Tryin' to get off Norco/Tramadol aka Ultram

I  feel so ashamed.  I have been hiding an addiction for 12 years.  Dont ask me how Ive done it.  I'm married with two kids.  It started with extreme lower back problems and most recently hip surgery.  I'm done with the surgery and now I'm told that we have to "watch" the other hip-that we are going to have to have surgery on that one also, probably in the next six months to a year.  I take 7 different meds per day.  the ones I'm worried about are Norco and Ultram.  I've been on Ultram since 1998.  They told me then that it was "not addicting".  I was taking the "normal" 6 per day for a long time.  Then my hip got worse, and I started in on the Vikes and/or Norco, along with the tramadol.  I didn't tell the hip doc that I was on the Ultram.  He perscribed 90 7.5/750 per month of the Norco.  When I ran out of those in about 10 days to two weeks I would fill in with the Ultram I got from my rheumatologist.  I got the ultram on the mail away plan-they'll send you a 3 mo supply, so you can do the math...I rec'd quite a lot every 2.5 mos.  Recently I was taking 15 Ultram and 10 - 12 Norco every damn day.  My timing with the perscriptions was such that I was without both for 3 days.  I've never felt so bloody awful in my life.  Shivering, sweating, shaking, sneezing??  I never want to feel like that again.  I don't want to be on this crap any longer.  Good thing my kids aren't here and are away with relatives...I got a new rx for Norco and I took 2 just to feel better, and I have to say it really didn't help much.  I'm very scared.  I know I have to taper off, but I'm afraid I'll just go back to my old ways...it has such a hold on you.  That feeling is so awful.  It's a ****ing merry go round and I want to get off...I can't afford rehab, does anyone have any suggestions for someone who used such an amount like me in how to stop?

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tramadol abuse

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ultram abuse

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norco abuse

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[Greatgreebo]

Tramadol and Ultram are the same medications...they need to be tapered off of....just stopping cold turkey can cause problems......you can stop the Norco-opiate CT-it won't kill you, you're just gonna feel like heck. I'd set up a taper plan for the ultram (have someone else hold it so you don't get tempted to cheat) and just stop the Norco's CT....it's gonna be rough for a few days but completely survivable......Do you have someone you can trust to help your pills? can you talk to your doc? family member? clergy? the big thing is to come up with a plan and stick to it. Having someone you trust to hold the pills is the biggest help in the world.....................it's obvious you've had enough and the mental torture of abusing this stuff is way worse than the physical pain when we stop!!
stay strong
and keep posting
Greatgreebo

[pattifan]

If you want to taper, you should see your doctor and draw up a tapering schedule together. Just choose whichever doc you feel you can engage with best. You can tell them you're taking both opiates. It's nothing they haven't seen a hundred times before.

Ideally your hip doc would be best. He/she needs to know, as they'll want to put you back on opiates when you have your next op.

Do you feel able to tell your husband? You're really going to need him to support you if you want to taper, and probably best if he holds your meds for you.

Take care