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muscle relaxer information

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Posted 8/9/2007 9:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hello All

I hope you are all doing as well as possible I would like some info on muscle relaxers can anyone tell me are they or can they become habit forming as if they are stopped will widthdrawl happen

Can anyone tell me who uses them are they effective and some of the side effects they might cause and lastly what are some of the names of some that you have found effective

Thanks all of you all

Best wishes

Bob

Posted 8/10/2007 1:52 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Bob!

Both my husband and I were given Soma after the accident which was close to 2 years ago. At first I loved them and they were really helpful with the pain meds but then they started making me super tired - as in not being able to stay awake! I stopped taking them and never had a single issue - I had taken them about 4 months and stopped in one day. I later got a stronger one after they operated but again stopped them when I felt no need to take them. I take soma at night sometimes.

My husband has taken them all along and they never make him sleepy - so go figure.

Posted 8/10/2007 8:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Bob, I have been on robaxin, flexaril. skelaxin and soma. The soma's I have been on for about a year and they are still as effective as the first day I was prescribed them. They do make you a little dizzy so I would suggest trying the first few doses at home. (I take one at work when I get there since I know I will be behind a desk for over 9 hours) I would never recommend driving on a soma. They are a blessing for me. The skelaxin and flexaril I had zero relief from (though they do not make you sleepy) and robaxin did good for a little while. I also have a tens unit- it helps me a lot. You should talk to your dr about getting one if you don't already. My insurance picked it up, but the medical supply had told me if they wouldn't they would work out a payment plan. I also have massage therapy (helps a lot, I have huge knots all over my back from the muscle spasms) Hope this helps. Good luck!
Posted 8/12/2007 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I have been on tizanadine (zanaflex) since 2003. I use it for shoulder spasms from a pinched nerve and vertabrae out of alignment from a car accident. I can take 3 pills a day I typically take 2 of them at bedtime since that was when my muscles tended to tense up more causing tension headaches and migraines. I did have to stop this med once cold turkey because of a med I was placed on for an acute medical issue (I forget what the med was or even what the problem was that placed me on the med). I had no withdrawal type symptoms at all which is great knowing that if after more medical tests in 5 months following this 3rd surgery I had come back okay my husband and I will get the okay from my doctors to try for a family. This med is one I cannot be on while pregnant so I am glad that I had no issues when I had to stop it. I am also currently cutting down off of fentanyl patches from my surgeries as well as lowering my dose of Elavil that I take for migraine prevention. The only med I have ever had withdrawals from is this darn fentanyl and I am cutting down with increments of 25 since they only come in increments of 25 (in the larger doses).

If I have a tension headache during the day orthe area is bothering me I will break a pill in half especially if I am at work since they make me very sleepy. When first on the med I would only take it at bedtime and during the day if needed I would take 1/4 of a 4mg pill. When it was time to increase my dose to 8mg at night I did have hallucination type dreams where I would actually wake my husband up since I had told him about them the day after the first hallucination happened. So when I had 1 the next night I woke him up. One time I saw surgery lights above my bed, another there was a tractor in bed with me where my husband should have been and I forget the other hallucination
Posted 8/12/2007 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
There are several differnent muscle relaxers on the market today. The top 3 are Skelaxin, soma and flexeril. They are addictive and you shouldnt alter how you take them or you shouldnt just stop taking them because of the risk of seizures or withdrawal. These meds can cause sedation and its important to get used to it before you start driving. Muscle relaxers can interact with many medicines so let your pharmacist know all that you are on so that you are safe. Because these drugs cause sedation, they should be used with caution with other drugs that may also cause drowsiness. Some can lower your blood pressure too..Most often you just need to find a dose that is comfortable for you...and you will get used to the effects.. if you cant..its not the right med for you. Ive been on muscle relaxers for years and it really does work well for pain management..added to the pain meds.
Sure do with you the very best
SkyDancer
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