Tramadol withdrawl, not an addict

[Blackbunnyrocker108]

I have been taking tramadol every day for about a year due to chronic lower back pain. I only take anywhere from 200-300 mg a day. I have run out before my next appt because my doctor only gives me enough for 200 mg a day but some days my pain is worse and I take an extra dose of 100 mg. I am going through withdrawals and looking for ways to help with it. Everything else I read on the internet is for heavy a users. 700 mg a day and up. What are ways to help with my situation. I have two small children, a husband and work full time. I need to still be able to function until about 10 days from now when I can go back to the doctor. After that I am going to slowly taper down my normal dose as I never want to go through this hell again. Any suggestions or help would be wonderful.

[Jinx_777]

i agree with everyone else who said you will be detoxed by the time you get your refill.  i suggest instead of getting a refill, go in to your doctor's office and tell them that tramadol no longer works for you and ask for a non opiate pain reliever like neurotin (sp?) heck, it may even help with your pain.  sometimes they prescribe antidepressants along with the non narcotic pain med.  even if you are not depressed it just seems to help people and that is what the tramadol had in it

[vicki595]

I might be confused here but you're out of Tramadol now, is that correct? And you can't get it refilled for over a week, is that right?

I don't understand why you want to go back on it after detoxing from it all this time...You don't need to taper anything if you've been off of it for nearly two weeks, right?  You'll be through withdrawing from it.

Write back and clear this up and let us know how you're feeling-

[cleaninitup]

It may not be my place to say I'm confused but you're going  ten days without them, to go back on them to taper off them? But I am confused or I may have missed something  

[atthebeach]

You are going cold turkey now. If you can't fill your script for 8 more days you might as well continue your final detox. You will continue to heal each day.
As you move around more and more your brain  will repopulate on its own.
After 10 days you will be feeling much better.
Healthy diet, lots of protein, veggies, fruit.
Stay hydrated. Over the counter pain relievers.
Hot Epsom salt baths.
Multi vitamin, magnesium, potassium, calcium supplements.
Opiate  induced hyperalgesia is very real.
Please  continue the healing and don't refill your script.
Keep the faith

[Blackbunnyrocker108]

I am totally ready to be done with this med. when I get my new script my plan is to gradually lower the doses I am taking. I do not want to keep taking this for much longer. I have been doing a ton of research and everything I read is not good. My goal is by the end of July to be down to only having to take two a day 100 mg and keep going down. I dont want to take this medicine, and I dont take to get high or feel any thing other than pain relief. I am also working to fix my back issues I am about to start my second round of physical therapy soon. Like I said I am not addicted to taking it, it's more of a physical dependency and I am done with it. I know i can not take the cold turkey route because I still have to be able to care for my family and work, so i am going to taper off of it and just see if maybe now ovc pain meds will help to substitute for the tramadol. I mainly just need ways to make it until next week without being laid up in bed all day. I have an extremely busy next two weeks at work, not a good time to be in full blown withdrawl. Thank you everyone for all the replays and for not judging me for something i had no idea would happen. I have never taken more that 300 mg in a day and even then they are spaced out into three doses like what I had before.  

[clean_in_ks]

Blackbunny....more than likely a couple of things are going on.
You said where you lived before your dr prescribed you 300 mg/day and now where you currently live, you dr will only prescribe you 200 mg/day.
The Drug Fact Sheet published by the mfr of tramadol states that the MAXIMUM dose that should be safely prescribed is 200 mg/day.  So your new dr is just following those guidelines.

The VERY false information that tramadol is NOT addictive is gradually being proven.  In some states, the laws have changed and so have their classification of this drug....but others haven't gotten on board yet.
Tramadol is VERY addictive....and it IS a synthetic opiate with an SSRI (antidepressant) component in it.  It is a tricky med....and many dr's are finally learning what it REALLY is rather than believing what the drug reps told them when it was first released for use for pain.

As with any addictive substance, the longer we use it....the more we will need in order to "do the job".  That is my concern for you.  
I have a family member that switched from hydrocodone to tramadol....she started off taking it "as prescribed" at 200 mg/day.  That gradually changed and she became addicted.  She found once she got off the tramadol that in a month or so, her back pain was completely gone (or at least WAY better).

It would be good to read about how long term use can actually create more pain....read about "opiate induced hyperalgesia".  That's what happened to me.  Using an opioid of any kind for long term pain isn't going to work forever.  Eventually, the pain receptors have been chemically charged for so long that the pain grows worse...and the meds quit working.

I hope you will be open to finding some other solutions for your pain.  And that just this short spell of not having enough trams will show you what is happening in your body.  It's progressive with an addictive substance....and our bodies just ask for more and more as time goes on~

[nursegirl6572]

WOW, you were given FIVE different medications to get off ONE or two?   That seems like craziness to me.  

