Tramadol Taper

Question

Hi everyone,

I am new here and want to share my experience as well as getting support from all of you. I started taking Tramadol in 2010 when it was prescribed for a minor back injury. I have always liked pain pills but have never been addicted to them. Once I took the tramadol, I knew this drug was different. As many of you stated, it made me feel like superwoman. I could do anything and keep going around the clock, so obviously I became addicted. I started buying them off the internet when I stopped getting them from my doctor. I have been through the withdrawals once before and they are HORRIBLE! If I remember correctly they lasted about a week and then I started to see the light. I was clean for about 8 months and then started again for some stupid reason, you would think the first withdrawals would have stopped me but that is how powerful this drug is. My daily dosage increased over time and I was up to 15-20 50mg pills daily. I KNOW, HORRIBLE! I have a 14 month old son and I was still taking the tramadol and smoking while I was pregnant with him. ( I know it's horrible so please spare me the lectures). Thankfully my son was born healthy with no issues so far. I am currently 8 months pregnant with my baby girl now. I stopped smoking when I found out I was pregnant and knew I wanted to stop the tramadol also. This sounds weird, but when you are a smoker and taking tramadol, you get a certain high feeling whenever you smoke. So obviously when I quit smoking, I stopped getting that feeling. I am still superwoman, but without the really good highs. Like I said, I was taking 15-20 50mg pills daily and I knew I needed to stop. Not to mention buying them online was causing me financial issues because of how much they are. My husband of 5 years has no idea I am addicted to these pills and I want to keep it that way. We have been through some ups and downs and are at a good place right now, so I am not going to ruin that and make it known that I am an addict. So I have no support because NO ONE knows about this. Last week I finally built up the courage to tell my OBGYN. I am so glad I did, I was so scared to but she was AMAZING! She just kept telling me how proud she is and so forth. She knows I want to keep it a secret from my husband so hopefully I can beat this and move on with my life without him finding out. She referred me to a Pain specialist who developed a tapering schedule for me. Like I said, I was at 15 pills a day on 22 July 13. My OBGYN gave me a prescription untul I was able to see the Pain doctor and she had me start with 12 pills/day on the 25th and then subtracted 1 pill/day over the weekend. So on 30 July 13 I was at 8 pills a day. I was feeling ok because I had some Hydros left over from a while ago that I would take every so often during the weekend and obviously that made the w/d of going from 16 a day to 8 a day better. I only felt very slight fatigue and had restless legs each night. Anyway, on 30 Jul 13 I saw the Pain Doctor and he is making me taper off 1 pill a day so I will be off of them completely in a week and a half. Is this alittle fast? I have been reading so many posts that say to taper slowly and since I am pregnant I want to be extra cautious. I didn't wanted to insult his intelligence and question his plan so I didn't say anything but I just feel like this is a fast taper. I do want to get off of them as fast as I can but I just hope this isn't dangerous. So right now it is 10pm on day 1 of tapering and I took my last Hydro yesterday. I am for sure feling it today. I feel like I have 50lb weights attached all over my body, horrible fatigue, hot/cold, and BAD restless legs. So far I have been taking one Aleve a day and Hylands restful legs and my Multi-Vitamin to help. I took a hot bath tonight which seemed to help but these W/d's are so horrible. I am proud of myself to be on 8 a day though. Going from 15-20 a day to 8 in a week is pretty good. Today was rough though. Having to play with and be with my 14 month old all day was a horrible struggle. I told my husband that I am not feeling well and think I am getting the flu so at least he will know that and maybe help out a bit more. Anyway, I am going to be writing my progress each day on here in hopes of helping someone else and getting some feedback from everyone. I know the W/d's will be bad but will they get easier if I am tapering or will they stay this bad until I am completely off? Any information and suggestions would be helpful. Tomorrow starts the 7 pills a day and I have a feeling the W/d's will be just as bad and remain the same until I am completely off of these horrible pills. I have high spirits though and am excited to start a new life pill free. I feel like since I am a non-smoker now and soon to be non-pill user, that my life is only going to get better from here:) I am looking for support with someone who has actually tapered off of tramadol at this fast of a rate. I want to know how the W/d symptoms were the whole time and how long it ook to feel semi normal again. Thanks!

waterview4326 · Answer

For me the tingling in my legs were the worst symptom along with the heavy lead legs. I wrapped 2 heating pads around my legs when it was really bad, I would do that and then try and watch a comedy or talk show, then I would get in the hot shower try and do a few things and start all over again. Also the hyllands restful legs helped some, also bananas and magnesium tablets. Yes one night I took something to sleep, NEVER again as it worsened my legs also. Do you see the Dr. today? You have been weighing on my heart since reading your post. Kylie you can do this I am in my 50's and I did it. You can get to the other side.

