Feedback on Soma Side Effects and Usage, page 40

About Soma

If you’ve used Soma, please help others by sharing your experience with side effects. What would you tell your best friend about this product? Please remember that we do not give medical advice. That is for your local health care provider, who is familiar with your medical history.

Update from the Federal Register Vol. 76, No. 238, Rules and Regulations 77339

Effective January 11, 2012, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is placing carisoprodol into Schedule IV under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This includes the salts of carisoprodol, isomers, and salts of isomers, whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers are possible.

During the hearings about the proposed change, the only one to object was Meda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Meda), which manufactures Soma. Their objection was that, “the administrative record does not include substantial and reliable evidence of potential for abuse sufficient to warrant scheduling carisoprodol and because the proposal gives inadequate weight to the negative impact on patient care of scheduling carisoprodol.”

The Attorney General noted that “abrupt discontinuation of high-dose carisoprodol may result in withdrawal symptoms including anxiety, psychosis, tremors, myoclonus, ataxia and seizures,” and that this withdrawal syndrome is likely under recognized. If you use Soma, what do you think about this?

Will Soma show up on drug screen?
Date: 1/5/2012
I am in pain management and get drug screens. My doctor screens for everything. They can detect what drug you have taken. I took 1 350mg soma on Tuesday and have a drug screen coming up the following Tuesday. Will this show up?

Jennifer

AskDocWeb: Soma may be detected for up to 50 hours after ingesting it. However a week should be more than enough time for it to clear your system.

Experience with quitting Soma
Date: 1/5/2012
I have quit soma after 10 month addiction of up to 8 per day. Been clean 6 days. I have had a bad headache, though tolerable; heightened anxiety; irritable stomach, gassy etc. but all in all a survivable kick. Reason I quit? Started having a weird inner-ear “flash” that was activated by sudden noises or movements of my head. Weird. It would set off a panic sensation, and I was worried seizures were next. Sleeping better already.

Nero

Can Soma cause difficulty urinating?
Date: 1/18/2012
Can difficulty urinating be caused by Soma use? I am a short time user, have a rare brain disease called Chiari malformation, and deal with intense pain and spasams. Now halfway thru the bottle (4 pills daily) ( I find I have the feeling I need to urinate and then have to push as hard as I can to get if out if I can go at all.) Is this the SOMA?

Soma user

AskDocWeb: It could be the Soma. Difficulty urinating is listed as one of the possible side effects of Soma that should be reported to your doctor.

Soma is wonderful for what they are made for
Date: 1/19/2012
I was involved in a very serious car wreck a year and a half ago. I am still currently on heavy pain killers such as hydrocodone and oxycontin. I have been taking soma the entire time in combination, and have LOVED the soma and what they are made for. They are a muscle relaxing drug, and do just that. I take 700mgs at night time only because they will make you a little loopy. I have not noticed any withdraw symptoms when I’ve ran out of them tho. Soma is wonderful for what they are made for and taken AS PRESCRIBED. As any drug, when you start looking for ways to abuse it, it will abuse you. Take soma for muscle pain and spasms like prescribed and it will help you….sleep like a baby….thanks,

TURK

Severe stomach pain
Date: 1/31/2012
I’ve been taking soma for about 6 years, and it does still help the muscle spasms (anrold chiari, syringomyelia, fibromialgia, etc.) even though most Drs. say it doesn’t work long-term. I do feel more relaxed generally, but the one concern I have is whether or not it can cause stomach issues. It first makes me feel hungry, then, recently after removal of a large stone from my bile duct, more severe stomach pain. Has anyone else noticed a stomach issue?

I didn’t find flexeril helpful. I don’t really know why there are so few alternatives available for muscle spasms. I take, at the msot, 4 daily, and have had no serious problems, although if I take a dose during the night it is hard to get up (which, since I am disabled I don’t really mind so much!) My pharmacist just told me that it has not been “classed”….has anyone else hear this? While I understand the group that advises the FDA (public citizens’group), I have to wonder sometimes…

Robin

AskDocWeb: The product information for Soma does mention that if stomach upset occurs, it should be taken with food to reduce stomach irritation. Soma has been known to cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, hiccups, and constipation. Also note that the withdrawal symptoms associated with Soma dependency include abdominal cramps. Severe or persistent stomach pain should be reported to your doctor.

