Feedback on Soma Side Effects and Usage, page 7
About Soma
If you’ve used Soma, please help others by adding your feedback. 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.
Subj: Soma side effects?
Date: 6/5/2006
My 55-year old, seemingly normal, live-in fiance (for 18 months) has been a long-term user of Soma (more than 5 years)–it was originally prescribed for back pain. Over the past year, I have noticed increasing erratic personality traits and strange behavior pattterns. He has gained more than 60 lbs. eating non-stop and denyng it (he always on a diet)! In addition to taking the Soma, he now takes Paxil (over 5 years), blood pressure medication (prescribed after his weight gain), cholesterol medication (prescribed after his weight gain), and heart pills of some sort. He has become very moody and volatile with severe personality swings (he’s often verbally abusive and then denies it–doesn’t remember it!). He’s very forgetful and easily distracted; he repeats himself constantly and is unaware of it; he nods out, snores, and talks nonsense in his sleep–then denies he’s been sleeping; he breathes very heavily and often has slurs his speech. Can someone tell me if these are symptoms/side effects of long-term use of Soma in combination with other prescription drugs such as the Paxil and blood pressure medication? Can long-term use of Soma cause such drastic changes in personality as well as the above-mentioned side effects. HELP PLEASE-Thanks,
Shelly
Subj: Soma does what it says
Date: 6/5/2006
I have taken soma for 4 years on and off for different injuries. If you have a tight/inflamed muscle, soma is your best friend. It works so well that I sometimes feel guilty using it. This med. actually does what it says: “relaxes”! Flexoril, skelaxin, etc… made me feel hung over and very cranky. I’ve never noticed negative withdrawal symptoms or side effects with soma. I believe it does make you gain a little weight. But with any injury, you should seek physical therapy as tolerated. Gaining that muscle tone back is what will heal you, not a drug. SO exercise! AND loose the few pounds you may have gained from temporarily using this medication!
Paige
Subj: Long-term Soma damage?
Date: 6/9/2006
I have been taking 5-7 somas a day for the past 4 years. I have built a tolerance and it takes that many to work. However, sometimes it works fast and others it takes awhile and sometimes it makes me shake or not be able to walk well. My biggest concern and I have read mixed things, is does this affect your heart? Some say this is a muscle relaxer so it relaxes your heart, then others say it works on skeletal muscles and not smooth muscles. My EKG is not normal (from last year) they are diagnosing left Ventricle BBB. How dangerous is it for me to be taking soma with this condition? I don’t drink or use any other type drug. This is the only thing that helps me sleep and has rid me of insomnia (Ambien- doesn’t work). But I don’t want to kill myself either and would rather lie awake then be dead. Thanks
Mandy
AskDocWeb: Tachycardia is listed as one of the adverse reactions to this drug. That is an abnormal condition in which the heart contracts at rate greater than normal overworking it. Pathologic tachycardia goes along with the lack of oxygen, as caused by anemia, congestive heart failure, bleeding or shock.
Subj: Soma story
Date: 6/20/2006
My mother has been taking soma for 16 years. Although it is hard for me to find any long term use studies, I could say she is a study herself. She reached the dangerous dose of 20 a day. She has fibromyalgia, and she is a breast cancer survivor. She is in a lot of pain, and she also takes oxycontin. What she is going through now is a lot worse than what she was experiencing before she started soma. Her health has decreased in the last 16 years but I would say that it has gotten a lot worse in just the last year when she reached that 20 soma a day. She is experiencing dementia like symptoms. She has tremors and can barely get around and walk. I have seen her take like 10 or 13 pills in one sitting.
Just a little note about my mom she has never had a drop of alcohol, smoked cigarettes, or drank anything with caffeine for that matter. So it would be hard for me to accept that her doctors have given this to her with out much knowledge of long term use. Well she is going to the hospital today to get off of the soma. Me and my brother and the doctors have decided that this is best for her. But the doc did hand us a paper about a patient that died from being taken off the soma. If you do it too rapid it could kill her he said. She will be there for 7 days… that sounds kind of rapid to me considering that it took 16 years to get her up to 20. If anyone can relate or has insight or questions please… Thanks
Melanie
AskDocWeb: This plan should work, and the doctors can watch her carefully at the hospital instead of her being home alone. Also other medications may be given to help in the withdrawal process. She may need to get off of the oxycontin too. Good luck to your family, and remain supportive to your mom.
Subj: Daughter is addicted to Soma
Date: 6/23/2006
My daughter has a bad back from the age of 12. She is now 28 and on lorcets and somas. She takes too many because she has be come addict to them both , She goes thru really bad withdrawals so she starts back on them. And I think she is going to OD but she can’t stop. If you start abusing them stop. Abuse is taking two when it says take one. Dont start! Thanks,
Tweety girl
Subj: To Humpty:
Date: 6/26/2006
You make it sound really easy not to abuse soma, but after 5 years of taking it, it’s kind of difficult to get off even when the original reason you started taking it no longer exists. YOU get a life!
Claire
Subj: Long term Soma usage
Date: 6/27/2006
I have been taking soma for over 10 years. Is there any long term damage? muscles? heart? kidney? anything?
