Soma works as a centrally acting muscle relaxant, meaning it affects the central nervous system to produce muscle-relaxing effects. Its exact mechanism of action is not fully understood. Carisoprodol is prescribed to alleviate acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions such as muscle spasms and injuries. It is usually recommended for short-term use (generally two to three weeks) due to the lack of long-term efficacy data and the potential for abuse.