HELP! I AM TRYING TO GET OFF TRAMADOL!

[chrisntn26]

I HAVE BEEN TAKING TRAMADOL FOR A YEAR....I WAS UP TO 800 MG A DAY...NOW I AM DOWN TO 400MG A DAY....I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO GET THEM....SO STARTING TODAY I NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW I AM GOING TO SELF DETOX MYSELF....PLEASE HELP ME...ANY SUGGSTIONS FOR A GUY WITHOUT INSURANCE TO GET HIS LIFE BACK????HELP

[avisg]

how many do you have left ? do you want to taper or are you going to cold turkey it..... Ultram was/is my DOC and i know how unpleasant it can be to come off it ,but it can be done ..i have been clean for about two and half months ..... i had a three week relapse in sept for medical reasons i had been clean since April before that ...so let me assure you can do this as well......
avis

[chrisntn26]

I was down to 3 a day..now I have none left...I feel like I am dead to the world and have the flu...I cant take 4 days to sleep cause I have a son....any ideas on how I can do it? I guess I have to go cold turkey, cause I have none left

[avisg]

ok ...yes it will be a rough few days ....do you have any sleep aids ....  I have 2 kids as well I know how rough it can be but you will get threw this ...

[chrisntn26]

My brother gave me some time released xanax to take a hour before bed...and some 5htp to take a few times a day. Tramadol is the only drug I have ever taken....EVER! and I never thought I could let myself get to this point..they just made me feel so good all the time...and a better worker....if you find anything that might help me...please let me know.....I want to get off these and never go back!

[avisg]

There is an amino acid that helped me with energy but i would wait till like day four to start it. It worked very well with the 5htp its called L'tyrosine ...... do take the xanax to get thru the next few days just be very careful it can be addicting as well. take   so just be aware and be careful.... As soon as you can get outside take walks exercise well help more then i can say to get threw this..... Advil for aches and pains ...if you can get hold of a heating pad it was a life saver for me.. watch for panic attacks i had a few coming off the ultram..... you might need something for Diarrhea.
plz post often let me know how you are .I will help as much as i can
avis

[chrisntn26]

Thank you so much....i really need someone to help me through this....I am getting ready to go down to walgreens to get the stuff for the Thomas Detox....I will also get some advil also....I have never taken xanax, so that will prob hit me strong...I have only been without tramadol for not even a day...and the diarrhea has begun....I even said I prayer to help me through this....

[avisg]

you will get thru this ,,,, the fact that you have never taken xanax maybe good ....it should knock you out enough that you can get some sleep .....trust me when i say some sleep makes such a big difference in how you feel..... I am on everyday ,,,if you go to the home page and look to your right you will see where you can set up your profile , then your name will be in blue as well and you can send me messages when you need to ...
avis

[chrisntn26]

I added you as a friend, I really appreciate your time....I am leaving for walgreens...anything you can suggest I pick up to go along with the Thomas Detox items?

[avisg]

i would suggest a heating pad if you dont have one....



avis

[chrisntn26]

I got everything but the l-tyrisone.....i have to go to a vitamin shoppe tommarow to get that....I just ook my 1st xanax......i just hope I can do it...my legs are sore and I feel like ****...the bed is gonna feel good...if any advice comes to ya..let me know..  :)

[chrisntn26]

well, the 1st night was ok...i slept pretty good...i feel like **** now...but I am hoping to stick with it...GOD HELP ME!

[avisg]

chris,
you can do this ...... its is going to be hard ......but it is doable ...try to keep yourself busy .... the first few days seem to take forever ......remember you are doing this for yourself and for your  son......
avis

[chrisntn26]

the shower felt real good...my head hurts real bad...and the diarriah has kicked in....I bowl in a league tonight...so that should be interesting...I took my b6 b12 and L-tyrosine pills along with 5-htp...so now i better try to eat something......say a prayer for me! :)

[zoezsweet]

I would run out and get some immodium ASAP. that will help tremendously with that part of wd's. I must say that I had the worst wd's from tram! I bought mine off the internet after my dr wouldn't give me any more scripts. I had to go c/t from them, my husband found out I was taking them and he flushed em! That was about 8 months ago. I wanted to strangle him when it happened but it's one of the best things that could have happened, cause i was going thru 180 in 3-4 weeks!! The depression is bad when you don't have the tram, but just stay busy and get some family support if you can. I wish you the best and hope you feel better soon, stay strong and dont' give in. oh and don't trade one addiction for another like I did, now I'm trying to quit oxycontin. -zoe

