Ultram: Good or Bad?

[Yo_Tony]

I've read some very unsavory things about Ultram here, but am unable to find anything else bad about it on the Internet. A good friend told me it was bad stuff, and said a publication entitled Good Pill, Bad Pill, or something similar, had called for it to be banned.

Why, exactly, is it so bad? And how addictive is it?

Thanks!

[theonlybenzoaddct]

When I told my doc that I had a probablem w/ taking pain med responsibly, He gave me Ultram for pain. He told me it was not habbit forming ala "paxil", and had no opiate buzz with it. but I know of many peapole on this site including UltrAGIRL. whom has had a real REAL bat time getting off of it. So yeah. It can be very addicting.
                        andy k

[JES20]

I was in a car accident a few years ago,and messed  my ankle up really bad.My doctor prescribed me Ultram for the pain,and I got the same old story,not addictive,no buzz,no tolerance blah blah blah.
Lies all lies,that **** was a nightmare for me.Soon I needed more and more,so I started buying on the "street".I then depleted the Ultram supply rapidly every month,so on to oc.When I would run out of Ultram and couldn't get any Oxy it wasn't long before w/d would kick in.Here I am today a full blown drug addict and I blame it all on Ultram.If you intend to use Ultram be very very careful.

Jes20

[earlygrayce]

i have been sober from opiates for a little over 3 months now  and i recently had a root canal. the prescription ibuprofen was not cutting it so i found some ultacet (ultram + tylenol)  samples in my cabinet that a doctor had given me a year ago when i was out dr. shopping for vicodin or percocet. he said it was non-narcotic, non- habit forming etc... when i first tried it to get high, i felt nothing. but i was expecting a vicodin-type euphoria feeling. so i threw the samples in the cabinet and never really thought about them until i recently read on this board where people were saying it is addictive. so when i was in pain i thought "what the hell". and the addict in me sure didn't mind. luckily i only had two samples. there was no euphoria feeling and for me it took much longer to kick in, but there definately is a "high" achieved when taking ultram. it was more of a out of it feeling, but a high nonetheless. so like pain meds, when used correctly, it can be a life-saver, but at least in my experience, ultram can certainly be addictive.

one response to a comment by theonlybenzoaddict. you said paxil is habit-forming. i'm not sure i agree with that comment. maybe you meant hard to get off of or withdraw from. i was on paxil for over a year and i read up on the medication extensively before taking it. i never got "high" of paxil nor have i ever read about anyone who has. and i never had the subsequent desire to take more than my dose. now it took me several weeks to taper off it, due to pretty severe withdrawal symptoms i had, and i have heard about the same in others. but i would disagree that paxil is "habit-forming" or addictive.
but that is just my opinion.

[Witchywoman]

Paxil is addictive only in that it will create a withdrawal syndrome if suddenly stopped.  No one uses Paxil or any of the ssri's to get high. They are not recreational. They don't produce a high at all. But most of them do have *nasty* withdrawals if you don't taper them slowly, so technically they are addictive, if you define addiction as the body physically adapting to the point of needing the medication to function normally, ie, without a withdrawal.

The only ssri that does not create withdrawal if you stop is suddenly is prozac. I've been on it, it worked very well for me, and I when I stopped it I didn't taper, and had no problem.

But at the clinic where I work I see people all the time who are going through horrible wds from paxil, effexor, etc when they just decide to go off it rather than talking to the Doc and tapering.  

I guess it is all a matter of semantics. You are both right, but just talking about it in a different way.

I by no means want to discourage anyone from trying the ssri's. They can be lifesavers when you need them. Just go off slow when the time is right.

love,
WW

[A-Factor]

Agreed with the above statement.  Although I have seen patients at my old pharmacy being tapered off of Prozac.

I've been taking Zoloft since my father died 2 years ago, and if I go a couple days and forget to take it, watch out!  It's like a bad hangover that won't go away.

Bottom line?  Talk to your doctor and/or pharmacist if you are thinking about stopping your SSRI or switching to a different one.  Don't play around with samples either if your doc likes to give them out like candy.  Always make sure you get decent education about any sample they give you.

