I have used SOMA (carisoprodyl) for back spasms recurring for many years. It helps a lot and I take perhaps 8-12 of them to get me through the 3 days of nearly immobile Hell. Yes, it makes me want to sleep and keeps me half groggy.
But then I am okay...for another few weeks.
I have thought of taking them daily for profylaxis but hate the idea of permanent semi-sedation.
Well now, it seems SOMA has gone controlled substance and will be pulled from my formulary and I need a substitute (or a LOT more money)
Have any of you back pain sufferers tried baclofen for relief of back spasms? It's cheap, non-addicting and uncontrolled.
It's supposed to influence our GABA receptors?
Anything good or bad to say about the drug? Is it a decent substitute for carisoprodyl?
I have found that this type of drug has results that vary quite a bit from person to person...more so than an opioid, for example.
I personally never had any relief from baclofen...but that isn't to say you won't. Flexeril worked well for me without any sedating feelings...but then I never suffered from lots of spasms either...so I'm not a good example.
I have back pain and spasms from a burst fracture of L1 many years ago. I have had good results using a combination of Tramadol and Baclofen with codeine used only for break thru pain.
As I take Warfarin for a hereditary clotting disorder, I have a consistent Tramadol dose for the pain. This keeps my INR between 2.5 and 3.0. When I have pain that is uncontrolled I use codeine as a supplement. This doesn't drive my INR up or down out of "range".
I take my maintenance dose of Baclofen three times a day, every day. I have a few days where I still have to deal with issues created by cramping muscles in my back. When I have cramping the Baclofen won't deal with, I use a TENS machine which relieves the cramping also.
I guess I have a primary system and a backup that covers all but rare occasions.
Baclofen works, for me, most of the time. Check with your doctor to find out how long you need to use it to get results as it's effectiveness builds up over time. It may be what you need. It is part of a regimen that resolves my issues.
Last edited by Administrator; 01-30-2013 at 06:57 PM.
Thanks guys,
teteri,
Since I HATE flexeril...makes me all extrapyrramidal (like mescaline with no pleasurable sensations) I guess that leaves baclofen.
Dave
Quote:
I take my maintenance dose of Baclofen three times a day, every day.
Is that 3 x 10 mg or 3 x 20 mg.
If it doesn't help a lot I guess the only thing left in my formulary is tizanidine. But since baclofen is supposed to help with suppressing alcohol cravings, it would be a nice side-effect...so I hope it does the trick.
PS...I've been trying to avoid back surgery for 3 decades.
Hi,
I take 3 X 10Mg. I don't take more because I have several medications that metabolized thru the liver and I already have NASH from bad choices with Tylenol in my 20's.
I'm told that a "safe" max dose is 80Mg/day.
My father , a GP for 40 years always says, "Back surgery should always be the last option.".
Last edited by Administrator; 01-30-2013 at 06:58 PM.
I was on Baclofen and Oxycoden the beginning of the year. I didn't stay on it that long.
I am not sure that I really received any relief from taking baclofen. I was eventually taken off of both the Baclofen and Oxycoden because on several occasions I developed breathing problems. It seemed like after I took the medication in the beginning I was fine, but then I started to notice a change in my breathing after taking both the medications. I am not 100% sure that I can that the breating issues were related to the Baclofen/Oxycodone or not. It just seemed strange that I noticed it after taking the medication.
But then I was on Hydrocodone and tizanidine and noticed the same thing so was it related it not? tough to say...
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Posts: 701
Re: Baclofen
I have been taking SOMA nightly and metaxalone (skelaxin) during the day; baclofen made me sick to my stomach. I had an extruded disc (now removed and fused) and the only pain I ever had in my back was from spasms. I am transitioning to metaxalone only, as it does not have any sedative effects for me. Metaxalone is less aggressive than SOMA, so maybe a good option as a prophylactic. I don't know anything about its interactions with other medications.
I was on Baclofen and Oxycoden the beginning of the year. I didn't stay on it that long.
I am not sure that I really received any relief from taking baclofen. I was eventually taken off of both the Baclofen and Oxycoden because on several occasions I developed breathing problems. It seemed like after I took the medication in the beginning I was fine, but then I started to notice a change in my breathing after taking both the medications. I am not 100% sure that I can that the breating issues were related to the Baclofen/Oxycodone or not. It just seemed strange that I noticed it after taking the medication.
But then I was on Hydrocodone and tizanidine and noticed the same thing so was it related it not? tough to say...
Hi,
My experience, opiates suppress breathing. Then there's the addictive problem.
Baclofen has to build up in the system, must be taken regularly, and will cause withdrawal symptoms if stopped suddenly.
Meds work differently for everyone, with a good pain manager you should be able to find several paths to pain control. Which one works best is strictly your call.
Aspirin is still on the market too, maybe there is a reason?
Hi all, I was on soma 4 × a day since 1988 & i was told by the dr he wouldnt prescribe it anymore. He put me on lyrica 150mg 2× a day & baclofen 20mg 3× a day. I was greatly improved in pain in general but can say it was b/c i wasnt having muscle spasms. Last appt was put on zanaflex, it makes me fall asleep standing up on 1 mg! Now, when i have severe m spasms, i have nothing but the baclofen & it doesnt work. He also said baclofen worked as a pain reliever/muscle relaxer. Does nothing as far as when i feel a spasm. Tinazidine is out for me. Soma is very old, too... but it works. Thank you, gmak
Ps. I have been having a hard time with m spasms & only parafon forte works a little. Flexeril made me sleep like a baby & not in a good way!. Basically, i used soma or diazepam in the severest of spasms, but they are long gone! My days of muscle spasms being treated are gone! Open to suggestions. Anyone?
