Is Soma Really As Bad As Cocaine?

I suffer from chronic pain.

My back has a degenerative disk which has caused sciatic problems, and in recent months, my right hip began to hurt every time I went to bed causing me to have problems sleeping.

The actual cause of the hip pain has not yet been determined. Though, it is most likely related to the sciatic nerve or bursitis (my mom has bursitis in her right hip as well).

Every pain killer I was prescribed either didn't work, or if it worked I ended up waking up 2 to 3 hours later only to find I was itching all over and unable to get back to sleep for the rest of the night.

The result was exhaustion.

With all the problems I was having with pain killers, I looked into muscle relaxants as an option.

Although, people are not supposed to do so, my mom had some muscle relaxants she gave me to try because I was desperate to get some rest and wasn't going to be seeing my health care provider for over a week.

The muscle relaxant she gave me was Soma. It worked great, and there were no side effects.

When I finally was able to see my health care provider, and I told her what I was taking she informed me she never prescribes Soma because as she put it "It's as bad as cocaine." and she prescribed a different muscle relaxant instead.

I was extremely disappointed, for after all the problems I had been having trying to get relief and finally finding something which worked with no ill effects, she refused to even consider prescribing it.

I have no history of drug abuse and only take pain killers/muscle relaxants at night before bed (usually one or two) to insure I get the rest I need.

No matter how bad my pain is during the day, I endure it, and I have told my health care provider more than once I don't like having to take ANY pills at all (I took after my dad, he was very anti pill).

So, I would like to know if what my health care provider said and her decision to "never" prescribe Soma even in a case like mine is reasonable or is even something she has the right to do.

Also, can one develop an addiction to Soma even if only taking one or two pills a night?

Thank you.

By nunu
Posted January 14, 2009 at 1:38 pm
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I have been on soma for 4 years I have had two back surgeys also had 4 injection in my back for 4years every month, I have tired not taking any meds for a month Its just no way I can live in this pain the pain med helps but soma helps better, I still go to a Pain control Center

By Fictiousnameitsame
Posted January 14, 2009 at 2:59 pm
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the patients have the right to determin if the meds are working or not doctors are in my opinion just humans they arent dealing with pain ,and who knows did they bairly pass to become their form of being god,(doctor). theyall are in the boat togother using the one oar ther is ,pills they perscribe us are only a way to test if they work or not ,arent they?????

By JESPARZA39
Posted January 15, 2009 at 10:40 am
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I also have problems with my back,legs and hip. I agree with you that doctors are just a person who study meds and does not feel the pain we deal with on a day to day basic. only we know and what works for us. as long as we know the reasons we are taking it for our pain.Fictiousnameitsame , you are in the right path.

By im_tommysgirl
Posted January 16, 2009 at 12:59 pm
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I also have severe back problems w/ sciatica. I have had 3 back surgeries, a tens unit implanted in my back as well as a morophine pump in my stomach to help eleviate some of the pain. I have been on every drug you can possibily imagine and have found that Soma is the best one around. I don't have the pump anymore (it overdosed me) and I am happy to say that I am off all narcotics. I have been living with this for 19 yrs and after awhile, you just learn to live with it. Funny thing though, I have never heard Soma being as bad as cocaine. Cocaine is addicting, Some is not. Totally ridiculous if you ask me!

By Fictiousnameitsame
Posted January 17, 2009 at 2:27 pm
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knowledge is the responce of trying whatever we need and dealing with the results. our knowledge not the on looker ,have we not all tried somethings that others sware are not good for us and now realy enjoy ,thereby same with pain pills to me are better than feeling the agresive PAIN OF LISTENING TO THE BOOK KNOW IT ALLS (DOCTORS) tell me i dont know nuting though its working for me .///...

By Cippy
Posted July 28, 2009 at 1:18 pm
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Though, I'm not a doctor, I know "Soma" is addicting.
You can look it up & it has all of the symptoms of withdrawl, very much like withdrawls from any narcotics (which include's legal drugs like Vicodin, & illegal like cocaine). Though I've never taken Soma, I've been talking w/ a friend several x's a day as she is soooooo sick going through withdrawl from Soma.

Again, I'm not a Dr., but I'm speaking to everyone out there who has been dealing w/ chronic pain-& basically can't function w/out pain meds.... If you've tried everything else w/ lil' to no relief & your Dr. won't work w/ you in Rx'ing you pain meds. (they usually don't-in protecting themselves from the DEA yanking their license as these drugs are very psychological & physically addicting). If you ask around & find a "good pain clinic", the doctors are anesthesiologists, and they have you sign a pain contract (& please guy's-don't break your contract as it ruins it for all those who follow this contract). I've been a pain patient for approx. 8 yrs., and I have my life back! I can function, and when my pain is under control...I decrease slowly & at time's have almost gotten completely off of them. I must say it is so nice to have someone in your corner that doesn't treat you like your just some "addict".... Like really! Who wants to be a slave to drugs & their doctor! Not me, & I don't you grew up thinking "Wow, when I grow up I want to be in pain everyday & want to pop pill's every several hours!" But, if you don't abuse them & realize they have a "ceiling effect" (which means it take's more to get the same effect-your dr. should teach you how to manage this so it won't happen-as this can get you in trouble-w/ both your dr. & going through w/drawl as you will run out early, if you start overtaking, stop, & call your dr. & be truthful & ask for direction & document your conversation)...where I was going w/ this is that I'm on a long acting drug, & it's nice to not have to leave the house & have to figure if I should take my Rx w/ me because it lasts like 8 hrs. or longer. I can function & live & love life again! It was a lil' hit & miss to find "what" worked best for me. Before I got pain relief I had gone from a spunky "Type A" personality, to a bed ridden person going into a depression as I knew I couldn't go on much longer this way. Now, I can go out & walk a mile, started my own business, enjoy my friends & family & my other interests-basically I got my life back....and my hope for all of you is to have the same! Please don't give up-bring someone w/ you to help advocate for you! And get out there -and LIVE !
Love n Laughter to all !
Cippy428

By im_tommysgirl
Posted July 28, 2009 at 1:59 pm
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Ok, I have been on Soma on and off for probably 15+ yrs and I have never been addicted to it. I have gone thru addiction to narcotics (methadone, morophine etc) taken for pain management. I went to the best pain management dr. in Los Angeles for years. I have lived with chronic back and leg pain for almost 20 yrs now. I have taken or tried every imaginable drug or device you could think of. I overdosed because of the pain pump (finally had it removed) and now the only thing I take for pain is Soma, and that is only when the pain is really bad, usally at night. I don't take Soma everyday, and even when I did, I never had a problem when stopping it. I think that everyone is different. And in no way is it as bad as cocaine!

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