[lostlady]

hi guys - sorry for breaking the thread, but need some encouragement tonight.  I've been posting here for a couple of weeks - and reading the posts of others and it's been helpful. i've been taking pain pills for over 10 years - started out w/ darvocet and have moved up to Oxy's. I am in the middle of tapering down from oxy's  (currently taking 40 mg 3x per day - down from 6 to 8 40's a day)- have been legitimately taking them by rx from my doctor for chronic pain due to lupus, fibromyalgia, and back pain for over 2 years, but have not been able to take them responsibly and would always run out before my next rx.  I was doctor shopping to get other meds (vicoden ES or Vicoprofen) and getting friends/family to give me leftovers of their meds and found this site one day when doing a search for help w/ w/d symptoms.  After reading through some of the old posts - I got scared after I read about people being arrested for "diversion" or dr. shopping.  So thanks to the board (seeing that others have been able to do it) I've decided that I am going to taper down off these meds and learn to deal w/ the pain since I can't take the meds just for pain tx.  I've been doing good since Monday, but had a very bad day today w/ work and got some really really really bad news financially.  i am fighting so hard not to go and take a couple of extra pills to relieve this anxiety and am really struggling!!  I really Need some reinforcement/support from others who are going through this tonight.  I know this is a tight-knit group and it seems hard sometimes for newcomers to join in - but you all have been my saviours over the past week.  If anyone has anything helpful to say - would appreciate a response.  I've been trying to do other things to distract myself - (listening to music, watching funny movies, hot baths, talking to my hubby, etc) but today is really bad.  My husband (who is well aware of my problem and very supportive) is trying to help, but he just doesn't understand this craving/need I am feeling.  I am a mom who lives in the midwest, nothing too glamorous - I don't know anyone else personally who is struggling w/ an addiction that I can call or talk to personally so am going to have to rely on you guys.  PillHell are you out there?  You are the main person I've been talking to - but would love to hear from anyone else who can relate, especially those who have done this and been sucessful.  Pillhell - you and I seem to be in the same situation and I really appreciate you writing back to me.  Thanks for listening guys....  also just one more note - you guys are the best - i love reading the posts of others who are winning this battle.  You give me more hope than you know.

[A-Factor]

You wouldn't believe the resources doctors and pharmacists have at their disposal.  I know here in Wisconsin, there is a hotline they can call to see if someone they think is abusing meds is on that list.  It's especially easy to get caught or at least questioned about it if you are using prescription insurance, because it's easy to see how often and where you are getting your narcs filled.

At my very first pharmacy job in a very small town, there were only 2 pharmacies.  The Wal-Mart I worked at, and a small Mom & Pop place.  Turns out we had a patient that was getting Stadol nasal spray filled at both places.  Her doctors got suspicious and notified us.

I'm glad you're taking some initiative, and hope everything goes well for you!  You can do it!

[Kritty]

Hi-
  I have fibromyalgia and I was addicted to Vicodins ES 12-15 per day, however, I knew I couldn't live life on them. If you believe in a higher power, my suggesstion is to get on your knees and ask for strength to get through this. If you have money for doctors and pharmacies then find that money and go to an acupuncture clinic as well as a chiropractor whom studies kinesliogy and/or massage therapy. STRESS is the #1 reason you flare up from fibro, lupus etc... Don't make excuses like I did you actually can heal your mind,body,and spirit...only if you really want too. That is the road I am taking!!! Also, go to a huge bookstore and read,read,read, on all of your syndromes and/or diseases. I found a psychotherapist who had fibro... and she healed herself. It's true and you will be clear headed as well as getting healthy. Hang in there.. Don't let this little ass pills take over, you deserve more. one more suggesstion if you feel agitated, stressed, angry...etc, go for a walk and just keep going until you can't walk anymore....IT HELPS..I trust you will do the right thing. I will pray for you sweetie.. TEE

[koalabear]

I'm sure you've read most of my history, but I have had a major breakthrough with all the hype and anxiety of tapering and w/ds. My doc prescribed me lorazepam and clonidine. They not only helped with the anxiety, but helped with the withdrawals themselves.  Now...you have to be certain to take them as directed, and are not meant to be taken long term, but certainly have been a godsend for my tapering and withdrawals.

