Soma and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• cat...
• August 6, 2014

For Muscle Spasm "I have suffered from many ailments in the past few years, one of which was sliding on black ice while working, hitting my neck and back on a metal step to my bucket truck. The muscle spasms I get are just awful...muscles twisting and foot looks deformed when it happens. Soma is the only medication that gives any kind of relief. I take it sparingly as not to become dependent upon it. It does make you drowsy, but I would rather be somewhat drowsy than be in that horrible pain."

• doa...
• July 5, 2014

For Muscle Spasm "I just recently had a lumbar fusion but have had back problems for the past 5 years. The doctor would prescribe Flexeril, but it wouldn't help and made my heart race. So my surgeon put me on Soma, and it works tremendously. Makes me a little drowsy but functional."

• tif...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 20, 2013

For Muscle Spasm "I was originally introduced to Soma about 25 years ago when my back went out and I could not stand up straight. It worked very well, although it did make me drowsy (which was fine with me - much better than the pain). Currently, I use it for neck muscle pain/spasms, and it still works well. I do not have any known side effects from it."

• cau...
• April 17, 2014

For Muscle Spasm "I was very nervous to take Soma after doing some research on it. I decided to take it after being in terrible pain. I was surprised that when I woke up in the morning, I could function with little pain. I decided to take half a pill at night, and I have had great results. Soma works better than the narcotics do, especially at night. If they could just make it non-drowsy, it would be the perfect medicine."

• sie...
• October 24, 2013

For Muscle Spasm "Have taken Flexeril, then Parafon, then, baclofen, then norflex, then robaxin, then finally my new doctor I am seeing asked if I had ever tried Soma 350 and I said no. So he put me on the Soma one tablet three times a day and one tablet every night at bedtime, and the pain in my back has seen improvement. My left leg and my left foot, I have a sprained disc in my back plus moderate scoliosis. Then he also wanted me to try the Zanaflex capsules alternating with the Soma, and between those two items, the pain that was in my back, my left leg and left foot started to feel much better even when I was at work while taking those two items alternating, a little drowsiness but not overly sleepy."

• jd ...
• March 11, 2008

For Muscle Spasm "Soma is a great muscle relaxer. I have been taking it since 1997 as needed. I have had 2 back surgeries, and Soma helps me sleep when I get muscle spasms at night. I take it about 15 minutes before I go to bed, and when I awake in the morning, I feel like I had a good night's sleep. I don't feel drowsy in the morning. I have taken other muscle relaxers in the past and felt drowsy when I awoke. Thank God they invented Soma."

• red...
• February 16, 2009

For Muscle Spasm "I have used Soma for a few months now as needed for muscular back pain and back spasms. I've tried other muscle relaxers, but this is by far the best I've tried. I can't tell you how much this helps when my back starts acting up. And there's just enough drowsiness to let you sleep pain-free, yet not too much if it's in the middle of the day. I highly recommend it."

• Ped...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 14, 2012

For Muscle Spasm "Works better than OxyContin. I have chronic chest pain from pleurisy, and this medicine allows me to be pain-free most of the time. Recently, I ran out for 3 days, and I had terrible withdrawal symptoms. I have been on it for 2 years, and I don't abuse it. I only take 1/2 a pill about 6 or 7 times a day to decrease the sleepiness. It's like all other controlled drugs, it is a double-edged sword, so be careful of withdrawal."

• ani...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 30, 2018

For Muscle Spasm "If you are having muscle spasms due to injury, inflammation, or for any other reason, this is the right drug for you. It works. Don't go by what doctors say. Many muscle spasm relaxants won't work for you. This also reduces anxiety. If there is strong pain also, take a combination of ibuprofen and paracetamol along with Soma. It works like magic. The only problem is Soma is addiction and habituation prone, so be careful. Soma also causes a little sedation."

• Anonymous
• March 10, 2012

For Muscle Spasm "I have a few degenerated disks and fibromyalgia. These two conditions tend to amplify each other, causing extreme back pain. Some antidepressants/anti-anxiety meds will address fibromyalgia, but they only work 24/7; the inherent sedation is not a wonderful way to go through life. With Soma, I can take care of this later in the day, and because it amplifies opiates, I am able to take Tramadol instead of Percocet. Be careful with that interaction, as it is surprisingly powerful. Be careful of using any other drugs as well while on Soma. Although it is mildly euphoric, I have not detected any physical or psychological addiction. Also, you may find Soma 'vacations' to increase its effectiveness during long-term use."

