I was prescibed this drug for a spasm in my neck. The doctor and
the pharmacist both warned me that it causes drowsiness, etc.
Not only does it not make me drowsy, it doesn’t seem to do anything
for the muscle spasm either. Is this drug very effective? Or,
am I just resistant to its effects more than the average person?
—
If we listened to our intellect, we’d never have a love affair. We’d
never have a friendship. We’d never go into business, because we’d be
cynical. You’ve got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings
on the way down.
-Ray Bradbury
In article <miloCxnH2H….@netcom.com> Milo, m…@netcom.com writes:
> I was prescibed this drug for a spasm in my neck. The doctor and
> the pharmacist both warned me that it causes drowsiness, etc.
> Not only does it not make me drowsy, it doesn’t seem to do anything
> for the muscle spasm either. Is this drug very effective? Or,
> am I just resistant to its effects more than the average person?
I, too, have taken Soma. It is a brand name for carisoprodol (sp?),
which is related to methocarbamol (Robaxin) and ye old tranquilizer
Milltown. There is some debate about whether its muscle relaxant
properties are anything separate from its sedating properties. I found
it quite sedating, at least for the first few doses. Frankly, though, it
didn’t do much for my muscle spasms either. I kept my bottle and use it
now for an occassional bout of insomnia. It works very well for me, and
doesn’t have the addicting properties of the benzodiazepines and little
or no "hangover." Wonder why it isnt perscribed more for this purpose
given the dangerous laternatives?
Another drug used for muscle spasms is Flexeril, but that completely
knocks me out. That drug is related to the tricyclic antidepressants.
Go figure.
In article <miloCxnH2H….@netcom.com>, Milo <m…@netcom.com> wrote:
>I was prescibed this drug for a spasm in my neck. The doctor and
>the pharmacist both warned me that it causes drowsiness, etc.
>Not only does it not make me drowsy, it doesn’t seem to do anything
>for the muscle spasm either. Is this drug very effective? Or,
>am I just resistant to its effects more than the average person?
Carisoprodol (Soma) is a mild sedative related to meprobamate.
The effectiveness of any of these so-called "muscle relaxant"
sedatives in treating muscle spasm of the neck or back is barely
discernable from placebo.
–
Steve Dyer
d…@ursa-major.spdcc.com
The doctor agreed with me about the Soma not working. Now I have
graduated to Valium 5mg. The doc claims this is the most powerfull
muscle relaxant this side of general anesthesia. Guess what?
I still have the spasm and it is getting worse–I tried taking
two of the 5mg tabs at once–still no relief in my neck.
I am ready to give up on the MD’s and go to a chiropractor.
: I was prescibed this drug for a spasm in my neck. The doctor and
: the pharmacist both warned me that it causes drowsiness, etc.
: Not only does it not make me drowsy, it doesn’t seem to do anything
: for the muscle spasm either. Is this drug very effective? Or,
: am I just resistant to its effects more than the average person?
: —
: If we listened to our intellect, we’d never have a love affair. We’d
: never have a friendship. We’d never go into business, because we’d be
: cynical. You’ve got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings
: on the way down.
: -Ray Bradbury
—
If we listened to our intellect, we’d never have a love affair. We’d
never have a friendship. We’d never go into business, because we’d be
cynical. You’ve got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings
on the way down.
-Ray Bradbury
m…@netcom.com (Milo) writes:
+The doctor agreed with me about the Soma not working. Now I have
+graduated to Valium 5mg. The doc claims this is the most powerfull
+muscle relaxant this side of general anesthesia. Guess what?
+I still have the spasm and it is getting worse–I tried taking
+two of the 5mg tabs at once–still no relief in my neck.
+I am ready to give up on the MD’s and go to a chiropractor.
I used to get muscle spams in my shoulder one to two times a
year, and the GP’s would prescribe muscle relaxers
(including Soma, Flexiril, and Parafon Forte) and an
anti-inflamation drug. It would take up to a week for the
spasm to go away completely.
The last time I had the spasm (about two years ago), the
muscle relaxers didn’t work. After a few weeks of pain, my
GP sent me to an orthopedic specialist. During my first (and
only) visit, he diagnosed the problem as a herniated disk in
my neck, and sent me to a physical therapist. I was taught
several exercises that alleviated the pain and that have,
since then, prevented the spasms from occurring. I do these
exercises whenever I feel the "warning" signs (tightness or
restricted motion).