Hope this may help.

A lot of others swear by the Thomas Recipe.  It was not effective for me.  Hang in there and keep  posting.

Koala

[lostlady]

Thanks guys for writing me back.  I keep coming back to my computer and signing on to see if anyone has written me back.  It's almost 8:30 p.m. here - so I think i am going to make it w/o taking another pill.  I've already taken my alloted 3 for the day.  God i just wish there was some easier way to do this.  I don't understand why some people can take this medication and only use it for when they are in pain, whereas I want it regardless of being in pain or not.  The real kicker is that I really do have pain - and now have built up a tolerance from taking too much - so that my real dosage is not controlling the pain.  WHY DID I DO THIS TO MYSELF??? I feel like such a complete ass - i knew what I was doing was wrong - yet I continue to do it.  I know now is not a good time to be kicking myself but I just can't help it.  I am just wigging out - feel like I am having a panic attack - keep telling myself to hold til 6 a.m. tomorrow when it is time for the next pill.  I will probably be back on the board again tonight if anyone else is out there and feels like talking.  I know it's Friday night and most people are not going to be sitting at the computer but if you are I would love to hear from you.  I really think that this board, along w/ prayers and encouragement from my husband (plus a little fear) are the only things that are going to get me through this.

[samar]

I am just fessing up that I have allowed myself to believe I have been clean for the last 5 or six days when I haven't. I have been addicted to Vicodin ES for about six years and NO, I haven't taken any vikes in five days BUT I have been taking Tylenol #3.  Oops......  How screwed up is that to believe how easy my withdrawls have been when I have been taking 5-7 ty3's a day?  I cannot believe how ill I really am.  I am sorry for the lack of honesty I have represented on this forum.  I have been going on about my "holistic" methods of w/d thinking I had the be all and end all of getting off of narcotics.  What a joke.  I stashed some 3's thinking if the w/d's got bad after getting off the vikes I would use them in MODERATION to get thru.  Well, instead, I go the 24 hours and then take 4 at once at around 6pm, start to feel the buzz a bit then grapple with whether or not to take more and give in and take a few more a couple of hours later.  I call it my bewitching hour...  That early evening shitty time.  I have two young ones and kinda have to be home: feeding them dinner, bathing them, bla, bla, bla, the whole mom gig......  I can't really get out and if they are with their dad (I am separated) I make up excuses not to get out to that yoga class or walk on the beach........What the hell am I going to do?  Am I EVER going to have the strength?  Help me please........  Ali

[mrmichael67]

Don't worry about it.  You will have the strength.  You have more than you realize.  And, the honesty thing is very common.  A lot of people do not completely tell it like it is right in the beginning.  You came clean, so don't beat yourself up over it.  It is what you do from now on that really matters.  You can do it if you truly want to.  And, from your posts, I can tell you do.  Hang in there!

[koalabear]

Do you have msn messenger or any instant messenger?

[koalabear]

Another suggestion is to just retire for the night early.  When you get up, it'll be the time you were so anxiously waiting for. But be sure to have your husband give you a nice backrub.  Get those endorphins, hormones flowing, and you might not feel the need for that extra pill.

:)  Koala

[fishman59]

Hey everyone a little problem here I went to the doctor yesterday,when I told him exactly how much tylenol I was taking he said I was consuming almost 3x the "toxic" level of acetaminophin.so then he wrote me a prescription for pure codeine 100 tabs 60mg. codeine phosphate.The problem I have now is the caffeine that was in the tylenol is now gone the doctor told me to expect some headaches but this is F**king insane.Is there anything I can consume to drastically increase my caffeine so my head does'nt explode..even the codeine does'nt stop it! and coffee I'm not too keen on.
**I'am going the taper route to try and get clean so I don't necessarily want or need to give up the caffeine,although I suppose if I get headaches from lacking it I guess its a drug too.

