Soma addiction ?

[holloway]

I have been prescribed Soma for muscle spasms in my lower back. This medication has enabled me to function pain free...and have a normal life.  I have taken an average of 6 ( 350 mg ) for not only back pain...but I also take them for headaches, or any other little pains or aches.  Is it best to stop immediately, or should I taper down my dosage ?  I do not want to take them at all anymore.  Will I have any symptoms if I stop completely without tapering, or should I slowly decrease.  I have taken them for years. I just heard that they are extremely addictive !  This scared me, so I want to quit taking them immediately !   I am a healthy, physically active  woman, and I don't want to ruin my health !  Thank you and God bless you.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

You can definitely get withdrawal symptoms which are flu like so you should taper over a two week period to avoid that. By the end of two weeks you should be down to one pill every three days.

[hangin'in there!]

NEVER stop taking an addictive substance abruptly. "Cold Turkey" is very dangerous with some medications - sometimes leading to heart attacks and strokes.

PLEASE SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE BEFORE YOU STOP TAKING MEDICATION!!!

Your doctor should be able to tell you how to stop taking Soma safely and yes, I believe they will reduce your dose gradually.
If you follow your doctors instruction, you should have a successful outcome without the discomforts of accute withdrawl symptoms. You can stop taking Soma but ask your doctor for advice.

There's my 2cents ...
Good luck for a med-free future!! (Hope this helps)

[holloway]

Thank you for your advice !  My other question is one that I wonder if others have struggled with.  The soma enables me to workout, stay fit, which obviously pays great health dividends.  Without the soma, my back hurts, ( anything can make it tight, and spasm ) especially stress !  So the soma is almost an anxiety medication to me.  It enables me to keep my body healthy and exercise, yet the very thing that enables me to do this, is very bad for me !!!  Anyone else have this conflicting situation ?  I honestly didn't know that the soma was that bad...but after reading about it, it scared me...and so I definately do not want to take it anymore.

[hangin'in there!]

I think it's a shame that you suffer terrible back pains - especially if your an active women. I did some research on your medication and thought you might like to know that Soma may not be as bad as we thought.

http://www.somadeals.com/drug_addiction_withdrawal.html

Your situation is a tricky one.  Has your pain improved with physical therapy? What would your life be like without Soma - could you still manage the pain and keep fit? How long did you originally forsee yourself needing medication? What other pain management strategies could you use if you were to discontinue Soma?

When you've finished this post - copy and paste the above into your address field and have another look at the information about your drug.  Seems as though Soma is not as addictive as originally thought and that the physical addiction is very mild and not very dangerous if you were to just suddenly stop.  I still believe that a doctor would ease you off, just to be sure you are coping alright with the withdrawl.

The 'psychological addiction' is probably of greater concern to you, which is why you need to be sure that you do infact wish to stop the medication.  It's hard to want to stop taking something that helps you to live a painfree, active and normal life.  Weigh up the risks and benefits to taking the medication carefully in your own mind and discuss these fears with your doctor. You may find that the medicine is worth continuing - there does not seem to be any major side effects and I get the impression this is really working for you.

Go chat with your prescribing doctor ... it'll put your mind at rest and try not to worry so much!!

Good luck and take care.

[holloway]

Thank you so very much for your research.  I appreciate it greatly.  It gave me a sense of relief to have some information.
As you could understand...being able to stay fit is extremely important to me, and makes me healthier.  However, to know that there are no serious side effects to immediate cessation  also is very reassuring.  I want to stop taking it...and just knowing there are not serious consequences makes it all the easier to stop taking it.  Thank you .....and God Bless !

[hangin'in there!]

How are you doing with your decision regarding Soma? Have you been alright living an active life without this medication or did you decide to keep going with it? Would like an update on how you are getting along is all.

With love from hangin'in there!

[holloway]

Thank you for asking, and caring !  I have cut my dosage in half. Soon, I will be down to nothing .  I feel great....if my back starts getting tense, I just take good ol' Advil.  I actually have much more energy.  Thank you for caring !  God Bless !

[tropickel]

Okay, I feel as if I am becoming addicted to Soma.  A month or so ago my friend (who is close to 6'7 and 260) gave me his rx of soma.  I'm not sure on the dosage but I'm sure it's more than my Dr. would have prescribed for me.  Considering I'm only 5'6 and 115.  Anyway, I've had serious addictions in the past.  I have OCD, and I'm an ex drug addict (coke), and you name it I probably did it.  I find myself craving Soma and wanting it all the time.  It was going to just be used on the weekend while partying and such but I'm finding myself really WANTING to take it.  Is this a mental thing or an actual addiction?  Should I see my doc. about getting a lower dose to wing me off of it, or just stay away completely?

[hangin'in there!]

I have nooo idea how much soma this new poster is taking but they seem to be aware that they are abusing the medication.  Holloway and I have looked into soma - read the above information and decide for yourself whether or not you need a doctor's help.

Why are you taking other people's prescription meds?  This is just plain old dumb!!! I don't think soma even gets you 'high' you could've asked your friend for a better script than that. Can you lower your dose slowly and then stay off it completely?  I think you should talk with a doctor about this - and your OCD (maybe it's a relapse?)

I do think the doctor will tell you to go cold turkey - given withdrawl is usually mild.  Your addiction sounds very definately psychological (not physical) given the non addictive nature of soma and the fact you are suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

You can do it ... but you have to really want to!

Good luck from hangin'in there!

Hi Holloway!! Hope you are well - maybe you can help the above poster out with a few words of wisdom. Speaking from experience with soma, that is. Yay ... I'm nearly off effexor and 7 weeks pregnant. Your right  -  I can live without it! Thanks for your concern.

[Please help.....]

I have two kids who really need me. I am a widowed mom of 5 years. Husband passed on from cancer. We were doing alot better until 10 months ago. a man who turned out to be a best friend to the kids and i for 1 year passed away as well. It has been real hard. There is my story, and now my dilema. I have never been into drugs of any kind. Except prozac 25 mg and xanax 3mg  when denny was sick. I weaned off and still had some withdrawels. It was awful. Howevere the end of nov. 2006 I was so depressed I could not eat for nearly 2 months. Then I ate very little after. After 3 or 4 months of dr's they told me my esophagus was shut down and major surgery was warrented immediately. they went through my bac, spread 2 ribs 6 inches or more and cut a lot of muscle tissue from upper shoulder down between my ribs. 3 drain tubes and a collapsed lung later. A week and a half in the hospital, 5 days in icu and lots of heavy narcotics  later, i was returned home with a lot of meds  vicodin 750, atarax 25 (for itch) SOMA 350, bena dryl 50, tramadol, gas x, xanax  (prescribed later) and whatever else. I have been home 3 1\2 weeks. I hate pills and seem to get all side effects, so I quit every thing except gas x, xanax and soma. Since I have had nausea 7 out of 9 dys. 6 then 2 off now sick again today it began again.I quit soma for a few days. then restarted so I believe they are causing nausea. I want to quit them all together.I only take one at bed time. and tramadol i took 2 times the last few days. I can handle pain more than nausea. Please help me. I am getting depressed and at times want to give up. nausea is terrible. I read this is a side effect of soma. How do i wean off? I am afraid of withdrawels terribley. Please please help very soon i am loseing it. I am 5' 8 " down from 169 to 117 pounds. nausea kills my appetite. Doc just wants to give me more drugs like effexor anti deppressant. I dont want more drugs, I want off of all except gas x and xanax... Thanks for your time. Sorry so long. I beg for your guidance.....                                                                             Sincerely in need    NJ