Please help! How to get off 55 mg Tramadol 2 pills a day

[lmc121803]

I was given this drug in the hospital after a nec/ back injury..and continued taking it for my all over body pain due to fibromyalgia/arthritis...never followed up with Rheumatologist..but did research on this and feel that this is what I have. Been on this drug for 2+ years. Was taking 4 pills 55mg a day.I am trying to get off this nasty drug...Don't like being on anything at all...but my pain is so bad without it. I also went Gluten free and barely eat any animal protein or inflammatory foods to help my condition. I have reduced the amount down to 2 pills a day. I am almost out of pills..think I have 3 left..called Dr's office to get refill and plan on tapering down to 1/4 pill a day to not have withdrawals..I'm really worried about this after reading all these posts on this site. My insurance made me take a urine test and sign a paper stating that I was not getting this drug anywhere else...Which I am not...So I am taking 1-55mg pill in the morning and 1-55mg pill at bedime...I was planning on now going to 1/2 pill in am and at bed time and then 1/4 pill...will I be ok in doing this? What all natural supplements can I take to alleviate any pain, panic attacks, insomnia etc. I do not want to take any other prescription drugs..Please help-Thank you!

[Livdeadgrl22]

THANK YOU EVERYONE! This drug IS evil!! I, like NicholeBow was on it for 7yrs. Up to 10 pills a day. Stay away from it. I'm on day 11 off this drug. It's not easy. Imc, take care and you can do this!,

[Kylie4501]

What is the big deal with Imodium? I realize it works for diarrhea but everyone acts like it works for other w/d's as well???

[lmc121803]

Thankyou LeaAnn807 for your response and help. This is the only drug I have ever been on other than my thyroid pills. Some good things I think for me is I already have been taking flax oil with Vitamin D, and a vegan protein drink that is packed full with all the right amino acids needed as listed in the Thomas recipe...One of my concerns is the imodium..I have GI issues and do not want to do the imodium...any advice here? Don't mean to give TMI, but as it is I have One regular bm per day, and if I take the imodium...I may have some real issues here. Thanks for the advice on the Tylenon pm...I really can't take that kind of stuff at all cause it makes me feel wiped out the next day, as well as melatonin I tried that years ago and it made me out of it an depressed the next day...I am going to do more research on all natural holistic things I can go like taking valerian to help sleep at night..since I already have had bouts of insomnia when I dropped the dose of tramadol from 4x pills a day to 2x pills a day...Super B is something I will do as well ans the highlands...I will post any of the all natural ideas I come up with maybe to help someone else on here too..thank you so much! :)

[10356]

Hi Kylie.. You have been looking for answers on a lot of old threads What you need to do is scroll to the top of the forum on the right is a burnt orange post a question button  It will take you to the top of the forum.. You can write what is going on with you and ask the questions you have You will receive more visibility this way and that way more support.. Hope to see you out there, lesa

[Kylie4501]

Hi there, i have a couple questions that need answers. Someone said Imodium works great at getting rid of all the w/d. How? Isn't it just for diarrhea? Do u just take the recommended dose? Also, does magnesium really help with the RLS or not really? I am taking the hylands and they seem to help during the day slightly but nothing helps at night!!

[LeaAnn807]

It's horrible!  I'm about 3 and a half years clean from Tramadol, and it was far worse WD than any regular opiate that I ever detoxed from.  I tried to taper about a hundred times, and it was no use.  If I had the pills, I took them!  So, I just stopped in 2010.  I'd had all I could take.  Yes, the WD is horrible, but you can get through it.  Use Hyland's Leg Cramps, advil, heating pad, epsom salt baths, also read the Thomas Recipe for useful tips and the Amino Acid Protocol.  I'll admit that I didn't use every single thing, and I used some things that I just found on my own like the Hylands.  But.....they both have a lot of good info on things to try for specific symptoms.  You'll need Imodium too, once you stop and maybe while you're tapering.  I also drank Gatorade and Apple Juice, because my worst symptoms were leg cramps and RLS.  Insomnia and low energy are bad too and last a while!  Try some Super B Complex Vitamins.  That helped me as much as anything.  Other things like Red Bull and 5 hour energy will just make you more jittery!  Then I found that if I took Tylenol PM or anything at night, it made the RLS ten times worse, so stay away from them, in my opinion.  Nyquil helped me at night, because it doesn't have the same ingredient.  Just a dose.  Not half a bottle or anything crazy! : ) Any other advice I have is just to come here when you have a question or a symptom you can't treat and ask whatever you need to!

