marjorie ...I am currently on Soma 350mg 3x daily for my Fibromyalgia with mild relief if I am having a mild day that is. Has anyone out there with Fibromyalgia ever taken anything but narcotics for your Fibromyalgia and have it work more than 20%? I cannot deal with the pain much more my muscles in my legs and arms hurt sooooo much and it hurts to function. Does anyone know if Soma can be taken at higher or more frequent doses? Is there a better muscle pill? Help please I am suffering here and need some support. Most of you know I don't ask for support until it is really bad and it is so please if anyone has any suggestions for me whether it is certain meds or even certain exercises to help I welcome any suggestions. Thank you all, love marjorie zych
Soma for Fibromyalgia?
- Posted:
- 10 Nov 2010 by marjorie zych
- Topics:
- soma, muscle spasm, pain, fibromyalgia, muscle pain, neuralgia, nocturnal leg cramps
Details:
Responses (26)
brenda fain10 Nov 2010
i am on flexeril 10mg i can take two of them three times a day ! this might help with your muscle pain cause it is a relaxer (muscle)
i go to my pain doctors thursday and was gonna ask them about soma ,now i don't know what to do?!hope you get relief from your pain!
vdudley10 Nov 2010
There are a variety of muscle relaxants out there. I am taking Zanaflex at the present time. It is a muscle relaxant the is similar to baclofin ( another antispasmotic). It is often use for people with MS and at times with spinal cord injuries but generally in much higher doses. I started at 4mg but I now take 8mg. I was prescribed for night use. If the pain and spasm is really bad, I will sometimes take in during the day as well (which my doctor is aware of). I find it works better than the flexeril. I hope this helps. Good luck. Hope the testing is giving you some of the answers that you seek. Valerie
marjorie zych
11 Nov 2010
Thanks I will also ask about this too sounds like it may help me. Does it make you tired if you take it during the day? Thanks again, marjorie zych
vdudley
12 Nov 2010
It did not make me tired but I had been taking it for months at night before I took it for the first time during the day. I think I had accomodated to it a little by then.
DzooBaby
Anonymous 10 Nov 2010
Hi Marjorie,
I am on Lyrica and Topamax currently. The Lyrica seems to help quite a bit, yet I had a wee allergic reaction when doc upped dose over 150mgs. So, I am at 100 mgs. I felt slightly "high" on the Lyrica when I first tried it, yet that terrible sensation went away. I recommend the stuff. Some people have gained weight on it, but not I.
The jury is still out on the Topamax. I shall let you know as soon as I know anything about it!
Sure hope you are feeling better soon Marjorie!
xoxo,
sweetlemon
marjorie zych
11 Nov 2010
Thanks sweetlemon,
I have tried Lyrica and it made me very suicidal but I appreciate your help. Thanks again, marjorie zych
vdudley
12 Nov 2010
I had a horrible allergic reaction to the Lyrica (symptoms that mirrored congestive heart failure) and have talked to many others who have also had bad reactions to the Lyrica. I am also on the Topomax (100mg twice a day) I have had much better results with this drug. This side effects were rough at first (lots of tingling in the hands, feet and the top on my head and sensitivity of my teeth, which no one had ever heard of before) but those have all but disappeared. One of the benefits or side effects (depending on how you look at it) of the Topomax, is weight loss. I have lost about 35 pounds so far and have gone from a size 18 to a size 12 in about 7 months. This is a benefit to me as less on me is less weight on a painful back. I am still loosing but at a much slower rate now. Just some food for thought on some of the meds.
505eva marjorie zych
11 Nov 2010
Be careful with the Ibuprofen it will eat a hole in your stomach. I am severely allergic to Aspirin and I am on Coumadin so I cannot take the Ibuprofen but thanks, marjorie zych
lizevans10 Nov 2010
I take 1200 mgs of gabapentin daily for my fibro, and it works for me. Gabapentin is the generic for Lyrica, which is the drug of choice for most Drs. The only problem I have with fibro now is the fatigue, which I guess will always be a problem. Hope this helps and you feel better soon. liz
oxyaaron
10 Nov 2010
gabapentin is generic for neurontin
natybugsmom
11 Nov 2010
Gabapentin is the generic for Neurontin. Lyrica does not have a generic yet. I take Lyrica 300 mg daily and valuim prn. I currently am have severe problems with lower back spasm. Md gave me Arthrotec and Soma along with everything else. Still in pain but on my first day of all of them together. Weird thing is, I don't get sleepy! Surprising. I used to take just the Lyrica and Cymbata and worked great, but thanks to Insurance that changed. Good luck! Oh i also get monthly massage... works wonders!
