Please help scared to death of tramadol

PLEASE HELP!!!  Does anyone know how you taper off trams 2 pils 3x a that's 6 50mgs. been on them for 7 years. Been reading the stories and i am so scared to death of all the withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms. I read something about a Thomas  formula or some kind of person that had a detailed way to tapper and there were so many stories i read i now can't find that one, or does it even work. I see there is a lot of support here. There will be no going back for me I have already gone down a half on my evening does and RLS and crappy sleep have alread set in AND THIS GOING DOWN ONLY A HALF A PILL F###. I am freaking out i had no idea none about this ****.

[gonna_make_it]

We can't really tell u how to taper on here but sounds like your starting out good. Try taking a half a pill awayfrom ur 2nd dose instead of ur evening dose. I've been off tramadol for 2 weeks and it does get better. The RLS is the worse part for me and the no energy. It's getting better everyday. Try the hylands restful leg...it's helped me some. Look on the right side of this page at the amino acid protocol and get u some of those vitamins to take. Oh I also wrap my legs with thermacare heat patches before I go to bed...helps alot.

[ricart70]

Hi rj,There are people here who have alot of experience with tramadol.They will be on here soon.Hang in there.

[Dav125]

Your not alone with this. Here's a thread to a person thats about ten days into this and alot of conversation with support to help you with your fears...You "can" do this. Its not going to be easy, but you "can". Its a long thread but will help answer many of these crazy thoughts swirling in your mind. And help you qwell some of these fears you have..Dav

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Addiction-Substance-Abuse/help/show/1608600

[rj0923]

I have been reading that thread for 3 days now and that is why I am so scared to death fo what's  to come

[Dav125]

Try no to focus on the bad feelings she was describing. Read into the post for where she says "I'm starting to feel better".Abet, not much, but read past the pain and into the progress...Please try.

[Innerstrength67]

rj, just take a deep breath. There is no way out of the WD but it can be done and your mind is making it worse. I don't have any experience with tram but I know the terror you feel. That's how I felt when I would think about stopping my Vicodin. I would completely freak out. Tramahater is a poster here who has a lot of experience with tram, hence the name. Others here also have a lot of experience too.
You can do this my friend. It's a slow process but it can be done.
Hang in there!!!!!!!
You are in the best place for help.

[ricart70]

Here goes moving you to the top of the list

[rj0923]

My husband asked me to please be patient with tapering and not thorw in the towel and just stop . He is afraid i will go cold turkey beause I don't want this "devil pill" in me anymore. In his line of work he has sen many people go through withdraw from many kinds of drugs and does not wnt me to put myself through that if I don't have to. I promised him  would not be stupid and that I will stayed plugged into you gus, this thread, forum and listen to those who have gone before me. He is happy I have you guys, cause he has never exprienced drug wihdrawl this but has seen the worst of it. I have never experienced any drug withdrawl (withdrawal) either, that is why I will listen to yu guys so I don't have to go through the worst kind like I have been reading.  

[rj0923]

going to  the store to get supplements. Hey soon I wll be clean and HEALTHY!!

[ricart70]

Cool rj,Tramahater will be on here sometime soon.I believe tramahater to be the dali llama of tramadol info.If I can locate tram.I will direct her? to your post.

[gonna_make_it]

I agree Tramahater helped me tons...very encouraging!

[rj0923]

Finally back home now. We live about an hour away from anykind of big stores. Just only 3 1/2 hours late for my evening dose of tramadol and it was a ***** of a drive home. I didn't think we woud be this late so i didn't take any pills with me  1-3 hours should not be a big deal...ya right!!! My legs were so restless i started crying thinking I am never going to get of the devil pill...never. I do know one thing everytime I taper down there will be NO turning back. I went on this **** for terrible RLS so everytime I got a little late taking the next dose I thought it was my RLS....and holy **** come to find out it was  TRAMADOL WITHDRAWL (withdrawal)!!! How anybody could make it cold turkey should be in guinness book GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!!!

[atthebeach]

breathe, try to relax. please dont let the fear take over, it will make it much worse. you are going to be fine. just take it as it comes, take a hot bath with epsom salt. you have to move around, try to take a walk each day. please be patient, you didnt get addicted over night and it will take awhile to get off them. take it slow. once you drop, dont go back up it will continue to prolong the withdrawal. stick to your taper. is your husband going to hold your pills for you? keep posting. someone is almost always around.
i am keeping you in my prayers
hugs
debbie

[littlebit667]

So you had RLS before you started the Tram and took it for that reason?  Sorry, I am trying to understand.  

