Have you ever felt a sharp pain in your back from long hours of desk work at your office? Or have you stretched and turned the wrong leading to severe and excruciating pain in your muscles? If the answer to any of these questions is “Yes”, then you might have been prescribed a muscle relaxer by your physician. It is a class of drugs that affects the skeletal muscle functioning in the body helping alleviate symptoms of body pain in users. The two most significant muscle relaxers dominating the healthcare industry are the Soma pill and Robaxin. They are an FDA-approved prescription medication proven to manage sharp and severe acute pain in people. So, if you are wondering, in the efficacy and potency battle of Soma Vs Robaxin- which is the best choice for you? We have you covered. This comprehensive guide is aimed to help users know better about both the Soma and Robaxin muscle relaxer and help users choose the right medication.

Soma vs Robaxin- How do they differ?

Both Soma pill and Robaxin are potential muscle relaxers but do you think this makes them exactly similar? This comparative study of Robaxin Vs Soma will draw your attention towards their differences. Both these pain medication differs largely in their mode of action and dosages.

	Soma pill	Robaxin
Drug class	Skeletal muscle relaxer	Skeletal muscle relaxer
Generic name	Carisoprodol	Methocarbamol
Available form of dosage	Oral tablets	Oral Tablets, injection
Standard dosage	For beginners- Soma 350mg for 3 to 4 times in a day Higher strength- Soma 500mg for 2 to 3 times a day	Robaxin 250mg and Robaxin 350mg for 3 times a day.
Analgesic effect of the drug	Short-term	Short-Term
Maximum intake of the drug	Three weeks of continuous use	To be use continuously for two to three weeks

Robaxin Vs Soma- how similar are these muscle relaxers?

Soma pill and Robaxin have a few common grounds when it comes to their mode of administration and safe usage. Both belonging to the same class of drug must be taken similarly to avoid experiencing side effects.

	Direction to take Soma pill	Direction to take Robaxin
Administration	Orally by mouth	Tablet form- orally by mouth Injection- into a vein or muscle (as directed by your physician)
Meals intake	Light meal before or after taking Carisoprodol dosage	Can be taken both with or without meal
Intake form	The Soma pill should be taken as a whole without breaking or crushing it	The Robaxin tablet must be taken as a whole
Alcohol interaction	The use of alcohol is not recommended with Soma pill	Users must not take alcohol with Robaxin pain mediation
Recommendation of pregnant and lactating women	Carisoprodol intake is not advised for pregnant and nursing women without a doctor’s consultation.	The use of Robaxin muscle relaxer during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended without a valid medical prescription.

When can Soma and Robaxin be taken?

The use of Soma pain medication and Robaxin muscle relaxer is indicated for treating acute pain in the body. They are both a prescription medication for musculoskeletal discomforts. The use of both Soma and Robaxin with physical therapy and rest is shown to help elevate the potency and efficacy of the medication.

Prescription use of Soma pill	Prescription use of Robaxin
Muscle spasm	Muscle spasms
The use of Carisoprodol for back pain and other acute pain such as dental pain, cuts and injury, discomfort from lifting heavy objects and improper posture
Joint pain in bones

Soma vs Robaxin- can they be taken with other medication and treatment?

The use of muscle relaxers with other medications may cause “drug interaction” in the user. Such interactions in the body can lower the potency and efficacy of the medications taking them longer to show a positive result in the body. When it comes to Soma vs Robaxin they are both seen to interact with different groups and classes of medications. It is important to let your physician know of all your existing medication before taking the Soma pill and Robaxin. It is important to note that the use of Soma with Tramadol can cause severe effects in the user. Soma vs Flexeril is also a very common comparision of the analgesic drug, however, both Soma and Robaxin is not advised to be taken with Flexeril.

Drug	Class of drug	Robaxin	Soma
CNS depressant(1)	CNS depressant	No	Only after consulting a doctor
Pentobarbital	Barbiturates	Yes	Yes
Eszopiclone	Sedative hypnotic	Yes	Yes
Cough medication	Cough medication	Other cough medication can be taken other than dextromethorphan	yes
Amitriptyline Impipramine	Depressant	Yes	Yes
Fentanyl Codeine Hydrocodone Tramadol Morphine	Opioid	Yes	Yes

Is Soma muscle relaxer more effective than Robaxin?

Soma Vs Robaxin has been a subject for comparison for a long time now. According to a study published in NCBI by Roger Chou. et.al (2), states that the Soma pill (Carisoprodol) has a higher efficacy compared to other muscle relaxers for acute pain. However, there is not much information on the potency of Robaxin for treating acute pain. The efficacy of Carisoprodol is higher than Methocarbamol as it gets metabolized to form meprobamate in the liver which escalates the potency of the muscle relaxer. It takes about 30 minutes for both the medication to start their action. However, the action of Robaxin lasts for about 4 hours whereas the action of Soma 500mg is seen to last for 5 to 6 hours in the user. So, the Soma pill is a better choice if you are looking for a medication with a longer period of action. Another common comparision is Soma vs Tizanidine, which indicate the better efficacy of Carisoprodol over Tizanidine for treating body pain.

