SAY NO TO ULTRAM!

I have a history of being addicted to prescription pain medicines which I kicked years ago.  Since then I avoid pain medicine like the plague.  Recently I injured my back in a fall. Vioxx helped but then I developed some side effects to the Vioxx.  My doctor suggested Ultram.  I knew it was not considered a controlled substance. Boy do I ever wish I had taken the time to do a little more research!  I only took the Ultram for 3 weeks, but I did take the maximum dose.  After all I thought I was home free, right?  This is really benign stuff here....no danger with Ultram.  After about a week I realized that this stuff was making me feel a whole lot like the opiates I had taken!  Euphoria, go, go, go and never get tired!  I was scared but didn't want to stop!  Then I started reading, and learned of the horrors of Ultram addiction. I waited until I was going to have three days off.  I had read that withdrawing from Ultram was not as bad as other withdrawals, so I figured three days were enough.  BOY WAS I WRONG!  The first two days I did not get out of bed except to the bathroom.  I ached all over, had fever, sneezed constantly, continual diarrhea, could not eat without vomiting.  This was 10 times worse than my experience with opiates. I cried constantly.....the depression was the very worst!  It is now Day #5 and this is the first day that I have been able to stay up for more than a few minutes.   I have lost 8 lbs (which is a plus, but a damn hard way to diet)!  The first thing I had to do was come on this site and let others know that ULTRAM IS NOT HARMLESS!  STAY AWAY!

[koalabear]

Too bad you were not introduced to our forum before you started taking them.

There have been a lot of posts regarding Ultram, horror stories, etc.

From what I remember reading those posts with regard to Utram, it is one of the hardest medication to  withdraw from.

Glad to hear you are making it, though.  We are all here if you need to talk.

Koala

[A-Factor]

I know I'm glad I've discovered these posts.  I'm sure someone will offer my Ultram somewhere down the line for my Rheumatoid Arthritis.

[kell737]

Welcome to the forum!  I read your post and the whole time was shaking my head!  I know exactly what your talking about.  I was telling some people the other day about how I didn't understand how Ultram isn't controlled!  The withdrawls from it are horrible.  

I'm glad your making it through this ... and just so you know there are several (probably safe to say many -- including myself)  who are contacting the FDA  on Ultram to let them know the horror it puts people through!   I don't think enough research was done on it before it hit the pharmacies.  

Good luck and keep posting.

~kell

[Janet1]

Thanks you guys for the support.  Well it is now early morning on Day #6.  Needless to say since it is 3:30 in the morning, I am still not sleeping too well.  But I was able to eat some yogurt and keep it down today, and actually did a little picking up around the house.  I still have the shakes and the chills but the "ants crawling" is gone, and I have hardly cried at all today.  I'm gonna make it!  I spent the afternoon going on every medical message board I could find and warning people about Ultram.  That, in itself, was ever so therapeutic!  I swear there is no greater Satan than addiction.  It is so powerful.  But once we overcome we are so much wiser than others.

[ultragirl]

I'm very proud that you've made it "cold turkey" and didn't jump out of your skin - I was on Ultram since March, upped my dosage every day until I had hit 30-4o pills a day,then three weeks ago today decided to quit cold turkey and ended up at the e.r. due to ants crawling, hot/cold sweats, just an overall horrible feeling of doom.  I was instructed to "taper" "ween" myself off this evil drug which has been successful to a point - I still have those montsters in my system but.......no much longer.  

Janet1, give yourself a hug from me to you because you did what I couldn't do and you definitely sound like you have it together!  I told the doc at the e.r. that these drugs were addictive even though I was told they weren't!  He just shook his head, told me sarcastically, "I guess the internet knows everything" and wrote my script without batting an eye AND without confirming or denying that this drug was addictive.  So from experience, I KNOW it is addictive - I was hooked!

Keep up the good work!!

[memikey]

LOL ... I find this all so amusing, because I recently got busted by an ER doc who actually did some homework behind my back while I was "writhing in pain" and waiting for the test results (and a pain shot, of course) ... and he found out that I had more than 23 visits to area hospitals with the same illness in only a few months.

