Dependent on hydrocodone

[Lynnylou]

I have been on hydrocodone for about 2 years for endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. Long story short I took the pills as needed, and it started being almost every day. About 8 months ago I didnt have pain one day and didnt take it. Huge mistake. RLS and upset stomach are my main issues. I didnt even realize what was going on until I thought about it. Needless to say I have been terrified to not take them for a day for these past 8 months, but I am not in pain anymore, and really just dont feel like running back and forth to the doctor every 2 weeks because I need pills. I feel pathetic. I am 21 years old, getting married in 7 months, and want my life back to normal. I miss the days I woke up and was happy to feel alive. At my worst I was taking 8 7.5/500 a day, and now have tapered between 5-10mg each day. Some days 5, some days 10..but I also have been trying to use tylenol with codeine to help get off..it seems to work as I havent felt any withdrawal symptoms besides no sleep at night. If I jump off here, and use the tylenol 3 for a few days to get through the worst how bad can I expect this to be?

[bama88]

I second that. But remember.... When your ready to stop ya just stop. Its hard but you can do it. In my opinion ask one self this question. If we were alcholics and loved vodka would it be ok to drink beer?

[theaddict]

i took vicodin for YEARS and then got prescribed tramadol as well, but got hooked on it. it started with one pill to get me through the WD process as well as the pain until i ended up taking several as the days, weeks and months went on.

i remember reading on this site a year or so ago all the posts about tramadol and getting hooked on it and that is when i realized i just needed to dispose of all of them, all together. but like i said to the original poster - going from hydrocodone to tramadol is merely subbing one pain pill for another.

[bama88]

And are hydrocodone is also sythedic. Oops spelling error.

[bama88]

What are you gonna do when the tramadol runs out? Take more? The only way out of this is thru it. Not changing meds. It sounds to me your justifying your tamadol because the doctor rxed it. Well..... Tramadol is addicting. And will only prolong the withdrawls. If i kept taking everything my doctors gave me id be sick still. The one thing i want to share with you is something that was said to me.....so is your doctor your drug dealer? That one blew me away. Remember medicine is big business. Plain and simple. If your in pain then take your meds correctly but remember there will be a day you will detox. One day your doctor will retire or tell you to deal with it. Then what will ya do? I say this from love, i want you to see your disease is talking to you. There is no easy out to this. Its work. Hard work. Rethink this please.

[theaddict]

tramadol is just as addictive as a percocet or any other medication. and i wasn't trying to offend, i was only making sure i read that correctly.

best of luck - my suggestion? don't take one pill to get over the first. :)

[Lynnylou]

Sorry to some who may think the way I got off of my hydrocodone addiction using tramadol as needed is not the way for them, but it truely did work for me. I am not a person who would have been able to handle this completely cold turkey..and no way would I ever do suboxone or methadone treatment. I took 3 tramadol pills over these past 3 days of having no hydrocodone, and I have been completely comfortable and have been able to give up hydrocodone for good. Some may worry that I will trade one addiction for another, but that is not what has happened. If I had taken large amounts of tramadol every 4 hours these past 3 days I may have to taper off, and just be in the same boat, but using the tramadol only as needed, and knowing that I really wanted to be off of all drugs I was able to kick this nasty habit. No drugs used since 8:00 yesterday morning. Good riddance, and good luck to everyone else on your journey to get off of these things.

[Lynnylou]

yep, but tramadol is not an opiate, its synthetic.. I did not take them everyday. If I had taken large amounts everyday then I may have to deal with the taper method once again..but I have not taken any today or any since yesterday morning..and I am completely fine. My dr advised me to take the tramadol only when I was feeling like I really needed it..and thats what I did.

[theaddict]

so, you took a pain pill to get over pain pill WD, right?

[Lynnylou]

Day 3, I feel awesome. No withdrawal symptoms. So happy that I did this! Took tramadol yesterday because I started to feel a little cruddy, worked like a charm. So I made it through this with a few tramadol, a few flexeril, and some nausea meds. Day 3 Opiate Free : )

[Lynnylou]

I am currently taking vitamin c, b complex, and pottasium as far as OTC things. I take a flexeril at night just one, tramadol 50 mg as needed which I only have used 2 so far and Im coming up on 48 hours, and also I have lorazepam for anxiety which I havent had to use yet, and ZOFRAN anti nausea which in my opinion is the best thing I have out of all. I can feel myself getting sick and then i take one and all better 20 minutes later. Its going well, and Im so happy that I am almost 48 in ! I will keep going no matter what!

