Severe Tramadol Addiction

Question

OH MY GOD! I have been addicted to this horrible drug-from-hell for well over 6 years. It started out by my cousin giving me samples from her job at an orthopediac clinic. I had neck & lower back pains, because I need a breast reduction. That started out fine, but then I started to notice that I was getting sick whenever she didn't bring me any samples. I found out that the pills she was giving me were called "Ultracet." I researched further and found out the ingredient in it was "Tramadol." So, next, I went to my family doctor and asked him for a prescription of them and BOOM, next thing you know I am fully, 100% addicted. Anyway, six years later, I am still addicted and have been quitting & having withdrawals for years. This last time, my husband found them in my purse last night and I start school in 3 days. What am I going to do? I am so sick of going back on them and don't understand WHY I keep putting myself through this. I am taking up to 90 a day!!! Yes, you are reading this correctly. 90 a day. What am I going to do? I start class on Monday and this is the last chance, I think, I will ever get. I can't go through withdrawals during the semester. This is it. How can I stay clean?

avisg · Answer

There may not be any data on CT and sezuires on it but we have had several members have it happen .Lets keep in perspective that some doctors  have data that's its not addictive  either .

madtram · Answer

Can you get your husband to get you to a doctor so at least you can get precribed an anticonvulsant to reduce seizure risk.   The highest risk of seizure will be if you have no tramadol for a couple of days then return to your original dose.  The xtreme fluctuations put too much stress on your neurotransmitters.

The seizure risk probably feels like the least of your worries now that you have started withdrawals but others on this site have reported having a seizure after cold turkey from tramadol.  

There are no published reports in the medical literature of seizure from abruptly stopping  tramadol but the increased risk from extremely high doses should be known by most doctors.

This is no doubt an xtreme way to stop but there are major benefits to getting off this drug.  You say that it gives you energy but you have had to increase your dose to an unsafe level to maintain this effect.  This is because tramadol has the same tolerance problem as other opiates, your receptors will keep  dying off so you will always need more.

If you try to maintain your dose at a steady level, you will find yourself constantly in withdrawal.  Tramadol was only designed for short term use, it just doesn't work as a long term pick me up.

Please take this opportunity to get some help to get out from the clutches of this draining drug, it will only suck you dry.

Best wishes.

troubleinohio · Answer

i totally agree with the above posters...you need to get your husband on here (or if youre afraid of him reading what you already wrote--meaning he has no idea you were taking 90 a day and you're too scared to tell him that little fact) at least find a different site throuhg a google search and find some articles regarding the dangers of stopping tramadol abruptly. I really think you need to get those refilled asap and do a proper tapering to avoid massive seizures and possibly death.  Let your husband know he can hold the pills and give you the proper dosage each day as you taper down.  

THere are certain drugs that you CAN CT off and it doesnt cause problems (well, you know what i mean---the WD symptoms are awful, but they wont kill you) and then there are drugs you CANT just quit CT...benzos (like xanax, valium etc) and TRAMADOL are some that you should NOT stop suddenly...i hope your husband comes to his senses once you inform him of the dangers... keep us posted PLEASE!

BornofOsiris · Answer

hey you should really have your husband go on this site and look at the information to get him aware of whats going on....YOU CAN DIE from major withdrawls, especially from how many you were taking....a seizure can come at any moment...you need to take this VERY seriously, make him aware of your situation maybe he doesnt know how bad your additction was...i will pray for you as much as i can
Take care and be careful!

PS
This WILL NOT last....This CANNOT last...

Ella789 · Answer

Your husband is a control freak, and is playing with fire when it comes to your well-being and the Tramadol.  This is not right!!  Perhaps he needs to watch you and the pills but he also needs to read abt. what this med can cause at high dosages and then NO doseages!  I hope he will come to his senses, and do what is right and let you tapper down with this med!!!  
I wish you well and hope you can manage,  will be thinking abt. you and hope you can convience him to let you tapper.

