Soma is the name we call the drug, Carisoprodol, here in the United States. Although highly abused, the drug is still widely prescribed in many countries other than the US because of its high potency as a muscle relaxant.
Carisoprodol is colorless, crystalline powder, and bitter. This drug, commonly prescribed for low back pain or neck pain, fibromyalgia, tension headaches, and myofascial pain syndrome (like other “spasmolytic drugs”), is slightly soluble in water and freely soluble in alcohol, chloroform, and acetone. This property makes it as one of the most-prescribed muscle relaxant in many hospitals.
Carisoprodol was first discussed in 1959 by Dr. Frank Berger at the Wayne State University. At first, he thought that Carisoprodol is antiseptic in nature. Later, he found out that it actually has very effective muscle relaxing capacities.
Soma, also known as “Sanoma” and “Carisoma” in other countries, is especially useful against many types of pain (whether or not related to muscle spasm). Its analgesic-sparing (potentiating) effect on opioid analgesics, makes it a “versatile” drug. Carisoprodol is used either by itself or mixed with aspirin.
Soma can also refer to a ritual drink of importance among the early Indo-Iranians, as mentioned by the traditional text, Rigveda. This “sacred” drink is prepared by pressing juice from the stalks of a certain mountain plant, which has been variously hypothesized to be water, honey, alcohol, mead, Amanita muscaria, cannabis, Peganum harmala, pomegranate, Blue lotus, psilocybin cubensis mushrooms, or ephedra.