Soma or Valium

[f1swede]

Currently on Celexa and Vicoprophen 7.5/200 and wondering about your experience with either Soma or Valium. The Vic's are not quite doing it for painrelief.  I have to function at work and such. I never been on any of these types of meds. I have severe back spasms in my lower back from compression fracture L2-T12. I feel the short term painmeds.are working better than the slow release. I'm working on my back weekly to get it stronger but it's been a long road so far. My Doctor is somewhat against the short term pain meds. but we have a good relationship so no problems. I asked him once about stronger muscle relaxers and he kind of brushed them of. Anybody out there with any info on these kinds of meds. ?   Thanks, F1 swede

[f1swede]

Sorry to hear that. My doc i dont think will give them but thanks for your post. F1swede

[scaredmom330]

please be careful with Soma. they are highly addictive and very strong. My son is addicted to them as we speak. Where I live the dr. and pain clinic will not prescribe them for that reason. take care, hope you feel better soon.

[f1swede]

Thanks for your answers. I find it when on slow release pain meds the short term dont seem to kick in at all. Kind of hard to explain but felt like the MS Contin blocked the Vic's. I been on Narcotic meds off and on for 4years now so my tolerance is high. I dont get "high" on them so that is good but they dont relax me like they use to. I mostly read on here but figure i will post some more. This is my thinking on the muscle relaxers since the pain meds dont do what they once did. I'm worried i wont be able to work with them. I guess that you get dizzy or to relaxed. I beeen to pain mngmt. doc for awhile but he dont like any narcotic drugs so he had me off them for awhile. I went thru his injections, botox, and all kinds of expensive test but nothing helped. My regular family doc. was there right after the accident happend so he knows that i'm not faking this pain. He stated vicoprophen and soma together would make for a interesting friday night so i dont think he is to keen on giving me any. Anyway have plenty experience with painmeds the hard way. Tramadol being the worst i ever taken. Unreal whidrawls from tramadol. Thanks everybody

[sandee1818]

Hi and welcome back. I can't take Valium or soma because they tend to knock me out but I would recommend the soma for the muscle spasms as it will work better for the spasms than the the Valium.
Both of these medications will cause drowsiness so be careful when driving or anything that requires you to be very alert.
The short term meds should be used as a break through medication and the extended release will work if you take it like it is prescribed and then use the short term meds such as vicoprofen for break through pain.
If you need additional info please let us know and we are always here for support and any questions you may have:)

[Tuckamore]

Sorry Swede, I was "typing" a response to you when you posted your last comment.

Be well, Tuck

[Tuckamore]

Hi f1Swede,

I haven't "seen" you for awhile. It's good to have you back with us. I'm sorry you are still in pain and having muscle spasms.

I have experience with Diazapam (Valium). I tried several other muscle relaxers and had many issues with them. The "hangover" effect from the other relaxers was horrible. If needed I would generally take the muscle relaxants late evening. When I awoke I was very groggy, had difficulty waking up and sufferer from a mild nagging headache for hours. My PCP encouraged me to try Diazapam. I reluctantly agreed. I should have taken them years before. Diazapam reduces my muscle spams by about 90% in severity and 80% in occurrence.

According to my research Diazapam is a "safer" drug for your system. Fewer deaths are reported annually along with fewer reported side effects than Soma. Initially I took them twice a day, rarely three times a day. Once my spasms became more controlled I require them only a few times a week. Actually there are some weeks I do not take them at all. So I am very impressed with the drug. I would recommend it.

Others will post with their opinions and experiences later. I also find that my pain is more controlled when I take the Diazapam. I attribute that to two reasons, one the Diazapam potentates my pain medications. I also have less spasms and less muscle spasms means less pain.  

Best of luck to you. I hope which ever relaxant your physician prescribes that it will be effective for you. Please let us know which one you are prescribed and how well it works. We lean from one another. Take Care, Tuck

[f1swede]

Just found some threads on this. Never mind. Sorry!