Ella

tramhead · Answer

I want to go out right now and get a bottle of trams. I have a few refills left. Problem:
I have no vehicle, my husband took away every, single penny I own and he is here 24/7 monitoring me. I start school tomorrow and have no energy at all. I can't even do the laundrey, clean up and barely take a shower. When I am on trams, they give me energy and make my body feel like it can do anything. What the f*ck am I going to do? I am so scared.

avisg · Answer

OMG GET HIM ON THIS SITE you can not go from 90 tram a day to zero, There is a major chance of sezuires and your bp may go thru the roof .You have to slowly taper off of tram .he can hold your pills but normally it would be one a week.you might be able to do two a week. PM me if you need to or if he needs to this is nothing to play with .If you CT do NOT get in the car and drive I would hate to see you have a sezuire driving .I am very very concerned,

tramhead · Answer

I am taking straight up 50 mg tramadol. My husband threw out the whole bottle and is making me go cold turkey till school starts on Monday. He has about had it with me and is fixing to leave. He says he'll stay & support me, but I don't think he should of thrown all of them away. He told me that I need to go through the bad withdrawals to teach me a lesson. I"ve done this to him more than 7 times. He has caught me with the bottles. I am feeling horrible and my blood pressure is up. I don't know what to do.

troubleinohio · Answer

wow....90 a day.... I sure hope you have enough left to do a taper. Have you ever quit them CT at that high a dose? that can be FATAL. It's like forcing your brain and body from going from zero to 500 mph instantly...you've been making your brain chemicals not work right all this time from taking them, and when you abruptly stop they try to flood back in suddenly and cause massive seizures amongst a host of other horrible symptoms ranging in severity... this is very serious given the very high dose you are on.. you need to do a slow taper. Im not sure how you are obtaining this many pills, but you are going to have to come clean with your doctor and explain your dire situation and hope he/she will help you taper. You may neeed to do a lot of research on your own and bring in printed literature regarding the dangers of tramadol, particularly of its addictive properties and WD dangers. Doctors are horrifically ignorant when it comes to tramadol in particular. THey all seem to have missed the update on this drug since it was first released and are utterly unaware how bad this drug really is. Most doctors will say tramadol is not addictive and produces no bad WD symptoms..I really hope the AMA or whoever is in charge of doctors keeping their knowledge up to date gets their act together and re-educate doctors on this medicine!
good luck to you and let us know how you are doing. Keep reading, posting and researching!

mpace6983 · Answer

4.5 gm daily? I dont know how your getting this quantity of tram but, If your supply isnt in jeopardy of being cut off and If you can afford it just start s-l-o-w-l-y reducing dosage. If you cut back too much go back to last dose and level off then continue your detox. If you could get an MD on board this would be best but if you cant, you can order fiorcet(barbiturate) online and this will help with anxiety/sleep/agitation and will help reduce the risk of seizures. With tram you are going to have some opiate w/d but also MMRI withdrawal. the combination of the two is why a lot of people give up. Remember its a marathon not a sprint. Pace Yourself. Good Luck!

madtram · Answer

You are right that you have a major project on your hands but if you seriously want it to be over, it can be done.  Tramadol is a synthetic opiate & just as addictive as any for plenty of people.

I assume you must be supporting this habit with online pharmacy supplies as I can't imagine even the most neglectful docs would prescribe at the level you are taking.

Are you still taking Ultracet or just straight tramadol?  If you are going the online pharmacy route, it's possible that the strength of the meds you are getting is variable as daily doses of 3.375 grams, (if Ultracet) or 4.5 grams, (straight tramadol) of genuine tramadol must carry a high risk of seizure; overdose, not to mention death.

That much acetaminophen, (if its Ultracet) is also extremely bad news, you are risking imminent liver failure at doses of anything over 24 grams.

Maybe you know all this already but I am scaring myself just typing it. The only way to come of these sorts of doses is to taper down but given your previous attempts, it looks like you need to go supervised or inpatient.  I would be concerned that you are risking a seizure every single day you continue at this dose level.

When you say your husband found your pills, does this mean that he didn't know you were still taking them?   Can you get him to hold them for you & manage your taper?

School is important but you are risking your life here.  Please let us know what you want to do.  You will find complete support to get you through the withdrawal process when you are ready.

Best wishes.