxietic
- Helps in Muscle relaxation
- Sleepiness
Meprobamate soma side effects
Mild side effects
Mild side effects of this drug include the following:
- Somnolence
- Euphoria- if it occurs it is only for a short period of time
- Dysphoria
These side effects occur dose of 350mg is taken which is the usual dose. The medication is well tolerated and adverse effects do not occur in the majority of patients.
Moderate side effects
In some patients carisoprodol can have sedative side effects and can impair the patient’s ability to operate a motor vehicles and other machinery of various types, especially when taken with medications containing alcohol.
The intensity of the side effects of carisoprodol tends to lessen as therapy continues.
Severe side effects
- Lack of response to stimuli,
- Excessive sedation,
- Severe ataxia,
- Amnesia,
- Confusion,
- Agitation,
- Intoxication.
Due to its side effects it should not be use in elderly people.
Meprobamate soma drug interactions
The interaction of carisoprodol can occur with essentially all opioids, and other centrally acting analgesics.
Interaction with codeine derived subgroup of the semi synthetic class like codeine, ethylmorphine, dihydrocodeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, nicocodeine, benzylmorphine, the various acetylated codeine derivatives including acetyldihydrocodeine, dihydroisocodeine, nicodicodeine and others, is also known to be dangerous.
Hence, it is mandatory to use of a smaller dose of the opioid to have a given effect. This is useful in general pains and especially where skeletal muscle injury and/or spasm is a large part of the problem.
The potentiation effect is also useful in other pain situations and is also especially useful with opioids of the open-chain class, such as methadone, levomethadone, ketobemidone, phenadoxone and others.
Deaths have resulted from carelessly combining overdoses of hydrocodone and carisoprodol.
Meprobamate soma and other muscle-relaxing drugs often were subjects of misuse in the 1950s and 1960s.
Overdose cases were reported as early as 1957.
Meprobamate soma overdose
Carisoprodol Overdose symptoms consist of the following:
- Lack of response to stimuli,
- Excessive sedation,
- Severe ataxia,
- Amnesia,
- Confusion,
- Agitation,
- Intoxication,
- Inappropriate behavioral changes.
In severe overdose
- Respiratory depression,
- Pulmonary aspiration,
- Coma,
- Death.
Overdose symptoms in combination with opiates are similar but are distinguished by the presentation of normal or pinpoint pupils, which are generally unresponsive to light.
Other resources:
Bramness JG, Furu K, Engeland A (2007). “Carisoprodol use and abuse in Norway. A pharmacoepidemiological study”. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 64 (2): 210–218. PMC 2000626. PMID 17298482.
Carisoprodol is particularly dangerous in combination with alcohol.
Flumazenil (the benzodiazepine antidote) is not effective in the management of carisoprodol overdose as meprobamate soma acts at the barbiturate binding site.