Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Soma addiction

I have question concerning addiction to Soma. I have read conflicting posts and also had conflicting answers from medical professionals that I know personally. I hope someone can shed some light on this for me.

I have been seriously involved with my girlfriend for quite some time now. In the past, she took 3 or 4 350mg Soma per day for back pain. Recently, she ran out of Soma and immediately began showing hallmark signs of withdrawal from Soma. (I checked them out on several websites and she was a TEXTBOOK case of this...) She got at least two more scripts for the Soma from an online pharmacy and all seemed fine until she started slurring her words all the time and actually passed out on my couch a few times. I am honestly concerned for her health as I do understand that this drug can kill her if she continues to take more and more as her tolerance for the drug increases.

So, my question is actually two-fold. First, is she actually showing signs that she has now become addicted to the Soma and if so, what is the prognosis for recovery? I am willing to do whatever it takes to help her but I do know that she has to want to be helped before anyone can do anything for her. I also would appreciate any advice as to how I should approach her with my concerns.

Any help is greatly appreciated.


This discussion is related to Forum Guidelines - Please read before Posting.
15 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I failed to answer your question. She does not have a seizure disorder. Depakote was originally used as an anti-seizure medication but it is also RXed to treat BPD. It is a wonderful mood-stabilizer.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If she really wants help I mean to put it at her feet. If she blows it one time I will disappear like the wind. This is my 2nd addiction rodeo. I learned from past mistakes.
Helpful - 0
401095 tn?1351391770

Depakote is not a "safer" drug than neurontin...depakote is a serious sezure drug...neurontin is not habit forming nor many side effects associated with it used also for chronic pain patients vs narcotics/Lyrica//the new replacemnt for nuerontin//is becoming a drug of abuse//neurontin is not a drug of abuse//course some peeps will abuse benadryl..but neirontin is a safe drug..thi I knows...
Does ur girlfriend have a serious seizure disorder?
I ask because a wd symptom from soma is seizures...normal dose is 350mg 2-3 x a day as needed for muscle relaxation...RXed short term to injured patients but is becoming a controlled substance in many states as we speak..so that tells u the abuse potential of this drug...It is a muscle relaxant..but unlike flexeril, zanaflex, skelaxin, soma breaks down into a metabolite that is habit forming,,,in its original form it is not so much so//but after it is metabolized, it becomes a substance that is habit forming making it different than other muscle relaxers on the market..and is becoming less and less RX-ed because of this

A competent DR will usually have a patient other MRs before he offers soma..some will not RX it//Soma is very similar to a benzo addiction..very similar..it must be tapered to avoid seizures///and it seems ur girlfriend may already have a seizure diorder?  This is sumpin yall need to work on with her dr..be sure u get to the bottom of this....does she have a seizure disorder of is she getting depakote to prevent seizures whan she runs out of soma? or Klonopin as both cause seizures with abrupt wd at times//klonopin is a benzo...they go together...a person who likes soma..will usually love benzos too

Guess I should go back and read to see more of what u posted as i just skimmed and got the jist...so sorry if i repeated or said sumpin redundant! Late and off to bed

Merry Crhristmas,,,ur girl is lucky to have u...be sure to remind her of this!  But facts are//an addict needs to want this..u can not do it for her..but u r trying and to be admired..just remember to watch out for ur own inner self cos loving an addict is very very exhausting at times
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you Jade.
This is going to be a bumpy road for both of us. Her receptiveness seemed genuine but time will tell if she is serious or just attempting to manipulate her environment to further facilitate her addiction. I have seen addicts do this in the past as well. I was very adamant in telling her that this is her one and only chance to do this and have me stick around. If she will commit to it 100% then I will make sure she is supported in whatever way she needs support. If she relapses, I will cut ties and run like hell because I have to protect my kids.
I just hope and pray that when the chemical cloud has lifted, she will realize where she has been and stay the course to keep herself away from that place permanently. Once she has done the detox thing, I plan to have her see a psychiatrist AND get into a 12-step program. I am a firm believer in 12-step programs. If an addict works for the program, the program will work for the addict. She is a wonderful woman underneath the chemical cocktail. Everything I have seen about her is wonderful. We have known each other since high school and even 22 years ago I thought she was wonderful.
Helpful - 0
242912 tn?1660619837
I am Very happy to hear your girlfriend is receptive to both you and her parents suggestion of rehab!  You are doing and saying the right thing in which you will not support her addiction any longer or let your young children be exposed to it.  

As far as me saying I was forced into rehab, the better word I should have used was *threatened.*  My parents threatened to kick me out of their house so that's why I say I was *forced* although not literally.  I Felt forced.  Unfortunately, as usual, my parents didn't follow through with their *threat* which they should have as it may have saved me a few more years of abusing that drug.  

Your girlfriend is very lucky to have someone like you who cares so much!  I wish you all the best!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I should also add this...
In speaking with her this evening, it came to light that she is taking more meds that ARE in fact being supervised by her doctor. (Unbeknownst to her, her doctor is a close personal friend of mine from high school and college...) She is taking Depakote (a wonderful drug in my opinion), Neurontin (questionable), and something else that started with a "G" that I can't recall. I have a master's in biology and I have taught courses such as genetics, pathology, and biochemistry in a university setting. While I am not a doctor, this combination of drugs seems to me that it comprises a toxic brain cocktail that will only become more degenerative as time passes if something isn't done to stop the abuse.