[rj0923]

Holding pills is not the problem I want off this crap so bad i just want to quit, but I know if I do it that way I could stress my body out so bad I could have a relaps with my MS. It's funny i have been on this dose 2 am 2 afternoon and 2 pm for 7 years never went up never went down. You would think my body would have adjusted and they would have stopped working at some point, but no, that's not how it is with stuff. It waits until you don't want it anymore. I was o proud of myself over the years cause chose to take a non narcartic. I thought tramadol was a miracle drug until a week ago when I came across this site accident. Now I want this stuff out of me like cancer.

[atthebeach]

thats great. if you never abused them, then you are just dependent which still stinks. yes many drugs that are non-narcotic still cause withdrawal. the doctors dont make you aware of that fact. the hylands, wrapping your legs, the hot baths with epsom salts, foods high in potassium,magnesium and potassium supplements, if you drop to fast it could cause seizures. so please just drop the one pill and then wait a few days and see how you feel.

[rj0923]

This feels like I'm preparing myself to go to war. I have already been wrapping my legs at night, helps a lot. I am very lucky to have a great husband who's support i have 100%  It broke my heart when I read  about people who had no one and were alone.Thank god for this site and all the support. I can just imagine the lives that have been saved.

[vicki595]

I'm sending a PM to to Tram for you...

You're doing great. I believe in nice,slow tapers to at least get down to a little,tiny dose!

You need fluids and gatorade!

[rj0923]

I am just confusd on ho to taper correctly a effeciently. I take it 3x a day. I keep questionin myself. Do I taper down 1/2 a pill a little on each (7am, 2pm, 7pm) dose then repeat, or do i taper down until i don't take the morning, afternoon or evening anymore. This is where I don't really have a plan cause I haven't come accross any type of tapering suggestions yet. I have never done aything like this before, so I don't know what's best for me, or work for me and what to expect with a taper. Most of the stuff I have read is cold turkey withdrawl (withdrawal). Maybe in this case ignorance is a blessing. I do know at some point I will when I get low enough I will have to stop all together and go through a complete detox withdrawl (withdrawal) phase. I pray to god I don't go through the  hell I have read or the tapering down would have been for nothing.

[rj0923]

May decide to change my primary care (who doesn't think tram is addicting) physician to one who is also an herbalist.  I called to get some info and explained to the secretary what was going on and asked if she knew about tramadol. She said unfortunatly yes.  

[rj0923]

yesterday was taper day having a rough time tonight. I am starting understand what the word craving means everyone talks about

[vicki595]

Are your pills 100mg or 50 mg?

How much did you drop with yesterday's dose?

I would taper with the 2 pm dose to begin. Break that in half and only take half at 2 pm. Do that for several days. You should not feel anything much by doing that. It's the point: go slow and small...once you feel stable at 2 1/2 pills per day; drop the other half at 2 pm.  We really are NOT supposed to give actual taper plans so that's the best I can do for you.

If you're having a rough time tonight and you're craving then you dropped too much.

[vicki595]

Here's a place where you'll get a ton of info. I don't know if you've seen it yet...

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/314723/Tramadol--Ultram-Recovery-Room-Part-47

[atthebeach]

You are doing great.congrats on your taper.
that's wonderful your husband is rubbing your legs. He's a keeper.
Keep hydrated. Baths with epsom salts.take walks.
Keep up the good work.you are breaking free .
you are doing it.
Blessings to you
Debbie

[vicki595]

Okay...did you cut out 1/2 dose, 3 times per day?  That would be 75mg and that's too much of a drop.

[vicki595]

Okay...I still don't understand...

A THIRD drop of 25mg=75mg and that's too much in a brief period of time like this...

                                              OR

Is it 25mg or 1/2 a pill from the 7pm dose since the 18th?  I'm not trying to be picky here...just trying to be clear so I can help...

[vicki595]

Okay. Thanks.

So,on Sunday,after you drop the next 1/2 pill,you'll be taking 1 1/2 pills 3x per day.

It's still a fast taper for this stuff. I'm sure you're in a big hurry and I don't blame you. But, if you want to have an easier time of it as far as withdrawals go,after Sunday don't drop any more for at least a week. Evaluate how you feel as far as being adjusted and comfortable and then drop a little bit of a dose. I suggest making the drop at the 2pm dose. I know the pills are small but you can break them in to quarters...

I hope this helps if you choose to accept the mission!  The slower and smaller you go the better it is.

All the best to you...

[rj0923]

Thank you I will see how I do after sunday. You are right they are little but boy pack a punch when you even go down a lite bit to fast..