Of course he pegged me right off as a "drug seeker" ... to my face, no less ... but happily dashed off a prescription for 20 Ultram (because my pain was just as real as the addiction, just not equally proportioned).  Now here's the kicker: because I found out Ultram wasn't a controlled substance, I never bothered filling it; in fact, I have quite a few unfilled prescriptions for Ultram lying around ... but now that I'm reading you might actually be able to get a semi-opiate buzz off them, I'm seriously thinking about filling one or two of them and using the Ultram instead of Vicodin to taper off.  I'm just glad I know now that they too can be addictive, so I won't try to cross-addict permanently, just hopefully lessen the pain of coming off the Vicodin, then quit altogether.

But, hey, don't laugh, temporary "cross-addiction" does work if you are serious about getting off your particular opiate ... worked for me almost painlessly about ten years ago when I substituted the much milder Darvon for the Vicodin for about a week, then just quit altogether.  Warning, though, if you decide to go the "lesser narcotic" route, be sure it's not Talwin Nx (a schedule IV non-opiate analgesic), because the Nx is short for Naloxone, which is a major opiate antagonist and can make withdrawl (withdrawal) even worse.  Just plain Talwin or Darvon will do ... or maybe Ultram, as I shall find out in the next week or so.  Oh, and by the way, "Soma" (a non-narcotic but quite potent muscle relaxant) does seem to help lessen opiate-type withdrawl (withdrawal) pains, though for some reason when taken in conjunction with caffeine can worsen the it.

Are you starting to get the idea you're listening to a veteran "narcotic kicker"?   Well, I am ... my 4th time around now in nearly 2 decades ... but maybe I'll learn some day ... or not ... and die ... then never be able to enjoy life or my computer or friends ever again.  That would sort of suck.  Hmmm, I wonder if they have Vicodin (over the counter) in "Heaven"?  Anyway ... good luck to all you serious recovering addicts.  Just remember, 12-stepping isn't for getting off the stuff, it's for STAYING off it ... so feel free to do whatever it takes to first quit, then seek a sober-living support group.  They keep me clean for around 5 years at a time, but that's better than nothing, right?  Toodles ...
--MeMikey

[GOD]

Mikey....

Listen VERY CAREFULLY....

(The following is just my own opinion, based on my experience with Ultram, and many others on this board. SOME people have used Ultram to detox successfully, but hey are a MINORITY.)

Do NOT take the Ultram. You will be hooked in less than 10 days, and the withdrawl (withdrawal) from Ultram is MUCH WORSE than ANYTHING out there except maybe methodone. I was a 2 gram+ per day user, so I KNOW what it can do. The only "high" you get from the drug is a feeling of well-being, and a little boost of energy. However, it is a very effective pain killer when used responsibly-- Also, because it binds to many of the same opiate receptors, it will effectively raise your tolerance for ANY opiates WAY up if it is abused. This is NOT a good thing, as you may need effective pain killers in an emergency situation such as a car wreck or any of the unfortunate accidents that may happen that lead you to the ER. (when the morphine drip isn't doing the job, something is WRONG!) I know this from personal experience.

Please consider VERY CAREFULLY the information above.

Once again, the statements in the posting above are only MY OPINION, based on my experiences, and the experiences of others on this forum, and personal friends of mine.

Godspeed,
Jess

I had the

[fairlight123]

Hello :)

Just wanted to add to Jesses warning about Ultram...

I found this board last Dec. when I stopped taking Ultram for endometriosis.  I had only taken it for 2 months, at the prescribed dose.  I was sicker than a dog coming off of that ****, and if it hadn't been for this board, I don't know what I would have done.  I have been reading this board since Dec. because I came to care about the people on here.  Although I don't post, I do keep up with you all, and pray for you :)  Congrats to all who are fighting the good fight, and stay strong, it can be done :)

I do an interesting story to tell.  I was prescribed Ultram again last month, but only for 10 days.  Seeing as to how I hadn't touched the stuff since I quit, and this was only for a short time, I thought it wouldn't hurt.  Guess what?  After only 10 days, at the prescribed dose, I again went through withdrawal when I stopped.  Granted, it only lasted for 3 days and wasn't as intense, but it was definetly there (sweats, shakes, no sleep, anxiety,).  It was like a mini withdrawal.  