10 Nov 2010
I too am prescribed Soma as you are. I have RSD; not Fibro so my pain is mostly nerve pain related. I do have spasms in my legs at night mainly and have been on this same dose of Soma for a few years now.
Soma is dangerous. In only the past couple of years have I seen doctors not wanting to prescribe this for any long term use. My doctor is concerned about it but since I'm not having any respiratory issues with the other meds I take for now she is okay with it but said she may want to change it so I think it wouldn't be a great idea to be on more a day than you are now.
There is a new medication that helped my Aunt who has Fibro a lot. Lyrica made her sick and gain weight but Savella; which is the same type of medication only helped her pain and she is on a muscle relaxer also but not Soma.
marjorie zych
11 Nov 2010
Thanks alot this has helped me a great deal and I will print it out to talk to the doctor about. Thanks again for the help my dear, marjorie zych
vdudley
12 Nov 2010
Skelaxin is another muscle relaxant out there but is known to not make you as sleepy as most muscle relaxants. One more to ask the doctors about. At this rate you may be in his/her office for about 3 hours. He/she is going to be asking you where you are getting all this wonderful information. You can yes smile and say that you get by with a little help from my friends!!! <3 Valerie
brenda fain
geekygranny13 Nov 2010
Marjorie,
Rather than take more or different drugs, try something easier and safer to your body. Take a hot bath with epsom salts. This will relax your muscles and sooth them and if you get the ones with lavender in it, you will also relax your mind. Fibro gets aggravated with stress so you also need to destress. Read a relaxing book. Listen to soothing music.
Meds are not always the answer.
Just to let you know, I do take SOMA, norco for flare ups, tramadol, klonopin for restless legs, and I have a small hottub in the garage I soak in on bad days.
At night I take melatonin, tryptophan, and 5HTP. They help my sleep. Sometimes I will take trazodone to help me sleep through the night.
marjorie zych
13 Nov 2010
Thanks geekygranny,
I appreciate the reassurance for the no-drug routine also. I have a hard time getting in and out of the tub but sometimes long hot showers do help when I am not too severely aching. Thanks again for the reminder there is other ways besides meds, marjorie zych
bonniecna14 Nov 2010
I also take Flexeril and it comes in a generic form(cyclobenzaprine) so I can get it in my local wal-mart or k-mart as well as most stores that offer $9.99 for 90 day prescriptions. I also take Tramadol 3 x a day and Klonipin(clonazapam).
I've very recently been told that folic Acid helps alot with many FM symptoms. It's a B vitamin and I was never had any bloodtest for it before last week. My level was low so my doc ordered it prescription strength-1mg. OTC folic acid is measured in MCG(micrograms) so I guess I need a larger dose. I just started taking it so I can only speak from the info I found online. All the meds that are prescribed for FM might work well for some and not others. It's really a matter of trial and error. But, give them a little time. I am highly functioning and I think it's because of my meds.I hope all works out for you. And make sure you get regular blood tests. WATCH YOUR LIVER ENZYMES!!!
marjorie zych
14 Nov 2010
Thanks bonniecna, I have tried Flexeril and Tramadol. Flexeril helps some but wears off quick just like the Soma. I may ask about the Vitamin B (Folic Acid) I have never had testing for Vitamin B deficiency but I guess it is worth a shot. My doctor also told me that when your Vitamin D in your blood is low then you can feel worse with muscle issues as well just thought I would pass that on as well to you folks. Thanks all my dear friends, marjorie zych
17 Dec 2010
I am tring to find any releif offered also.I tried shots,flexirl but only 2xdaily,zaneflex,soma and robaxin the last of which I developed allergic reactions to due to a relationship the said with all my other allergies to asprin,nsids,nuroten,naproxin and darevaset.I am in so much pain I don't sleep I can't function I'm on blood pressure meds ,luvox ,respidal, high doses xanex ,percoset and prazosin all of which are supossed to help or at least help put me to sleep yet i hurt so bad and get so stiff i can't move but i not only feel like cring but do at times my back and hurt so if i try to lay down.Any avise would help sorry I can't
marjorie zych
24 Dec 2010
I am now on Cymbalta and that seems to be helping some maybe you can try that if you haven't already good luck, hope you get some relief soon, marjorie zych
16 Jan 2011
I was told I had FM in 2004. They gave me flexeril and robaxin (simular to soma) It did help me sleep but kept me graugy during the day. Over the years I stopped taking any drug. If I had really bad pain in my back I took Alieve and it really helped. If my neck were really bad, I took tension headache excederine. Works great. I have come to the conclusion that there is way too much fybromialgia being diagnosed in people. I had a hystorectomy in 1999. everything changed after that. I keep active and moving and it is the best medicine for what they say is FM. If you have pain that extreme, you should make sure there is not an underlying problem causing it before accepting it's FM. A lot of my pain I have is what I believe to be old injuries in life that are starting to bother me in older age. I am only 50 but I suffer alot. I noticed if I didn't take hormones, I got alot worse. So I have to fight the system to get hormones so I can stay active.
