I want to be Soma free

[Joysfreedom]

I take prescription Soma for a myriad of symptoms- panic, pain, etc. I've been taking large quantities for years.
With the help of a professional, I tapered off of Oxicontin successfully even though no helth MD said I'd be able to without rehab. With support I did it. If I can do that surely I can taper off  Soma, I just don't know how. It seems more difficult than the regine for Oxicton which took me 7 months. I wanted to badly enough, never waivered from the regimine.
I feel differently about Soma. NOTHING is worse than panic in my book.
I'd like to hear feedback from people who have successuffly overcome Soma addiction.
I believe in honesty. And honestly, the thought of tapering down nudges me to take even more.
I could use some suggestion, supplements that help, anything.

[yaya1951]

Thanks for all of your responses. I see a good Psychiatrist who specializes in pharmacology- He knows my history- he's also unconventional with meds. People metabolize differently. Benzos, which is the drug of choice for panic, agoraphobia, etc. made me feel like I'd had a frontal lobotomy.
He's the best in our community. I trust his judgement. Who I dont trust is me.
I know you have to want to get off a med with 100% committment to be successful- if you're doing it without in-patient.
I've never heard of anyone dying of large amounts of Soma unless they mixed it with alcohol or other meds. I believe you, just haven't heard and I've been reading, researching for years.
My number one reason for attacking this challenge is the fear of running out. If that's what it takes, I'll take it. I know there are healthier benefits but it's the only reason that works for me.
I've started no- slowely- so far, I live with the fear of the 'what if's'- what if I go crazy, what if I lose it, what if I have a full blown panic attack like before that landed me in a psych. ward. At the time I was taking nothing. One panic attack is enough to have ongoing anticipatory anxiety. I definitely have that.
It's also really hard not having support, doing this silently in my world. That was the hardest part of tapering off Oxi, but I did. Never waivered from the chart my Dr. gave me to taper.One day I was done! -Took 7 months but I was done.
thanks again for all of your input. and support.  I'm looking for alternative things to do for anxiety, vitamin supplements, exercise. I've read every book so that's out.
Thanks again

[micheleTX]

I have quite a bit of history with Soma.  For one, it is a muscle relaxer, I dont know why a dr. would give you that for anxiety/panic attacks?  but pain for sure.  I have known 3 or 4 people (3 real good friends, the other just met her a couple times) who have had real trouble with the stuff.  Problem is the same as with opiates, after time you develop a tolerance to it, so you take more and more for the same effect.  Alas, the three good friends just took it to get out of their minds wacked...not for pain or muscle relaxation.  Soma can be very scary at high doses, because it relaxes all your muscles, including your heart which is a muscle....so if you take too much, you can relax your heart so much into stopping beating!  Please be careful with this drug.  It is very powerful and can harm you in so many ways.  If you are ready to come off it, get your dr. to taper you from it, there are thousands of muscle relaxers that will help and not be as dangerous as this one. I don't know how many you take, but it can be fatal.  I am being as honest as I can with you.  Ive seen a good friend go into cardiac arrest from it, he took approx. 15 in one day, over the day, and had bad things happen to him, enough that the ER was very concerned.  Seizures are a serious indication that you've taken too many, the shaking and incoherent-ness (is that a word?) are also signs that you've had way too much of it.

Not to scare you, but please just be careful with this.  This person that went to the ER that day, his mother was a nurse and taught me alot about this drug.  I was taking it also for muscle relaxation, and it scared me enough that I wanted off it.  Literally though, my orthopedic surgeon told me there are at least about 1200 different muscle relaxers, so maybe your doctor can switch you to something not so dangerous.

Good luck to you in whatever you decide is best for you :)

[luv2bmomjen]

I am tapering off of Perocet, Vicoprofen, and Soma all at the same time.  I take now 13 of the 26 pills I was taking as of 9 days ago.  As far as the  Soma I am only going fom 4 to 3 but that was SO hard.  I just had to do it cause I made my doc cut me to that.  I do it casue I know that if I dont I will run out and that scares the  hell out of me.  It has been hard but I know three  people from my docs  office who died from Soma and that was reason enough to stay strong.  You absolutly HAVE to taper.  with soma you can't go cold turkey or it could kill you or at least cause seasures.  Just try half pills.  I was taking 4 1/2 a day.  Then cut to taking 1/2 a pill 6 times a day.  That put enough into my system to keep me from feeling too horrible.  I will not say it is easy but when you are watching the clock for your next dose come on here.  That is what I did today!  

[abritt121222]

i dont know anything about soma but i just wanted to say that it is awesome that you were able to come off the oxy and are now clean of it because that is a huge task and you made it thru so congrats on that sorry i dont know anything about soma but someone who does will help you tomorrow im sure of that
good luck
Abritt