So, for anyone considering Ultram because they were told it was non addicting, please think again.  I have never had withdrawal from anything else, so I don't know what to compare it to, but others on this board have said they have heard Ultram withdrawal is worse than Vicodin and other opiates.  All I know is that it was one week of pure hell...


Stay strong!
Fairlight

[memikey]

jessesarpy ...

Hey, after trying Ultram for the last 24 hours while trying to get off Vicodin ... and then reading your post ... it did cause some concerns, but for some strange reason, my withdrawls have been almost non-existant (not even psychological cravings).  Ah, but alas, if I keep this up for a week or so, according to you and many others, I may be in for another even more severe withdrawl (withdrawal) when quitting Ultram.  This sucks, because no way could I stand the pain of going cold turkey from Vicodin, and without insurance, I'm basically screwed.  I did, however, find out that the VA hospital (I'm a vet) does have an in-patient detox program ... but God knows what that might be like, probably akin to being chained to the bed and given nothing for the pain or tapering (ie: a county jail scenario).

The irony is, I do have the tools (and now the motivation) to stay off the Vicodin--hopefully for good this time--but getting off it this time is turning out to be quite a challenge.  I did once read an article about some relatively "painless" way to detox ... by putting you to sleep or some such business for a few days.  Anybody know about this method, and if it works?

Take care ...

[Jack O Trades]

I tried Ultram as an alternative to Perc.  Ultram made me sick and didn't fulfill the need I was looking to have filled.

Jack

[DeeDens49]

I was just perscribed Ultram a few weeks ago for a heel spur and arthritus pain in my left foot.  They took me off lortab 5.0 and said Ultram was a much better drug to use and non-addicting.  It is not a narcotic they said like codine and hydrocodone, etc.... I took it like they said too. Plus a time or two, I took 2 instead of 1 because I was really hurting.  I ran out of them about 4 days too early and could not get them refilled without seeing the doctor which was 4 days away...........so now do you get the picture? After day one I got a headache (migrane (migraine)) so bad I had to go to the hosital emergency room because I thought I had a tumor or something that was about to bust inside of my head...........Nothing was wrong with me except I was having withdrawels from the Ultram.  They gave me a shot witch dulled the pain somewhat, and sent me home for bedrest.  They told me to call my doctor Monday if I wasn't any better.  I called her and she said she could nothing for me but send me to a neurologist...........I was so pisted off and I could do nothing but wait for the symtoms (symptoms) to be gone which was about 4 days (total).........  So I agree with all of you SAY NO TO ULTRAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Witchywoman]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

I'm sorry you had that awful experience with Ultram. Many others have had the same thing happen.

I'd like to suggest you post up higher, in the earlier threads, so more folks will read what you have to say and respond to you. Down at the bottom of this forum, "in the basement", a lot of posts get missed, since not everyone scrolls down this far to write.  It is ok to add a different comment to an already existing thread above. We all have to do that from time to time since it is hard to be able to post a new thread.

I hope you are feeling better!

WW

[puma]

Regarding comments on Ultram,

I have been on Ultram twice now, once for about six months and then I thought a side effect of having trouble urinating was caused by it so I went off. No withdrawal effects at all.

Then, after a historectomy about six months later, I was prescribed Percs for a few days to kill any pain. They were useless so I ended up flushing them.  I switched to straight Codiene 300 mg's a day, with no additives and took it for about one year. The withdrawal from that gave me the runs and heaves for about three days along with depression.

I went back on the Ultram again with no side effects, apparently the Celexa I was on at that other time was the culptit behind those earlier side effects so I stopped that too. I had minor side effects from withdrawal from the Celexa, head zaps and whooshing ear sounds for a couple of weeks, quite annoying. Typical of the SSRI'S though.

The Ultram is doing fine for me now and yes, I am wanting to take a higher dose because I am on half dose for adults only 50 mg's 4 times a day.

With my pain I need the 100 mg's four times a day. I may ask my doc later to up it, if this pain continues to interfere with my work and functioning. If I can make it through the DT'S from Klonopin withdrawal, I am sure I could withstand any runs or heaves from the Ultram if it ever comes down to it.

