mfpdfibroSoma's are supposed to be prescribed for short term use like if you have a muscle spasm in your back or something. What I don't understand is why they are not prescribed long term for those of us that suffer from chronic myofascial muscular trigger point pain. That pain comes and goes all the time and is unfortunately not short lived. Physicians are afraid to prescribe anything anymore even if it means you have to suffer as a result of it. Any comments are welcomed
Why isn't Soma recommended in the management of long term chronic pain?
- Posted:
- 27 Oct 2010 by mfpdfibro
- Topics:
- soma, muscle spasm, pain, nocturnal leg cramps, spasms, chronic
Details:
Responses (11)
Anonymous 27 Oct 2010
Hi mfpdfibro,
My GP gives me a prescription for soma every six hours, yet I am afraid to take it. It effects the heart and I don't want to mess about with that.
It also has the potential for abuse, as I'm sure you know already.
Perhaps you should seek a new doc?
Hope you are feeling better, fibro sucks!!!
Have you tried Lyrica?
sweetlemon
RSDHurtzme27 Oct 2010
Soma is a dangerous medication. I fear all of my medications and have never abused any of them. For RSD which the pain and muscle spams are very much the same as described in a response below I have been on Soma for about 4 plus years now after going through every other muscle relaxer for it to only stop working; or not helping me.
When I went back to my 1st pain doctor who diagnosed me this year, he wouldn't even write my Soma (after writing my strong pain meds) having the nurse come out and tell me; "he just doesn't believe in long term use of it" and then telling my Internal Med doctor this and she prescribed them for me.
They can affect the heart muscle and suppress your breathing and when pain meds also suppress your breathing, they consider that a dangerous combination.
lovecats
28 Oct 2010
My pain management doctor seldom prescribes Soma. My son, 34, who had chronic pain, died from a combination of Soma, Methadone and Restoril. He took his medications as prescribed and still died from "mixed chemical intoxication." He was healthy other than having a lot of pain from different spinal problems. It is interesting to me that Soma can affect the heart. I didn't know that. Methadone can also affect the heart and all three drugs can suppress breathing. I have wondered if the doctor should have prescribed this combination of drugs?
RSDHurtzme
28 Oct 2010
lovecats; I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your son while taking his meds as prescribed. This is a reason that many doctors will no longer prescribe this for long term use. My doctor feels that I shouldn't take them with other meds at the same time to protect me from what happened to your son.
I take them separate and a few hours apart from any med that could be a dangerous combo. I fear them but have never felt addicted to them nor have I felt any euphoria from them. They do help me sleep at night and if I awake with my leg locked up, I take it alone to help that one problem which does allow my spasms to stop enough to not only sleep but also to feel the next day so I can do things without having a tremendous amount of spasms.
I don't get the Soma compound and have literally tried to take less than prescribed any day I can due to the fear of a "medication combo death risk".
tagejk0212
ndnkcgw28 Oct 2010
Soma is great for the kind of pain you are describing but unfortunately it has become a drug that is frequently sold on the street. I know of plenty of people who make up a chronic muscle pain and get large quantities of soma to sell. I used to have it prescribed to me but I began abusing it, looking for that "bolus effect" where I actually felt a high from it. I started taking over 5,000mg a day or 3-350mg pills at a time multiple times a day.
Unfortunately all of this has led many doctors t be wary of prescribing it. The risks, potential for abuse, and potential for distribution all keep doctors from writing it for those who truly need it. I wish I could trust myself t take it because it definitely helps my muscle pain but I cannot trust myself with that medication.
I hope you are able to find a doctor that will work with You and Your pain. You need to find that elusive doctor that trusts their patient enough to prescribe what they need despite the risks. I do warn you that I found the medication extremely habit forming. Good Luck!
neison71
Anonymous 28 Oct 2010
neison71,
I respectfully disagree, Soma does not contain aspirin.
neison71
28 Oct 2010
Could be true... I was assuming (not a good idea) that she was referring to soma compound witch DOES contain 325mg asa per dose.
( :
neison
28 Oct 2010
May I ask what form of Soma you're taking? There are severl types. Are you taking Soma compound? If so, that contains aspirin and so my response to your would still stand (re; irritation to your GI tract), but if not, then my answer may have been off and i apologize.