Soma vs Robaxin- user reviews

The user reviews for both the Soma pill and Robaxin from two authoritative health sites indicate better results from the Soma pill over Robaxin. The use of Soma (Carisoprodol) muscle relaxer shows higher potency in treating muscle spasms in patients compared to Methocarbamol. Thus, between Soma VS Robaxin, Carisoprodol is a better choice of analgesic.

User review for Soma (Carisoprodol) muscle relaxer

Source- “User review of Soma oral paill”, WebMD (3)

Source- “User review for Soma”, Drugs.com(4)

User review for Robaxin

Source- “user review for Robaxin oral pill”, WebMD (5)

Source- “User review for Methocarbamol”, WebMD (6)

Can Soma pill and Robaxin be taken together?

The use of Soma pills is not recommended to be taken in combination with Robaxin. Taking both medications together can increase the chances of the user experiencing side effects. Such users are also more vulnerable to facing dependency and addiction.

Robaxin and Soma- which is a safer choice?

Both the Soma pill and Robaxin can cause side effects in the user if not taken the correct way. Overdosing of the medication is one of the most common factors causing side effects in patients. The Robaxin prescription does not report the frequency of occurrence of side effects by this medication. However, there is detailed information on the frequency of Soma side effects in users. This makes the Soma pill a better choice for people who have a high tendency to experience allergic reactions from medications

Side effect	Frequency in Soma pill(7)	Frequency in Robaxin
Headache	3-5%	Not reported by FDA
Dizziness	7-8%	Not reported by FDA
Drowsiness	13-17%	Not reported by FDA

These are mild side effects and do not need immediate medical attention. However, overdosing of both Soma pill and Robaxin can cause severe side effects in the user. In such cases it is advisable to discontinue the medication and consult a physician. Thus, it is important to follow Robaxin and Soma pill precaution and warnings to ensure best result from the analgesics.

Sign of overdosing	Robaxin	Soma pill
Nausea	Yes	Yes
Agitation	Yes	Yes
Palpitation	Yes	Yes
Blurry vision	Yes	Yes
Lack of coordination	Yes	No
Memory problem	Yes	No

Robaxin vs soma high- which is more likely for abuse?

Improper dosing can lead to potential abuse of the medication. For people wondering about Robaxin vs Soma high, both the muscle relaxers have equal potency for abuse. One can identify addiction to the medication by looking for the following factors-

Taking Soma pill or Robaxin without a valid medical prescription
Constant urge to take the drug when not needed
Long-term use of Soma pill and Robaxin

The Drug enforcement has identified the following physical effect of Soma abuse (8).

Confusion
Euphoria
Difficulty speaking
Depression
Irritability

According to the reports by the recovery village (9), Robaxin abuse in people results in stomach pain, lightheadedness, nausea, lowering of the blood pressure, and blurred vision. There is a chance of these effects getting exaggerated depending on the level of Robaxin abuse in the user.

Soma vs Robaxin- which is more affordable?

The cost of Robaxin and Soma pills is covered by most medical insurance. The cost of generic Robaxin is $8.24 (10), whereas the price of generic Soma 350mg is about $1.06 and Soma 500mg is $1.18 on Buysoma pharmacy. For people looking for a potential muscle relaxer on a budget, it is best to choose Soma pain medication.

Is it safe to buy Soma and Robaxin over the counter?

Muscle relaxers such as Robaxin and Soma are prescription drugs and are not available over the counter. People can buy these pain medications online from licensed pharmacies at lower prices.

Our final thoughts

If you are not able to come to a decision and if the question “Robaxin Vs Soma- which is a better choice” is still haunting you, we are here to help. This soma vs Robaxin pros and cons will sum up the basic differences of both the muscle relaxer and help you come to a concussion.

	Soma pill	Robaxin
Pros	Useful in treating joint pain, acute pain and muscle spasms Available in two strengths- Soma 350mg and Soma 500mg User reviews show high ratings for Carisoprodol Available in generic form Lower price	Effective in helping manage muscle pain Robaxin is available in two strengths- 500mg and 750mg Available in generic form
Cons	Can cause addiction and dependency Scope of abuse is higher than Robaxin Soma pill is not for people below the age of 16 years and above 65 years. The Soma dosages must be taken 2 to 3 times in a day.	Higher price compared to Soma pill User review shows lower rating and efficacy from Robaxin The use of Robaxin can make the user sleepy. Not safe for people above the age of 65 years It must be taken 4 to 5 times a day to maintain its effect in the body.

References

“Robaxin vs Soma”, Rxlist
“Comparative efficacy and safety of skeletal muscle relaxants for spasticity and musculoskeletal conditions: a systematic review”, Roger Chou et.al, 2004.
“User review of Soma oral paill”, WebMD
“User review for Soma”, Drugs.com
“user review for Robaxin oral pill”, WebMD
“User review for Methocarbamol”, WebMD
“Highlights of prescribing information”, FDA
“Addiction to Muscle Relaxers: Carisoprodol”, American Addiction centre, 2021
“Robaxin (Methocarbamol) Addiction And Abuse”, Therecoveryvillage,

10. “Robaxin”, Goodrx

Soma vs Robaxin- Is Soma a better alternative?

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