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Tramadol withdrawal

Its my second day not taking Tramadol. Going cold turkey and flushed the 100 x 50mg tablets i have down the toilet. i feel like poop, my head is like cotton wool, my legs ache, I'm agitated and can't concentrate and it goes on & on. Any one out there know of any herbal meds that can help with withdrawal. I was in hospital and had my knee replaced, on recovery they gave me morphine, tramadol and ibroprufen without consulting me. The pharmacist gave me the prescription when I left hospital for the tramadol and was still not the wiser just how bad these drugs can be. I was on 8 x 50 mg tabs per day. It was only when I have tried to cut down these drugs that the **** hit the fan.
The withdrawal has nearly cost me my marriage and I have been so emotional, crying, suicidal and having bad mood swings along with severe headaches that I realise it is these drugs that are causing this. I feel for anyone trying to come off of them. Please is there someone out there recommend any alternatives to help get off these deugs ?
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1416133 tn?1351123217
Yeah, tramadol is sneaky like that.  Starts out working great for your pain, gives you the energy you need and makes you feel like there's nothing you can't handle.  That is until some time passes, you no longer feel good if you're not taking it, it no longer helps with your pain, in fact, seems to make your pain worse, and the energy thing goes away too.  You become isolated and no longer want to socialize with anyone.  This stuff is POISON.

But I am almost 10 months clean from this crap and have never felt better in my life.  So hang in there - keep going it does get better.  It takes some time, but it is SO worth it.  Feel free to message me and I'd be happy to share what I did to get through this.  Good luck to you!  :) p.s. and just wanted to say you might want to post a new question as this thread is pretty old so you might get more replies by posting a new question.  :)
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Avatar universal
It's been 75 hours since my last tramadol. I've been taking tramadol for 4 years. I had a rx from my family dr. for tramadol and I also ordered it off the internet from 2 different sites under a few different names. My average day would be 20 50mg tabs a day. I'd usually break that down to 6-7 pills 3 times a day. It pretty much gave me life. I kicked so much *** at work because I was quick, hard working, and couldn't feel a thing. God, I miss my tramadol. The past few days have been absolute torture!!!! I'm just curious how you're doing today. How long was it before you felt "normal"? Did you ever relapse? It'd be nice to hear from you.
Thanks, Layla
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Avatar universal
I have been trying to get of of tramadol for months, the withdrawls are worse than alcohol withdrawl. Whenever I've tried to quit I've gone for 4 days without sleep... and let me tell you the sleepless nights are horrible= when I quit drinking I didn't sleep for a month and felt like I have bugs crawling all over... but with tramadol dts my whole body aches, I can't sit still, its like I want to crawl out of my skin. I about overdosed on unysom and meletonin but they didn't even phase me. I have been addicted to many things.. pot, coke, viccodin- but was able to get off of them with reletively no problems. I had no ideal that this would be so terrible. I thought it would be a good choice for chronic back pain being it is not a true opiod- but its worse because it last so long and it has a "speed" like affect so it helps a person to be a "high functioning adict". And yes it is possible to be a high functioning attict as I have a good job and a great family life- I've been using tramadol to help hold everything together- it gives me the energy to cook, clean, and do laundry after work. But I don't want to be addicted to anything= I've cleaned my system of all of the other junk
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Avatar universal
Took tramadol for a back injury 4 months ago.....doctor stoped my prescription last week, so got some from a friend, want to stop taking them but i can. physically withdrawal is the worst...i feel like my skin is crawling all the time, cant stop moving,cant sleep. mentally i am pretty down, moody,snappy and crying alot! Can anyone tell me how long this will last...or is their anything i can take....dont want to go to my doc as i am really embarrased. Its ruining my life at the moment, I'm so miserable....please, please someone help!
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Avatar universal
Hi I been going through this since Jan 01 , not sleeping ,can't get comfortable , feeling so sad , tearful ,not really able to concentrate.This all just feels like too mch pain. Keeping going though . All has not been helped by having a cold on top. Looked in the mirror at the turn of the year and thought this has got to stop as I just felt sick on the tramadol. Given to me by a work colleague I had been taking them for about 6 months between 4 and 10 50mgs a day. Reckon I have another 3 days to go of feeling this awful. Find it hard to describe just how horrible the first 2 days were. Sun comes up every day .Thank you for the advice ,going to walk into town and get some valerian root.
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Avatar universal
Skip~    Ha! Some doctors!!

