soma addiction

[wyattw]

i've been addicted to soma for about two years now  ( averaging over 200 a month) any tips on how to come off without detox? im just tired of feeling like this. any help would be appreciated. somethings gotta change. im desperate.

[EmilyPost]

How is it when you try to taper?

Are you able to taper w/o massive discomfort?

[Mikeinthesouth]

I have had a few bad experiences when abusing Soma I guess I don't like the effect other than the actual purpose it is given to me for and that is to relieve the muscle cramps and spasms I get since my injury occured. Duh? I guess I should not abuse em. Huh? Well I quit abusing them and I don't experience any wd symptoms when I don't take any. I am sure someone with some better experience will come along shortly for you. Much luck and prayers, Mike

[Mikeinthesouth]

Have you researched it on the net?

[EmilyPost]

Let's see. 200 a month = 50 or so a week. Which makes 7-8 a day right?

Are you pretty constant on that or does it vary?

[10356]

Hi and welcome to the forum.. Soma should be tapered it can cause seizures if stopped all at once.. I ct off  12 year's of taking 3 times a day (started abusing last 3yrs) experienced- bad confusion. muscle spasms, sick stomach, headache and problems sleeping.. If you google soma wd it has more symptoms, these were the main ones I felt.
I did not know about the seizures until after the fact.. So please taper as that should help to reduce the wd affect also.. Take care

[worried878]

Soma is a drug that has to be tapered...can u talk to ur doctor about it and ask for help with a taper?  I would not think one doctor would be prescribing that many per day for u but many doctors can be very understanding....soma detox is much like benzo detox and must be tapered slowly...very do-able but u may need help and a doctors supervision would be ideal....perhaps someone can hold ur meds for u if u dont feel u can trust urself to taper them alone...keep posting and be safe

[NautyOne]

I disgree.......I was was taking double that amount at one time.  Soma, should but DOES NOT need to be tapered, actually it is near impossible to do.  I speak from experience.  and I took it for many more years than you did.  I promise you that you will have mild to moderate anxiety for 5 days max  its more of a mental thing, and thats it.......your done.......no runs, no cold sweats.......i take that back......maybe two nights of that......maybe.  If you can taper great, but soma is just not a taper drug in my experience.  ........message me if you want to talk.......


Nauty...............

PS......tylenol Pm or melatonin for sleep will probably be necessary for a little bit.

[sadinmichigan]

What do you mean without detox?Are you talking about a facility? that isn't necessary..I just got a rx for them when I hurt my back..My dr. said they are on the same line as a valium..I did not get them filled this last time and had no trouble.  also abused them a couple of years ago.and was mixing them..however you are taking more and for longer...I would simply ask a dr. or even pharmacist...soma are not even close to a benzo such as xanax..so I don't think you will have too much trouble..

[Rose703]

I've been on and off Soma for several years and never once was I tapered. I should also say that I was abusing them at one point using as many as 12-14 per day and I did stop CT without any problems HOWEVER everyone is different. I would suggest talking to your doctor first and then start to taper and if your body is not having any problems then taper way down and if you still have no w/d symptoms then just quit taking them.

The best thing to do is listen to your body as you decrease your intake and see how you feel.

Good luck to you and keep posting!!

[amy1439]

i've been off soma now just over a year nd i was taking 15-20 a day i had 3 doctors plus buying and trading for them  i started them in 1992!!! i thought i would never stop but i did and it's hard i never had physical w/d and most people i know don't but the emotional w/d was hell i wish you all the best

[Melissa70817]

I have to say I am prescribed soma for chronic pain.  I ran out and I must say there were no painful withdrawals but every muscle in my body felt like I was constantly making a muscle, I also had a funny taste in my mouth and NOTHING I ate would taste good.  Very odd.  This went on for almost 2 weeks.  

[wyattw]

yea well for one im not actually prescribed them and i dont really have a doctor to talk to about it. I tried to come off of them a few times and did experience some pretty bad withdrawals (it could just be mental though) and to "emily post" no im not really constant its more like cycles of not doing any, then doing 100's in less than a month. but yea "naughty one" i definitely have trouble sleeping if i dont take them for a while. But its nice to know im not the only one whose gone through this

[EmilyPost]

The ThomasDetox is so great (even if you don't use a benzo and use TylenolPM or benadryl) ... it helps rebuild your system you know. It's on the lower right side of this site.

If you stay off the drugs also if your sytem is strong.  Unless I am wrong, Soma also has tylenol in it. Which can be toxic for your organs. I noticed when they put me on Soma that it worked well the first time, and  then I had to take more and more to get the same effect. Which,obviously isn't good. I thought it was the best of the muscle relaxants.For me, it relaxed the muscles. BUT, not as well as very physical yoga does. So ....

I'm just glad you are seemingly ready to stop completely and not go thru cycles of heavy Soma use. Withdrawal *****!! I don't ever wanna do it again!

I hope it helps you to know we're all here and we're all in the same boat. Be as kind to yourself as you can, and be gentle, quitting forever is serious business, but you know, it's better if you have some people to help you laugh thru it!

It's Day 21 off for me and I am just starting to feel normal again.

Love and healing,
Emily

[wyattw]

thats really scary to know that it had tylenol in it, i had no clue. but you were right about having to take more and more to get the same effect (i once took 20 at one time) it really makes me happy to find people that are so supportive im really grateful thank you. but quitting isnt so much of a problem, its staying clean for an extended amount of time, like i was saying i'll quit for a month at a time but as soon as i go through something stressful or upsetting in my life i go right back into using. but ill take your advice thank you

[wannabefree330]

if the quitting isn't that bad, you need to get involved in an aftercare program to help prevent relapse.  AA, NA or a counselor, EAP (employee assistance program) at your work, psychologist... a sponsor?  If you don't continually replenish your recovery program, and continue to do the same thing and expect different results, you will relapse every time.  You have to stop hanging with old friend, using friends.  Your whole life needs to focus on staying clean.  Learning how to live life on lifes terms is very challenging.  These programs can help you learn what worked for others, and in turn may work for you.  When you get over stressed about something, have a plan next time.  Plan to go straight to an AA/NA meeting.  Talk to someone there about wanting to use.  Chances are, when you leave you won't go out and use.  Gotta learn how to live life sober, and take the bad with the good.  You can do it!

[theeagle]

Actually Soma is Carisprodol and has no acetaminophen in it at all....but it is still hard on your liver in large quantities....................

[docnomore]

It's a very bad drug even though it not physicaly addictive. It's abused as a opiate enhancer. I once took soma with opiates and couldn't speak and was awake and given a trip to hell by the paramendics who administered Narcan. Most docs don't use it much anymore.