Tramadol Addiction

[Milano7]

I have a question or help suggestion for anyone who might be familiar with what I am talking  about. I have been Tramadol on and off for about two years. usually not exceed the 200 mg a day.I am also kind of petite girl around 100 lb. The point is that I can not get myself stop taking it. I want to stop, thats the whole point,I desperately want to,but I cant .I can not function if I do.It almost appears ridiculous. I can not get up my bed if I don't pup the pill.How horrifying is that.It is like hunting me,I fully understand that it is a full blown addiction at this point.From every forum I read regarding Tramadol it is very hard to stop taking it.I get it but there most be something.I don't know who to address this issue to, know body in my surrounding knows about that .so it s like everyday i am living with this secret hidden from everybody.I don't know which doctor to go to and who to talk to about it,since i believe my regular physician or even my psychologist will just sent me to the rehab and whats really the point in it.I can not really go to those establishments at this point.Unfortunatelly I can't even afford it at this point.I am a full time working female and  in the process of graduating with my Masters .it seems like everybody respects me and nobody would ever even imagine i have such a dark secret in the clothet.if anyone can relate t me please reply with a warm comment or possibly a suggestion.I would appreciate anything.Since I know I am not the only one out there with such problem.different drug maybe but the similar issues.It is just so disturbing to be trying to built my life at 23 years of age and realizing every day that i can not do it unless i take those pills.

[newway]

Tramadol is a brutal drug to come off of.  Dr's seem oblivious to how addictive it is and how horrible the withdrawal is.
I have been on it for 4 years for chronic disc pain - started at 200mg and I now take over 800mg a day.  The longer you take it - the more you need to just feel okay.
Some do a slow taper to come off it, others bite the bullet and go Cold Turkey.  
You may want to click on madtrams comments on tramadol/ultram (recent activity on the right)  There is a seperate thread for those addicted to tramadol.
Good luck

[strugglingnewbie]

I was taking tramadol on a regular basis for 2 years and I got in the position where i had to go c/t because I just ran out of pills and couldn't get anymore(this was in april).  But, I was taking 1200 mg when I went c/t and that is an insane amt to c/t off of and would not recommend to anyone.  It took me a solid week to even think about being normal.  My advice to you - if you can do it - is to taper.  At the amount you are at you will need to drop by 10 percent.  That will involve cutting your pills.  So, you are at 4 pills a day.  you would need to cut by half a pill and stay there for a week or so until your body adjusts and then so forth until you are down to nothing.

definitely read the tramadol journals under emilypost.  they have so much good information and explain all the wonderful side effects of tramadol.

good luck in your journey!

[avisg]

There are many of us that can relate to where you are ,It is really hard the best way to do it is to taper down slowly like one pill a week and even if you have too 1/2 a pill a week it gives your body time to adjust to each drop.We are here for support I have been clean from tram for 2 years on sept 3 if I can do it you can too :)

[zozozozo]

i am on my third with drawal in 12 months.I had to go through all of it alone.Percocet,tylenol 4,dalaudid,tramacet and now treadol.Physicial is not too bad but my brain is in terriable shape.I miss taking them all.My pain which is disc's all in my back and now moving to my neck.I as 40 and just can't imagine another yere with this .I am prone to suicide and have many scares to prove it.Dr.s do not care anymore about us addicts.I actually found what drugs i could take to end all this misery.But my handicaped son keeps me holding on. However,the mental pain is too much once again for me.My brain is literly screeming to end this pain both physcaclly amd mentaly {sorry for the bad spelling} Is there just one in this world to reach out to me before it's too late;at least for my son

[avisg]

zoz,
Welcome to the forum .This is a very old thread why dont you start a new one .I dont want it to be overlooked .I know how hard this can be I have been there .Your son needs you .you need to live .First thing is to get threw WD tram is hard a one becuse it has an antidepressent quilty to it .When detoxed it cryed sooooo much .PLz start a new thread and hang in there we are here to help.

[avisg]

Or not that old thread LOL but still I would start a new one :)

[newway]

I can realate to the constant pain - I have a degenerative disc disorder, and have been told that the pain is "just something I will have to live with"  Easier said than done!.

