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vicodin and tramadol addiction

by kkat_16701, Jan 08, 2007 12:00AM
I started taking a few Ultracets of my grandmother's when I had sprained my ankle.  It worked really well, and I thought it may work for shoulder pain I frequently had and still experience from disc impingement.  My doctor prescribed it and I have been taking it for about 2 years now.  It worked for the most part, but I thought something stronger would work better.  My doctor prescribed me various narcotics including Vicodin, which I'm taking now.  I am addicted to both Tramadol and Vicodin.  I know I have to get off of it, but I am scared to death that I'm going to become very depressed, and the reason being is that I had be diagnosed with depression at a very young age (I am 34 now) as well as ADD.  I like how I feel when I'm taking Vicodin.  I am motivated and sociable.  Without it I am severly depressed and withdrawn.  I feel normal with it; I do not feel "high" just "normal"; like I SHOULD feel WITHOUT it.  My psychiatrist is starting me out with Aderall and Effexor, and I am wondering if you think this will help me to feel like a normal person?  Like I said, I am scared to death to get off of the Vicodin and Tramadol because without it, I simply DO NOT function at all.  Please help.
Member Comments (4)

by amythist2779, Jan 08, 2007 12:00AM
To: kat
Hi and welcome to the club. What kind of feeling do you get when you take the tramadol? My doctor told me it wasnt addictive although I have learned from many on this board that I guess it is. I have taken it in the past and it didnt even touch my pain. I have a neighbor who is also addicted ot it. I was just curious what you felt from it since it didnt even take care of my aches.



I have been on effexor in the past. It wired me. I felt like I was on crack because I had a ton of energy, I could not sleep, and I did not eat. I hated how it made me feel though because it wired me too much. I have never been on adderal though.



I can not relate to the vicodin feeling either. You see I live and love someone who is an addict. I take the meds myself but for pain only. I have chronic pain daily and there is no cure for it, its fibromyalgia. I dont experience the high feeling that some people do while on it. I also dont feel withdrawl symptoms when i am out of it.



I would discuss this with your psyc doc when you go in, if you havent already. Maybe he can help you out.



by againstthegrain26, Jan 08, 2007 12:00AM
I am not trying to be rude by no means , I am 26 years old been through it all.I started with hydro then moveed to herion. Got addicted kicked in rehab. It was bad but not NEAR as bad as what the future would hold. I have kicked Hydros so many times I cant remember , Kicked Heroin 2 times and was on 100mg a day Mehtadone (MMT) FOR 2 years. METHADONE IS THE DEVIL! I am currently on Subutex and have been for almost 3 months now (16mg) daily sometimes 8 mg daily. What I want to tell you is every body is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO different I have a super pain/sick tolerence (Methadone Detox is the hardest thing I i have done since i have been on earth). Your fear should not be the depression but the pain you will feel you will not be able to evaide this the only way to evaide it is to A.) Continue to use Hydro, B.) Get on methadone (which if you do that you would never be able to forgive yourself) C.) Get on Subutex ( But even with the Sub. you have to be into mild to moderate detox to even begin this medication) and if you make it that far , especially with Hydros you might as well just kick all together. And thats about it. Once you are addicted to any opiate you are in for a ride. You are not going get off a three year habbit in 7 days it takes time,mental anguish,pain,sleeplesness,nausia,vomiting,fear,sweats,cols,runny nose,yawning icky ,yucky ****** up mess! I hate this addiction but I did this to myself. We make our own bed. Good luck you will need it.

by lou lou bell, Jan 08, 2007 12:00AM
I am curious if you take the tramadol on its own what do you feel or do you combine it? I have taken tramadol for pain ( am a long term methadone addict) 23 yrs and finally coming off from 300mgs/day. I am down to 180mgs and am feeling fine. I am not thinking about what it will be like at 5mgs as I am not there. I think you need to slowly reduce what you take. You need to get the help of someone that you can be honest with and trust. Give them control of the meds and have them control your daily intake. Be reasonable. How much of both do you take ie mgs/ or do you take grams of the stuff at the moment. Is it expensive over there as I am in New Zealand. Tramadol is about $35 - $40 for 40 50mg pills here. I was told it was not addictive. Could you get off the vic using tramadol? I think you will need valium to sleep and try something like dextropopoxiphine(sp) for the pain you will get. The valium will help you sleep and relax you. Make sure this is only for a short period and try to use only at night. I find  hot water a great help - a hot bath has been at times the only place I have been able to sleep - it stops the twitching I get about every 10 seconds when hanging out.The trouble is sometimes you can be too sick to get out again. Anyone know that feeling? I am so pleased I feel well and am sure I will kick the methadone as I have everything else in my life that is important right. I have a normal like except I am draging methadone around with me from the past. The most important thing for me to stop was just being so so over it - tired of the liquid handcuffs. I just want to be free again. I have spend all my adult life on opiates and as I said I am over it. I have nearly halved my dose in 12 months I want to go faster than this but if I screw up it would be bad so I am going to go slow and recomend others to do the same. Fast detox is usually a temp. thing in my experience.

by mema3, Jan 08, 2007 12:00AM
To: Against the grain
WOW!  What a powerful post.



Yes, everyone is different - but I think you hit the nail on the head when you said a three year habit will not be kicked in 7 days.



That is a post that will ring in my head for a long time - especially when I try and kick this beast!



Thank you for your post.



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