Best of luck
( :
neison
mfpdfibro
30 Oct 2010
It is just the kind that comes from the pharmacy. Nothing special I think they say DAN and have some numbers on the back. It is just that this is the only thing that really works. It works better than morphine, vicadin combined. I think to be honest with you all that I am going to detox off of everything and just smoke pot and not see any doctors. I mean there would be a lot less of a hassle. I know more risk as it is illegal, but I would not be consuming large amounts. Just enough to get my muscles to relax. Every muscle in by back lower, upper, neck, head I mean this disease has my whole body. I just want relief and no grief.
mfpdfibro
7 Nov 2010
I have to agree with all of you and thank you for your responses. I really wish there was something else out there. This drug seems to be very unpredictable as well. Sometimes one will work, sometimes not at all. I have taken up to three at a time, well separated by an hour and then have it all hit me like a ton of bricks. I mean I lost a street fight with the pavement. It is too dangerous and there should be something else that works and is more dependable and less addictable. I am so very sorry for the loss of your son, I cannot even begin to imagine the sorrow and emptiness you feel.
RemSupreme9 Nov 2010
Some doctors might not perscribe them because one of their metabolites is Meprobate generic for Miltown a 1950's tranquilizer that was addicting a controlled 4 substance,and actually Soma is a controlled substance in 4 or 5 states.Ive been taking it for a couple of years and ive gone a couple days in a row without it and felt fine,it has worked miracles for my back it worked much better then Flexeril in my opinion.And your right about doctors being afraid to perscribe any pain meds even percs you can thank corrupt pain mainagement places for that.Sometimes you have to go to a real doctor and a script doctor one for his knowledge the other for the pills.
christineATU
10 Nov 2010
Great info.
mfpdfibro
12 Nov 2010
Yes, but "where oh where" are they? You know that the DEA is making it so hard for doctors to prescribe medications for people who really need pain pills, that they are forcing people to get it from the "black market" how is that better? Isn't that what they don't want? I have never Dr. shopped, never gotten the same prescription from two different physicians, and never peed dirty, but I still can't get what I need for my pain. It is pitiful and a damn shame. Actually, inhumane! They treat dogs better than this.
tagejk021231 Mar 2011
If I was told to pick 1 drug for my pain for the rest of my life I would choose SOMA its the only drug that takes 98% pain away and when the doc does give me a script I only take it at night 30 to 45 min before bed by the time I feel it working I wake up and its 630am so it doesnt make me high it gives me a wonderful night sleep but there are a few that I read about that take 15 and 25 at a time I take 2 for those who abuse thanks alot you ruined a great medicine that works. I hear they are going to take it off the market its a sche 4 controlled medicine a 4 cant you guys find something better to abuse
mfpdfibro
12 Apr 2011
Some is not a schedule 4 controlled medication in my state, OH. I have learned the hard way not to abuse them. They seem to be unpredictable as to how they will affect someone. I have limited my use to 1-2 during the day and 1 to 2 at night. I have found out that it is better to not abuse them because they are more important to have around when I really need them. I agree with you though that the people that abuse certain medications (and I was once guilty of abusing my Soma's, I admit) definitely make it more difficult for those seeking the medication for necessary and proper usage. Thank you for your input.
Anonymous 1 Apr 2011
My hubby used to take Soma back in the early 90's for his back & he said it really helped him. He no longer gets it. It may not be prescribe for you if you are taking other pain meds as there can be interreactions. Be best if you would look up Drugs A to Z at the top of page it is a world of info. It is also hait forming which nmay be another reason. Flexeril is a good muscle relaxer. Have you tried this? Hope this hel[ps you & good luck with your problems. May632009
madhatter...10 Apr 2011
I wholeheartedly agree with tajejk--- Soma has been a lifesaver for me! It is the ONLY pain med that has EVER worked--- AND allowed me to sleep thru the night too--and not wake up all drugged out! AND, I have NEVER had to increase the dose... and I have been taking it since 2006.
Different strokes for different folks... and I resent the doctors who tell us how dangerous and addictive it is--yet want to put us on something even stronger! When THEY are willing to live with chronic, heavy-duty pain while taking so-called 'safe' pain meds (that don't even begin to touch the pain), then I might have more respect for them! Luckily, I have met a couple of doctors in my area who agree with me about Soma, and think that it is a great pain reducer--as long as you are someone who doesn't have an 'addictive personality', or other serious health issues that could interact with it. Just my personal opinion--but I'm tired of Soma getting slammed all the time...
