Carisoprodol: a drug of continuing abuse.

Carisoprodol (Soma) is a noncontrolled, skeletal-muscle relaxant whose active metabolite is meprobamate. Despite previous indications that the drug may be abused, it continues to be widely prescribed for musculoskeletal conditions involving muscle spasm. Presented here are three cases demonstrating patterns of carisoprodol abuse not previously reported. Carisoprodol usage should be limited to short-term treatment. Patients for whom carisoprodol is prescribed are at risk for meprobamate dependence.