tramadol addiction

by barbara to pain and lortab, Jan 08, 2001 12:00AM

I also am on Tramadol and asked my Doc once about getting off of it if the other Neurologists said it would compete with anti-convulsants or something.

I am currently on 400 mg a day. 2 pills every four hours although like you said, a depressed mood can be stopped with a little extra since Tramadol (Ultram) is a mood elevating drug.

Even though they clsss it as non-addictive, my Doc says they are wrong and to only cut down one 50 mg tablet every two weeks. She said depression would be the worse of the withdrawal and rebound pain.

I hope this helps you.

by Richie, Jan 08, 2001 12:00AM

Hi Mandy:

I also had an addiction problem, so I know where you're coming from.  First of all, I agree with you that I wouldn't discuss it with my GP if he is not understanding.  Many times, a doctor's reaction to admitting addiction is to panic and totally cut you off of your supply of medication (they are constantly worried about legal issues).  That happened to me.  I actually went to a treatment center and I was scheduled to go into the hospital to be detoxed off of pain medication that I was taking in an excessive amount.  The only thing is that I was out of the medicine that I was taking and I needed a 5 day supply to bridge the time that I would need to get checked into a detox.  I had my counselor from the treatment center call my GP and explain the whole situation.  He said that I would need one last prescription just to tide me over until I went into the hospital.  After much begging, my GP, who I was going to for over 7 years, absolutely refused to give me 1 more prescription.

It sounds like your doctor would react the same way.  So don't "cut off you nose to spite your face".

Now, back to your problem and my advice to you.  I have heard from many people that Ultram (Tramadol) is a very addictive medicine and the doctors are very ignorant to this fact.  As of now, Ultram is not even a scheduled drug (it's not a controlled substance).  I believe that this will be changing very soon due to the many people who have developed addictions to Ultram.

Anyway, my advice is #1: don't panic.  Although you are addicted to your medicine, you don't have a totally out of control addiction.  My addiction to pain pills was totally out of control.  At this point in time, you are doubling up your medicine which is a situation that I feel you can handle on your own given the following factors:  You must have an ample supply of your medication in order to detox yourself and you must be truly motivated to do this on your own.  If either of the 2 above situations don't exist, then my suggestion would be do some research and find a good addictionologist.  There are some good ones out there that are familiar with the disease of addiction and they will know how to help you out and detox you with a minimal amount of discomfort.

If you truly feel that you can do it on your own, I would suggest cutting down your medication by 12 1/2 to 25 mgs. every 4-5 days.  You will obviously have to cut the tablets in quarters if you are going to cut back by 12 1/2 mgs. every 4-5 days since 1/4 of a tablet is 12 1/2 mgs.  Try this schedule of reduction out and see how you feel.  If you are very uncomfortable, lengthen the number of days that you stay on a reduced dose.  In other words, cut back every 7-10 days by 12 1/2 mgs.  Obviously, you're not taking a tremendous amount of medication, so you will have an ample amount that will allow you to withdraw in a comfortable manner.

Again, try and be as positive as possible.  If you truly feel that you can't do it on your own, then I would definitely do some research and find an addictionologist.

Best of Luck to You.

Richie.

by tom to Mandy, Jan 09, 2001 12:00AM

Ultram is not an opiate in the traditional sense, but it binds to the same brain receptors and thus has the same efffect as a true opiate. Easier to get prescribed because it's not "scheduled." I like it in the sense that it works as well as Vicodin and codeine but seems to last longer, killing pain at a constant level longer than traditional opiates. It's not as fast-acting as Vicodin, and seems to work best by giving oneself a "loading dose", than continuing your usual dosing schedule. If you take it on a schedule, rather than reacting to pain, it's seems to provide consistent, uninterrupted relief. Quite a good drug, I'd say, for treating back related conditions like yours. I found it got me high the first few times I used it, after which it provided only pain relief without a noticible high. All in all, a "goody." A good strategem is to ask for Vicodin, then bargain down to Ultram.

by Sandy, Jan 09, 2001 12:00AM

Mandy, I too, had the stuff put in my back - Danak cross link and pedicle screws (sp?) and was is such severe pain I had him take all the hardware out almost a year to the day it was put in. Lucky you that it is working. As for my pain pill addiction, my surgeon called me from his cell phone in his car and told me that he had to get me off narcotics, because without his license he could not practice medicine. How's that for doctor-patient relationship? I'm sure he was in big doo-doo with the state, because many times he told me he didn't mind prescribing. I didn't know what to do, so I put myself into a local hosp. detox. (BIG MISTAKE - the label "DRUG ADDICT" is with you (meaning anyone) after that, no matter how, why, who, etc.) At this clinic they gave me Ultram, the non-addicting drug, as it were, for pain. Unfortunately, I never had relief from it. If you can do it on your own and without those pills "calling you" to take more, try, try, try. Have someone hold them for you! The labeling of being an addict is not worth it. Also, I thought it was illegal for your general practitioner or surgeon to detox a patient. Is this right or not? GOOD LUCK Sandy

by to doc dan from joe, Jan 09, 2001 12:00AM

I was wondering about your post above, are you saying that everytime you go to the hospital they treat (labeled) as a drug addict no matter what you are there for?

by To Tom and rest of forum from Maryanne, Jan 09, 2001 12:00AM

Although I'm not Sandy, I am going to answer your question Joe because I worked in a hospital setting for years. The answer is YES. They have a spot for "primary diagnosis" which is where they write what you are in the hospital for and then there's a spot for "history" and they write the rest of your medical history there. If it's the same place you detoxed in, they will know by your past records. Everytime a patient is admitted to the hospital the nurse does an "Admission Sheet" chock full of information (they take your pulses, blood pressure, temp, etc) and write it all down on this sheet. Then there is a section where they ask the patient all kinds of questions about every system in their body - they also always ask: "Any history of alcholor or drug abuse?" or something like "How much do you drink" or "Do you use any street drugs?", you get the point...If you lie and they know it, they will put on your chart something like, "Patient denies alcohol/drug abuse but history is positive for etc, etc, etc" - whatever you were detoxed from. If it was IV drug abuse, alcoholism, any street drugs, etc. They can be very ignorant about this disease and sometimes they will withhold or discourage pain meds after surgery even if you really need them. The best thing an addict can do who is getting surgery (besides avoiding it unless absolutely necessary) is find a doctor who understands addiction and who can work with you to control pain under the circumstances. I hope this answered your question. Maryanne

by Sandy to Joe, Jan 09, 2001 12:00AM

I'll just say that the confidentiality between patient and detox ward is not what it should be. If you have a family doctor, his/her name will end up in your records and usually your progress is sent to them. No, I'm not saying if you go in for the flu they'll call you an addict, but IF they know you were in a detox you can betcha that if you have the worst cough on Earth, you won't get anything with any sort of narcotic in it. That's just my experience. Also, with my contract at the pain clinic, I am absolutely not allowed any other pain meds from any doctor, dentist, etc. and they have to know the name of the pharmacy I use. Since most pharmacies don't carry methadone, I just use the hospital outpatient pharm. Maybe all of this is not true for any of you, as I said, this has been my hellish experience. (Actually one family doctor sent me a letter terminating our relationship because of detox, even though I told the detox who my doctor was!) This is all bringing back horrible nightmares of all this happening five years ago or so.

Sandy

by Sandy to Joe, Jan 09, 2001 12:00AM

Thank you, Maryanne! Well said! Sandy

by to doc dan from joe, Jan 09, 2001 12:00AM

Thanks to both of you for your explaination

by tom

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