I am tying to taper off tram - but in the meantime I need to find an alternative pain management.  I am looking to the pain management clinics, being honest about my addiction history - and trying to look into alternatives.  I have to find some way other than the opiates that will kill me long before the back issue will.

The depression is brutal when coming off tram.  You have to focus on the life change you are trying to make - knowing that this sufffering is a means to an end.
Hang in there and keep posted.
So many have been through it  - there is a lot of support and experience here.

[Bobs123]

Hi I am Jim, I have been on tramadadol for about 3 years. I was subscribed Tramadal for a dirt bike accident and broke 3 ribs and shattered and soon after broke the bones in my left wrist I am 53 and keep up with my boys and try to keep myself in good physical condition.so I was subscribed a non narcotic, also that's right tramadal. Later from years of a daring and active life style I found out I had a degenerate disk in my back on and neck which started hurting alot of the time. which can be very painfull and naging. Tramadal worked great with taking the pains away and gave me even more energy. Anyway, to shorten this, I have 6 kids 5 boys 1 girl. We are very active and my youngest is boy is12, very active and I want to always try to be tougher as a dad that he looks up too. But to be on this Tramadol all the time makes me feel like an addict (witch is true by now). Ive tapered down, tryed the Thomas method once (didn't lastst long thru thedepresion and slugish part with all my responsiabillities (week I know) and just tried it again wth a lot of determination to finally stop taking them once and for all! I did use the valium, which I hate the taste and feeling plus would wake up every couple hrs. the recipe says take enough to produce sleep for about three days. Well I lasted about 1 & 1/days. I was in such mental and physical pain I ended up giving up. I was also mad at myself for being such a wimp. I am usually am pretty tough when it comes to other things. So I will go back to tapering it off, I just wanted to get it over it once and for all quickly. I do know these things will fool you and make getting off verry difficult. I came of of Vicodin before and never renember being this bad. It is really bad and I gues I am a real wimp at cold turkey with these, Physically and mentally. Am I A wimp? Tell it to me straight I am open to any advice.

[JLogan]

Tramadol is evil! Doctors are finally coming around to it. When I first went on it, my doctor of 10 years told it was the greatest thing ever, "It takes away the pain without the risk of addiction." One doctor actually told me it is harder to get off than vikes or percs because it was originally intended to be a drug for depression so it has a double whammy affect on all your "feel good chemicles".It *****, but you have to grind it out the best you can and know in your heart that 90 percent of us feel a little bit better everyday once you get past the first 5 or 6 days. I know that is probably not good news for you, but it WILL end. =)

[matty235]

Yesterday I forgot to take my Tramadol with acetaphenamen.  I take it for my shoulder pain.  Yesterday was a very miserable day.  I was tired, had pain, etc.  To top it off I jammed my toe and think I may have broke it.  I stopped drinking about 2 weeks ago.  I am an alcoholic.  I would like to think I have will power enough to quit drinking but I am wondering if the Tramadol is my new vice.  I take 50mg three times a day.  After reading these comments it seems like very little but I know how I felt yesterday.  And if this is my new vise then is this such a bad substitude?  Any help welcome.  
        To Bobs123, I do not think you are a wimp.  Pain and depression are very hard things to deal with.  My wife has a chronic liver condition.  She became impossible to live with when she took pills to control her condition.  I went with her to her doctor and told her of my wife's symtoms.  The doctor listened for a long time and then dicussed her options with us.  Thankfully my wife's new drugs helped her to be her old self again.  I guess my point is that there are Doctors who can help.  It is just a mater of finding the right one.

[matty235]

    You did not say what you are taking Tramadol for.  Pain,?  I  do not think you should worry about what anyone else thinks about your addiction if it is an addiction.  200mg per day is not out of the parameters of any prescription amount.  If you are worried about it then I really believe there is a Doctor who will listen without trying to send you to rehab.  A Doctor can only recommend this but I do not think a Doctor would even do this.  I know tramadol is a medicine that helps.  It has helped me to  sleep at night as I suffer with severe shoulder pain.  It also helps me function during the day.  Pain is something we all have a right to live without.