[koalabear]

Chocolate has extremely high levels of caffiene.  Soda.  Iced Tea. They makd sodas that have caffeine as an afterthought, like Jolt.
They make caffeine pills.  Don't think you'd like   to  try Dexatrim  LOL

Hope this helps.
Koala

[fishman59]

No I think I'll skip the dexatrim,I'm also trying to put some meat back on my bones,have'nt been able to gain wait for a long long time!(maybe I should market tylenol as a diet aid) just kidding! I will try the chocolate though! can't get enough junk into my belly!
                Thanks for the info,my own brain has been on "standby" for a few weeks and I can't seem to handle anything over a grade 3 level,and with a college degree in my hands that sucks!!Even my dreams are screwed,I dreamed I was a chimpanzee driving my car down a street and everyone looked like bananas..laughing at me! (so whats that about Freud?)
                                Joe

[A-Factor]

I have MSN, my email is ***@****.  Feel free, anyone to add me!  I'll chat your fingers off!  lol

And lostlady, isn't it awful that we can become so tolerant to these things?  That's what landed me in my deep doodoo.  I needed more, more, more just to touch my pain.

As far as not taking another pill tonight (if you're even still awake!) just think how much better it will be tomorrow when you are finally allowed to take one.  That's the way I looked at things when I was "running low."

When I was ready to begin my withdrawel, I kept five hydrocodone 10mg tabs.  I stretched those buggers out as FAR as I possibly could.  I even cut the last 2 pills in half.  This helped me ease into the withdrawel stage a little easier.  I guess it was my own taper regimn...or something.

Try to stay strong, and if you can't, maybe break a pill in half.

[ShadyGirl]

Hi I have been reading through this board for a few weeks now...but scared to post I guess.I am a 32 year old mom of 3.
I have been addicted to Lortabs 10/500 for almost 7 years now.
Started out as a real pain problem,then like everyone else BAAM!
I became consumed by these devil pills:(

I have just recently stopped taking them...on my 4th miserble
day of withdrawls,and I am crawling the walls wanting to get a pill.I have a doc who prescibes me 150 10's a month...and my fiancee 180 10's a month...He never takes them...so I consume them...about 15 to 20 a day...

I LIVE for that damn little blue pill....the w/d's are HELL!!!
Any suggestions on easing the w/d's?I went out and got the thomas recipe tonight...so waiting to see if that works for me...I can relte to lostlady and alot of others on this board...I too need someone to chat with...this is nuts...
Anyways I added the last person name to my msn messenger which is ***@**** I also have AIM... ShadyGirl3511 is my screenname

ANYONE who needs support and would like to talk about withdrawl hell etc....feel free to IM me...

Thanks for listening...alot of your stories inspired me to quit:)

[ShadyGirl]

Ok sorry that last part made no sense LOL..I meant to say I added the last person who posted A-factor to my MSN list LOL

Maybe we can chat sometime:)Anyone else again feel free to IM me

[lostlady]

Hi guys - I am still awake.  it's 12:30 a.m. - tried the backrub suggestion Koala - it helped somewhat while my husband was giving it to me but after he stopped and we went to bed, my mind started racing again.  So now I am back up and pacing.  So far have been good - have not taken another pill yet but I am really wanting to.  Koala - i do have AOL IM- my IM address is elibelibo.  I don't have an MSN account, but will create one since it seems like both you and Afactor are on MSN. Koala - please post back w/ your IM address if you don't mind. I am going to try and go back to sleep.  I took a trazadone - (mild antidepressent that helps w/ sleep)  Afactor checked it out for me - and Alexandra said she is taking it too w/ no problems.  it worked great earlier this week, but tonight - so far no luck.  However, i am going to go and read and see if I can fall asleep.  Thanks Koala and Afactor for staying in touch w/ me.  I appreciate you both so much.  I don't know why - but it seems like the long term members of the board don't respond to me.  I've posted to both mrmichael and skipper - but maybe they aren't seeing my posts.  You guys (Afactor and Koala) have been so nice to me.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

[lostlady]

I created a MSN IM account.  My address is ***@****  you can email me here or chat on MSN.  Afactor - I will add you to my buddy list.

Thanks again guys.

[mrmichael67]

I am sorry.  I haven't been purposely dodging you.  I have been too consumed with the **** the hit the fan here.  I am here for you.  I am ***@**** for e-mail and msn messenger.