I am sorry so many of you had problems with it, but it has worked wonders for me so far. Since we can not get the strong stuff here very easily, the Ultram will have to do the trick. I take Advil in between doses sometimes to reduce inflamation (inflammation). That's what causes the pain in the first place. I can not take the side effects from Prednisone which was recommended by my Rheumotologist for diagnosed Fibro and possible Lupus. I cannot get proper testing for Lupus from this far away. The blood loses the effects after 24 hours and it takes 36 just to get the lab tests through customs into Hawaii. Three people who tested negative for the Lupus test here, were positive once they went to the U.S. mainland to be re-tested. I don't have the funds, only the symptoms.

Everyone take care and good luck with where you are at in your sobriety or detox processes.

Chatahan

[flicker]

well now...something made me come to this page...i've been taking an average of 2 - 4 ultrams a day. these are 50 mgs right?
oval shaped pills. is this a small dose? i read somewhere about someone taking 30 pills a day???!!! is that even possible without overdosing?
anyway...i noticed in had some of the same side effects as other people when i try to stop[stomach problems/depression/headaches/a general feeling of awfulness].
now my question is this : why is it so hard for me to stop even though i'm only taking 4 a day? other people take more. also, I HAVE CROHNS DISEASE! i don't want to stop taking these because the withdrawal makes me feel like its a crohns disease flare up and i can't really deal w/ that extra stress.
i think i'm in trouble. any suggestions?
jim

[redrover]

My problem is similar to all entering this site; Problems with a prescribed pain elimination drug, touted as "non-addicting". I started taking Ultram two years ago to help with pain associated with multiple fractures suffered in an auto accident. I associate my every-day activities with my slowly climbing dose of this drug. I feel energetic, TALKATIVE, and happy with every-one I meet. My life as a musician, teacher, disabled person, center around my ability to clearly communicate, and to articulate to my students the finer aspects of musicianship. I have put myself in "double jeopardy" with the use of this drug. I am allowed to earn $8oo.00 per month as a teacher and still recieve my social security disability checks.(this is all I am making) The government will likely stop my disability payments due to the employment status I Have earned with the help of my Ultram usage. If I stop taking my "little helpers", I will undoubtably suffer to the point of not being able to teach with the same energetic approach, and my pain will intensify. I think we need to look at a "class action" that will stop the medical profession in it"s tracks with this misleading discription of Ultram. I am discontinuing the use as of today, and have already noticed "sneezing episodes", and light headaches. This is my first day. I used this drug for two years and have built up to 4 50's a day, not bad considering I would love to take more. Thats what led me to this site. I have experienced urination problems, erection difficulties, lack of sexual interest, and some sleep problems. Thank you all for your candid honesty regarding this ADDICTIVE DRUG. If anyone wants to organize,..... please respond. Thank you, Redrover Redrover, let the pain be over....

[redrover]

My problem is similar to all entering this site; Problems with a prescribed pain elimination drug, touted as "non-addicting". I started taking Ultram two years ago to help with pain associated with multiple fractures suffered in an auto accident. I associate my every-day activities with my slowly climbing dose of this drug. I feel energetic, TALKATIVE, and happy with every-one I meet. My life as a musician, teacher, disabled person, center around my ability to clearly communicate, and to articulate to my students the finer aspects of musicianship. I have put myself in "double jeopardy" with the use of this drug. I am allowed to earn $8oo.00 per month as a teacher and still recieve my social security disability checks.(this is all I am making) The government will likely stop my disability payments due to the employment status I Have earned with the help of my Ultram usage. If I stop taking my "little helpers", I will undoubtably suffer to the point of not being able to teach with the same energetic approach, and my pain will intensify. I think we need to look at a "class action" that will stop the medical profession in it"s tracks with this misleading discription of Ultram. I am discontinuing the use as of today, and have already noticed "sneezing episodes", and light headaches. This is my first day. I used this drug for two years and have built up to 4 50's a day, not bad considering I would love to take more. Thats what led me to this site. I have experienced urination problems, erection difficulties, lack of sexual interest, and some sleep problems. Thank you all for your candid honesty regarding this ADDICTIVE DRUG. If anyone wants to organize,..... please respond. Thank you, Redrover Redrover, let the pain be over....

