Ultram

I copied this from the other forum, I like this one better : ) Here is my story.

I found this website awhile ago and have been doing alot of reading. It will be a year of taking Ultram (tramadol) next week. I think this is what is pushing me to stop. I want to see how I feel without it. I have forgotten how to live, laugh and to be myself. I will admit I have taken more than I should. Probably between 15-20 a day. Yesterday I only took three in the morning and stretched it for as long as I could, about 6 hours. I got so freaked and panicy I took 3, that did not work so I took 4, then 4 more, then 3 more. I kind of lost track, until I counted an hour later. 14 in one hour. OMG! I went to take a shower and started to get real shaky, I tried to fight it but it got worse, then I felt like I was going to pass out. I had to force myself to walk and talk for 2 hours straight, and tried my best to keep my heart rate down and to walk, I could not feel my legs. Okay, that scared the hell out of me. It's time to stop. Today I took 2 every 4 hours which ended up being 8 for the day. I have been shaky and very sweaty all day. I would like to taper from these once I get my body to get adjusted to my supposed dosage which is 6 a day. I would really like to know if there is anyone out there that can help me. Noone knows about this, so I am going to have to hide it. When I am done tapering am I going to go into full w/d's? I tried cold turkey before and thought I was going to die. I could really use some help here.

[TimH2]

Welcome to the forum!!!

I understand that Ultram is as hard to get off of as any other opiate. It is maybe even more of a struggle. I think it is great you have decided to get off this medication and claim your life back. I think tapering is a good idea and I have read that people have been very successful in doing this. The c/t is awful and it doesn't matter what drug it is. If you would like I could give you a taper schedule that can be used for any addiction. Hang in there and know that there are good people here that will help and support you. When you are done tapering you shouldn't go into full w/d's if you stick to taper. There will be others on later and you will have more repsonses.

God Bless,
Tim

[serenitysaves]

Hello!!!

I'm new here too.  It seems to be a great place to share feelings and questions on addiction.  I'm soooooo greatful there are places like this.  anyway................

I don't know anything about Ultram but I'm on a taper from methadone.  I'm comming down 2 milligrams a week.  I'm at 51 milligrams today and tomorow I'll go down again. (every Thursday I go down)  so far so good.  I agree with Tim that a taper is the way to go and a slow one at that.

Last time I TRIED to taper I went to fast and failed.  A lot of other reasons as well as to fast.  I belive if you can get where you NEED to be safely but taking it slow then it gives you more time to prepare.  because once you're clean and life shows up,  it good to feel somewhat ready for it or life can swallow you up.  For me anyway, because I drowed last time.

good luck.

[vanessa0034]

Hello and thanks for writing to me, I would love it if you could to a taper schedule for me, I have no idea what I am doing. I do have enough refills to do it slow. Right now I am on day 3 of taking 8 a day. I plan on going down .5 every Monday. Not sure if this is the right way or not? Thanks!!

[TimH2]

Good luck and let me know how if works for you. It can be used for any opiate/ultram.

First, you need to figure out what kind of schedule you have for
taking ultram

1. How soon after you get up in the mornings do you take your first
dose and how many do you take then to feel "normal"?

2. When do you take your next dose, and other doses throughout the
day? And, how many each time?

3. When do take your last dose of the day and how many that time?

Stage ONE:

Take the same first dose as you normally do - same time, same amount.

Cut the rest of your days' doses in half.

If you normally take your last dose prior to 7pm, ADD one tablet about
an hour before bedtime. This will help you sleep and stay comfortable
through the night. If you normally take your last dose after 7pm,
consider moving it back so you can do this bed time dose or adjust it
down in amount and move it later so that you take it as close to
bedtime as possible. The bedtime dose really, really makes a huge
difference.

You should feel NO physical discomfort at all during this, or any
stage of the tapering plan. You really need to listen to your body
when tapering, not your mind. Remember, opiates work on the brain,
not the body. The acetomenephen in the drug is the ONLY thing
providing real pain relief, the hydro is working on your brain. Learn
the difference between a physical withdrawal symptom and a mental
craving. Do NOT trust your brain with this.

