Doctor perscribed me Soma, does anyone take it?

[BigJoe777]

Betty J, I get a script of Soma 350mg, 90 in the vial, for $40.88 at Wal-Mart. Ambien 10mg, 30 in the vial, is $82.72. Ambien is ONLY to help you sleep, and does nothing else. Soma will really help relax you and it does make some people sleepy too. They both last about 6-8 hours on the doses above.

Soma is considered to be an "old school" muscle relaxer. It's a somewhat large pill that looks like a big aspirin. Flexeril is a "new school" relaxer that is a tiny yelowish pill. I didn't like how the new school stuff made me loopy all the time, and I will never switch from Soma again. It's just plain effective at what it does and I am never goofy from using it.......

[mokita]

Hi Brenda!

If you want to post this over on the Pain Management board also, I'm sure there are plenty of people there who've taken soma!

I've heard it is a very good muscle relaxer. I take flexeril myself. It's written for 3 x a day... but, no way would I be able to stay awake! I take it only at night... and once in a great muscle spasm while, one during the day!

Karen

------------------
9/22/00 24 hour labor, baby posterior, left tailbone killing me
12/00 MRI -normal-but pain still-began taking vicodin
2/8/02 - 2nd baby born - Csection-healthy girl
2000-11/02 various PT + pain meds
11/02 Referred to Neuro
3/03 NEW MRI - slight bulge L3-L4, DDD, neural foramen,Superior aspect S1 and L5 Nerve root involvement-Neuro Refers to PM for ESI's
(2 Rt Transforaminal,1 lumbosacral,3rd one numbed tailbone little
5/9 - Discogram - shows Tear L4 w/ significant leak onto nerves, DDD
Performing doc oversedated, False Negative
7/8- Dept Head ClCl consult
7/28 - ClevelClinic for Facet Injection, changed to Caudal Epidural after seeing xray of displaced coccyx.
8/12 - sched for 2nd Caudal

[Michaela]

Originally posted by BettyJ:
I am also anxious to hear anything about Soma....I also take ambien..but with my ins plan I pay 35 for 30 pills...I take a 10 mg and usually can break it in half...ambien is really the only thing that relaxes the muscle in my buttocks...

I complained to the pharmacy about the cost of ambien, and was told to possibly look into getting my dr to prescribe something cheaper ...but my concern would obviously be whether anything else would work as well as ambien....I got the impression from the pharmacists that soma was a sleep aid, ... is it used for muscle and sleep??

and, as far as cost comparison...has anyone had any experience with ambien and soma to know which is usually cheaper....ambien is considered a first tier drug.....and does not have a generic....does soma?? what tier is this drug on ..anyone know??

as for addiction....I believe that anything that gives relief to a pain problem has the potential to become addictive.....if chocolate bars relieved pain, no doubt, I would be eating them....I think that is how our brains work in relation to pain....but the withdrawel symptoms are what worries me....I take ultram for pain...have taken it now for several years...and look forward to the day when I take none...but I am sure there will be some symptoms to overcome.....

Hi, and yes there is a generic for soma... it is called CARISOPRODOL, I take the 350mg, but i only take it when needed, ive been taking this for several years, i haven't become addictied to it cause i only take it now and then, hope this helps...takecare
Michaela

[successtory]

Hi Brenda,

I used to take Soma after surgery. I don't take it anymore (but I have 2 pills on hand "just in case" I need them some day). I do that though . Soma is by far the best muscle relaxer. Flexerils did nothing for me. Soma's don't make you loopy and I took them along with vicodin 750s and even percocets (when I was taking them). You can go to webmd and put in all your medications and it will give you any drug interactions if you are worried about that. But soma is the best "gentle" muscle relaxer on the market (in my mind anyway ). Take care!



------------------
successtory
Oct 2000: Repetitive Stress Injury-Inverted Hernia
Feb 2001: MRI. Shows only slight bulge at L4-L5
Dec 2001: Discogram/CT scan shows Inverted Hernia at L5-S1. L4-L5 & L5-S1 ruptured in all 4 quadrants. Unable to walk.
Feb 2002: IDET, Nucleoplasty, Intra-Discal Injections
Sept 2002: Rated in the top 10% for successful patients. Retraining for new career.

[hottrodd]

Hi.

I have been taking Soma for a few months now, my doctor has me on 2-3 x daily (90 pills a month). I used to take Skelaxin but that didn't help much. Initially the Soma would make me sleepy but now that my body had adjusted to the medication, it rarely happens. I can drive and function fine, as if I am on nothing, yet it helps "A Little Bit" It does relieve tension but not all of it, I guess I have a high tolerance to meds for some reason, plus my pain levels are really high lately, like a 7-8.

I take it with 1-2 Vicodin 5mg and it helps, but not really what I would like to see. I am trying to get my Dr. to switch me to a better pain med. He tried me on Ultracet which was a joke!

So now I take..

Celebrex 200mg 1 x daily
Vicodin 5/500 2-3 x daily
Soma 350mg 2-3 x daily
Trazodone 50mg 2 x daily at bedtime

I have a decent insurance even though it's an HMO. For example the Soma which I get in generic form cost me $10 for 90 pills.


I pulled this from a Soma source.

Carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant. It works by blocking nerve impulses (or pain sensations) that are sent to your brain.

Carisoprodol is used, along with rest and physical therapy, to treat injuries and other painful muscular conditions.


Hope this helps..
Hottrodd

[This message has been edited by hottrodd (edited 07-29-2003).]