Last edited by gmak; 12-16-2012 at 07:18 PM.
Reason: ps
Aspirin was invented to treat pain, by the way. But I don't see anyone taking it anymore for pain!. As for why it is in the market....They found a new use for it------for protecting your heart.
But baclofen does nothing. It must be a joke. It's not for pain at all.
Dear vox, I would love to tell you about a new or different skeletal muscle relaxant that was comparable in relieving exactly that however, there is no such thing as far as my experience or my wisdom goes. These i have tried & for various reasons, I cant take them, the main reason being they didnt work for me in reducing skeletal muscle spasms: flexeril, tinazidine, baclofen, robaxin, skelaxin, norflex. Unfortunately, imo, none of the other benzodiazapenes or tricyclic anti-depressants worked for my muscle spasms, except for diazepam.I also would be interested in what else may have helped others as well.
Last edited by Administrator; 01-30-2013 at 06:58 PM.
Reason: repeated info
Aspirin was invented to treat pain, by the way. But I don't see anyone taking it anymore for pain!. As for why it is in the market....They found a new use for it------for protecting your heart.
But baclofen does nothing. It must be a joke. It's not for pain at all.
Hi vox and no change, Thank you for the clonazapam info. After, suffering because of muscle spasms currently, I found several informative, reliable, in my opinion, resources about baclofen. To the best of my understanding and my opinion the information that i found says that baclofen helps with pain control, spasticity in diseases & conditions that cause myoclonic & clonic spasms as well as skeletal muscle spasms. It did help my chronic pain in general, along with my long & short acting opioids, lyrica etc. But, as far as skeletal muscle spasms acutely giving me muscle spasm pain it has not relieved my spasms @ all, in my opinion. Such a painful symptom... ouch!
Last edited by gmak; 12-17-2012 at 03:25 PM.
Reason: reworded
I would like to say that I am on Baclofen as of now, they just gave it to me a few days ago and as far as I can see it does not help with the pain. I am 33 and I have a degenerated disk. I have no idea why this has happened to me so early in life and the doctors can not figure it out either but i have it. I am going to give it a few more weeks untill my doctors apointment to see if it just needs to build up in my system or what but as of this point it does not seem to be helping right now.
Aaron
Last edited by Administrator; 01-30-2013 at 06:59 PM.
Hi,
It sounds like you are dealing with nerve impingement problems caused by the disc disease (hereditary?). Baclofen, is intended to relieve muscle spasms that cause the spine to twist and pinch nerves. It doesn't sound like this is a good fit for you.
I have spinal problems caused by traumatic injury, a burst fracture of L1. My pain management started with opiates post injury and after the vertebrae stabilized with a torso brace, I used fentanyl patches for some time. Eventually, as luck would have it, the nerve problems I had resolved without surgery. I now take baclofen to deal with muscle spasms that I have periodically. I take the same dose every day three times a day. It works for me along with tramadol for pain.
I know that I have been very lucky to be able to deal with this at a medication level that doesn't work for most people with moderate to severe spinal problems.
I do have a history of spinal osteophyte growth along my spine and spinal stenosis from my "accident". That is the result of aging and genetics.
For you, more aggressive methods will be needed to deal with the pain. Find a good orthopedic doctor that understands effective pain management, hopefully you will be able to find a solution without surgery. If not, make sure surgery is your last/best option.
Last edited by Administrator; 01-30-2013 at 06:59 PM.
Worth mentioning in this context is that SOMA, which has been a mainstay for me when I go into 3 days of spasm for over a decade, has been declared a controlled substance in the U.S. and a VERY controlled substance in some states, like NY.
Consequently it has been pulled from many insurance formularies including mine.
Why does this always happen with the most useful drugs and the rotten ones stay around FOREVER (like the God-awful Flexeril?) I guess that any drug that makes you feel better becomes immediately suspect.
Voxx976, what are you suffering from?. If you cannot use Soma then you will have to use something else. Valium or clonazepam perhaps?
Started with a vertebral break of a process down on L5, weightlifting 4 decades ago. Disc seemingly went kerflooey as well, no space on X-ray. As the years progressed there was a good deal of auto fusion and involvement of other vertebra.
A couple bouts of sciatica round out the picture, one lasting 6 months and perhaps several dozen periods of 3 day bedridden spasm. I tried traction at home for 14 days, 23 hours a day and I got good relief for almost a year.
I am dead set against surgery becasue I know too many instances of no relief or worsening of the condition.
I live with it and try my best to mitigate the consequences. I grew to like SOMA and Aleve taking it perhaps 6 days a month whenever I felt a TWINGE (you all know what I mean.) But I need a substitute for the SOMA because if a drug is not on your formulary it costs a fortune.
Seeing doctor tomorrow and I will ask for baclofen and hope for the best.
(I inquired today about tramadol, another possibility, and you guessed it...it became a controlled substance 3 weeks ago.)
I like valium for very occasional relief of anxiety...I would hate to use it frequently (and of course, Medicare doesn't cover controlled benzodiazepines anymore, natch.)
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