Jeannette
AskDocWeb: It is metabolized in the liver and excreted by the kidneys so those are the two organs to watch for long term damage. If you have any problems urinating or have to get up in the middle of the night frequently to urinate then contact your doctor.
Subj: Addicted to Soma
Date: 6/27/2006
When my husband realized that I had been abusing soma for two years (100 pills per week) he flushed it all one day while I was out of it. I decided to stay home in bed and detox from the Soma, based on the info I had read that Soma withdrawal is nonexistent.
On day 3 I asked my husband to take me to the local treatment center because I felt like an emotional wreck, that night in “detox” at the 72 hour point I fell out of bed and had a grand mal seizure on camera and had to be rushed to the local hospital for treatment for the seizure (I do not have epilepsy). Soma is not only addictive, but there needs to be supervised detox and a treatment program.
Addicted to Soma
Subj: TMJ disorder
Date: 7/4/2006
I have taken soma for about 3 years due to terrible TMJ disorder. It literally gave me my life back.I also take Norco with it for the extreme pain of the TMJ. The key is to take everything as directed and never more. If you take them as prescribed they are both wonderful meds that can give you quality of life back, if you take them into your own hands, then, that is when they destroy your life.
Kant
AskDocWeb: It would be much cheaper in the long run to have surgery to fix the TMJ and be free of the pain, not depending on pain meds for long-term use.
Subj: Addicted to soma
Date: 7/4/2006
I am addicted to soma. I order it online and take approx. 20-30 daily. My advice is this, DON’T even start taking it!! I was given soma for tension headaches about 12 years ago and found that it made me “chill out”, but does little for my headaches. I go periods of time without it. The withdrawal symptoms are mild, but the I every time I get stressed, i.e. when my mom passed away a month ago, I go right back to it. If I have it, I take it and can’t stop myself. My best advice is to not have it at all in my house. I would like to talk to people who are tempted to take it over and over without needing it. Don’t start it! My family gets mad at me, I lie to them if I’ve taken it and I hate this. I am a Christian wife and mother, very involved in my church and Soma is ruining my life. Praying for strength is my source. I am still falling back and just can’t stop it. I will continue to pray to God for strength to resist temptation. For anyone in my situation or for anyone taking them for reasons such as mine I beg you to STOP!!! It is not fun, but I will again pray that God will help me overcome this problem. My advice, DON’T TAKE SOMA!!!
Kris
Subj: Just got out of detox
Date: 7/6/2006
I have been taking Soma for about 6 months now. Before this I told my doctors that I had a problem with benzodiazapimes and opiates and I had just gotten out of detox and was clean for 1 month. I told him I was shaking all day and nervous. He said Soma would be good for my nerves. I am prescribed 3 Somas per day 350mg and one at night. Is this dosage alright? How long can a person take Soma? I’m scared because it makes me feel good, I’m scared to stop taking them. If I do how can I get off them safely, and as pain free as possible, if its anything like Benzos, I’m scared or opiates. He also prescribed me 100mg os seraquel at night for sleep. Is it dangerous to take them together? Thank you.
Lizzy
AskDocWeb: It sounds like you should not be on this drug at all because of the addiction-prone tendencies. Please discuss this with your doctor.
Subj: Spasms herniation and scoliosis
Date: 7/6/2006
I started taking variety of drugs 10 years ago due to spasms herniation, scoliosis, etc I finally found Soma with no apparent sides and doesn’t make me mean like flexerill and doesn’t hang me over or mess with my eyes but the Drs want me off it, try this, try that. I’ve already tried them all and glad I read ya’lls input. I felt crazy because the doctors here don’t want prescribe it, and I’m determined to keep it. Why argue with success
Katie
AskDocWeb: Soma may be addictive, be careful.
Subj: Soma side effects?
Date: 7/23/2006
I have been taking soma on and off again for about 3 years. I have a degenerated disc disease, fibromyalgia, and spondylothesis. Soma does help my pain which is horrible at times but I find that I am really irritable and also that I have “brain fog”. I am also having spasms in my feet that feel as though a hot poker is stabbing me and my hands and feet itch and sting like ants are biting me. Could any of these symptoms be worsened by taking soma?
Anna
AskDocWeb: Yes, they could. We suggest you visit a pain specialist in your area, perhaps a pain clinic. With fibromyalgia it is hard to get the pains under control. One thing that would be very beneficial is to do swimming exercises in a class, and a hot tub if one is available. The combination is awesome.
Subj: Soma side effects
Date: 7/30/2006
Been taking soma since past Tuesday, 1 every 8 hours, sick to my stomach, not feeling well, at night I feel like someone is stabbing me with a knife, do not want controlled substance, does not take pain away, took one this morning and an still sick to my stomach, thank you,
Janet
Subj: Why
Date: 8/6/2006
Why in the world do they allow these docs to sell drugs? Why don’t they make them go hang out with the homies in the hood if they are going to be pill hustlas?
Cindy
Subj: Ingredients of Soma
Date: 8/7/2006
Soma, does it contain Asprin? Thanks in advance.
Glenda
AskDocWeb: No, Soma does not contain Aspirin. The ingredients of Soma are carisoprodol, alginic acid, magnesium stearate, potassium sorbate, starch, and tribasic calcium phosphate. Read more feedback about Soma. Soma report – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – Page 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – 11 – Last Page 48
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