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MedHelp Member's Question

Can an Additionologist tell your spouse about your addiction?

by curious1998, Nov 13, 2002 12:00AM
Tags: Addiction
I went to this guy yesterday, he told me I had to tell my husband, I have a problem w/ Soma.  I told him I did not want my husband to know.  When I filled out my med. form I put my husbands work number, can he call him and tell him??  He wants to see me tomorrow (11-14) not going back to him, he was not very understanding.  I going to do try and do the tapering system.  Then go to my Doc. for something for depression.  Any thoughts?  Please tell me I have nothing to worry about...you guys are the greatest!



Thanks for any input :) hugs to you all.



curious
Member Comments (59)

by Sundown, Nov 13, 2002 12:00AM
To: curious
No doctor can divulge medical information about you to any individual without your permission, except in medical emergencies where an individual's safety is seriously threatened or if compelled by a court order. While he may have said you should tell your husband, if you told him you did not wish that information revealed, no, he cannot call your husband at work and tell him.

Good luck with getting off the Soma and getting help for your depression.



Sundown

by Chezz2, Nov 13, 2002 12:00AM
Curious,

Being the skeptic I have now become due to some f$#% up doctors. You might want to rethink the don't tell policy, unless due to patient safety. He could possibly call if you are driving to your appt.'s. Especially if kids are involved. If he really wanted to, I don't know if he could.

I know one thing though. Why in the heck would he want you to tell your spouse? Especially during the 1st visit. Sounds odd. Its your life and your addiction. They should have dealt with numerous cases were someone needed help and anonymity.



Just my thoughts. I doubt he will say anything. He would also have to have a lot of time and balls on his hand to call your hubby at work.

I have found though, anything is possible with some of these richteous fukin docs.  

Chezz

by curious1998, Nov 13, 2002 12:00AM
Well you both have eased my fears, I didn't think he could do that. He was a real jerk to be honest, I have kicked Pot, Coke, and Vics, on my own.  I know I can do this, I was just trying to get a little help, so much for being honest about my addiction.  I kept on asking him about it, and he told me he's never seen anybody that was addicted to JUST Soma.  



Thanks guys, you taking the time to get back to me really touches my heart!



curious

by Chezz2, Nov 13, 2002 12:00AM
Docs put there pants on the same way as laymans. So they can be a$$holes too.

Actually I have met a few that didn't have as much knowledge about a particular subject and will get defensive if you know too much. Kinda hurts their ego. They are use to having "helpless" patients.

You would think an addictionologist would be schooled on this stuff by now to know people can get addicted to anything. Regardless of whether they have seen it or not.

You learn something new everyday. Some docs don't accept that though and think they know it all.

Course of action - New doc.

Chezz

by Chezz2, Nov 13, 2002 12:00AM
Good luck kickin the soma's.

You sound like you got it down though. If you have kicked all the others this should be easier. I hope.

I don't know much about Soma. I assume it is a muscle relaxer like flexiril, or in the family. Hopefully it is a taper and move on thing.

Good luck,

Chezz

by Tomasello_MD, Nov 13, 2002 12:00AM
Unless you give them approval (or are a minor), the addictionologist has NO RIGHT to tell ANYONE about what is discussed in his/her office without your permission. Some addictionologists feel that telling the spouse or family members of a patient's potential addiction problem can help in terms of support. However, it is YOUR right, not the addictionologists ... to make the decision regarding who knows. In cases where you may potentially put others in harm (i.e. if you were a pilot with an addiction to cocaine, alcohol, etc) there are some rules the docs have to follow. As far as your question is concerned, however, I see "legal" reason for why your doctor would have to discuss your case with your spouse.

by Tomasello_MD, Nov 13, 2002 12:00AM
Above should read "NO reason"

Also, yes Soma is a muscle relaxer ... similiar to flexeril.

by mrrstracy, Nov 13, 2002 12:00AM
To: Longhauler, Hippee, Bmac, Mariposa, Everyone!!
Hi guys!!! Sorry about not posting sooner but I had an emergency come up and had to go to Texas. Boy it sure is good to be back. Hey Longhauler, I like the new name. I've got alot of catching up to do. Guess I'll be reading the previous posts for a few hours. I hope everyone is doing well. I missed you all!!



Group Hug!!!!





Tracy

by Starraven, Nov 13, 2002 12:00AM
To: Soma Versus Flexeril
This info I read on the internet.  Read closely if you have an addictive personality and intend of taking Soma.







"BehaveNet® Clinical Capsule™:



drug: carisoprodol/Soma





Clinical class: muscle relaxant

Active metabolite: meprobamate

Action: central nervous system depressant -Term meaning encompassas the brain and spinal cord.



Associated with (substance-related): disorders



BehaveNet® Clinical Capsule™:



DSM-IV: Substance-Related Disorders



This category of mental disorders encompasses the Substance Use Disorders (e.g. substance abuse) and the Substance-Induced disorders (e.g. intoxication).Substance Use Disorders

Abuse | Dependence Substance-Induced Disorders

Anxiety Disorder | Mood Disorder

Intoxication | Intoxication Delirium

Persisting Amnestic Disorder

Persisting Dementia

Persisting Perception Disorder

Psychotic Disorder

Sexual Dysfunction

Sleep Disorder

Withdrawal | Withdrawal Delirium American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, 1994"



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~







"Carisoprodol (soma): abuse potential

and physician unawareness

by

Reeves RR, Carter OS, Pinkofsky HB, Struve FA, Bennett DM.

G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center,

University of Mississippi School of Medicine,

Jackson 39216, USA.

J Addict Dis 1999; 18(2):51-6



ABSTRACT







C

arisoprodol is a noncontrolled skeletal muscle relaxant whose active metabolite is meprobamate, a Schedule IV controlled substance. Although several case reports have shown that carisoprodol has abuse potential, it continues to be widely prescribed. The usage patterns of 40 patients who had taken carisoprodol for three or more months (20 of whom had no history of substance abuse and 20 of whom carried a diagnosis of substance abuse or dependence) were reviewed and compared and a survey was conducted to assess physician awareness of the abuse potential of the drug. Findings showed that some patients using carisoprodol for over three months may abuse the medication, especially those individuals with a history of substance abuse. A significant percentage of the physician population is unaware of the potential of carisoprodol for abuse and of its metabolism to meprobamate, a controlled substance. Physicians should exercise caution when prescribing carisoprodol, especially if the patient has a history of substance abuse."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



FLexeril:

:

drug: 



cyclobenzaprine- Generic name





Clinical class muscle relaxant

Chemical class tricyclic

DEA schedule none

Routes of administration oral

Associated with (substance-related)     disorders: none

Availability prescription "



As you can see,  Soma has sustance related disorders..Flexeril does not document these types of disorders.