Has anyone taken Soma and gone off it? Do you have to come off it slowly or can you stop it cold turkey?

I have been on it for about a year and it isn't working for the spasticity so am back on Sinemet and want to come off the Soma. The neuro wants to eventually taper me off but of course I have to wait til my next appt for any answers. Sometimes being a lab rat has its disadvantages!

Any experienced users input would be appreciated!

I'm sorry to hear this drug doesn't seem to be "doin' what it should" any more for you, Cheryl.

I have not had any personal experience with this med, and I haven't even run into anyone on the forums who's tried to withdraw from it either. I did a quick check on the net (which you probably did too), and it looks like this could be a challenge:

http://www.askdocweb.com/soma4.html

I had trouble even weaning off of Celexa (took 3 attempts, I think), and I was on a very low dosage. Eventually my doc had to start me on Wellbutrin to withdraw off Celexa . . . and I kinda weaned them both at the same time. It seems, from what I've read, people have had the best success with getting on something else to get off Soma too.

for this new obstacle.

Cherie

Geez, Cherie, thanks for that link. I hadn't seen that one! I've not had any side effects while on it. I just don't see the need for two drugs. I usually don't have any problems going off drugs, or haven't in the past.

I know other people who have had problems with drugs like Xanax and Ambien or even Requip, but I've not had any problems with them at all. I took Xanax and Ambien as needed and the Requip didn't work at all. I went back on Klonopin for the RLS.

I have been on Klonopin for the RLS and am taking 1.5 mg which is 3 times the normal dose. That's why I wanted back on the Sinemet because the spasticity is aggravating the RLS. Soma is not doing anything for me. It's not even helping me sleep anymore which it did at first but I might as well be taking nothing for all the good it's doing now. The spasticity was just getting worse.

Now that I am back on the Sinemet, the spasticity seems to be calming back down, at least it's tolerable now, whereas it wasn't 3 weeks ago! As long as I am on the Soma, I can't take anything to help me sleep so I want off this stuff. I am not getting any response from the neuro or his staff and it's beginning to annoy me.

Cheryl do you have a favoite Pharmacist? They usually have more knowledge about the actions and interactions of drugs than do most Docs..

Feel Better..

Thanks Sally. I will talk to my pharmacist. I also have to have permission from the trial doc.

Yeah, sorry about that. I tend to look at the worst case scenario as I am so sensitive to going on/going off everything.

Good thing you don't have troubles! You wouldn't be a very good guinea pig (for us whimps) if you did, eh?

Good luck,

Cherie

I got an answer! 1/2 dose for two weeks, then stop. I will let you know if I have any problems. I start tonight!

You know, I am med sensitive and have a ton of allergies which makes being in this trial a mystery. But since it's an autologous vaccine maybe that's why I've not had any reactions! I am not allergic to myself!

i'm glad you got an answer cheryl. and glad you're feeling a bit better.
i didn't know but also was going to suggest the pharmacist.

2 days on half dose with no side effects of withdrawal. No increase in spasticity so far either. All good stuff.

I re-read the link that Cherie provided with all the information about Soma and I think if I had known all that before I was rx'd this drug, I would have thought about it twice before taking it! Wow! But then again, I was in such pain, maybe not!

Good to hear you are withdrawing comfortably, Cheryl. It sounds like that is the exception rather then the rule with this med.

It seems we always have to look for the lesser of the two evils when it comes to coping with this disease, don't we. Even then, it seems our "solutions" often only last for so long, before we have to start looking for a new fix.

I guess Sinemet stopped working for you for a while? Or did the pain just get worse and you need something more effective (for you) at the time?

Hopefully Sinemet is the answer again . . . for however long it lasts.

Cherie