You'll get through this!  And you will feel so much better off these pills!  I do promise that!

[lmc121803]

Thank you wateview4326 for your kind words..I am 48 have been on the 55mg tramadol for 2 years..started at 4 pills a day, and now a few months ago went down to 2 pills a day...I plan on tapering down every week...I am already a bit depressed, so really scared do be more depressed..I didn't even know until I logged on to this site that this stupid pill had a anti-depressent built in..now that makes me worried...I have tried st. johns wort in the past and it did nothing for me..Does anybody know of any all natural non-drug remedy for depression that actually works? I plan on exercising and using essential oils to help as well as baths and showers...any help from all of you wonderful people on here would be appreciated. Thank you!

[waterview4326]

Just wanted to tell you I tapered off the tramadol. I reduced by 1/4 pill every 7 days. It took a couple months but I stuck totally to my taper. Not sure of your age but I am older and I thought for me a taper would be kinder to my body. As I got down to the 1/2 and 1/4 pills I did experience all the withdrawls everyone speaks of. However they were doable and I never regret tapering. It was difficult nearing the end of my taper as the fear of leaving the pill behind was so difficult for me. As you taper take care of yourself now. Start with your vitamins, good food, water, exercise because I did all that for 2 months prior to getting off. My first week off was pretty good compared to most here, however the depression has been bothersome, My dose was 4 to 5 pills per day before my taper. I think also tapering MENTALLY prepared me for getting off the pills. I no longer got the energy feeling as I tapered so be kind of prepared to really not feel great.

   The AD properties in trams is what I think got to me, however it is ALL doable and tapering is HARD work, I was totally dedicated, planned it out with my Dr. and today am 16 days clean. I don't crave the pills however it has not been easy either, it takes dedication to taper, HOWEVER I believe it is easier on the body to adjust to NO tramadol in the end. The end result is to be free of the drug, I am so greatful I no longer am chained to this pill. You can do this and if you need anymore help let me know. Just know as you go down to the low amounts you may experience the symptoms, however at least for me, I was able to continue with my regular life, which was my goal     Good Luck

[lmc121803]

Thank you michael1953296. I am getting a pill cutter to cut them down-tired to get one yesterday when I filled script-but shelf was empty so I will try another store. I'm so sad to hear how many pills that you and other people were on...boy your not kidding that must of been so difficult. The most I was ever taking was about 4 55mg pills a day..I tapered myself from 4 to 2 pills and I was having night sweats, mood swings, etc.. and now I believe it was the tramadol and not me! I thought I was going through early menopause at 48 years old! I will continue to slowly taper off and be done with this within the month I think is a realistic slow tapering, that I believe will be best for my body/mind. I will also incorporate some type of cleanse as well..Thank you for your support! :) <3

[lmc121803]

Thank you FourJays for you response and helpful comments. I have wrote down your advice on the Highlands restless legs, valerian etc. I posted what I am doing in the post reply to Nicole...I am tapering off this slowly and will be off it and will never take it again. Your support and the support of other wonderful people on this site have really eased my mind and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this! I will take your advice on your information here, as they are products I have in my house, as I live the all natural-holistic lifestyle other than the nasty tramadol that is...should of went to my nutritionist instead of the Dr...but had a serious injury-or I would of never went to the hospital or Dr...only in a triage instance...anyway thank you for your support..I will continue to come on this wonderful site with all you great people...<3 :)

