PLEASE Help Me w/Tramadol Withdrawal!

Hi I am 57 year-old female, in good health, but afraid of running out of Tramadol! I have used Tramadol since October1 to help me get off of Suboxone (a "detox drug," which I took as a "maintenance medication @2mgs/day for 3 years)which got me off a mild year-long Oxycodone habit). It's almost impossible to stop Suboxone, period. It's a Long-Acting Opiod Agonist, which is just med-speak for "some really sticky dope." It stays in your system 14-17 days, EVEN IF YOU WEAN OFF TO, like, .5mg/day! So, here I get this idea, that, if I "leapfrog" over that 2-wk period using Trams instead, it won't hurt as bad. OK, so that DID work. I used 300/mg for 3-4 days, and WEANED, WEANED, WEANED the Tram to where I am now down to just 25mgs/day for the past 4 days. But, I found myself kinda/sorta drug seeking more Tram after the 2 wks. I told myself I would only be on it for...My Primary only gave me 15 more tabs. ANYWAY, to make a long story short, yesterday, I had a "meltdown" in the morning from weaning off Trams I guess and went ahead and popped another 50mg after my 25mg. HERE IS WHAT SCARES ME, GUYS--I WAS A BRAND NEW GAL!!! When just minutes before my husband had been hiding in a corner from my outburst. So, I said "HELL, no...If I don't stop Trams cold right now I'm gonna be hooked and sorry." So, I stopped cold. Yesterday (Sun. at 11am was my last 50mg dose.) PLEASE TELL ME I AM GONNA BE OK jumping off at the 25mg/day point, and that this is all in my head. I do not want any more addiction/dependence on opiates/opioids because I NOW KNOW IT IS ALL THE SAME STUFF--IT'S ALL FREAKIN' DOPE! How long will I feel cruddy now? I only took this stuff for 2-3weeks...How many days till I feel functional after jumping off Trams at 25mgs/day? Thanks in advance and I really appreciate any advice.

[ImDONENoMore]

Hi and welcome!

Firstly, I have to say I could not disagree with your Dr.'s plan more.  My goodness - so you were on the subs while detoxing off opiates - then he put you on tramadol to detox off the subs?  When will it end?  Is he going to give you yet another drug to detox off the trams?  No, bad plan in my book.  Very bad plan.

Now that being said - it is totally doable, and possible, to quit the trams without the help of any other prescribed drugs.  Yes, it's going to hurt for a while, but my hope is because you were on the trams for such a short period of time, you'll get out of this relatively unscathed.

However, avisg has a point - you might still be dealing with the withdrawal from the subs.  So I do think you need to address all of this with a NEW Dr.  Seriously this one led you down a bad road.  I was addicted to trams for over 6 years taking up to 25 pills a day and I'm now clean over a year.  And it was tough - but so worth it.  I no longer need a pill to start my day, go on vacation, attend a family function, or breathe for that matter.  And it can be that way for you too but you have to do the work.  And that means suffering for a while longer (sorry).

Check out the thomas recipe and the amino acid protocol found on this page (bottom right side) - those suggestions were very helpful to me.  I know I depleted my body of all kinds of good stuff while taking that poison, so it was important to renourish myself.

And there are a ton of other home remedies we can suggest to you as you make your way out of this mess.  And I'm sure tramahater, an amazing member of ours, will be along soon to offer her insight as well.

Finally congrats to you for quitting!!!  It's a bit of a long road but one worth taking.  And we can be here for you along the way.  :)

[avisg]

This is kind of tricky because you gone from one drug to another to another .Normally if you only took the drug for 2or 3 weeks coming off of tram and that about you would have a bad week but very low for any risk of say a seizure .However you may not have completely wd from the other drugs and the tram just covered some of the symptoms. seeking a doctor would be wise .
You are basically going to have to take it as you go .The first week is the worst .Crying,nausea ,headaches ,depression RLS and the worst lack of sleep .after the first week it really does get better .I will tell u exercise helps even if its just short walks get out there nd get the dopamine receptors going . If it get to be to much plz go to the doctor there are some non narcotic meds they can give you to help. Good luck ,hang in there .It does get better

[dominosarah]

Hi and welcome!  We have a few members who have come off tramadol successfully.  They will be on at some point and will give you some really good advice.  Keep checking back~~

[ImDONENoMore]

Hi and welcome!

Firstly, I have to say I could not disagree with your Dr.'s plan more.  My goodness - so you were on the subs while detoxing off opiates - then he put you on tramadol to detox off the subs?  When will it end?  Is he going to give you yet another drug to detox off the trams?  No, bad plan in my book.  Very bad plan.

