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MedHelp Member's Question

Soma

by The Golden Slipper, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
Hello,



I have a question. Is anyone familiar with the drug Soma. I have had chronic neck pain for over a year.  Yesterday I spoke with my PCP and he wants to prescribe this medication for me.



I am having an MRI done next weekend as he thinks I might have a disc problem or possibly arthritis.  I am in the process of tapering off of fiorinal a barbituate which I have been addicted to for a long time.



I do not want to become addicted to something else now. The doc tells me it is not addictive but I have my doubts.  Does anyone know anything about this drug????



Thanks in advance for the responses



Golden Slipper
Member Comments (27)

by vikequeen, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
Soma is bad news beware, its not physically addictive but gives you a high and amnesia

by The Golden Slipper, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
To: Baddgirl
Thanks for your response.  When you say amnesia you mean it causes loss of memory?

by hippy, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
To: golden slipper
hey there ,

i took soma for a year or two due to severe back spasams,

it worked good .it gives you a buzz  and if you take to many you will not be able to talk or walk , it is a very scarry drug when abused.i stopped taking it , because it builds up in your system,

and you can  take one day and just fall out and go into a black out, drinking with it is really bad news..

if you can take as prescribed it works real good for  back pain.

if you find your self taking more and more of it , you might want to  get off it before something bad happens. like a car accecent or a fall down a flight of steps.

be careful taking it. i can't take it because of my irrsponsabilty.

peace!!!!!!!!!!

by The Golden Slipper, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
To: BaddGirl/Hippee
Thanks for the info.  I had a feeling it might have some addictive potential.  It seems like some doctors just don't have much knowledge of what is addictive and what isn't.  My doctor told me it was not addictive and I wouldn't feel high from it.



I will have to think about this one. My sister was on it for awhile and found it to be a very effective drug.



I'm just beginning to get cleaned up and don't want to start playing with fire again if I don't have to.



Thanks Guys

by Starraven, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
My doctor put me on Soma.  I thought it was just another muscle relaxer like Flexeril. (which just makes me sleepy)  I took two Somas and I felt like I had taken a bunch of xanax.  For me it produced a very calming and sedative effect.  When I went off of it after a short period I did not suffer any withdrawal symptoms luckily.  I recently read on a website that Florida is soon or has scheduled this drug and it is a controlled substance in  two other states.  I also read that Soma (carisoprodol)is related to the schedule IV drug mepobramate. (a strong and addicting sedative agent) I did the research because of my addictive personality.  After the feeling of Eurphoria that I was experiencing, I was just certain it was a controlled substance.

Just my experience with Soma.  Take as directed.  and follow the advice of the others, it is dangerous to operate a car or in my case ,walk. :)  

Good luck.

Star

by hellbent, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
I never did somas, but I have many friends who did. In combination with prescription opiod painkillers, I have seen them literally fall on their head. One friend has been to the ER more than once from just passing out on his feet, but he is pretty hardcore. Be careful mixing them.

by Starraven, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
Absolutely correct Hellbent.  Didn't mention this before because it is so embarrasing to me.  I took two lortabs with two Somas.  Fixed dinner for my family,  was fine almost to the end of the meal.  Started feeling very lethargic.  Got up to start cleaning up the table.  Next thing I know I wake up on the couch.  My family said I was fine one minute and they heard a crash and I was passed out in the kitchen.  Very scary because I had no warning that I was ready to fall out except feeling a little out of it.  This had never happened to me and indeed it was a wake up call not to mix these two drugs.  For some it might not have this effect, but it was a dangerous combination for me.  