[lmc121803]

Thank you so much for your helpful response Nicole. I was taking one 55mg pill 4 times a day at first when the pain was really bad...I did research on this drug, and feel like an idiot for not knowing it was actually 2 drugs in one and addictive. My own Mother was on this for years and quit cold turkey and had serious withdrawals..but I was on for 2 years and am not/was not "addicted" to it...just dependent if that makes sense. I could quit cold turkey today in my mind...but I'm truly afraid of what it will do to my body being on it for so long...I dropped down to 2 pills a day on my own just because I hate taking pills and want to be off them. I started taking flax oil with vitamin D, along with my other vitamins and my all over body pain has diminished exponentially...Although I am scared to death of the pain and withdrawal symptoms that I could be faced with, and knowing ME with
a slow metabolism, it is best for me to slowly wean off to have a lesser chance of serious withdrawal. I did get the script filled and will start decreasing the dose down from 1 pill twice a day to 1/4 a pill twice a day then down to zero..this will be the last script of tramadol I ever have filled. This  has been tough for me since I follow an organic, holistic lifestyle-other that this evil tramadol. I feel lied to and betrayed by doctors...no surprise here-I know not to trust most Dr's...thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support, comments and help...<3 :)

[NicoleBow]

Oh my gosh, yes, yes, throw that bottle away! It makes me sad and angry that doctors will tell patients this drug is not addictive. After 7 months off of this drug I STILL don't feel normal. I had withdrawal symptoms for almost 5 months. I'm feeling so much better now (although not 100%) and I will NEVER touch a tramadol (or any narcotic pain reliever) again.

[michael1953296]

Well said and so completely true..
Just wish the docs knew this. When I had pain in my back and it really was pain but did not show up enough for the docs I asked them is they could give me some normal opiates and the answer was Oh no we can't but we can load you up on Trams!
Michael

[FourJays]

You are not ignorant and no need for apologies.  Tramadol is a synthetic opiate that IS very addictive.  It is the med that started (and ended) my opiate 'love affair' over 15 years ago.  It a very dangerous, highly addictive med that contains an anti-depressant additive in addition to the narcotic.  W/d from this med is extremely difficult due to the fact that you are essentially dealing with 2 medications at once.  It is the proverbial "wolf in sheep's clothing"; a devil pill that is extremely dangerous and to which tolerance grows VERY quickly and before you even realize it - PLEASE flush these now.  Trust me, you don't even want to open this 'can of worms'!

[michael1953296]

Please throw that bottle away like today. Those are evil pills, they are a opiate but a pure man made opiate with a built in anti-depressant. The WD's from them is worst than from Oxys. I was on Trams before oxys and believe me Trams are far worst and worst than that is the education the docs get on these pills.
So get rid of them don't think twice.
Michael

[ROSYouralright]

I am going to sound very ignorant here and I'm sorry in advance... If tramadol is non narcotic how is it addicting? I have a bottle in my medicine cabinet BC the doctor told me not to take them and switched my meds ( back when i actual y saw a de.) im glad i didnt take them but i am curious

[michael1953296]

Wow you are so lucky by having such a low dose. I was taking up to 40 pills a day and let me tell you it was pure hell to quit. You will have nowhere near the problems I had. I suggest since you are not taking that much just take a little less each day and in a week you should be clear of those awlful trams. Get a pill cutter so you can cut the pills in 1/4 and before you know it you will be out of the woods and in the light again. Also the above poster on good natural things to take is also very good imo.
Best
Michael
Don't worry you are not taking that much to get bad WDs

[FourJays]