Now that being said - it is totally doable, and possible, to quit the trams without the help of any other prescribed drugs.  Yes, it's going to hurt for a while, but my hope is because you were on the trams for such a short period of time, you'll get out of this relatively unscathed.

However, avisg has a point - you might still be dealing with the withdrawal from the subs.  So I do think you need to address all of this with a NEW Dr.  Seriously this one led you down a bad road.  I was addicted to trams for over 6 years taking up to 25 pills a day and I'm now clean over a year.  And it was tough - but so worth it.  I no longer need a pill to start my day, go on vacation, attend a family function, or breathe for that matter.  And it can be that way for you too but you have to do the work.  And that means suffering for a while longer (sorry).

Check out the thomas recipe and the amino acid protocol found on this page (bottom right side) - those suggestions were very helpful to me.  I know I depleted my body of all kinds of good stuff while taking that poison, so it was important to renourish myself.

And there are a ton of other home remedies we can suggest to you as you make your way out of this mess.  And I'm sure tramahater, an amazing member of ours, will be along soon to offer her insight as well.

Finally congrats to you for quitting!!!  It's a bit of a long road but one worth taking.  And we can be here for you along the way.  :)

[stayingthecourse511]

Thank you so much--I'm a bit scared at this point...

[ImDONENoMore]

I know - I was too.  It's scary making this change  letting go of something we held onto for so long and considered to be a best friend (lie) - but it's okay.  You're going to be okay.

And like I said, I think it's important to find a new Dr.  There are a lot of great docs out there - and a lot of bad ones too.  But if you find one who truly understands what you're going through and realizes that introducing a new opiate (and anti-depressant - not sure if you knew there was an anti-depressant quality to the tramadol?) - is not the right way to go, it will be a huge relief and help to you.

I promise you - the withdrawal will END.  It will.  I found hot showers w/epsom salts to help quite a bit with the anxiety (I'd use the salts as a scrub - baths with the epsom salts are probably better, I'm just not a bath person).  And valerian root, melatonin, both are good natural alternatives to turn to when needed.

It's going to get better but it's going to take time.  I didn't become an addict overnight (I don't think?) - and I didn't get out overnight either.  But look at it this way - time is going to pass anyway - and wouldn't it be better to have that time pass while you're getting well instead of staying sick and chained to a bottle of pills?  Of course it would.  And you CAN do this.  You just need a good Dr., a strong support system, and a good plan.  And you can have all of these things you just need to ask for them.  It's one small step that will start your journey out of this hell you're living in (believe me I know - I was living in a hell of my own making).

Keep posting too - this place is wonderful for support.  And keep reading too - I found the more I knew the better equipped I was to handle things.  You are going to be OKAY.  :)

[avisg]

I know it is scary but there are alot of people here that will be here for support .:)

[stayingthecourse511]

Feeling comfort...thanks

[tramevil]

I have been posting everywhere just trying to get it out and get help. This withdrawal is the worst thing ever. tramadol is so much worse than anybody knows! 4 days and no relief. How much longer? Help!

[shekishmeki]

I take tramadol more than 5 y,i was on heroin 3 y and i let heroin and start with tramadol.i was taking for 4x50 mg per day, but im now on 2x50mg on day.I want to leapfrog from tramadol but i cant can someone help me please how to do it?

[wondererr]

Hi everyone i took tramadol 50 Mg 4 to 5 pils a day i.have been doing that for about.a.month i.did cold turkey cause i hate the drug i am on day 2 now and feel sorta bad wors thing so far is the extream tiredness snizzing yesterdY was hard felt like i war sick to my.stomic wondering how long.withdralws ill have from only takeing it for.a.month 200 to 250 max a day.

[wondererr]

I have been takeing 50mg tramDol 200 to 250..a.day for a month i have recently went Cold turkey cause i hate the pills i am on day 2 now 4/12/12 and was wondering how long and bad withdrawal symptoms will be ive had upset stomic first.day and total tirednsss from day 1onto day 2 seems only those symptons so far i am hopeing cause i didn't take to manY nor to long it will not last long but i ask you all.cause you all have been through it and i will pray we all get through it.well and peacfully thank you for.any.advise and support.

[wondererr]

Sorry new here thought i had to post on main site and then phone site lol sorry add confusion to my list of side effects to lol

[blackheart390]

I began Tramadol in 1/12 for shoulder pain. Surgery occurred in Febuary. I've been using 2 -4 50 mg tabs. I went cold turkey this Tuesday, so it's day two. I had no idea that I woul suffer withdrawal, but WOW, nervous legs, anxiety, sleeplessness, amplified pain, nausea, etc....No Fun! Finding these posts lets me know what I'm dealing with and that is good. I'm now prepared for a week of hell.