WHAT WE TREAT
At Paracelsus Recovery, we understand how overwhelming it can feel to face a Soma addiction. You don’t have to go through this alone; we’re here to help. Our holistic and pragmatic treatment programmes support you through a safe detox from Soma, tackle the root causes of the addiction, and help you restore your health and well-being.
Carisoprodol (Soma) is a skeletal muscle relaxant. Soma is commonly prescribed to treat pain caused by muscle injuries such as strains and sprains as well as general pain and to help people fall asleep. While Soma used to be popular, it has largely been replaced by benzodiazepines in recent years. When taken for an extended period of time or at high doses, it is possible to become addicted to Soma.
Soma works directly on the central nervous system (CNS), blocking pain sensations transmitted between the brain and the nerves. It has a similar chemical structure to the neurotransmitter GABA in our brain. GABA is a tranquilising neurotransmitter, and billions of brain cells respond to its signals. When someone feels overly anxious, the brain becomes excited and over-active. Soma contains chemicals that can counteract these over-active chemical messengers, and keep the brain in a more tranquilised state. As a result, Soma causes muscle relaxation, sedation, and decreased anxiety. The result is muscle relaxation, feelings of relaxation and sedation, as well as a mild sense of euphoria and being ‘high’ when taken at higher doses.
This makes Soma potentially addictive and may lead to severe physical and psychological dependence as well as many psychological issues. If you take the drug over an extended period, the brain will adapt, and the individual will need higher doses to get the same calming or euphoric effect. This effect is known as tolerance. However, this tolerance decreases rapidly after stopping using the drug, putting those who have been through a detox at risk of overdose.
If you have developed a soma addiction, you can overcome it. However, it can be challenging to detox from Soma without professional, structured support. Often, the only way to do this is to undergo a medical detox to manage the physical withdrawal symptoms and to work with mental health experts to manage the psychological withdrawal.
Through our combination of medical, psychological and personal care, we are proud to be the only clinic in the world that addresses co-occurring conditions and every possible root-cause of Soma addiction. In so doing, we can help you recover in a matter of weeks, rather than years or months.
bespoke treatment
How we treat Soma addiction
At Paracelsus Recovery, we understand that each person’s journey to overcoming the vicious cycle of Soma addiction is deeply personal. While we can’t say exactly what your four-week stay will involve, as there is no fixed treatment plan for our patients, we can tell you that each element of your programme is designed to break that cycle. From managing withdrawal to intensive therapy, every step in the treatment process is bespoke to each individual patient, curated just for them. However, it is important to emphasise that we do not adopt a specific treatment model. Instead, we advocate for a completely pragmatic approach to addiction; whatever works best for you to achieve your goals.
Each of your days with us will be structured to include a range of variety of carefully selected therapies that support your recovery and regain control of your life. Together, these therapies work as whole to help restore your physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. See below for more details.
Our approach considers the whole person: mind, body and soul
We understand that everyone’s journey is different, which is why we never take a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Instead, we carefully tailor each programme to meet your unique needs. While we prioritise the latest treatment methods and holistic care, it’s your individual circumstances that ultimately shape how we work with you.
As part of your recovery from Soma dependence, we provide a carefully managed withdrawal process, incorporating medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and IV therapy to ensure your comfort throughout detox. A key element of our approach is comprehensive testing to uncover the underlying factors driving your dependency. With this insight, we craft a fully personalised treatment plan tailored to support long-term healing. Your bespoke programme will include a variety of therapies, such as biofeedback, nutritional therapy, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), sleep therapies, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), acupuncture, and art therapy.
Beyond addressing the root causes of addiction, we also focus on the broader impact of Soma use, treating any neurological or physical imbalances that may have developed. Our holistic approach integrates intensive psychotherapy, biochemical restoration, and complementary therapies – all working together to reduce stress, promote well-being, and support a sustainable, long-term recovery.
15+ team members, all dedicated to your health and well-being
We are the only residential drug treatment centre in the world to provide a minimum of 15 dedicated professionals to each client.
Our team is made up of world-renowned doctors, therapists, and addiction specialists, including a Nobel Prize-winning board member. With an unparalleled team to client ratio of 15:1, our team provides around-the-clock support to manage your withdrawal and get you on the road to recovery. A live-in therapist will also be available for 24/7 emotional support. No matter the unique blend of treatments you receive, they will be delivered with the Swiss medical excellence we are known for.
Comprehensive programmes as unique as you are
At Paracelsus Recovery, we curate a comprehensive and intensive treatment programme that works for you. Driven by our core principles of pragmatism and empathy, we design a treatment programme based on your unique needs. Those needs may be physical and psychological, e.g. if our team identifies nutritional deficiencies or signs of other addictions during the assessment period, your programme would be shaped with these in mind. However, those needs can be practical too, such as when a client needs to work or travel during their stay with us.
We can provide treatment for Soma addiction and any co-occurring dependencies and mental health conditions at our discrete addiction treatment centre in Zurich.
FURTHER READING