marjorie zych
17 Jan 2011
Thank you kjboopy, I am now on Cymbalta and it has worked wonders with the pain, not so much for the depression I have but it does work for the pain and does allow me to keep moving. Moving is the best thing for Fibro, it is hard to keep moving on some days but with Fibromyalgia you have too or you just stiffen up and that is worse. I found the muscle relaxers have done nothing much I went to Robaxin from the Soma but not much help until my doctor tried the Cymbalta. Fibro is a common diagnoses lately with the doctors but I am being evaluated for MS as well as a stroke possibility. Thanks for your concern it means alot. marjorie zych
6 Feb 2011
Marjorie, i think during my last 5 yrs, there isnt a pill i havent tried. im taking soma , percocet, methadone, 75mcg fentanyl every 48 hrs . Does it help? Sometimes... its so frustrating! I've tried lyrical & cymbalta together... tried 3900 mg neurontin, 150 mg amitrytiline ... zanaflex, flexiril, baclofen, roboxin, opana , morpine, very high doses of steroids, and more I know I've forgotten. If I stand to cook a.meal for 30 mins, I break into tears with neck, shoulder pain. my husband is about done... i dont blame him. ive tried triggdr point injections , but due to my hypersensitivity, i get golf ball size lumps in the muscle around injection site. i dread driving too..going go the dr every month is hell..but i cant ask mmy so called friends, yhey have stolen my meds, begged etc. so now i lie about what i take so they arent on my doorstep . I wish I could find my miracle combination. I have no insurance.,so rt now im suffering fentanyl withdrawls . let me tell u, its horrible. I guess u got off topic. I'm sorry there are so many others suffering.
Anonymous 6 Feb 2011
Hi dee3850,
You sure have run the gambit of meds with your fibro!! Hope you find something that works.
I do not get why your hubby is not more understanding!!! If he could live your pain for an hour, he would understand. Not that I'd wish it on anyone, but people that do not understand the horrible pain of fibro SHOULD have to walk a mile in our shoes!
Best wishes to you,
sweetlemon
13 Feb 2011
There is a medication called Savella, you start off with small doses and work your way up kinda like the way you do when you take a steroid pack.And there is another medicine called Lyrica, they are both marketed to people with fibromyalgia. Anyway I hope this information can help, good luck
marjorie zych
14 Feb 2011
Unfortunately I tried Lyrica and it made me suicidal and I have not tried the Savella because it is so close to Lyrica I am afraid of the same reaction but I am now on Cymbalta 120mg (2 60mg capsules) daily and I am doing great finally. Thanks for the info though I appreciate all the feedback. marjorie zych
smp3 marjorie zych
22 Feb 2011
Unfortunately Lyrica made me very suicidal which unfortunately is one of the side effect warnings. I am now on Cymbalta which seems to have helped a lot. Thanks for the suggestion though. marjorie zych
9 Mar 2011
I'm new on here marjory but I suffer from chronic back pain. You can up the dose of soma but keep in mind it is a muscle relaxer. I heard of a woman that was taking quite a bit around here in my neck of the woods and she took too much at one time and her heart just stopped. Because your heart is a muscle. I take a flexerile every now and then. You don't have to take as many as somas. I also at times prop my legs up in position that is comfortable. Matresses make differance too. Also ask a specialist about the way you pick things up. Some showed me ways of doing things or picking up things differently that will cause less strain on your back. It took awhile to get used too, but it worked. My trades are custom brick, block, and stone masonry. Also finding fugitives. So I was like you with my back " lol. Hope this helps.
marjorie zych
9 Mar 2011
Welcome. Thanks for the support and advice. I am now on Cymbalta for the fibromyalgia and it seems to help out a lot except for the weight gain. I have tried Flexeril and tend to like it better. Good luck getting the fugitives someone needs to. Thanks again, marjorie zych
13 Mar 2011
I bought a vibrating masjine with 2 seperare footplates or a passife exercise masjine that you could stand on. After 6 weeks I experienced a huge pain reliefing differece. It changed my life. There are more tesamonies like mine, so get a masjine and start shakeing.
