Soma (carisoprodol) is a muscle relaxer that blocks pain sensations between the nerves and the brain. Soma is used together with rest and physical therapy to treat skeletal muscle conditions such as pain or injury.

No. Many people use the word “narcotic” to refer to all controlled substance medications. But, a narcotic is actually an opioid pain reliever.

Carisoprodol is used short-term to treat muscle pain and discomfort. It is usually used along with rest, physical therapy, and other treatments. It works by helping to relax the muscles.

Carisoprodol, also known by the brand name Soma, is a prescription skeletal muscle relaxant. It is typically prescribed to relieve pain caused by muscle injuries like strains and sprains. This drug comes in tablet form and is taken by mouth, often several times a day when treating an injury.

Carisoprodol is the generic equivalent of Soma—Soma and carisoprodol are the same. Other muscle relaxers besides Robaxin and Soma you may have heard of include Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine), Skelaxin (metaxalone), and Zanaflex (tizanidine).

Soma is the brand name of a generic prescription drug called carisoprodol. Soma, or carisoprodol, has long been prescribed to patients as a muscle relaxant and pain reliever, but in recent decades it’s come under scrutiny. There are increasing concerns that Soma on its own has the potential for abuse and addiction.

The average half-life of Soma is around two hours but it can vary anywhere from 1 to 3 hours for most people. Based on that half-life, it would take an average of 11 hours for someone to fully eliminate a dose of Soma from their system.