24 Apr 2012
I'm 59 years old and have taken just about every opiate and muscle relaxer there is at one time or another because of severe bulging and rupturing discs in my back. I've had 4 surgeries, tried all the shots, physical therapy, etc. I finally gave up and went on Subutex, which is just trading one drug for another. I wish the goverment would just go ahead and legalize marijuana. I tried it a few times and it helped my pain more than anything else I've taken. I think it would help a lot with the abuse of drugs and alcohol. The goverment could get their cut, just like with alcohol, and I sincerely believe it would do more good than harm.
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How long does the soma 350mgs taken 3 times a day last before they wear off?
You don't want to take more then needed and how long does just 2 a day stay in your system?
1 answer • 9 Feb 2013 •
Yeah, he gave me lyrica, but I don't understand what it is supposed to do, it hasn't done anything that I am aware of. I am probably going to try to wean myself off of it along with everything else I take all the time and save them for when I need then for flare-ups since he is talking about taking me off of everything anyway. I would rather have something stocked up than nothing at all. Not sure what I am going to do. The soma's do work bless their little hearts and I know they come with risks, but they work. I just want something that works. You know what I mean? Most of the people I know get them left and right and I can't get my Dr. to even give me 60 a month instead of 45. I have two different friends that get 120 a month. Gheesh! They don't even have fibro or myofascial trigger points. ITS NOT FAIR! Heee Heee had to throw my little temper tantrum, I am done now!
I like your sense of humor!
What else are you taking for your fibro and myofacia pain?
Are you on any opiate pain meds? Not trying to be intrusive, just want to help.
Are you able to excersise at all? Yoga seems to help me, and mild cardio.
Hope you get the scary Soma's!
sweetlemon
Yeah I started off with 100 mg of time release morphine, but down to 30 mg and they are taking me off of that. The problem seems to be that they keep trying to treat me like a fibro patient and my real problem is the chronic myofascial pain. There are no doctors in my area that understand that nor any physical therapists. I have to drive 48 miles to get the right physical therapy and that is not working right now because I can't sleep unless I take Soma's. Plus when I take them, the next day my muscles are calmed down enough to actually do the stretch's. Most of the time I have to roll around on tennis balls which I tied up in a black sock. The knot ended up in the middle so it looks like and we call them "my black balls". Kind of funny when I am in pain running around the house asking if anyone has seen my black balls. The chronic myofascial pain is horrific, stabbing, burning, very painful. I have one particularly bad spasm on the inside of my hip. I can't seem to get at it. So the morphine really helps with that particular bad one.
I haven't tried the "black balls"... maybe I should.
Do you have a Rhuematologist near you? Some University hospitals have good Rhuem departments.
I live in Michigan and there is an excellent Fibro Specialist near me, but I just see my GP. That myofascia pain is quite horrid. The Lyrica seems to help mine a bit. Yet I am terrified to gain even a pound, and I've heard people say weight gain is a problem with Lyrica. (I am a bit vain, ashamed to say)
Hope you are feeling good today,
sweetlemon
Thanks sweetlemon, for your comments, questions, and well wishes, they are much appreciated, and thanks for befriending me as well. We all have to stick together and support each other the best we can. We are the only ones who really know what we go through on a daily, weekly, monthly basis regarding physicians, medications, all the BS we have to put up with. Boy, I am telling you. I have to go see this psychiatrist and every time I go, I ask myself why the heck I am even bothering. I mean she doesn't care that I can't sleep or that I have horrific OCD and am starting to have panic attacks. She just sticks her head in her computer and writes down notes on my rather "large file" and then hands me another stupid prescription that won't work. It is like it is a game. Before she had asked me to go see one of those clinical labs that test your urine for what you are taking.
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Now I know that I am not taking what I am not supposed to be taking and I do not rather feel inclined to prove it, yet again, to someone else who no matter what the results are will still NOT prescribe what is needed for me to sleep and or rid myself of this high anxiety and daily stress I go through. I mean, why can't I just have 10 rather large Valiums per month, without having to take it every single day. Why can't I just have a few for emergency's, like "break the glass" if need be? Wouldn't that be better than having to take it everyday and then becoming physically and/or psychologically addicted to it? I am venting, so thank you for listening. I really had to get that off of my chest.