[avisg]

you have a prayer coming your way.... good eating and drinking is very important..... the shower really help take as many as ya need I used to wake up at like 12;30 am after my hole hour and a half of sleep and just stand there tell i used all of the hot water.........:) you may not really feel like blowing tonight ...... take it hour by hour ......
avis

[chrisntn26]

Thank you so much....I have went from as many as 800 mg a day down to 300mg and now that I have run out....I am down to fighting without any...I got the stuff from the  Thompson Detox...so I hope that will help...I also got immodium and Pepto.....if there is anything else you can think of let me know....I thought about trying to go down to 2 a day..then 1...then none....but since I have none left...I guess I have to go from 3 to 0......GOD IT SUCKS!

[chrisntn26]

Yea.....I got to bowl tonight...I dont have much choice...I feel a little better right now..but we will see later. I would have much better liked to slow myself off of them...but I dont want to be addicted to anything....I got to work tommarow...so that should be fun too!

[blondee68]

I understand the Ultram/Tramadol stuff, never took that much, I was started at 50mg, three times a day, and then upped to double that, but of course me being me, started taking like 5 at a time, but it didn't do a whole lot for me.  Felt a little better and took it because it was all I had at the time.  I prefer the other pain pills like Lortab, Darvocet, etc.  I would wean if I could, buy off the net some if I could get away with it, even though that scares me to death, like what if you get caught?  I can get some, but I've already told my doc that it didn't work so I could get Darvocet.  Def get the Immodium, and take lots of hot baths and showers.  The xanax should help, I started valium yesterday for all the **** my life has gone to in the past couple of months, but I won't bore you with that.  I wish you the best of luck!!  Just try hard to hang in there for a short time, it will get better.  Need to talk, write me!!
Blondee68

[chrisntn26]

I only took 1 tramadol today....I feel ok...but I am gonna try to use low doses of lortab and some xanax at bedtime. I can't go cold turkey..IMPOSSIBLE! plus I have everyday stuff I have to do with work and my son....I am gonna try to slow myself off....and when I do..I AM NEVER GOING BACK!!!  any helpful hints???

[Hulsey82]

i have been on tramadol for 5 years now and ws just told that I couldn't have anymore from the doc.  It got so bad that I was taking up to 30 pills a day.  What is the Thompson detox that I have been reading about?  does it really help?  Is there any hope?  How long will the really bad withdrawls last?  Please help me

[EmilyPost]

Hulsey82,

I was on it for 5 years, not as high a dose, but it's about 4 days of tough withdrawal. Like the worst flu you have ever had. The Thomas (not Thompson) Detox is called The Thomas Recipe here. You can find it on the right hand lower side, along with vitaman and amino acids.

I have been off for 44 days. There's alot of info, details and suggestions in my journal too. If you have no benzo (which you need to be careful with) and you can't sleep you can try anti histamines.

I am really hoping you tapered a bit off that many before the doctor cut you off? Yes, it does help, the Thomas Recipe (or google Thomas Detox or At Home Opiate WIthdrawal) will help. Yes, there is hope if you can fight and tolerate the pain for awhile.

I feel for you!

Love and Healing,, Emily

[clearrx]

Tramadol taper---Let me tell you how to do this the painless way. I am a REAL pharmacist, and I know this works. Buy a tablet cutter. Taper the dose by 1/4 tablet per week. For instance, if you are on 4 tabs. per day, drop to 3&3/4 tabs./day for a week. Next week drop to 3& 1/2 tabs. per day for a week, and so on. This takes a long time, but you will avoid the withdrawal symptoms. Why so slowly? Because this chemical has a firm GRIP on your brain. You brain has gotten very used to it, and you will experience real HELL if you try tapering too quickly. Try this. It works.

[jimbob2112]

How are you guys able to get zanex without a script?

I just had surgery on my lower back and am taking about 3 or 4 40mg oxy a day.

Have you guys seen or tried stuff like Kratom? I have some xscape pills that I was thinking of trying to help with the WD's.

Anyone know or heard of kratom?

[Mercedes175]

Hi, I am alittle confuses. At the top of this blog you mentioned you had no more tramadols left. Then mid way through you mentioned you had one tramadol today (your post to Blondee68)?  Up till then I thought you already had one night on Xanax. bowled etc...?  Im interested in your progress as I intend to do this too.  But it looks like you are still taking the Tramdol. Did I misread this?