Stay on stage one for about 4-5 days. The length of each stage
depends on you. There is no right and no wrong. Once you have
stabilized on stage one, so that your brain is no longer telling you
that you need more, you can move on to stage 2.

Stage TWO:

Cut your morning dose by 2 tablets, so if you were taking 4, take 2.
If you were already only taking 2, take 1. If you were only taking 1,
take 1/2. If you were only taking 1/2 already, are you sure you need
a tapering plan? :-)

For the rest of the days dose, the objective is to cut down by 1-1/2
to 2 pills total (for the rest of the day). Keep that extra bedtime
dose of 1 pill going.

A good time frame for stage two is again 4-5 days, but just like stage
one, do what feels best to your body. Stay on it a week if you need
to. Just don't move to stage three until you feel completely
comfortable on stage two. Also, just like on stage one, you should
feel NO physical discomfort at all.

Stage THREE and beyond:

The objective is to cut out a comfortable amount per day for each
subsequent phase. Stabilize at that lower dose, then go lower again.
You should now cut that bedtime dose in half. By the time you work
your way down to just 1/2 tab per day and are comfortable there, you
are ready to stop completely. It is better to cut out a small amount
from each dose of the day than to cut out (as an example) 2 pills from
1 dose and leave the other doses the same.

The whole idea with this plan is to cut back in VERY small steps so
that you will not have any physical withdrawal symptoms.

Now, your assignment is to get out a pen and paper and do the math.
Put your plan in writing. Line out exactly what you are taking now
and exactly what each phase will be for you. Don't try to set a
completion date - that is way too much pressure and will set you up to
fail (in most cases). Follow your custom tailored plan for each stage
until you feel ready to move to the next stage. Believe me, your body
will know when you are ready to move. I can also tell you that IF
(and that is a big IF) you start to feel any W/D's while on this plan,
there's a 99% chance that it is your MIND doing it to you and not your
body.

[vanessa0034]

thanks so much for the taper plan, it sounds alot like what i was planning on doing, but from you it sounds very sensible. Today I have been extremely busy and forgot to take my second dose!! Isn't that great! I am assuming that you did the taper schedule yourself? How far are you, and how are you feeling now?

[TimH2]

I wish that I could taper, but if I have them I eat them. I know that a lot of people can taper successfully. You have to stick to the plan and not vary at all. It sounds like you are doing great!!!!  I think it is going to work for you. I am on my 4th day c/t and it is hard. I am almost over the worst of it and plan to keep on. I am sick of taking pills and worrying about my next refill/order. It is a merry go round and I want off! Keep on posting and letting us know how you are doing?

God Bless,
Tim

[here4all]

Oops, just found you here.  I wrote you back on the other forum.  If you get a chance.

[John in Jersey]

   Thank God for this forum. My name is John....ive been on Ultram since Jan. 1999... 1-2 a day for a year or so....than since 2004.... been up to 5 a day. I know it doesnt sound awful.... but stopping them has been a struggle. I feel the same way Vanessa does above..... i know what its like to withdrawl (withdrawal) from drugs....as i did back in 1990 from methadone and a 40 bag-a-day habit of heroin....only to get clean and sober....and still am to this day. After a back injury in 1994....i dodged surgery and meds long enough....till occasional Vicoden relieved pain, but with respect for Opiate addiction, i was perscribed 'non-addicting-non narcotic-pain relieving Ultram'!!!!!
   Ya right!     i am hating this stuff.... yes it is addicting and a mood elevator also...so when i try stopping.... 'forget about it'.
     Just wanted to chime in here....i will check back daily to see how you and others cop with this problem.
    Thanks......... John in Jersey

[John in Jersey]

ps....there is another forum? where else can i talk with people with this problem....thank so much!
                             John

[lonote]

This is the addiction community on the other side is the addiction forum you could try over there. You will find kind and knoledgable people over there. Excuse the spelling!

[roxygirltx]

what is exactly ultram? ive been taking it now and i have no idea what it is..