[lostlady]

Hi there - I can definitely relate to what you are going through - we are in the same (sinking) boat.  I've been reading through the old posts on the board- and have picked up a lot of good tips on dealing w/ the w/d's.  The most important one is talking to someone who understands.  I added your AOL IM address to my buddy list - mine is elibelibo.  My email address is ***@**** if you want to email me.  I am having a rough night myself as you can probably tell from my posts earlier tonight- but I have found that the people here on the board are good listeners.  I've been using the "thomas" recipe too - but it's actually kind of making me sick to my stomach.  I've seen other readers post the same thing.  ? for you - (you may have already answered this in your post - but I am scatter brained tonight) are you tapering down off meds or just going cold turkey?  I tried the cold turkey route and failed miserably.  So I am trying the tapering and I almost feel like it's worse.  At least w/ the cold turkey method I didn't have the ever looming temptation of the pills being available.  Please post back and tell us more about you - I am sure some of the more experienced people on the board will write back w/ their suggestions to you as well.  Afactor is a great reference for ? about medications - he has a pharmacy background.  MrMichael, Hippy, Skipper, Alexandra, WitchyWoman, Tex3, GWH and Jessearpy are also great posters and I've learned a lot from reading their posts.  I am going to try and go back to bed now - but will be sending up a prayer for you.  Will check back (hopefully not til tomorrow) and see how you are doing.

[lostlady]

Thanks guy - I appreciate that.  I've added you to my MSN messenger and email.  Am actually going to try and go back to sleep now - it's been a really rough day and evening, but if it's ok - I'd like to email you tomorrow.  I really have gained a lot from reading your posts and have a lot of respect for you and skipper.  Guess I was feeling a little left out because the "gurus" weren't answering me!  LOL  :)  Anyway - thanks again - will email you tomorrow.

[ShadyGirl]

I am going cold turkey ARGHHHHHHHH!!!!!For the 2nd time in 7 months...last year I was able to stay off them for 2 months.Then in Dec. I had sugery...so of course,that screwed up my sobriety.I got back on the damn Lortabs,I just decided a few days ago to stop,I want my life back,I want to feel things again.I remember when I was on the drug...almost everything that came out of my mouth was wrong...somebody would ask me a question ,like at work or something,and my answer would be so offtopic,that they would look at me as if I was nuts...I felt nothing but numb and loved it...but enoughs enough ...after 7 years,my livers probably gone by now from all the tylenol...
Anyway here I am day 4...going into day 5....started the thomas recipe like I said tonight,hope it helps...

I added you to my buddy list too lostlady...we are alot alike :)
Hope to chat with ya...or whomever else wants to chat....
Why wont my legs stop moving ARRRGHHH!!!!!I am so damn restless...:(

[Xanandyk]

Hey all
        I changed my name from "theonlybnzoaddct" to the above. I thought the name was a little sterotypical and unitarian. There are more than just one benzaddict in this forum. Any hoo the good, and it'll keep getting better. First off, I have been clean from benzodiazepams for 5 months now. No xanax, Valium, Ativan, Temazepam, well anything i can swallow 7 at a time. The only probablem I have now is w/ my anxiety and insomnia. Both of which led me to the benzo dependancy. I went on paxil for deppresion and anxiety. That drug is worse than any w/d I've ever had. Which brings me to my next great thing. The wd/ from the paxil were like w/d from opiate at first(chills,runs,flulikesymptoms,ext..)but now I have "brain zaps". Little charges like a 9volt battery going through my head. Have been suffering this for 4 week now. And I have been off paxil for 2 months. Guess what. I will file a law suit, and win. I'll tell ya the details l8ter. I aslo have the most butiful new girl friend too. She is a message' therapist. God am I lucky. Lovinlife. I dedicate this next verse too all at this forum, "ONCE IN A WHILE YOU GET SHOWN THE LIGHT IN THE STRANGEST OF PLACES IF YOU LOOK AT IT RIGHT"-Scarlet Begonias, Jerry Garcia,  Addict and dead:(  
                       Much love for you all

[Lucy and Ricky]

How are you feeling today? I wanted to reply to you last night, but I saw that alot of people reached out to you, so I decided to wait. Your right about the people in this forum being tight knit, I asked a couple people about tapering off and how it worked for them and I only got one response. I sympathize with the pain of wd's from oxys, even though I primarily take norcos I have been hooked on oxycontin before.Before I found this forum I really felt alone in my addiction, and I felt like the biggest loser for getting hooked and never being able to kick this habit. I still have not been successful, but at least I don't feel like I'm the only one. Currently I take about 30 norcos a day, and I would really appreciate anybody's feedback about tapering off and how you felt while doing it.

