Soma/carisoprodol

[Guest Acit]

Hi.

I sometimes use Soma/carisoprodol, it's good against painful stiffness in the muscles, but I have also noticed that it has a calming effect and it can make it easier for me to fall asleep. Anyone else who has experience with this med, and it's effects on the mind ? What about long term use, compared to other muscle relaxants  ?

[Batou]

I don't have personal experience but I do know two people who took Soma for legitimate pain issues. Both experienced a calming/feel good effect and expereinced insomnia when they could not get any Soma refills, and basically became "addicted" to the stuff. Just my non-medical advice, but I would be careful of long term use.

As far as other muscle relaxants, I have taken Skelaxin for periods of time due to arthritis in cervical disks. It worked well for me, made me a littel drowsy at first, and once the pain was under control I was able to reduce my daily prescribed dose by 2/3rds.

[Catnapper]

I have used it in combination with Vicodin for occasional muscle spasms/pulled muscles in my lower back from a bad injury I did to myself about eight or nine years ago.  (In my head I'm still an athletic 22 year old, not overweight and middle-aged, so am always stupidly surprised when my body gives me a reality check!)  I've never used it separately, although I'm sure it would be fine.  The combination of the two allowed me to recover and do things like move around enough to use the bathroom and feed the cats.

I still take it very occasionally on an as-needed basis when I'm not careful and re-injure my back by putting my suitcase in the car wrong, slipping on ice, too much gardening, etc.  I like to have them both on hand so I can start the muscle relaxants before the muscles get a chance to really go into spasms and lock up.

The only trouble I've had with long term use is getting the damn stuff!  I move around the country for work a fair bit so change doctors and it's hard to find one that believes you can actually have lower back pain and aren't a drug addict.  It's a pain in the ass, but once you find one and they see you aren't calling for refills every two weeks, then they settle down and treat you like a responsible adult. 

I could see becoming hooked on it, though, as it does make you feel relaxed, although if I was going to get hooked it would have to be on speed because I'm naturally so slowed down that Soma wouldn't be my drug of choice.  I never have trouble sleeping anyway, so can't answer about insomnia.  I have just straight unipolar depression and dysthymia.

My pdoc knows of my usage and is fine with it in combination with my other psych meds of Wellbutrin, Topomax, and Vivactil.

[Breeze]

I have taken Soma for years. I have been on and off of it easily. I too have lower back pain and have been through hell trying to get it better.

I hear you Catnapper - my doctor who swears he believes me, but was just caught by me snooping at my pharmacist to see if I was getting pain meds from any other doctors. 

Yeah. "Trust" goes a long way.

Breeze