The really cool part is that I feel as though once she is off of it all, she may just find that there really wasn't a problem to begin with and she really DIDN'T need all these damn pills in the first place. She was fine to begin with.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
In this state, the only persons who can "force" someone into a rehab are the addict, a spouse (if the person is over 18), or the county/parish coroner, but only for 72 hours. If the addict is not yet 18, then the parents can commit the addict, but again only for 72 hours. Not even a judge can force committal on someone over 18 in this state.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your kind replies and advice. I just got off the phone with her and she has been taking Soma AND Klonopin. Her words were very slurred and she had a hard time maintaining a train of thought. It appears that her family has decided that they see the same things I see with the drug abuse and they have decided to intervene as well. As an additional bonus, it actually seems that she is receptive to the idea and may actually realize that she has a problem. She has in the past been diagnosed with BPD and depression as well as ADD. Her inability to maintain the train of thought reinforces the ADD...but I wonder if it could also be an artifact of the combined effects of the Soma and Klonopin.

My approach to her was that I cared deeply for her and wanted her to be okay. I also emphasized that if she would commit to a recovery program that I would stand by her through every step of it as long as she did not quit the program. I followed up by saying to her that she would have to do this for herself BUT that if she didn't follow through I would no longer stay with her. I have two young children that I raise alone and do not want to expose them to the constant onslaught of an addictive personality.

I believe that I have just signed on for a long hard road with her. I hope she will stay the course. I have seen people die like this and don't want death to be her rock bottom.
Helpful - 0
242912 tn?1660619837
You are absolutely right in the fact it's your girlfriend who needs to want to stop and until she does, nothing you say or do will have any effect.  Your girlfriend was *me* back in the 90's and I was seeing a man who wanted to *help* me by talking to my folks who ended up doing an intervention.  I was forced into rehab, but was out in 3days because *I* wasn't ready to stop using.  The slurring, blackouts, pass outs, falls...nothing and no one could get through to me until I was ready to quit that whole sick life myself!

I wish you luck!!

  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This would be the best bet and safest speaking to her Dr. as suggested above.. soma works on the central nervous system it impedes many things.. she is showing signs of over dose or the soma coma... taking high amounts should be tapered as there is a chance for seizures.. wd leaves a very acidly stomach with a intense headache.. also she would sleep a lot for a couple of days then spend a few nights awake and not be able to sleep and a general feeling of depression she also may experience muscles spasm's.. soma is a muscle relaxer and her heart is a muscle.. she is lucky to have you with her I wish you well and Please never let your kids go anywhere with her if she drives as you know her coordination is off.. Do not forget to take care of you through this process and stand firm.. I wish you well..  lesa
Helpful - 0
1128643 tn?1262483649
This is indeed an addictive drug. It's not an opiate and for that reason it's somewhat overlooked as a serious drug but it is. If your gf is slurring her words and passing out, she's on too high a dose. And of course, getting scripts early or getting them from multiple sources are classic signs of addiction. It's great she has you in her life. You should definitely encourage her to seek help or even just her prescribing doctor.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I really appreciate your taking the time to read and post. Right now my gf is out of town but will be back after the holidays. When she gets back, I am going to confront her. This is not the first time I have seen this sort of thing...nor is it the first time my kids have seen it. I have never really had a vested interest in helping someone begin recovery until now.
Yes she started using the drug with a script. It has progressed to the point that even on the phone I can tell when she has been using and can almost tell how many she has taken. I tried to confront her when she fell that night but she was completely incoherent and couldn't even spell her own name.
Helpful - 0
541953 tn?1262586226
welcome, you have come to the right place. I am a member of MH because my son is addicted to Soma. first of all know it is a highly addictive drug. your girlfriend is already addicted and is taking too many, that is causing her to pass out. you said she got them online, did she orginally start out with a script from her doctor? it is dangerous to c/t off of them, she needs medical assistance to detox. they can prescribe medication to help, clonodin is one of them. That is if she wants to detox off them,lf not there isnt really anything you can do to make her, believe me I have tried everythnig...I hope I have help you, please keep us informed of her progress.good luck
Helpful - 0
499376 tn?1300044956
i can tell you first hand i've been taking soma since 1992 i'm up to 5-6 at a time i go thru a scipt of 120 in 5-7 days depending on my job schedule i can only take 3-4 at a time at work with out out people knowing and let me tell you there sneaky little bastards some time 4 messes me up other times i can take 6 and be fine cook clean but theres those times when as my friends call it i get the soma shuffle can't talk,walk and shake like i'm having a seizure as for withdraw i personally never had bad physical problems i just get tired and don't want to do any thing for a coule days my withdraw is more emotional even after over dosing in 04 in a grocery store i only took 5 my usual i still can't stop it's that feeling of being totally relaxed and all your worrys go away at least til you run out which i never did i dr shopped 5 dr now i only buy one scipt a month and get the other rx'd to me as for what to do i wish i could help soma is the hardest drug to come off of my friend was on opiates diladud ,oxy,heroin and he said soma was the hardest to quit i've actually lost 8 friends including my boy friend in 06 to soma and xanax from 99-06 and i still can't stop i feel like i can control it and it won't happen to me but i bet they thought that too i really wish your girlfriend will see what she's doinhg to her kids mine went through hell at 12 my now 22yr old took my soma and flushed them kids are'nt stupid and i scared them so much i wish you guys luk and pray for me  and her
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Please help if you can. I am serious about this. She fell down in my living room 2 days ago and split her head open right in front of my kids. We really need some help here. I have no idea what the hell to do.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community

Top Addiction Answerers
495284 tn?1333894042
City of Dominatrix, MN
Avatar universal
phoenix, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.