Compare Soma vs. Norflex
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Relaxes your muscles.
Soma (carisoprodol) is used for muscle spasms and muscle pain but it's not considered a first-choice treatment and not meant for long-term therapy.
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3.5/ 5 average rating with 220 reviewsforSoma
Relaxes your muscles.
Norflex (orphenadrine) can be used for relaxing muscle spasms and it also can relieve pain.
Upsides
- Patients treated with Soma (carisoprodol) experienced improvement in function.
- Available in generic.
- Available in two different strengths.
- More effective than placebo for treatment of muscle spasms and nonspecific musculoskeletal pain in the short term.
- Extended release pills last 12 hours.
- Available as generic.
Downsides
- Not first choice for treating muscle spasms or muscle pain, because it can cause dependence.
- Can cause dizziness and sleepiness.
- Not meant for long-term therapy, because it hasn't been shown to be effective after taking it for a short period.
- Can cause withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it suddenly.
- Not a first choice treatment for muscle spasms.
- Norflex (orphenadrine) can make you sleepy or drowsy.
- At higher doses, Norflex (orphenadrine) can make you confused or hallucinate.
- Dry mouth and difficulty urinating can happen at higher doses.
- Pills cannot be crushed and must be swallowed whole.
- Can't be used in people with glaucoma, certain types of bowel obstruction or peptic ulcers, prostatic hypertrophy, certain urinary problems, cardio-spasm (megaesophagus) and myasthenia gravis.
Used for
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Extended release pill
- Pill
- Injection
Price
Lowest price
$6.78
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$12.43
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Reviews
220 reviews so far
61%
saidit'sworth it
39%
saiditworked well
9%
saidit'sa big hassle
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Side effects
The Norflex (orphenadrine) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
Risks and risk factors
- Sleepiness and dizziness
- Taking other medications that also cause sleepiness
- Recreational drug use
- Excessive alcohol use
- Elderly
- Abuse, dependence and withdrawal
- Prior history of drug abuse
- Taking Soma (carisoprodol) for a long time
- Seizures
- Prior history of overdoses of drugs of abuse, recreational drugs, or alcohol
- Sleepiness and dizziness
- Taking other medications that also cause sleepiness
- Recreational drug use
- Excessive alcohol use
- Abuse, dependence and withdrawal
- Prior history of drug abuse
- Heart problems
- History of fast or irregular heartbeat
- History of heart failure or other heart problems