I would encourage you to be cautious, you don't want to compound your problems.  I wish you the best!

[pinkfree]

I had went to an outpatient clinic in manhhattan . Every day for 10 days to get of the tramadol  and percs towards the end. They had given me clonidine,neurontin,trazadone(to sleep)there was one more pill that i had taken when i took the clonidine. they had to be taken together, i just can remember what it was..oh and they gave me ritalin too . i would take it in the morning so i would have enuf energy to travel to the city to get meds for that day. the name of that place was parallex center. they did help but i feel i am going backwards because i can't bare the pain anymore....ughh the thought of this..wish you luck my friend

[pinkfree]

I was told the same thing years ago when I had taken tramadol(it was non narcotic) and yes in ny it was non-narcotic. Recently they made it one here.What i don't understand is how in some states it was and some it wasn't.(to sleep)
  I feel for you. I have severe backs issues and i am always playing with fire afraid of getting addicted again. percs i take 2 days,then neurontins..now roxis i had taken 9 days in a row,skipped a day,took it again,skipped a day..now i am feeling burning sensations in. my feet and legs. I know its withdrawel symtoms but its nothing like getting  the past. I also am going to try the Thomas recipe. praying for you and all that have to go through this horrific cycle

[Blackbunnyrocker108]

Also I just posted the question, I never choose a category. It did it on its own I guess.

[Blackbunnyrocker108]

I have no anger towards you at all. The only reason I take an extra dose here and there is because where I lived before now my doc gave me 300 mg a day and it worked great, my doctor here will not give me but 200 mg a day. Some days that just doesn't cut it and nothing else we have tried has worked except for narcotics which I prefer not to take. I know tramadol works like a narcotic but I was told was not addictive and I would not have any issues when I stopped taking it. I do not take tramadol for any other reason other than to relieve my back pain. I no longer feel any sense of a high at all. It is pure and simple just pain relief which I need to be able to get out of bed. I do not panic when I run out but I do fear the withdrawl and the pain I know I will be in. I appreciate all the suggestions and will try them. I am ready to not need a pill to function but until they fix my back its a kinda have to situation. I am going to taper down to just two a day and try adding in Tylenol or naproxen, something over the counter to help me get though the day. I never pictured myself as having to take a pill everyday. I hate taking medicine, but after two children who were very big and me being only 100 pounds and 5'3 my hips are so. Screwed up its not funny and my is joint hates me. The only symptoms I get are diarrhea, head feels funny, sweats and chills and then my back pain. So far no issues with restless leg syndrome thank god! I take Imodium for the stomach but I dont know what to take to help with the other issues.

[LaPerdida]

One medication that does help with Tramadol w/drawal is an SSRI such as Prozac.  It acts on Serotonin as does Tramadol.  Of course you need a dr. to prescribe this as well.  If the Tramadol is not sufficient to control your pain ask your dr. to bump you up to Nucynta.  It like a super-charged Tramadol.  I had good luck with it.  

Best wishes to you!

[luvdolphins58]

Hello I to was dependent on Percocet 4.5 yrs. I had to quit c/t because I moved. I knew nothing about any of this crap. Wow yes it was hell on earth. People here swear by Thomas recipe and Epsom salt baths. All I can say I prayed more than ever during detox. I will be praying for you. Good luck.

[10356]

Hi Blackbunnyrocker.. Welcome to the forum.. I do not mean to sound rude but you sure sound like a addict.. at least you display addictive behavior, as for the amount you are taking It is a lg, amount.. adding another 100 mg. on your own is a lot.. self medicating is another addictive trait as is running out early Making excuses even to ourselves. If you really want to taper when you get your refill I would suggest having someone dole them out to you This way you will not be tempted to take more then prescribed.. Our come clean with your Dr. that you are needing more pain meds to cover your pain. This is what a dependent person would do Before upping their med on their own. You are posting in a addiction forum but yet you say you are not a addict, This is the reason for my line of reasoning. I hope you think about what I have said without anger as it could save you a lot of problems to get this figured out now.. As for feeling better on the bottom of the page is the Amino Acid Protocol and the Thomas recipe in both you can glean a lot of good advice on how to get thru this and what Vitamins and such to take for energy and all around well being.. Make sure you are staying hydrated. They sell a product called Hylands restful leg it helps with the rls also Valerian Root works well for anxiety. You can get this at Walmart. Make sure you are eating small healthy meals if not drink ensure to get your nutrition and after work soak in a hot bath this will help a lot so will taking walks outside.. I sure hope you figure this out It is hard on the body, mind and spirit to go thru wd every month.. I wish you well. lesa