That agitation may come and go in waves. Just know it's normal and stay positive. Take the valerian root and extracts now...keep taking in extra fluids.

You're doing great. Just go easy on yourself and keep that humor! It helps...
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Avatar universal
Hi Vicki
Thanx for your response. 3rd day of Tram, this morning felt good however now i am feeling agitated. I have bought some valerian root and some tablets with pasion flower extracts in them. I have completely flushed all my Trams down the toilet. I had an appointment with my surgeon yesterday re: total knee replacement and he asked me if I was on any medication, I told him about the withdrawal feelings with Tram and he said stop taking them, lol. I am taking one day at a time, thanx again for your support.xxx
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Avatar universal
Tram wd is awful.  You should talk to the dr
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Avatar universal
Hey, that's fine with me; you're free to define "high-functioning" any way you see fit.  And yes, I agree, this forum is all about getting clean and staying clean.  I wish Skipman57 the best of luck!
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Avatar universal
I don't believe there is any such thing as a high functioning addict...

This forum is all about getting clean and staying clean...
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Avatar universal
The big problem I see with Tramadol is that it lasts so long.  I find this makes it a bit rougher when I stop taking it, as it seems the withdrawal may last longer than with some other substances.  Also, one can get all the Tramadol they want online without a prescription or anything.  Like a legal long-lasting opiate.  I'm addicted to everything and nothing (yes, that makes perfect sense).  I'm a very high-functioning addict: in grad school working on PHD.

However, that said, it sounds like you're in a good place.  At least you can talk about this with your wife and can keep someone else involved in your life and what you are going through.  It can get really hard when you have no one you can talk to about it, and you feel like you can't tell anyone in your life that you have a bit of a problem.

I can only look back and laugh at the many hours of crying and grumping that I took part in over the years.  Sure, times can be rough, but that's life, yo.  I don't know any other way than to realize how silly the whole thing is in retrospect and just laugh about it.  Sometimes I don't have any other defense mechanism than just to laugh it off.

I've spent many hours laying there in my bed, looking at my rifle sitting there on the floor and dreaming about using it.  Funny that having that option two feet from me during the worst of it actually made me feel better.  I didn't feel as trapped, as I knew I could give up whenever I wanted.  It was a calming thought actually.  Helped me out.  But then, I know myself.  Perhaps others should not keep that option literally so close and available to them.  Best keep that stuff away from you if you don't know yourself well enough.

Anyways, come back and chat with us.  Trust that we have been right there where you are, and feel for you.  The best thing to do at this point, IMHO, is to try to talk things over with your wife.  Be sure she understands that your short temper and mood swings come with the withdrawal and don't change the way you really feel about her, etc.  If you can get her to be strong with you during your time, you will have a much, much easier time with it all.  An understanding and supportive wife can make anything possible...  

But then, you sound like you're ready to stop.  I doubt you'll have much trouble, when it really comes down to it.  Wanting to quit really is the first and most important step.  I've decided, at least for the moment, that I'm not ready to quit playing the game, so it sounds like you're a step ahead of me, even if you have a little less experience.  I'll be reliving some grumpy tear and sh!t-filled moments in the future, probably a couple of times a year!  They'll suck something fierce, then I'll be over it and laughing about how silly the whole thing was, only to do it again months later.  ; )
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Avatar universal
Hi~  Some folks get with their doctor for a short run on some antidepressants. There is an AD in Tramadol which causes a lot of the problem with it.   Everything you feel is pretty par. Try some Valerian root and melatonin. Get those minerals in and keep forcing fluids.  Hot baths etc...

I do urge you to call a doctor for further help with this. Try talking to your wife so she understands. Do some research on Tramadol.

Keep posting...
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