[vikequeen]

Hello friends, I just finished watching  a very interesting show on VH1 on oxycontin, did any one else see it? I want to add my email adddress to anyone who might want to email me ***@****, I am a married 37 year old 2 kids one 18 and one almost 3 , I am struggling with painkillers right now, vicodin, oxyIR and mostly percocet, I have ultram right now to help when I dont have the others. I wanna stop but timeis not right right now -Baddgirl

[Jim10/500]

Hello, This msg. is for anyone like Shadygirl who is detoxing from vicodin, lortab etc..  I have completed detoxing from 30 or so lortab 10/500's per day.  I recommend seeking out a doctor who is experienced in addiction medicine.  my Dr. gave me clonodine to ease withdrawls, phenegram for nausea and said to take immodium for diahrea.  I have detoxed cold turkey b4 and i must say that these medications dramatically decreased the w/d symptoms.
Also, jacuzzi's , hot baths and heating pads will help with the achiness.  Dr. also gave me trazadone (non addictive) to help with sleep.  It does work fairly well.

Above all though, the hard work comes after the detox.  For me narcotics anonymous and the 12 steps is helping me to find serenity, and learn how to live a n enjoyable life without the dependency on pain meds and valium.

I wish everyone the best, and my prayers and love are with you.  Just try to take one day at a time, and be grateful for what you still have in your life.  It could be alot worse.

[Jenny_Berg]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Jenny. I'm 18 years old. About two years ago I was terribly addicted to dexatrim. I would pop a lot during the day especially at school. If I wasn't doing that I was inducing vomit. My doctor put me on the anti-depressent, Zoloft. I was taking 200 mg's of that three times a day. It was working but my doc decided to put me on Paxil also. I was taking 50 mg's of that. So after about two weeks of taking both pills, I started hearing voices. I was on the meds for about 4 months maybe more. I felt really depressed, so I started overdosing on Zoloft and Paxil. I was soon hospitalized. They took me off of the zoloft and put me on 4 new meds to take along with my paxil. I really can't remember too much of being in the hospital.
In August of last year I moved to Alberta with a friend of the family. I again was taking too much of my 4 different meds and ended up in the hospital again. My friend decided to take me off of the meds. I quit cold turkey without telling my doctor. Man was I sick!
Now I feel better being drug free. Until...Now I'm in to the dexatrim and apiterime again. I need help befor it gets serious again. Please help me!

[puma]

I love Ultram personally. I wish I could take more of it, but my Doc is stict at making sure I can only order a certain amount of pills a month. That helps keep me from running out early and having bad pain. I despise bad pain and it makes me unfunctional so I follow Doc's orders.

Of course no one wants pain. The other opiods make me testy and arguementative so I avoid those. Ultram supossadly has a mood enhancer built in almost like an anti-depressant I was told and it seems to work that way.


Chatahan

[Bobbybones]

I just wanted to know if anyone could tell me when you know you are "addicted".... I have been on pain meds since I had reconstructive surgery on my elbow 8 months ago. I have a titanium Elbow now and needless to say, my body does not like it! The doctors started with Morphine for post-op pain (WOW - NO PAIN) but after getting released from the hospital, I was on Percocet for a few weeks then lortabs. now it seems that every time I stop taking the lortab for a day, I start to get major body aches, headaches, can't focus, and no sleep.  So I take one lortab 5/500 and I sleep like a baby, or I take one before lunch and feel "normal" and can focus on work and the day seems "better".  Does this sound like the begginning of addiction? Should I be concerned that the real physical pain is being cused by the mental addiction to the pain relief? It scares me to think that I may be heading down that road. I respect the fact that the people in this forum have the strength to dicuss your situations and that is why i am posting this message. thanks for the advice!