The subject drug in this rendition of “name that drug” is an increasingly popular drug. It is as pervasive on the street as it is in the modern medicine cabinet. The drug can be obtained from a physician by way of a telephoned or written prescription. Although widely available and identified as a generic, the drug is readily known on the street by its original brand and trade name. This drug has central and peripheral pharmacological actions: it is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, and it is also quite effective as a muscular skeletal relaxant. The drug’s brand name can be found in well-known essays of Aldous Huxley and William Burroughs. In Huxley’s seminal Brave New World, an enlightened and cultured citizenry ingested this drug for the purpose of curbing nefarious counter-social thoughts and urges.

First developed in the 1950’s, this drug became instantly popular for its roll in relieving acute muscle spasms, associated with back and spine problems. This drug is a pro-drug of an older and alternatively popular sedative called meprobamate. Two meprobamate (carbamate family of sedatives) products were very popular in the 50’s and 60’s as alternatives to highly abused barbiturate sedatives, they were available by prescription and were known by their brand names of Miltown and Equanil. In modern pharmacy, the benzodiazepines (Valium, Librium, etc.) have now largely displaced the carbamates as frontline sedatives and anxiolytics. Once thought to be safe and of low abuse potential, the carbamates turned out to possess addiction and physical dependency characteristics that were not all that different from the barbiturates they tried to replace.

If a user of this drug were to be evaluated by DAR or DRE diagnostic technique, classic depressant signs would likely be present. Use of this drug will likely cause nystagmus and non-convergence. Higher doses of the drug may lead to the display of vertical nystagmus. The Romberg internal clock and pulse would likely be slow. Psychophysical tolerance can develop as a result of chronic use of this drug. Drug combination synergy will occur if this drug is taken concurrent to the consumption of alcohol.

This drug is available in several compound formats; one of these combinations includes a partnership with codeine and aspirin. This drug is available in the form of a white tablet in strengths of 250 mg and 350 mg. Wallace Laboratories produces a form of this drug; users sometimes identify and refer to the drug by the Wallace name and number that’s stamped onto the tablet. On the “street”, this drug is sought after because of its ability to enhance the sedative effects of alcohol and opiates such as hydrocodone. On the street this drug is sometimes referred to as “Dance”. Stimulant abusers often seek the drug for the purpose of creating a sought after antagonistic set of effects that are referred to as a “speed-ball”. The drug can also take the hard edges off methamphetamine (speed) agitation. Adolescent drug abusers like this drug because of its perceived safety and diminished direct effects. The drug is frequently found in the club and rave drug scenes. In addition to the development of tolerance, consistent and long-term use of the drug can result in classic addiction and physical dependency. Sudden discontinuation of the drug will likely cause physical withdrawal.

Although this drug can be quite effective in the treatment of acute muscle spasms, physicians tend to prefer the use of less abused medications such as Robaxin and Skelaxin. However, for the right price, this drug can be bought through Internet sources.

What drug am I?

I am carisoprodol, aka: Soma, Soma Compound, Soma Compound and Codeine.

Reproduced with permission from The MEDTOX® Journal