Hugs,

Star

by groovygirl, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
To: starraven
Wow, I never knew that taking only 2 hydros and 2 somas could do that to you.  I used to take a fistful of hydros at a time...sometimes I'd take a valium at the same time.  I never experienced that, although I have experienced "blackout" types of episodes.  I was on the phone once, and call-waiting beeped so I clicked over.  I never went back to my original call, and had completely forgotten I was even talking to someone.  My friend called me a few minutes later to ask where I went.  I had totally blanked on that I had spoken with him...didn't even remember our conversation...very strange feeling.  I stopped the hydros shortly thereafter.

by vikequeen, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
we think of doctors as these really smart guys that know it all, for one the PDR is there bible and in the PDR it says it is not addictive so they think that if its ok in the PDR its ok, I no longer take them and they are very easy to get, I cant because I will take 2 then nothing then 2 more then nothing then in 3 hours I am out cold it kind of builds up after hours and I had a mini seizure on it, I cammot remember **** while on it so its out for me , it also has a mind of its own I used to be able to take 2 and be f'ed up now 5 will not do a thing so why bother you know what I mean so be careful but also remember everyones body chemistry is different Love Badd

by Starraven, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
To: Mariposa
It still is a mystery to me because I had been on this mixture of lortab and soma for a couple of weeks.  My husband said I had terrible memory loss while on the soma and although my memory tells me I only took the two and two combination, I wouldn't have put it past myself to forget that I took a previous dose and dosed again too soon.  The effect it had on my memory was terrible.  I remember having a discussion with my husband when I was not on the Somas after my collapse and telling him we hadn't gone out to dinner in a long time.  He looked at me like I was nuts because apparently we had gone the week prior and I don't remember it at all.  I was also on two different antideprssants at the time.  Wellbutrin and a low dose of Paxil.  Not sure if that might have contributed to my black out or not.  I hadn't had any of these problems until I was prescribed soma.

At any rate it opened my eyes to the dangers of the medications I was taking.

by Starraven, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
To: badgirl
I was posting the same time you were.   Thanks for your input on your experience on Soma.  You are so right about the memory loss. I don't ever want to go out to dinner and forget I went. :) Can you imagine having a nice dinner with your husband or wife and NOT remembering it.  I tried so hard to bring up a memory of that evening, but nothing.  I don't remember getting in the car, eating dinner, coming home or going to bed.  Everyone is different.  You are right about that.  The doctors think it is a safe drug, but in reality, for some it is not safe at all.  

Hugs,

Star

by PING, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
hi to all of you, as some of you know i am tapering off oxy'was planning on going today with just one 10mg, my

brother came by from out of state, had just took the one that i had planned on taking, but i asked him if he wanted a beer, so when he said yes, i took another oxy, what an excuse, hating myself now that i did, pull for me that i will get stronger.

did anyone ever have bad bad dreams and nightmares, while taking

these? anytime i have taken them in the eveing, thats what happens. sorry about the rambling. wish all a good day.

                                  lee.

by The Golden Slipper, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
Jeez.... maybe I should try acupuncture for my neck pain.  I am so glad I asked about this drug.



The neck pain is pretty intense but I really don't want to run the risk of getting hooked on something else, especially where I am trying to taper off of the barbituates.



Thanks to everyone for their responses



Golden Slipper

by DubeMechanic, Oct 29, 2002 12:00AM
To: Golden Slipper


Heh, somas, my favorite.



They are good when taken as directed but beware abusing them, they sneak up on you.



Woke up in jail because of those suckers. Duh..



DM

by GOD, Oct 30, 2002 12:00AM
To: Soma
Good point about the Soma.



If abused, it can make you into the town drunk without you even realizing how it happened. VERY BAD STUFF! (if abused)



Blackouts

Slurred speech

loss of coordination

inability to reason



To name just a few!



Take it easy tonight,

~~~~Jess~~~~

(no... I'm not employed by Medhelp, It's just my new handle!)

by Isis, Nov 02, 2002 12:00AM
New member here, I've been reading a lot of the posts here for quite awhile now, I've learned tons from all of you.  I'm not an addict, but I believe I do have addictive tendencies, as I have a lot of people in my family that have been addicted to one thing or another.  A lot of them have either died as a result of their addiction, or are in jail.  I came to the addiction forums in an effort to make sure I DON'T become addicted, so I can watch for signs & symptoms of addiction, as I am a chronic pain patient