[John in Jersey]

thanks for your help....was googling ultram....and this came up. i see all the forums...thank God.
Really starting to think i was 'Crazy'...i want to feel better....knowing im not alone makes me feel better. The withdrawl (withdrawal) is worse than the street drugs were. Feel shame being sober for 17 years, this damn pill dictates my moods, work, sleep, sex, eating habits,.....everything i do....i hate them
  

[lonote]

Ditto my friend. And the preoccupation and the chase. Oh my God!! I've been feeling well the last three months taking suboxon. I barley think of it. But then once again life bites me on the azz, and guess what the first thing I want to do? Thats right. But the subozone won't let me get high because its some kind of blocker. Good luck! we're all here for ya.

[enufizenuf]

hi Vanessa! I am new to this forum, too, and I am also tapering off my ultram. I was like you, doing 15 - 20 a day for a very long time. My first prescription was ten years ago and have been doing it off and on since that time. It got worst, though, in the last 5 years. I started tapering last tuesday by doing only 10pills - 50 mgs. It was hard the first few days but now I only did 9 today, 6 days later, and we shall see how I feel in the morning. I did 9 1/2 yesterday and woke up okay.  I usually feel horrible in the morning until I take my first dose which I try to hold off as long as possible. I have always went cold turkey before and it was horrible and I never stayed off of them so I decided to take it slow this time and taper off. I am sure once I stop completely that I will have some w/d but I can almost bet it won't be as bad as cold turkey. You are doing the right thing for you. some people do fine and stay off when they go c/t but I think tapering is fine as well. It feels like I am controlling the meds now instead of them completely controlling me! I am hoping to be off of them completely within the next month. This forum has been such an inspiration to me and I am so glad I found it. In fact, I found it last Monday and I really feel like I can do this now and get off of them for good. I pray every night I can because I have 5 children, three of them are under 5 years old and a wonderful husband. He doesn't know how horrible withdrawing is but he does know that I want to stop them and that it will be hard. Of course, no one except for another addict can really understand. If you need to talk, don't hesitate to post something here. From what I see, these people are really great and very supportive! Take care! Lisa

[Brian49]

I am an tramadol addict tried to stop cold turkey,taper everything.Sounds like your on the right track I go for a hernia surgery Fri.the 3rd have about 15 of those little devils left no more fills.
I want to take a couple the night before so I wont have dts on the table I know I will be getting pain meds  and will be off work for 6 weeks or more I hope to use that time to get off of tram.I know doctors will only give you just enough narcs to get you through the pai lest my surgeon does hope to use this time and meds to get off of this demon.
Will check back soon take care and pray for me as I will each and every one of you.

[John in Jersey]

     Just had hernia surgery June 28.... made mistake of NOT Taking meds day before and immediately after surgery....MISTAKE!!!!
   My ultram habit is not to the point of some of the others here... but i am dependent on them.5-6 a day..it sucks !  Hernia surgery is no joke my friend.... take the ultram b4 surgery....as long as you dont take asprin or blood thinners... , also....when you get home....eat! take the perscripted med (my case percs) and most important.... (sorry to be graphic) take a laxitive! Man o man... youll need it!
  Good luck my friend..... you WILL feel better in 3-4 days..... i did....but those first 72 hrs are not easy.   Good luck...and God Bless!

[Brian49]

Thanks goingto take one on the way to the hospital in the morning going to use this down time to taper off this demon ony have 17 pills so it will be a weeks worth.

Thanks Brian Ford

[Bug1964]

Just wanted to say, Hi.....I am June from Jersey.......Hello!

[John in Jersey]

Hello June from Jersey!
   Just wondering how your feeling Brian and how surgery went.... hope alls well!    JF

[road2recovery]

i am not sure how many days you will spend in the hospital, but just remember, in there they only give you like i ever 4 hours..I went threw w/d's during a hospital stay..it was terrible...my doctor knew i was taking them but he did not know how many...Well when you are in real pain we wish we would have never taken these things..I agree , take a laxative or 2..
R2R

[Brian49]

went ok but in real pain on percos and vicodins now hope to stop when pain goes away.Down to 1/2 trams a day now hope to quit in 2 days wish me luck and you take care of yourself too.Will pray for us              .
Brian

[Bug1964]

I You will be ok.....I know it!!!!!!!!!!!  Hope you will feel better soon.........June