In article <37mma4$…@bmerha64.bnr.ca>, Bob Michael <cmra…@nt.com> wrote:
>I kept my bottle and use it
>now for an occassional bout of insomnia. It works very well for me, and
>doesn’t have the addicting properties of the benzodiazepines and little
>or no "hangover." Wonder why it isnt perscribed more for this purpose
>given the dangerous laternatives?
Carisoprodol is no less capable of dependence than the benzodiazepines.
It’s probably an artifact of its limited marketing rather than any
pharmacological differences which explain why it hasn’t become a
drug of abuse.
>Another drug used for muscle spasms is Flexeril, but that completely
>knocks me out. That drug is related to the tricyclic antidepressants.
It _is_ a tricyclic antidepressant.
–
Steve Dyer
d…@ursa-major.spdcc.com
In article <CxzyCo….@spdcc.com>, d…@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer) writes:
:Carisoprodol is no less capable of dependence than the benzodiazepines.
:It’s probably an artifact of its limited marketing rather than any
:pharmacological differences which explain why it hasn’t become a
:drug of abuse.
Be careful here, I have known individuals addicted to Hydrocodone to be
taking Soma for an enhanced affect.
In article <38ps9v$…@newsbf01.news.aol.com>, Yellow3 <yell…@aol.com> wrote:
>:Carisoprodol is no less capable of dependence than the benzodiazepines.
>:It’s probably an artifact of its limited marketing rather than any
>:pharmacological differences which explain why it hasn’t become a
>:drug of abuse.
>Be careful here, I have known individuals addicted to Hydrocodone to be
>taking Soma for an enhanced affect.
Oh, I certainly agree with you. Perhaps I should have written
"…why it hasn’t become a widespread and notorious drug of abuse".
There is no good pharmacological reason why meprobamate is C-IV and
carisoprodol isn’t scheduled.
–
Steve Dyer
d…@ursa-major.spdcc.com
In article <CxsKnF….@spdcc.com> d…@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer) writes:
>From: d…@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
>Subject: Re: Soma
>Date: Mon, 17 Oct 1994 00:42:51 GMT
>Carisoprodol (Soma) is a mild sedative related to meprobamate.
>The effectiveness of any of these so-called "muscle relaxant"
>sedatives in treating muscle spasm of the neck or back is barely
>discernable from placebo.
Soma is metabolized to a form of sedative called "barbituate" which is not
only sedating, but very addictive and interacts with many other medications.
Many patients I’ve worked with have craved soma (it wasn’t prescribed by me)
and had mild withdrawal from it even though it wasn’t helpful for muscle spasm.
You’re better off with physical therapy and massage.
Good luck
Dave
In article <elwonger.6.000D2…@usa.net>,
David M. Elwonger MD <elwon…@usa.net> wrote:
>Soma is metabolized to a form of sedative called "barbituate" which is not
>only sedating, but very addictive and interacts with many other medications.
??
Soma (carisoprodol) is metabolized to meprobamate, which isn’t a
barbiturate, but is yet another sedative with dependence liability.
–
Steve Dyer
d…@ursa-major.spdcc.com
Carly Rothman (carly@explorer) wrote:
: My Dr. gave me some samples of Ambien to try for my sleep problems. I
: can’t seem to find any information about it. Anyone have any good/bad
: things to say?
: …Carly…
: ____________________________________________________________________________
: Carly Rothman "The voyage of the best ship is a zigzag
: ca…@clark.net line of a hundred tacks."
: /\/\/\/\_____/\/\/\____/\/\/\/\/\/\___
: ____________________________________________________________________________
Ambien is zolpidem, which is a drug related to the class of drugs that are
called benzodiazepines and includes Valium. However, it is not actually in
this class and has a different chemical structure. It does seem to have a
lesser incidence of side effects than Valium or other drugs. It’s relatively
new so not too much is known about it but it does appear to be very safe.
AhmerAli
Boston University Medical Center
ahmer…@acs.bu.edu
Carly Rothman (carly@explorer) wrote:
: My Dr. gave me some samples of Ambien to try for my sleep problems. I
: can’t seem to find any information about it. Anyone have any good/bad
: things to say?
: …Carly…
: ____________________________________________________________________________
: Carly Rothman "The voyage of the best ship is a zigzag
: ca…@clark.net line of a hundred tacks."
: /\/\/\/\_____/\/\/\____/\/\/\/\/\/\___
: ____________________________________________________________________________
Ambien is a brand name form of the drug Zolpidem Tartrate. It is used
to treat insomnia.