Corrie
Board Addict
Reged: 07/16/02
Posts: 364
Loc: Southeast US
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I wanted to get some feedback from those of you who have taken Soma and have had to discontinue it.
I've been taking it off and on for the past 2 years or so. It's been easy to stop and then take one when I have a muscle spasm, but I've noticed in the last 4 months that when I don't have any, that I get VERY agitated and sick. I never thought there would be discontinuation symptoms of this particular medicine, because I've taken it for so long without any problems when I don't have to take it.
I just really need some help in being able to stop taking it. I'll deal with the spasms with a heating pad from now on. I believe there have been several threads re: tolerance and addiction, and I just believe that I've become tolerant over the years. It's easy to sleep when I'm in pain after taking one (and unfortunately and truthfully, 2), but I have to stop the medications. The climate is unnerving, I cannot continually afford to pay for these and I need to find alternate methods.
Is there a tapering schedule for Soma that anyone has used and it's worked well, or is there another medicine (OTC or otherwise) that has worked for muscle spasms or just to be able to stop taking Soma?
Any advice would be very much appreciated.
Corrie
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LumbarSpasm
Silent Chaos
Reged: 05/07/02
Posts: 1538
Loc: USA
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I have stopped several times. The first time is the hardest. The effects range from a headache to increased back pain and irritability, and a bit of nausea for me.
But the good news is that this does not last. I'd say 3 to 4 days tops. I have found this med works better if you do take breaks. And if you take breaks every few weeks you will not notice the withdrawal that you do when you suddenly stop after more than a year of taking of it daily.
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LumbarSpasm
Or just a pain in the butt?!
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CzArSheL
Board Addict
Reged: 06/30/02
Posts: 344
Loc: South Central US
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Hi Corrie, I think I know what your having problems with here, Soma is given as a muscle relaxant but muscle relaxation is actually more of a side effect for this drug, its primary pharmacology is that of a sedative. So the negative side effects of sudden discontinuation is the same as you could expect from suddenly discontinuing any other sedative (anxiety, psychomotor agitation, ect.)
you could replace the sedative with some other sedative as far as tapering, I would approach it as with tapering of any other sedative
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Corrie
Board Addict
Reged: 07/16/02
Posts: 364
Loc: Southeast US
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Thanks so much Lumbar and Czar - I think I'll try to weather it out (it's good to know that the uncomfortable symptoms don't last that long). Taking breaks is a good idea, and you're right about the sedative effects and that being the reason for the discomfort.
Thanks guys. 
Corrie
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LumbarSpasm
Silent Chaos
Reged: 05/07/02
Posts: 1538
Loc: USA
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Corrie, from my experience the first couple of days are crappy. Then suddenly the bad stuff is just gone. You may then realize how much it helps but you will no longer have the symptoms of the first few days.
Good Luck.
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LumbarSpasm
Or just a pain in the butt?!
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Corrie
Board Addict
Reged: 07/16/02
Posts: 364
Loc: Southeast US
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Lumbar, when I went without before, I did experience muscle spasms and increased pain, but I remember feeling very irritable (understatement) and I would cry at the drop of a hat. Actually, I remember crying at a commercial on t.v. that was not even sad, so I was emotional to the extreme.
Thanks for providing your own experience - it helps to know it won't last that long. I'm unsure if I'll be able to have a prescription for this anymore. My doctor will only Rx a very mild muscle relaxer (Robaxin, I believe the name is), so I'm going to see how I can do without it. Thanks again.
Corrie
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LumbarSpasm
Silent Chaos
Reged: 05/07/02
Posts: 1538
Loc: USA
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If you have insurance you might want to inquire about Zanaflex. I have heard good things about it. ?
Good luck Corrie. 
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LumbarSpasm
Or just a pain in the butt?!
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lardaman
Banned: flame wars, insults, offending others
Reged: 08/14/02
Posts: 244
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Lumbar is right, at least for my experiences anyhow. I really don't ever experience withdrawal symptoms, at least not as someone would think. Just crappy then fine, doesn't really seem like withdrawals, but since I have seen people comment on it I have realized that yes it probably is w/d. So minor you don't really know it until someone points it out then you may see it. My experiences anyhow.
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JeanneLynn
Member
Reged: 05/16/04
Posts: 116
Loc: The Bible Belt
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I was always under the impression that Soma was really hard to get addicted to. I was just thinking of switching to Soma from Valium when I have my next consult next month for my TMJ and grinding.
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