[redrover]

My problem is similar to all entering this site; Problems with a prescribed pain elimination drug, touted as "non-addicting". I started taking Ultram two years ago to help with pain associated with multiple fractures suffered in an auto accident. I associate my every-day activities with my slowly climbing dose of this drug. I feel energetic, TALKATIVE, and happy with every-one I meet. My life as a musician, teacher, disabled person, center around my ability to clearly communicate, and to articulate to my students the finer aspects of musicianship. I have put myself in "double jeopardy" with the use of this drug. I am allowed to earn $8oo.00 per month as a teacher and still recieve my social security disability checks.(this is all I am making) The government will likely stop my disability payments due to the employment status I Have earned with the help of my Ultram usage. If I stop taking my "little helpers", I will undoubtably suffer to the point of not being able to teach with the same energetic approach, and my pain will intensify. I think we need to look at a "class action" that will stop the medical profession in it"s tracks with this misleading discription of Ultram. I am discontinuing the use as of today, and have already noticed "sneezing episodes", and light headaches. This is my first day. I used this drug for two years and have built up to 4 50's a day, not bad considering I would love to take more. Thats what led me to this site. I have experienced urination problems, erection difficulties, lack of sexual interest, and some sleep problems. Thank you all for your candid honesty regarding this ADDICTIVE DRUG. If anyone wants to organize,..... please respond. Thank you, Redrover Redrover, let the pain be over....

[grappler]

I am a world class athlete (wresler/ultimate fighter) I was in a serious accident I ruptured some discs and had some fractures in my spine and had some nerve damage that extended into my stomach and made my stomach very sensitive to the touch and  that almost took my life and was forced into retirement and my olympic and fighting career was put on hold or held off indefinetley. Well, anyway I was given many medicines including opiates for back and nerve damage and pain that was incurred from my accident. I must admit that I had withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms from Morphine when I was discharged from the hospital but overcame them in a few days. Later I went to see a doctor and he perscribed me some Ultram or as generic is known Tramadol it took some time to get used to but once I did it did ease the pain and ease the symptoms especially the ones I have the most trouble with which are the damage to a nerve that extends to my stomach.  I started to run out of the perscription before it was time for a refill and this happend time and time again I felt extremely dependent I never felt like this even with the vicodine or whatever else I took.  I have a tremendous amount of will and I told myself I am getting off of this **** no matter what.  It was so tough but I did it and the withdrawls continued for two-weeks and I have never encountered anything so mentally challenging and I'll tell you I have fasted for a couple of days no food no water while still training like a madman to get down to weight for competitions and I thought that was mentally challenging for the normal human. Over the course of my two-week withdrawl (withdrawal) I developed sores in my mouth like blisters probably because of the fever and chills I got, but man, I thought,"this is heavy duty" I can't believe how rough this is.  I would not advise the use of this medicine to anyone and the doctor said "don't worry about it it's not a narcotic medine" Well it might not be narcotic but it sure has some allout more than narcotic effects.  I have since stopped taking it and am now taking some other medicine that does'nt totally take my pain away but I don't care I will probably have to live with it for the rest of my life it's nagging but tolerable.  I can still workout and strengthen my muscle tissue and hopefully training hard but not stupid will take away my pain.  I invite anyone or any other person with a similar story to email me.  But to recap please Say No To ULTRAM!

[divawritr]

I always thought that MORPHINE was supposed to be the baddest (strongest) opiate of them all.  Is this not so?  At any rate, it doesn't seem to do much of anything for me.  I stay on them now because of the horrid withdrawals i feel when i don't take one!

Am I doomed to forever be ADDICTED?  I am thinking about that recipe for kicking that Thomas recommended...