Hi and welcome; so glad you found this site!  Congrats on your decision to get off of the tramadol - you will NOT regret it!  I too took this med for over 10 years at very high doses.  Like nicolebow above, I also chose the cold turkey method to quit, because I just could NOT taper (despite several attempts over the years).  If the pills were around, I would take them, period.  This is the problem with the taper method - if you go this way, it is best to have someone else hold your pills and give them to you per your (pre-set) taper plan.  It does take a lot of will power and at your low dose, you will likely have withdrawal symptoms - to some extent - until you jump off completely.  But many people do it this way and are successful.  It really is a matter of personal choice. We are not permitted to give taper schedule amounts here on the forum (for safety reasons; not knowing your personal health background, etc.).  If you go this route, it would be best to talk to your doctor; he/she can help you with the specifics.  Either way, you should let your doctor know that you want OFF this med.  If you don't "cut your source" in the beginning, your sobriety will be constantly in danger.  In a moment of weakness, and tram thrives on those moments, you could call in that refill and then the whole awful cycle starts over again.

In any case, whichever way you go, you will likely have some w/d symptoms.  You got some excellent advice above regarding some of the remedies that really help.  Another thing that helped me (in fact was really my saving grace) during my detox, was long, hot tub soaks with Epsom salts.  Light a candle, play some soothing music; it was like Heaven on earth for me in those early days.  Another thing I found really helpful for the RLS thing is called "Hyland's Restful Legs".  It can be found at the Vitamin Shop or Walmart (or I'm sure other drug/chain stores).  Those and the magnesium were lifesavers for me.  And again, as mentioned above, TONS of water.  I found Vitamin Water "Revive" formula was another HUGE relief in the early days.  It has all the B vitamins, plus C, potassium and electrolytes - all things you need in detox.  Alternate it with plain water for a little flavor change.  Lastly, check out the "Thomas Recipe"; link on the bottom of this page, for additional remedies, tips and other information to help through the detox days.

Whichever way you choose, the taper or cold turkey method, you are likely going to have some discomfort; it is just inevitable. This is why I personally chose the c/t - I just wanted it 'over with'.  The first 3 or 4 days were pretty intense; with the symptoms lessening a bit each day thereafter.  Within about a week to 10 days I was physically fine.  Tramadol does have the anti-depressant additive and thus there will likely be emotional ups and downs for awhile beyond the physical stuff.  This med just does NOT like to let go.  But you CAN do this.  Stay by this site and keep posting with any questions you have and/or anytime you need some support or encouragement.  I always say, the days or weeks or even months spent in ridding this med from your life is a small investment for what you get in return - a lifetime clean and FREE of this evil, evil pill.  You CAN do this . . . you are NOT alone :))

[NicoleBow]

Hi! I am 7 months clean from a 7 year habit of tramadol. However, you sound like yours is at a much lower dose and for a much shorter period of time. Both of these things will help a TON to get off. Also, because of the small dose you're on, I would not refill your prescription, I would go cold turkey. Weaning just draws out the process, where as you could be done with the worst part in about 5 days. Things that you can buy at the grocery store that will help:
- Bananas
- EmergenC packets (1,000mg of vitamin C, I would take about 3 of these a day in the beginning)
- Vitamin D
- Magnesium (Magnesium was HUGE for me, this is what helps to calm that creepy crawly feeling you'll get from tramadol withdrawal. I would take about 1,200 - 1,500mg a day, just depending on how bad I felt)
- Wide spectrum mineral supplement (I would go to Sprouts and ask them to help you find a good one with a high absorbency)
- DLPA supplement
- Chamomile tea

Many people recommend Imodium. I personally would not go this route. I did this and yes, in high doses it almost completely eliminates your withdrawal symptoms. However, I had to wean myself off of the Imodium and it was like starting all over again. One final thing, is eat as much protein as possible. Try and eat your body weight in protein. For example, if you weigh 135 pounds, try and eat 135 grams of protein. It sounds like a lot, but a 4oz piece of chicken has 24 grams of protein, so it's pretty easy to get a lot quickly without the addition of much fat.

Also, tons and tons and tons of water, I added lemon, cucumber, ginger and fresh mint to mine and made sure to drink a gallon every day.

I hope all of this helps! You can do it!!!