[laurel453]

Hi, Lynnlou.... besides the issue of the meds, are you following a low estrogen diet and taking suplemments  like omega3 oil, horsetail herb, green tea, magnesium, clacium, zinz, vitamin C,  etc ?  The good thing is that those advices are good for the endometriosis and also now when quitting opiates....

[theaddict]

just to read you type out that you slept for 12 hours makes me jealous! when i was first getting off of the pills [same ones as you] i was sleeping for 25 minutes TOPS, then up for a few hours, sleep for 25 minutes, up for a few hours - you get the drill.

i had to call and request off from work for a week straight to get my head right and go through this. and even though everyone is different than the next person - i wanted and did it alone and by myself.

best of luck! sobriety tastes so good!  <33

[Lynnylou]

Well, I slept from 3 a.m. until 3 p.m. pretty much straight. My 48 hour mark is 3 hours away..I feel good. I dont even feel the restless leg anymore..this is not what I expected to say the least, but not complaining at all. I have not taken the tramadol today and only took 2 of them last night..guess I will post back tonight when I know for sure if withdrawals will set in any stronger.

[GA_need_help]

I private messaged you.  Marie

[GA_need_help]

Please PM me.  I want to talk to you about my experience, strength and hope.  The way I am coming off Opana ER is to taper. If you want to talk about this PM me.  If not I will totally support you doing it this way.
Luv, Marie

[Lynnylou]

2:41 and I'm doing well still.. about 32 hours in. Only a little RLS and a little shakey but other than that I'm alright. I think I mite take a flexeril and try and sleep. I wonder if what Im doing is working, or if its yet to come. hm.

[addict3]

You will be ok.

Stop worrying about the withdrawl, "it is what it is" as the umbrella toting lady likes to say. So many people get this idea that they are going to be really sick, that they just continue using for years, out of fear....just be okay with not feeling so well for a few days.

There are some good folks here that are happy to help...keep using them and good luck to you!

[kyle505]

Lynnylou:
I've been clean for nine days. I used pain meds for over ten years off and on, and for the last year I've been using an average of 8 Norco 10's a day, sometimes much more. Anyway, it sounds like you came to the same conclusion I did - I have to stop. Anyway, you're at the right place. Vicki and Lulu, and many others, have been there for me during the blackest parts of my withdrawal. Keep coming back here, read other people's posts, listen to what your supporters are saying. You can do it. An over used phrase, but the truth.

[Lynnylou]

yes, either way theres no way out of this pain free..gotta do it. Thanks for the support! Keep it coming god knows I really need it.

[vicki595]

Some people DO use Tramadol to come off of other opiates. I can't tell you not to do that. I just wanted to make sure you knew what it was...

If you use it, it will help the WD's from Hydrocdone,of course. Once you stop the Tramadol, you'll have some WD's. I don't know how bad they'll be but what happened the last time? You went back to the hydro...Maybe for pain, I don't know but I just wanted to make sure you're informed. I'm all for people doing whatever keeps them comfortable. Cold turkey is a huge shock to the body so I wish you well...

[Lynnylou]

I have spoken to my family dr about how long I was on them and if I needed to taper, I would never tell them I was dependent..no one but me knows that..and you guys now. That was today and I got the tramadol and a muscle relaxer from him..he seemed like it was normal or something to have to come off pain meds..what is happening in the world.

[Lynnylou]

I have to stop today. My dr is taking me off of all medicines, and wanting me to do physical therapy. Probably the best thing though. I can deal with the pain I have now. See im really confused about the tramadol, because a lot of people on this site said they used it to get off of opiates without withdrawals, and then stopped using it after the first week. Awhile ago I was switched from hydrocodone to tramadol before I even knew about withdrawals, but I know I had been on hydrocodone for a few months straight at that point. I didnt have any withdrawals that time..and i stopped the tramadol and was sober for a week before starting hydro's again. I'm not sure what to do here..I dont want to be sicker for longer.

[vicki595]

Hi!  Yes, Tyl#3 is practically the same as hydrocodone. Tramadol is a synthetic opiate/anti depressant combo. It won't do you any good to take these as far as withdrawal goes.

You could stop everything now or you can taper more. Tapering works if you do it properly. Cut back small amts very slowly over a long period of time.

Other than that, the other meds will help you quite a bit!  Good luck!

[lulu747]

Hey Lynn...
Congratulations for reclaiming your life!  I too, have severe endemetriosis (amongst other things) and was on opiates for a long time before going c/t 36 days ago...I just wanted to add-hot baths with epsom salts, fluid, vitamins, heat heat heat HYDRATE...

And be careful with the tramadol and t-3's..They are no different than the hydrocodone when metabolized-so really it's prolonging the process..Have you spoken with your doctor about what you're doing?  Hang in there and let us know how you are...Lu