[rainey]

I have a friend who took Ultram every day for a short time for back pain. He started telling me how he would feel depressed when he started trying to taper himself off of it.  He takes them only occasionally now and says that he continues to feel depressed when he gets off of them and that they don't really help his pain that much. He compared it to the depression that comes with coming off of illegal drugs or prescription hard core pain pills. I have another friend who I fear is hooked on them. He told his dad how they make him sick. I have taken only two Ultram and they made me so sick to my stomach that I haven't ever taken another one. I have to agree with everyone that Ultram is not a good drug and more warnings should be put out about the side effects and implications of this drug.

[grappler]

I can tell you if you just suck it up for about a week the worst will most likely be over.  I am so happy to be off of that stuff it is worst than morphine and all those other types of opiates.  I can't believe it this is the worst.  I wish I could personally help people that are on this stuff.  I think the doctors should quit prescribing it as a non narcotic.  Believe me I feel your pain because I know when I was getting off of it, it seemed that my pain got worse as I went through the withdrawls.


Good luck,

Grappler

[sharonver]

I have heard a lot of horrors stories re: ultram, what if you were to take them for arthritis pain just on occasion, when there is an arthritic flare-up?  Would you still have the withdrawals if you only took them 1 or 2 two days every now & then?

Sharon

[grappler]

I am not sure if it would hurt to take them every now and then but before I started to take them regularly I noticed that they would have a really strong effect that would make me feel kind of naseauiated.  So I don't really know.

Grappler

[madeline]

Well can anyone tell me the actual difference
in the percocet and the ultram.  I have been
on percocet and have been tapering off
and was give a prescription of ultram
for my elbow.   But from what I hear it
seems to be that ultram has the worst
withdrawals, more so than percocet.  I was
going to use the ultram when I come off
the precocet cause its not a narcotic.

Anyone out there have experience with
the two.  The doc didnt want to give me
the percs, she said the ultram would
be better, but reading these posts has
scaird me.

Thanks guys and gals.

[g.g.]

The DRS.think because the ultram is non narcotic its ok to use but from what everyone says I wouldnt use it either!Ask for celebex or viox they work great and are non addictive.So DR. will give them to you with no problem..    Jerri

[sharonver]

From what I have read ultram is not an opiate and percocets definitely are! Ultram reacts similar to our receptors as an opiate would thence helping with the pain, but for some reason the withdrawal in ultram is a lot worse. I don't know why but I have heard that it can be pretty bad. I would rather withdraw from the percs! (just my opinion)

Sharon

[theGolden1]

I didn't realize you guys were posting on my favorite subject down here ... ULTRAM!! I wrote all my stuff on top ... I can never post a question anyway ... but I hope to be off this by May or June. If I have any serious withdrawals I will get seriously mad and go after someone ... because they lied to me.
I think there is a class action suit ... This drug is awesome for chronic pain. No cravings and has antidepressant effects BUT, quitting is a different ball game. You can't get a straight answer from anyone .... unpredictable symptoms, and it takes weeks to be over. I'm tapering 1/4 of a pill every 2 weeks .... I'm down to 2 1/4 pills every morning. I have toast first to protect my stomach. I have about 20 weeks to go .... hey, that's five months!! Oh well .... someday :)

[g.g.]

I have read your posts and must say you are doing great!I tried ultram once and it made me feel tooooooo weird so I guess I was lucky cause I heard they have a law suit going too.Hope to talk again..              Jerri

[sharonver]

It sounds like you are going at it the right way!!  The best way to detox without serious withdrawal is to go very very slow.  Thats what I am doing also.  I have been detoxing 1 millagram every other week.  So far it hasn't been too bad. I had a rough spot when I got to 6-7 millagrams (hit a wall) it took a month and a half to finally get adjusted to that dose!  Then when I started feeling better I starting decreasing again.  Now I only have 3 more millagrams to go!!  Getting nervous though, cuz i am sure it will be rough at the very end.  Keep up the good work. Not everyone can taper, so we are fortunate in that aspect.

Sharon

[loudtram]

Hi
I have being taking Ultram(Tramal) for about half year on a daily basis.I was abusing it from the very begining because it
made me feel full of energy,well being,talky...etc
The only thing that I know for sure that I developed quite
a bit of tolerance for this medication which in other words
means I am hooked to it.At the begining 200mg was enough for
euphoric feeling.Now,if I take 500mg I feel only a slightly
change in my mood.Beside that I am a heavy benzo user too.
You see,I was always combining Ultram with benzos to amplilfy
its effect.Eg.I can take 15mg of Xanax and only consequence is that I am bit more talky,amnesia is a thing of past for me.I ask you,could it be worse,hooked on Ultram and Benzos at the same time?Any advice is appreciated.

