Soma Withdrawal: Signs, Symptoms, & Treatment

Soma Withdrawal Side Effects

Soma treats pain caused by spasms, certain illnesses, and injuries by reacting with GABA receptors in the central nervous system. GABA is a chemical messenger with the key role of reducing nerve cell activity in the brain. When someone takes Soma, the drug binds with GABA receptors, producing a sedative and relaxing effect as well as pain relief.

Like many other medications, long-term use of carisoprodol (Soma) can lead to physical dependence, which is why many medications are prescribed for short-term use. The physical dependence on a drug usually takes anywhere from two to five months to occur and is often the result of consistent, long-term drug use.

Physical dependence can occur with both illicit and prescription drugs, and although it’s tied to addiction, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the individual has a substance use disorder. Physical dependence is also marked by withdrawal symptoms, which are the body’s and brain’s reaction to a sudden reduction in or lack of a drug.

As with other drug-related cases, Soma withdrawal duration and severity of symptoms depend greatly on how long the person has used the drug and the doses they would normally take. Someone who has used high doses of Soma over the course of multiple months is more likely to experience highly uncomfortable withdrawals.

Common Soma withdrawal symptoms include:

• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Tachycardia
• Loss of muscle coordination
• Muscle twitching
• Tremors
• Chills
• Hallucinations
• Seizures

Not only can using Soma alone for long periods lead to withdrawal symptoms when the drug isn’t being used, but mixing it with other substances can also exacerbate the withdrawal process. Many people might either be prescribed multiple medications, while others engage in substance abuse by mixing muscle relaxants with alcohol or other substances to get high. When the time comes to quit or stop using these drugs, withdrawals can be worse.

Soma Withdrawal Duration & Timeline

As we mentioned, the duration and severity of symptoms depend on the duration of use and the dose the person would take. Soma withdrawal symptoms usually begin within 12 to 48 hours after the person’s last dose. Symptoms usually persist for about another 48 hours.

The longer someone uses Soma and the heavier their use, the more severe their withdrawals will be. Withdrawal from Soma may be longer-lasting and more severe if the individual used other drugs in conjunction with Soma, as well. For instance, many recreational drug users mix depressants and muscle relaxants to increase the sedation and relaxation both produce.

The primary symptoms of Soma withdrawal are mostly psychological, mainly because of the medication’s effect on GABA. As the body learns to function regularly again without this drug, a series of physical and psychological reactions take place, which are withdrawals. This process can be uncomfortable and difficult to complete without the help of professionals, so it’s recommended that anyone who’s looking to detox from Soma or any other substance should be under medical detox.