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2017

For Muscle Spasm "This is the best muscle relaxer I have taken. I have a hairline fracture at the top of my tibia. This released my knee overnight. It was locked! I take Klonopin, so the sedation dizzy feeling was mild. However, I didn't mix, I skipped Soma if anxiety was present."

• BAB...
• November 28, 2008

For Muscle Spasm "Ever since an accident 2 years ago, I've had horrible muscle spasms and pain in my back and shoulders that plague me almost 24 hours a day. Flexeril made me so groggy and drowsy during the day that I couldn't take it. My doctor has now prescribed Soma, and I feel relief without the marked drowsiness I had with other muscle relaxants, even with taking it 3 times a day."

• BAB...
• November 28, 2008

For Muscle Spasm "Ever since an accident 2 years ago, I've had horrible muscle spasms and pain in my back and shoulders that plague me almost 24 hours a day. Flexeril made me so groggy and drowsy during the day that I couldn't take it. My doctor has now prescribed Soma, and I feel relief without the marked drowsiness I had with other muscle relaxants, even with taking it 3 times a day."

• Ber...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 31, 2024

"I've been taking Soma tablets for almost thirty years. No side effects. They are effective at erasing the low-level pain in my spinal nerves caused by my scoliosis. They have the side effect of drowsiness, but one per day, a short time before sleep, is enough. They stop that annoying nerve pain in my back that will not let me sleep. Contrary to what is said by manufacturers, Soma tablets are not addictive. I've had to do without them before and the only withdrawal symptom was the inevitable one - the rebound effect."

• nig...
• February 20, 2009

"Much-needed co-analgesic prescription for chronic pain. Sedation not a problem when taken long term. Tried ALL OTHER muscle relaxants and NONE of them could put a 'DENT' in my pain/spasms. My doctor just cut me back, saying he will eventually stop prescribing it due to others abusing it. I don't get it! So his patients will end up having more pain (which means more money for him and hospitals, etc)."

• Anonymous
• June 17, 2011

For Muscle Spasm "I am 21 and have suffered from severe muscle spasms and a pinched nerve for over 5 years now. So far, taking a Soma before bed at night does wonders. I definitely recommend Soma to anyone who has muscle spasms. I do get drowsy, but I don't mind since I also have insomnia and I take it about half an hour before I go to sleep. Muscle relaxers are most often prescribed to take before bed since your body can actually relax, and any damage that has been done to the muscular tissue can be repaired easier. Of course, results and circumstances vary from person to person."

• Hon...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 13, 2018

For Muscle Spasm "This medication is incredibly addictive and VERY easy to build up tolerance. It was very helpful when I was laid out, could not move due to back spasm and in incredible pain. It allowed me to move slowly and gently, perform gentle stretches and easy movements for healing. However, with enough dosage, it also comes with an incredibly relaxed feeling, as if all worries are gone and life is a beautiful, often funny experience, full of love. This feeling takes a higher and higher dose to achieve. And comes with side effects like dizziness, sleepiness, lack of motor control. Side effects increase in intensity with increasing dosage to the point of total inability to move limbs and dropping into unconsciousness. I used it occasionally, which increased to weekly for a time. Very addictive, rapid build-up of tolerance (from 1/2 pill to 4 for the same medical effect)."

• Pet...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2023

For Muscle Spasm "I was a 33-year-old, healthy male when I took this medication for acute severe back muscle spasms. It works to relax the spasm, however, it also put me flat in bed and made me feel like I was intoxicated. I absolutely hated the overwhelming sedating and intoxicating effects. It's definitely a fall-risk drug. For lack of a better term, it 'buzzed' me so much, I didn't know what was up or down, and a family member needed to help me to the bathroom. I took it for 4 days as an adjunct to rest, and even though I'm glad such a powerful muscle relaxer exists, I sincerely hope I never have to take it again. Frankly, I think this is clearly a Schedule 2 drug, and the FDA needs to change it to that. I've taken Roxicodone 30mg, a Schedule 2, and it's nowhere near as impairing as Soma (carisoprodol). This is a serious drug. Be careful with it."

• now...
• October 25, 2008

For Muscle Spasm "Soma has saved me for 12 years now. The first one I took back then put me out like a light, but now I'm on 3 a day and can still function. I've never 'craved' it and it is fabulous for fibromyalgia."