[Lisa_]

I am ashamed to say that I didn't start taking Ultam for pain, but for the euphoria that it gave me.  It all started about a year ago. I would take 50 mg on the weekends, then I would randomly take a 50 mg before work. Of course that dose changed gradually over time. My boyfriend and I both started at the same time and we work together. We decided in December not to work at the job, but due to contracts needed to stay until March. The last two months on the job I would take 100 mg in the am and 100 mg mid afternoon. I loved the way it made me feel. I could have a dreamless night and wake up groggy. I would take the pills and a smile would come to my lips and I got energized. It was a deal betweeen my boyfriend and I that when we left the job the Ultram would have to stop also. That day came 7 days ago. He warned be to taper myself and to get ready for withdraw. (I was taking 150 mg more than him daily) I didn't believe him. I never thought that I was physically addicted. I was so wrong. Luckily I had a week off for what lay ahead. The first day wasn't too bad I had the chills and sweats. It was day 2-4 that kicked my ass. I remember on day 2 sitting right here on this message board sobbing. I was reading everyones stories and I finally realized: I WAS ADDICTED. I WAS GOING THROUGH WITHDRAW. ME! After that I knew that I couldn't do this to myself again.  I stuck with it. Days 3-5 the physical withdraw took a back burner to the mental withdraw. I was so depressed. I was not reacting correctly to situations. I was crying histically at the littlest things. I can't forget to add that I haven't slept a full nights sleep since then. The hardest part was the knowledge that the little capsules that are under the sick would make this all go away. Where would that put me? Right back here a year or so from now. No way. I am very happy to say I am on day 7 and I FEEL better than ever.  The key word there is "feel". I thought I was living in a happy world, but I was living in a numb world.  I love that I can feel anything. Sex is much better too : ).
Thank you for listening to my rambled story. It has been a long week, but I know I am a better and stronger person now. Hang in there if you are going through any of this. I promise it gets better.

[Thomas03]

Are you sure about of that 15mg of Xanax? Most people use the orange .5mg Xanax, some the purple 1mg Xanax. 15mg would be a pretty tall dose. Whatever amount you're using, don't go cold turkey of the Xanax. Cold turkey from high doses of Xanax can result in seizure.

Thomas

[theGolden1]

I saw my doctor on saturday and told him that I was tapering from ultram on my own. He said it was fine with him. Whatever I want to do ... I also switched to sonata. Ambien is too heavy. I feel better already. My last hope here is some good solid excersize. I want to get into shape to "just do it" ... (cold turkey) I'd like to be clean by July 4th ... I have to work on motivation now ... take care, Goldie

[AmberHunter]

i am new to this forum and saw where someone said to post higher up in the thread.

the only way i know to post is here, at the end... can someone email me the ins and outs of this forum and posting etc... please!

***@****

thank you so much!

amber

[percsnomas]

Amber, Hello!!

They were referring to posting on a thread higher up(not higher up in this thread......that isn't possible).

There really are no rules about posting per say.........

Anyways, i'm glad this place is becoming a part of your ongoing recovery!!!

percs

[theGolden1]

I'm so sad to see the ultram thread disappearing. I wish I knew the secret to posting a question on this forum. I have tried and tried, but keep getting the message that says they are all filled up ... does anyone have a clue?

[percsnomas]

Mornin Goldie!

I've had reasonable success by trying to post a question in the morning(like 9:00 to 11:00 am for the East Coast).  Remembering there is usually a 2 question per day maximum; however some days/weekends have less.

In fact i just tried, and it let me in..........now if only i had something useful to ask.

[theGolden1]

Ha ahahahaaaaa .... that's me. I'd be so shocked if I actually got to post a question, I wouldn't know what to ask. I'd start another ultram thread. So glad you are doing well .. take care, ***@****