[avisg]

This post is over a year old guys :)

[mcarlington]

I've been taking Tramadol for about 2 years now. As of 7:00 a.m. yesterday, I am off. My last dose was 350 mg. The time now is 10:00 a.m. and I'm doing O.K. but not good. I'm tired a little sick to my stomach. And I want to take it now but I've set my mind to not let it control me. It feels like bubbles in my head now with a hang over. I hope tomorrow is better. I've off for the holidays so I made my mind up to quit. This stuff is not going to control me. Ohh. I forgot, 350mg is what I was down to. I was taking up to 800mg to 1000mg a day. It will control you if you let it. I'll keep everyone posted.

MC Arlington TX.

[DOVE33]

I have been taken Tramadol and ultram same thing just one is generic.. For 3 1/2 Yrs now. Needing more and more every 4 to 6 months.
Lots of people on this sight . Are wanting to know how long does the pain last. While trying to get off. With me doing SOOOOOOOOOOO Much research on the internet and going to a outpatient detox center for help. That did not work one bit. I have never took drugs' maybe the ocassional weed. So I did cold TURKEY. That is a good way. If you have good support. Many people have to go to work and be around other people and or have little ones to care for. I do work buut I let myself in the office and I let myself out. Meaning I am in work by myself each day for 6 Hrs. And I have ;little ones. And A teenage daughter I had to tell so she could help me out with the kids. I had to tell my husband . Ive been with for three yrs that was hard becasue he was married to and addict for 10 Yrs and he had to raise and take custody of his children and leave her. The reason I am telling u this is that. Some people may not be able to go COLD  Turkey I was able to. The 5 Days was Hell. With each day getting more and more better. The first 4 Nights were more terrible. It would be best to get your hands on Ambien or if you cant. Get 5 Zanac's Take one each night at 9:00 or 10:00 on an empty stomach .to let your body get rest and not feel the creepy crawleys threw your skin . The sweat's had me laying in a lake. And the jerks of my body made me cry. But None the less. I AM PROOF THAT YES YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!! No its not impossible. If you have no support system tell a family member or friend to help you around the house with the kids. If not I will come and help you I mean it just ask I have a car I will stick buy you the first 3 to 5 Days How ever long u need it . Use are all in my preyers . U do have to suffer the pain for your loved one's . Its hard to swallow But it is your fault. AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT EVeN NOW WHEN YOUR FEELING LIKE U WANNA CRAWL out of your own skin. ITS GETS BETTER IN 4 TO 5 DAYS COLD TURKEY. I was up to 900mg  of ultram a day. GOOD LUCK

[sic317]

My friend named ME has been addicted to tramadol for about 7 years now. He is up to 20-80 50 mg pills a day and has not been even a day without them for years. He has tried kratom to get off of them and actually eneded up using more. He has also has tried Neurontin which has worked a little but he can't seem to even cut back. Basically he feels like **** even trying to cut back his normal dose a little bit. His last dose of tramadol for each day is about midnight and buy 8 or 9 in the morning his body is yelling at him saying he needs to take more. He is very depressed even when taking a lot of pills because he knows how ****** his life has become. PLEASE ANY ADVICE???????

[mothealien]

Well i was on tramadol for almost 5 years straight i had attemepted to stop several times and couldnt make it through the first few days it was a killer........I tried everything to stop but it didnt work.........It got so bad i was taking over 30 50mg pills a day thats when i started running out of my script of 240 just over a weeks time.....I started ordering it on certain web sites that offered it without actually seeing a doctor u just had to fill out a medical question sheet and have the money order ready when the fed ex man showed up the next day it was costing about $140 for 180 pills..........It was killing my realtionship and my work and eventually I lost it all my job my fiance for 5 years and ended up in the hospital for 2 weeks from a baseball bat to the side of my head......so i had alot of time on my hands in the hospital and several different roommates.........well this one guy and i talked for a few days about drugs and what not and he told me about this drug suboxone, which at the time i had never heard of....Well he told me thats what they gave to get of oxy's and it helped him out so much.............So he offered me 4 of his pills and told me to take 1 a day for 4 days and i wouldnt feel any of the withdrawl effects of the tramadol.........Of course i didnt believe him but i had no other choice i was stuck in the hospital and no tramadol so i took it for 4 days and i have to tell you i wish i had known about suboxone a long time ago because it would have saved me a lot of pain and agony...........I didnt feel any effects of stopping the tramadol, I felt great........I  know your not suppose to take other peoples meds and stuff like that but it saved my life and i recommend if at all possible if you are trying to get off the tramadol and  want to avoid the painful withdrawl find a Dr that will write u a script or if your at your last resort find some from someone else, its well worth it

[Nadine1]

Your suggestion of suboxone really gives me hope. I've got to get out of this addiction too. Tramadol has taught me so much...mostly how to concentrate and how to focus, it takes away all my physical restlessness and also it provides a buffer between my painful thoughts and my gut (so the speak) I would (will) really miss it.