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Thank you brenda fain I do appreciate your input and I will ask about the Flexeril. marjorie zych
I take flexerl 10 mg 1-3 x day and xanax 0.5 mg 3x day to help w/ muscle pain in my legs neck and arms. As u probably already know the pain moves around a lot and one day is not the same as the next. Pain meds have been darvocet but thats been pulled off the market and now i have a rx for vicodin which i am afraid to take because i worry about being allergic to it as well as addiction. This is a miserable condition.Weather changes make my pain go off the charts and the fatigue is up there as well. Tried Cymbalta for several months but i just couldnt deal w/ the INCREDIBLE SWEATING. Good luck
I am now taking Roabaxin 500mg and they want to try me on Cymbalta but I am a little nervous about the Cymbalta after hearing so much about it in the negative side effects. Hope I get some relief soon. Thanks my friends, marjorie zych
I was on Flexeril 10 mg for a couple of years and it didnt really help so my doctor switched me to Soma 350mg 3x a day,and it has been a god-send no more back cramps plus it helps me sleep,I should of switched years ago.
Soma hasn't helped much so I am trying 500mg of Robaxin 3x daily so far not much change but it has only been 4 days. thanks, marjorie zych
I hope it works out for you.Good Luck... Rem
i am allowed 4 norco and 4 soma per day for my fibromyalgia. i also take 1/2 of a caffeine pill with my medication because it seems to make it work better for some reason. i have been taking savella 50 mgs (25mgs twice daily) and when i take it i am able to cut back a little on the norco and soma. if this continues to help, i would like to try and move up to 100 mgs of savella per day and see if i get a little more improvement (less pain meds). i also take 20 mgs of baclofen before i goto bed.
i tried to drop the caffeine pills because it aggravates my reflux--- but the pain meds did not work as well.
I am now taking Cymbalta 120mg and it seems to be doing great for me now. Thank you for your input, marjorie zych
Good Luck to all of you!
I take Soma for extreme chronic neck and shoulder pain, due to cervical stenosis. Years ago, I was originally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, but later learned that the unbearable pain in the other parts of my body (muscles/tendons/joints) was really being caused by low thyroid (gee... wonder why none of the pain meds ever worked... ).
Within a week of going on Amour Thyroid meds that other pain completely disappeared. I mention this only because, if anyone here has been RECENTLY diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, you might want to have thyroid blood tests done--just to make sure. Do NOT let them just automatically tell you that your thyroid is in the 'low normal' range. This was done to me from 1989-2001~~~when I finally had a doctor do more extensive bloodwork (there are SEVERAL different blood tests to determine low thyroid function).
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If you think that there is a chance that you might not actually have Fibromyalgia, then pick up a book by Mary Shomon about thyroid--- she is a patient advocate and fellow sufferer. You can also type in her name on Face Book and read about her--be sure to add 'thyroid' when you do, as she also has a personal site.
Please know that I am not trying to negate your diagnosis... but only trying to let people here know that there is always a possibility that the doctors could be wrong. I don't want anyone else to lose years of their lives to horrible pain, IF there could be another option available.
Good Luck to you all, Mary, the madhatter.
I was on soma 350mg up to 3 times a day off and on now for more then 15 years, Im a house nurse and from time to time my back starts to spasm, soma by far is the only thing that has worked for me.Ive tried alot of things like flexeril and something with a bac ive tried perk and vicodin and tramadol you name it ive tried it, well soma not only helps my back get better but i found it to help my cramping during that miserable time of the month, i have learned a couple things that truly helped me with somas , Milk if you take soma and get an upset stomach cure omg milk, now orange juice on the other hand seems to make it work faster i find. my dr told me i was allowed to take one and a half at times when i needed, and that was fine, i have taken 2 at times, mind you everyones different, i find myself to have a high tolerance.
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i dont recommend you change any dosage of medication your taking unless you ask your physician, people respond differently to medicaations, so you need to be careful. as for the muscle pain, ive got one client swears voltarin gel helps with the pain, manufactured by novartis consumer health marketed by endo pharm, so maybe you should try this, i also heard about a cactus juice drink somewhere online you drink a couple ounces a day and some people have felt new after a month or so. you never know and you sure cant be afraid to try something if its going to help you with pain, good luck to all and god bless.