anyone take Soma, zanaflex, clonidine, or klonopin for nerve pain? - Pain Management Message Board

brianpain33 · 03-05-2008, 04:26 PM

I have been doing some research and found some interesting facts especially at the American Chronic Pain Association and their publications concerning medications. I was looking for any other medication that could possibly help my nerve pain and that I have not tried yet. I came up with 3 possibilites from the research: tizanidine (Zanaflex), clonidine, and Klonopin. I have been on Klonopin in the past for anxiety & helping with sleep but I was taken off of it when I went into recovery. I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask my doctor about it although he might say no. Of course I don't know unless I ask, heck he gave me samples of Ambien. I was interested in the clonidine which can be used to help high blood pressure, anxiety, and nerve pain. And then I came across Zanaflex and even Soma possibly helping. Any comments welcome especially those of you finding relief from any of these for nerve type pain.

Brian

skych · 03-05-2008, 04:44 PM

Hi Brian,

I had been prescribed Clonidine when I had decided to taper off Methadone and I am not really sure it did anything for me. I am not really sure which one of the uses he was actually prescribing it to me for. As for Klonopin I have never taken that one. The Tizanadine (Zanaflex) I had been prescribed this as a muscle relaxer before my surgery for my neck spasams. I did not know that it was also something docs used for nerve pain. It did help with the spasms somewhat but it really made me feel dizzy and sometimes it would make my ears ring when I stood up. I think it has potential to cause a drop in the blood pressure thus resulting in the ear ringing and dizziness.
As far as the soma goes I was offered them one by my GP early on after my car accident and I chose not to take them because when I looked it up on the internet I saw that it had potential for abuse but then again so does everything these days.
Anyway I hope that little info will help you out. I would suggest to discuss all the meds with your doc and then the two of you can decide what may work best for you.

Chrissy

kayci38 · 03-05-2008, 05:37 PM

Hey there.Just wanted to tell you that I take zanaflex and for me it helped 10x better for my back and neck spasms than baclofen,soma,flexaril.My doctor prescribed me a 4mg pill to take before bed and when I got up in the mornings but I quit taking it in the mornings because it put me back to sleep.I really like the zanafelx when it comes to spasms but never noticed it helped my nerve pain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianpain33

I have been doing some research and found some interesting facts especially at the American Chronic Pain Association and their publications concerning medications. I was looking for any other medication that could possibly help my nerve pain and that I have not tried yet. I came up with 3 possibilites from the research: tizanidine (Zanaflex), clonidine, and Klonopin. I have been on Klonopin in the past for anxiety & helping with sleep but I was taken off of it when I went into recovery. I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask my doctor about it although he might say no. Of course I don't know unless I ask, heck he gave me samples of Ambien. I was interested in the clonidine which can be used to help high blood pressure, anxiety, and nerve pain. And then I came across Zanaflex and even Soma possibly helping. Any comments welcome especially those of you finding relief from any of these for nerve type pain.

Brian

ms_west · 03-05-2008, 05:50 PM

Hi Brian, I have taken soma off and on for over a year and honestly it does nothing for nerve pain but it is very effective for spasms for me.

cmpgirl · 03-06-2008, 11:55 AM

Hey Brian: I've taken every muscle relaxer known to man for my chronic myofascial pain. I have constant spasms in just about any given part of my body.

I also have nerve pain (herniated discs and neuropathy) and have never liked any of the commonly Rx'd meds for that. (neurontin, topomax, etc.) 1) They never really helped with the nerve pain, 2) They made me feel like a zombie all the time, like I really didn't care one way or another about anything. I hated that feeling. It was like I was this robot, without the ability to feel happy or sad or angry etc. It was just creepy.

The Soma is the only MR that has ever helped w/my spasms. I've been on it for so many years that I occasioally have to take a "break" from it, due to tolerance. I usually go with the flexaril during these breaks, because zanaflex never did anything. Flexaril makes me super sleepy, but that usually tapers w/use.

I've been told that the Lyrica (which I know you take now) was the best for nerve pain, but I've never tried it. Did this article you read say something about muscle relaxers being beneficial for nerve pain? Let me know if you get a chance. Take care, cmpgirl