How Long Does Soma Stay In Your System?

Soma, also known by its generic name Carisoprodol, is a muscle relaxant medication commonly prescribed to relieve discomfort associated with musculoskeletal conditions. As with any medication, understanding its pharmacokinetics, including how long it stays in the body and its half-life, is essential for safe and effective use.

In this article, we explore the details of Soma’s duration in the system, its half-life, and factors that can influence its metabolism.

What Is Soma?

Formulated with Carisoprodol, Soma helps manage short-term acute pain caused by muscle injuries like strains and sprains. It is a prescribed muscle relaxer that blocks the sensations between the nerves and the brain.

The drug’s effects generally begin within half an hour and last for up to six hours. The use of carisoprodol was approved in the USA in 1959.

Working Mechanism Of Soma Pill

Soma works mainly by relaxing the muscles. The working mechanism of Carisoprodol, the active compound of Soma, interferes with the communication between nerves in the brain and the spinal cord. This helps to calm down muscle spasms and reduce pain.

Pharmacokinetics of Soma

This includes how the body processes Soma, including absorption, metabolism, and elimination.

Absorption

When you take Soma orally (by mouth), it gets absorbed into your bloodstream from your stomach and intestines. It usually takes around 30 minutes to start working after you take it.

Metabolism

Once in your bloodstream, Soma is broken down (metabolized) in your liver into smaller compounds that your body can easily eliminate. The main active metabolite of Soma is called meprobamate, which also contributes to its effects.

Elimination

After being metabolized, Soma and its metabolites are eliminated from your body mainly through your kidneys in the form of urine. It typically takes a few hours to a few days for your body to completely clear Soma and its by-products. The elimination time of the Soma pill depends on its half-life.

Half-life of Soma pill

The half-life of a drug is defined as the time taken by the amount of the drug’s active substance in the body to reduce by half.

The average half-life of Soma pill is about 2 hours but it may vary between 1 to 3 hours for most people.

How Long Does Carisoprodol Stay In Your System?

Considering the half-life of the Soma pill to be 2 hours, the theoretical evaluation of the time it takes the body to eliminate Carisoprodol is given below.

Based on the above calculation, it takes about 10 to 11 hours for the body to eliminate Soma or Carisoprodol completely. On the other hand, the half-life of Meprobamate is 10 hours and can take up to 4 days to be fully eliminated [1].

Factors Affecting Soma Metabolism

The age, liver function, genetics, and concurrent medications can influence how long Soma stays in the system and its half-life.

Age

Age can influence metabolism due to changes in liver function and enzyme activity. As people age, their liver function may decline, leading to slower metabolism. This decrease in metabolic rate can affect how quickly the body processes and eliminates Soma from the system.

Liver Function

Soma pill is primarily metabolized in the liver by the enzyme CYP2C19 to its active metabolite meprobamate, which contributes to its pharmacological effects. Any impairment in liver function can significantly alter the metabolism of Soma. In individuals with compromised liver function, the clearance of Soma from the body may be delayed, leading to higher drug concentrations and an increased risk of adverse effects.

Genetics

Genetic variations can influence the activity of enzymes involved in drug metabolism, including those responsible for metabolizing Soma. Any change in the genes can affect the rate at which Soma is metabolized.

Concurrent Medications

Co-administration of other drugs can affect the metabolism of the Soma pill. For example, drugs such as rifampin or carbamazepine may increase the metabolism of Soma, leading to reduced drug levels and potentially decreased efficacy.

Soma Drug Tests

How Long Will Soma Show Up In A Urine Test?

Both Soma (Carisoprodol) and its metabolite meprobamate are excreted from the body as urine, and its presence can be detected for severe days after the last dosage. The presence of the Soma pill can be detected in the urine for 2 to 7 days after use, depending on factors such as weight, height, metabolism, and dosage.

Soma Blood Test

Carisoprodol or Soma can be detected in the blood for up to 24 hours. However, the detection time for Soma in the blood may be longer for people who have been taking it for a longer period.

Detection in Hair

The presence of the Soma pill can be detected in the hair for about a month (30 days) after the last dosage. However, the only drawback of this test is that it takes longer for the metabolite to appear on the hair follicle after administration.

Soma Saliva Test

Carisoprodol can be detected in the saliva for up to 4 hours after intake. This test helps in precisely determing the quantity of meprobamate in the saliva.

Who Are Tested For Soma?

Employers do not usually test for the Carisoprodol drug, and the medication is not a part of the SAMHSA-5 screening (1998 Federal Register included 5 commonly abused drugs that are referred to as the SAMHSA-5).

However, if Carisoprodol is assessed in a standardized panel, there are certain situations where individuals are tested for it. List of some of the people who are tested for Soma are-

Military Members

Military Persons operate heavy machinery and are involved in missions requiring alertness and vigilance to achieve optimal cognitive function. Generally, the side effects of Carisoprodol could endanger the troops and compromise the mission. Military members are subjected to a random Soma Drug Test.

Criminals

Carisoprodol has a similar effect to Benzodiazepines. Criminals generally use this medication for intoxication or any other illegal means. In case an individual is suspected as a criminal, the Soma Drug Testing is done for both the suspect and the victim.

Drug Rehabilitation Members

Carisoprodol is not termed as a significant drug of abuse such as Amphetamines or Opioids, but it is frequently Abused. This is the reason why the Soma drug tests are necessary for an individual in Rehab. It might lead to Abuse or misuse [4].

Certain Categories Of Employees

Some of the categories of Employees who have to operate machinery, motor vehicles, heavy-duty equipment, bus drivers, or pilot drivers might be subjected to extensive drug testing. Employees under the effect of the substance are prone to injure themselves or others.

The side effects of Soma Muscle Relaxer might include Dizziness, Drowsiness, and blurry vision, which might result in the test for the drivers to see if Carisoprodol causes driving Impairment [2].

How Can You Eliminate Soma From Your System Faster?

Several activities can speed up the process of Soma excretion from the human body. However, the activities should be performed after consultation with your health experts.

Exercise Daily

Daily exercise can alter the duration of Carisoprodol in your system. Doing any kind of physical activity helps burn body fat and helps eliminate Carisoprodol and Meprobamate from the body faster.

Using Supplements

Detoxification is a significant process in determining how long Soma Stays in your System. Supplements such as calcium-D-gluconate help clear the renal detoxification pathways.

Increase Water Intake

Increasing the level of water intake in the body can help in removing any kind of substance including Soma pill.

Our Final Thoughts

In conclusion, understanding how long Soma stays in your system is crucial for anyone using this medication. While individual factors such as metabolism, liver function, and dosage can influence the duration of its effects, Soma typically remains detectable in the body for about 10 to 11 hours after the last dose. However, this timeframe can vary from person to person.