BTW I do take Lyrica, I don't think it made any difference, I did start to gain some weight, so I dropped my afternoon dosage of 50 mg and only take it in the morning and at night. I have dropped a few pounds since doing that. I hear you have to wean or detox off of those too, so I better get ready to do that here soon. Just detoxed off of Morphine. My Pain Management doctor has refereed me to a detox Dr. because I guess if you don't get better while under his treatment well then you are just lyng and wanting pain meds for a phsychological dependence and not for the real pain that you happen to be experiencing constantly. Yes, I need to get off my but and find a new pain Dr. It is just so frustrating and seems like a total waste of time. I bet it would be easier to go underground and self treat. Don't worry, I am not planning to do that, just wondering if it is more than likely easier than going about it the "right" way, which I have always done.
Guuuuurl,
Get thee to a Rhuematologologist (sp?) they are the (supposed) experts on fibro! A shrink only cares about meds, and won't treat your fibro. Seems like we start with fibro and end up needing the psycotropic meds, or so shrinks seem to think! They just want to whip meds at us, yet the wrong ones.
I agree about the Valium! Good luck on finding a new doc, hope you do it!
Your friend in fibro misery,
Lara
Thanks! Love the "Guuuuurl!" I think I will try to call some rhuemy docs that participate in the other section of health care covered in my city. We only have two choices, this hospitals network or that hospitals network. Time to shake it up. Wish me luck, I suuuuuuure do need it! You said, I think, that you lived in Michigan, well I am just down Rt. 75 from you in OH. Go Bucks! heeee heeeee
Go Bucks??? Don't even get me started!!! LOL
HAAAAAA HAAAAAAAA Thanks for the laugh, I needed it! I just recently backed up one of your answers to the "cold turkey" guy. Yeah! us old timers (lack for a better word) know our #$%# from default. Finding out the hard way. Boy do we have battle scars or what?
Oh lady, Watch that old timers statement! I just read your profile, and I am younger than thee... by a long stretch!
GO WOLVERINES... take that, you Buckeye fan!!! LOL Guuuuuuuuuuuurl.
Lara
All Docs need to go through pain at a level of at least 8 for 6 weeks and only have an ISAID and tylenol to" ALTERNATE" or "ALTERNATE" HEAT AND ICE" dont get me wrong sometimes that helps but when the cushion between one of you discs c5 is non existent that does not even touch your pain. Its like peeing on a house fire.I worked in an ER for 10 years with a few docs that had neck and or back surgery they were not suppose to write scripts for employees, yes employees in hospitals are the biggest seekers there are,but anyway 2 of them read my MRI and x-ray reports and offered help if I needed them and yes I took them up on it a few times because they knew pain!
I don't understand why your PM doctor wants you to go to a "detox doctor" as that will be in your medical records for life making it even harder to obtain any type of doctor to prescribe pain meds and even some other meds you may need. That makes no sense at all if you have maintained on the meds you've been on or put on. I know "maintained" never means complete pain relief for anyone suffering in chronic pain and studies show that rarely does a real Chronic Pain patient ever become an addict; only dependent due to the pain.
Any psychological problems usually stem from the pain lasting; depression, anxiety, etc and is not the cause of pain at all.
I feel very fortunate but was once in a very bad PM place that treated everyone including my 70 something Aunt on a walker like a seeker.
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I have the greatest psychiatrist as she only treats women, she is also a board certified Neurologist that does know the pain and depression link with the ability to prescribe anti depressants that help to cope with and sleep while in pain. She treats OCD, PTSD, and anxiety issues.
Please don't go to any detox doctor as it will totally ruin your medical records for life making you really look like a former addict or drug seeker vs the chronic pain patient you are.
I've had RSD for almost 12yrs and got a PC over 10yrs ago and started researching all I could on not only the RSD but the pain, meds, etc. It gave me a healthy fear of any of the meds I'm prescribed but I have gone without them enough to realize I would have NO quality of life.
We do choose quality over quantity if we know a chronic pain condition is for life esp getting hurt at an early age; I was only 31 then; 43 now. I do fear all my meds & take them carefully as possible and have refused increases many times over in the past which would have had me on double the mgs 6yrs ago now or more than what I took for 9 1/2yrs only changing my breakthrough pain meds and going from other muscle relaxers to Soma.
It is our responsibility to be careful with our meds and to know the dangers of long term use however some of these doctors have just decided to label everyone as a seeker until proven innocent which is so unfair and only adds insult to injury literally.
I pray you can find another doctor that does treat pain and not trying to send you to an addiction specialist.
i was on soma for years and i built up such a tolarance it was scary, its also very addictive, not made to be taken so darn long. i found myself at 2in the morning driving around naked after taking soma, then i got a dui (no alcohol i don't drink) after that it was time to say goodbye, and the withdrawls really sucked. amber