Kylie4501 · Answer

Thanks for the support! The heavy/ tingling legs and fatigue are the only symptoms i have so far but they are really bad. Last night i took 2 hot baths with epson salt, my one tramadol, and an Ambien and it was horrible! The Ambien worked my first night but i think it made my legs worse last night. Any suggestions?

VICourageous · Answer

You got that right about the Benzo. I have had w/ds from hydo/oxys that were not so long and drag out. But 11 months ago I went ct from Methadone and a Benzo plus illegal Adderral. It took me many months to kick in a bit..I am still not balanced out or healed in the brain due to how each drug hits different transmitter. I was talking to the pharmacist today and he said that the c/t from the benzo is very dangerous and all the things I told him he said it was because of the benzo not so much of the Methadone..Oh yes the Methadone was a hard one and a beast at that but the lingering on & on was the benzo..Just thought I would share this with you..
Bless

Victoria1129 · Answer

Well, I'm starting to realize benzo withdraw is wayyy more brutal than opioids, so at 13 days I'm thinking it's the benzos that are killing me. I was taking between 3-9 percs or norcos a day. I don't know the mg because my mom was just giving them to me. This does feel impossible without support, but you have me and you have this community. :) stay strong!

Kylie4501 · Answer

Hey:) Isn't it hard when you have no support? I am really struggling, today is my 7 pills a day dose and so far it's the leg pain that hurts the most. I slept good last night because i found an old script of Ambien and took one. You say u quit CT and still have bad w/d on day 13? That's rough, how much were u taking? When i quit CT a couple years ago i remember the pain and withdrawals only lasting a good week. Keep up the good work!!! We can do this if we stay strong and help each other!!!

Victoria1129 · Answer

I am kind of in the same position. My fiancé knows I take mess for anxiety and pain and he even knows I'm withdrawing but doesn't know the extent. He has anger issues and a temper and that's partly why I started taking too many pain pills. We have a son as well and I have been the one to care for him since birth. My fiancé moved out but were still trying to work it out. Honestly, the hardest part is the emotional pain and anxiety of withdraw. Since he doesn't know the extent I've down played my sickness and its so rough. I can barley move, still have terrible pain bc I went cold turkey 13 days ago. You are tapering so I'm guessing the hardest part will be your emotional struggle. Trust me you can do it! Think of your kids and husband.

clean_in_ks · Answer

Here is a very good place to hang out, read, learn and talk to other Tram Warriors.  

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/822669/Tramadol--Ultram-Recovery-Room-59?personal_page_id=2791571

Think you'll like it.....welcome to the forum~

Kylie4501 · Answer

Wow, thanks for messaging me so fast!! This is truly a great site for support and I will need it for the next few weeks. Like I said, I don't have a choice but to taper 1 pill a day because that is all he is giving me and there is no way of me getting more pills. I am from ND and our state just passed a bill that the internet companies can no longer sell to ND residents. That is a good thing though because now there is NO WAY for me to buy more pills. I just hope someone comes along and gives me their experience with tapering quickly off of tramadol. Thanks again so much for welcoming me:)

FourJays · Answer

Hello and welcome; so glad you found this site!  I have a lot of experience with Tramadol, and in fact took it at even higher doses than you were on for over 10 years. However, I was not able to taper, so I cannot give you any advice there.  I DO know of many successful taper stories here, and I am sure that it can be done safely in your situation.  From what I have heard and seen here, the schedule you are on (considering the amount you were taking), does seem a little quick to me, and I can see why you are a bit concerned about it. Hopefully there will be some more people along w/ tapering experience to give you some more suggestions and support.  Just wanted to welcome you and let you know that you came to the right place.  You are NOT alone.  Stay close here and keep posting; you can do this :))