I have been taking it for nearly 4 years. I get scared thinking if there were some disaster or something I would not be able to get it and that scares me more than the disaster. I got a taste of what the withdrawal is like about three years ago and I have been postponing it ever since. I wish I could afford going to a detox hospital for a week....I only have medicare though, and I doubt if it would cover something like that. My only other choice is to slowly, slowly taper but every time I start to do that I break out of it in a few days. I'm getting disgusted with myself. I just want to be able to like myself again.

[preciousgirl]

Hi, I would like to know how to taper off Tizanidine. I also take Tramadol and I'd like to either reduce or stop one or both meds completely. But I'm terrified of withdraw from either med, and I take them both for 2 pain conditions that cause me severe pain. I saw where you told how to taper off Tramadol(which I take 400mg a day). So how would I taper off Tizanidine?(I take 16mg a day) I'd really appreciate your help and expertise on this.

[preciousgirl]

And should I cut back/ween myself off of the Tramadol like you recommended above?- Tramadol Taper: buy a tablet cutter. Taper the dose by 1/4 tablet per week. For instance, if you are on 4 tabs. per day, drop to 3&3/4 tabs./day for a week. Next week drop to 3& 1/2 tabs. per day for a week, and so on. This takes a long time, but you will avoid the withdrawal symptoms. Why so slowly? Because this chemical has a firm GRIP on your brain. You brain has gotten very used to it, and you will experience real HELL if you try tapering too quickly. Try this. It works.

[preciousgirl]

That question was to chrisntn26.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Welcome to the forum. This is an old post and christin is no longer here. So you might want to start a new post at top of page. 'Post A Question"

[Lizzybug]

Wow, it's nice to know I'm now alone.  I have been on tramadol (the demon pill) for 5 or 6 years.  My body has become so conditioned to it that I use between 20 and 22. 50 mg. a day.  Totally ashamed to tell a professional.  I have tried to get on subloxone twice, and was told by 2 different doctors  that it doesn't help with tramadol.  But, it sounds like it does.  Oh well, I can't get it.  

I have tried to taper it down, but something always interupts it, like a huge day I don't want to miss.  I also see I tried to taper too much at a time.  I'm going to try 1 pill or 1/2 a pill a day for a week, 1/4th a pill just sounds so low, because my dosage is so high.  But, if I have to I'll go to that.  I'll also try all of the other suggestions, because the w/d was hideous.  Unbearable pain, extreme nausea and wretching (nothing on the stomach), leg jerks and no sleep.  I can't imagine hot showers do much but I'll try it.  

Thanks for everyones input, please keep it coming it really helps.  lizzybug

[nmg70]

Hi.
I have been using Tramadol for about 4 years now, I was at one point taking about 30-40 a day. I want off of them so bad, I have cut back to 15-20 a day now, depending on my day. I have three kids and I cannot just check myself into a rehab, I would love to be able to do that but it isn't realistic.
Tell me how to begin this process? How many should I start taking and and for how long until I reduce the amount? And really does this Thompson or Thomas Detox stuff work??? And what else should I get? I think I could get some xanz, or valium. How many days will I feel like S**T? Days or weeks? When will I feel back to my normal self?
Thank you to everyone who writes, it helps so much to hear others experience, and glad to see I am not the only one taking that many. :(

[ItalianJerseyGirl]

I am so thankful that I found this forum and see that other people are going through what I am going through.  I have been taking Tramadol for only two weeks at 300mg a day for pain after the surgery that I had.  When I had no more pain from the surgery I stopped taking them. OMG that was the biggest mistake, the first night I could not stop the feeling of my skin crawling, shaking, sweating, you name it I had it plus no sleep, it was aweful.  So what I did was go down to two pills a day 100mg just for about 3 days, this helped alot then I went down to just 1/2 pill a day an hour before I would go to bed and that helped I did that for a couple of days too.... NOW I stopped cold turkey and am having WD's so bad it is unreal.  I tried to taper off which I thought I was doing correctly but it did not work..I AM SO TIRED I HAVE NOT SLEPT IN TWO DAYS... At this point I am I don't know what I should do... go back to taking Tramadol 1/2 pill or just keep going with the cold turkey.  It's hard because I have to work of course and cannot focus on what I have to do plus I cannot keep still I have to walk around the office all the time or stand at my desk.  Everyone in my office knows what is going on and are understanding but I still feel like an idiot ya know!  I just keep praying that God will make this go away!  I will never-ever take this medication again!  My prayers go to everyone here that has taken it and trying to get past the WD's.  God Bless.