[atthebeach]

Hey how are you doing? I hope and pray you are feeling ok. Keep on pressing on.

[wishfulthinking57]

rj,

keep it up.  im on day 5 of being clean of hydros and honestly....i feel way better then i did days 1 thru 3.   this does get better and easier i promise.  i will give you my full name and male address and 100% promise you, if you stay strong the worst will be over  sooner then you think  you need to realized you CAN do this, we've all got your back. do not worry. this is better for yourself

[rj0923]

I know it's not a strong narcotic, so you would think it would be easy get off of, but not when you have taken it for a  while, or depended for 7 years such as myself. I have tried in the past, to just drop the pill dose at once you suggested and it does not work unfortunately, the withdraws are horrid (have u been able to read many of the tram withdraw horror stories?)  l thank goodness for this forum and other tramadol users, they have given me hope that I can get off this drug without really bad uncomfortable withdrawls. I don't know how long you take tramadol before you start the tabs gain, but please be carefull and please read the other stories about tramadol withdrawl (withdrawal).

[atthebeach]

Hey how are you doing since your last drop on Sunday? You are doing it. Keep up the good work. You are moving forward. One day at a time.

[rj0923]

hi I'm doing pretty good. it just gets a little uncomfortable around the time my next dose is due. My husband gave my legs a good massage tonight, wich I didn't really deserve. This afternoon before my 2pm dose i got really bitchy, which is not like me at all. I felt bad. I sure hope that irritableness subsides after I am no longer on this. I don't like feeling or being bitchy

[Emily_MHModerator]

Hey guys -

We have deleted a lot of posts with tapering schedules or advice.  We can not allow this, as tapering when not under the care of a doctor can sometimes be dangerous.

Thanks for understanding and cooperating.

Emily

[rj0923]

I don't understand. cold turkey is ok but not tapering. If it wasn't for the great advice I have been getting i would not be doing very good.

I now feel as if I have done something wrong and feel realy bad for getting others in trouble for helping me too. I will quietly disappear and handle my situaton on my own.

I am very sorry Emily,
Rhonna

[rj0923]

.I don't understand. cold turkey is ok but not tapering. If it wasn't for the great advice I have been getting i would not be doing very good.

I now feel as if I have done something wrong and feel realy bad for getting others in trouble for helping me too. I will quietly disappear and handle my situaton on my own.

I am very sorry Emily,
Rhonna
.

[Emily_MHModerator]

Ohhh no - please don't feel like you did something wrong, and PLEASE don't disappear.  If someone wants to offer you advice in a PM, we can't do anything about that.

Cold turkey can be dangerous too, but isn't involving medication doses that should be monitored by a doctor.  CT should also be done under a doctor's care in many cases, too.

Just please continue to get support.  Even if you can't talk about dosing in the forum, you can still get great support and help with symptoms of WD, like restless leg, etc.

I really hope you hang around.

Emily

[vicki595]

RJ:  You didn't do anything wrong!  I know that for sure. A lot of the members know we're not to give taper advice; especially me as I've been here awhile. I keep trying to dance around it but I end up crossing that line.

You're doing great! You've got this now!! So, keep posting so we can be here as you celebrate all that clean time you're going to have!!

xoxo

[atthebeach]

You are doing just fine.  Keep up the good work. You only asked for advice which is what most people do.   I also said too much and was warned. I need to be more careful. I hope you are feeling ok.
I need to take a break so I don't spill the beans again.
Hugs
Debbie

[marycarmel]

You're doing great.  Keep it up.  Tapering can be really hard since you prolong the withdrawals.  I did not use Tramadol, though I was given it once for a short time but I could tolerate the side effects.  I did taper off a bunch, and I mean tons, of other medications.  I never misused them once, but one day I added up the cost (my insurance covers all of it,) and I realized they were paying over $3000 a month.  I was flabbergasted.  Between that and a couple of other things, I knew I wanted off most, if not all, the medications.

I can't CT due to some other health issues.  My doctors were not very helpful in my taper.  Sometimes I got a little aggressive with the taper, and it worked against me.  When you're in a hurry to get off like you are, and like I was, it doesn't seem to go fast enough.  But slow and steady is really the key.  You'll get there.

Try some of the things in the Thomas Recipe.  Some are really helpful.  Bananas for the RLS, or the Hylands Restful Legs or even tonic water (with quinine.)  Hot soaks in the tub.  You're lucky you have your own personal masseuse.  Try to get some exercise during the day.  Above all, stay hydrated.  I think it is one of THE most important things to do.

Good luck.  You're doing terrific!

[atthebeach]

hi rj how are you feeling?