Can Soma effect enzyme count?
Date: 2/1/2012
I have been taking Soma speratically (4- 350mg per month) since a spinal fusion operation in ’09. I just have my liver enzymes tested after having them tested 6 months ago. My ALT is up from 52 to 80. I have hep c but have never been sick from it. Could this low dose of Soma cause a rise in my enzyme count?

Signe

AskDocWeb: Soma is metabolized in the liver and long term use can affect enzyme count. However, there are also other explanations for an elevated enzyme count. Patients who use Soma for daily hard-to-control pain often chronically overuse other products for pain. The liver metabolizes these pain medications and in doing so, elevates the enzyme count. Unfortunately the liver is only able to handle so much.

For patients coping with chronic pain, there is a risk that goes beyond just an elevated enzyme count to possible overdose or even death from OTC products. Those who already have a weak liver are at the greatest risk of an overdose from over-the-counter meds such as Acetaminophen. For example, taking Tylenol Arthritis for joint pain, Excedrin for a headache, and NyQuil for a cold could land you in the hospital. All three products contain Acetaminophen and taking them in the same day could result in an overdose. Here is a partial list of over-the-counter products that contain Acetaminophen.

  • Alka-Seltzer Plus Day Cold Medicine Liqui-Gels
  • Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough Medicine Liqui-Gels
  • Alka-Seltzer Plus Flu Medicine Liqui-Gels
  • Alka Seltzer Plus Night Time Cold Medicine Liqui-Gels
  • Benadryl Allergy & Cold Caplets
  • Benadryl Severe Allergy & Sinus Headache Caplets & Gelcaps
  • Comtrex Cold & Cough Capsules
  • Contac Cold & Flu Day/Night Caplets
  • Coricidin HBP Cold & Flu Tablets
  • Coricidin HBP Maximum Strength Flu Tablets
  • Excedrin Back and Body Caplets
  • Excedrin Extra Strength Tablets, Caplets, and Geltabs
  • Excedrin Migraine Tablets, Caplets, and Geltabs
  • Excedrin PM Tablets, Caplets, and Geltabs
  • Excedrin Sinus Headache Caplets
  • Excedrin Tension Headache Caplets
  • Midol Menstrual Complete Caplets and Gelcaps
  • Midol Menstrual Headache Caplets and Gelcaps
  • Nyquil/DayQuil Cold and Flu
  • Nyquil/DayQuil Multi-Symptom Cold and Flu
  • Nyquil/DayQuil Sinus
  • Pamprin Multi-Symptom
  • Percogesic Tablets
  • Percogesic Extra Strength Caplets
  • Robitussin Cold & Congestion Multi-Symptom Tablets
  • Sudafed PE Cold & Cough Caplets
  • Sudafed PE Multi-Symptom Severe Cold Caplets
  • Sudafed PE Sinus Headache Caplets
  • TheraFlu Daytime Severe Cold Hot Liquid
  • TheraFlu Daytime Severe Cold Caplets
  • TheraFlu Flu & Sore Throat Night Hot Liquid
  • TheraFlu Nighttime Severe Cold Hot Liquid
  • TheraFlu Nighttime Severe Cold Caplets
  • Tylenol 8-Hour Caplets
  • Tylenol Arthritis Pain Geltabs & Caplets
  • Tylenol Extra Strength Tablets & Caplets
  • Tylenol PM Extra Strength
  • Tylenol Regular Strength Tablets & Caplets
  • Tylenol Severe Allergy Caplets

Just last year (2011), Johnson & Johnson lowered the maximum daily dosage of Acetaminophen from 4000mg (4 grams) down to 3000mg (3 grams). For example the maximum of Extra Strength Tylenol 500mg tablets went from 8 per day down to 6 per day to reduce the risk of accidental overdose. Soma report – 37 – 38 – 39 – Page 40 – 41 – 42 – 43 – Last Page 48

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