[mom_of_two136]

Maybe you can work with your doctor to figure out a tapering plan. I have heard it usually recommended to reduce 25% every four days. Usually the worst of the physical symptome if going CT is over with in 4-7 days. Drinks lost of water and exercise when you can it really helps. You were on it for a short period of time so hopefully it will not last long. I would suggest talking to your doctor about this. Best wishes.

[litlgrllost]

I found a supplement in Supper Supplements called GABA. Also try taking a stress supplement that has Valarian in it. It helps with nerves and panic attacks. GABA is a natural occuring chemical in the brain and helps you sleep. You can Google it and read more. But I have used it and it helps! My heart goes out to each and everyone of you. It happens to the best of us. Dont feel like a looser or a druggie. I didnt even want to take this evil pill but my Rhumatologist INSISTED it was safe! Yeah untill you stop taking it (even if you only use the receommend dose) and you feel like crawling out of your skin. Or start having a panic attack while having a bout of restless arm/leg syndrome.
I have taken Hydrocodone after both my C-sections and never had to taper off them. I stopped taking them when I had no more pain and that was THAT! Not Tramadol! Take care! GET sleep, take supplements and cuddle your heating pad!  You can do it!!

[theck]

Hi I was taking up to 20 pills a day last time I quit.  I went thtough hell to get off them in the first place, but got back on them again anyway.  I just liked the feeling of being able to do a lot and the first time I was on it it helped me stay super thin, I am 5'7'' and I weighed 114lbs last time.  SO anyhow I got back on it again to get back into the not eating and having tons of energy but I didn't get up to the doses that I used to so it really had no effect on me this time except I need it, and it started to effect my life again. Plus I was ordering it online and it gets expensive.  
So anyhow i wanted to give everyone else hope and my advise on getting off.  Weening is really the way to do it.  I was taking 8-10 a day, I know that this isn't as much as others are taking and I have only been on them again for 6 months but I think that how I have been handeling it would work for everyone will minimal amount of pain.  SO I went from taking 2 in the morning and every 4 hrs to taking 1- 3 times a day and then 2 at night.  Then once that started feeling ok I lessened it to 1-2 times a day and 1.5 at night, about 5 days later I reduced it again by waiting a couple hours after I woke up and then only taking half of one.  I would wait a couple hours and if I wasn't feeling ok I would take another half then like 6 hrs later take another half. and then another half if I needed to before bed.  THen at night I would take 3/4ths of one. and I kept reducing it like that untill I got to taking half 2 times a day and 3/4ths at night about 3 days.  Then I only took half during the day  when I start feeling like that tingly bad feeling and then I take a hot shower and then only again if I really needed it.  

Today I have only take 1/4th of one at around 630 pm and I will take 1/2 tonight before bed.  hopefully tommorrow I will be able to take none during the day and 1/2 at night.  Then once I can do that I will reduce it to 1/4 at night.. THen when I decide I can handel it I will just take some nyquil or tylelonal pm or similar and i will be off it agin.  FOR GOOD!!  

The thing is to be strong, try to focus on the fact that you will get through this and you will get back to normal.

My sister is in nursing school and she said that basically the brain makes the opiod naturally, but when you are taking these pills your body stops producing it because it is already getting it from the tramadol, so when you stop taking it your body hurts becasue its freaking out and isn't making the opioed.  So by reducing it and allowing your body to start needing to produce it slowly it will reduce the pain adn anxiety of the withdrawls.

I really want to take more too, but I am not allowing it, and once I get down to 1/4th at night after the 3rd night I am flushing the rest (if I have any I have like 6 pills) If you can do that, show your self you have the strenght to be done and get rid of what you have. YOU WILL FEEL AWESOME!

I know how this drug effects everyday life, I went on vacation to costa rica and I was freaking out like what if they stop me, what if my BF finds out I am taking then again.  Always having to take them, its aweful so good luck to all of us!  Having a support system like this or family is key, be strong! we can get throught it!