Ultram with draw

[b lew]

Until about a week ago I had been taking ultram during the evening only. I was taking about 150- 200mg. with in a three hour period. I was also taking the herb kava. A week ago last Sat. I had been up till about 2:30 in the morning doing paper work, I awoke about 7:00 and was on the go with not much to eat and a few cups of coffee, and some candy. I was in a department store at about 3:00 pm and felt light headed and thought that I was in need of something to eat. The next thing I knew I was in the back of an ambulance and was looing eye to eye with an E.M.T.
I had passed out and went into a seizure. I went to the hospital and had an, ekg, blood work, urine , and a cat scan, and everything came back normal. I had since cut my dosage to 50-75mg
of the ultram before I go to bed. I wanted to quit taking the ultram all together, but when I would go to bed I would feel very nervous and jittery.I'am trying to wean myself off the medication totally. I'am feeling some what cloudy during the day. My question is; is it a fuitless endever to try to wean my-self off this medication, and what I'am experincing is this possible drug with-draw? If so how long can I normally expect this to last. Any imput or suggestions will greatly be appreciated. Last night I took 75mg. of the ultram and slept well.

[FROM JO TO KIM]

WHY ARE YOU TAKING ULTRAM TO SLEEP ? ARE YOU IN PAIN?

[b lew]

yes from an amputation

[FROM JO TO KIM]

b lew, i am so sorry to hear that. How scary it must have been for you to have that experience. You know., utram is getting more and more of a bad rep. please be careful and let us know how you are. ifyou want to visit and get some support you may email me at ***@****
looking forward to hearing from you. I have been through hell and back and have big shoulders. :)

[barbara to pain and lortab]

This is just my opinion but it sounds like you had a low blood sugar attack by the sounds of what led yp to your seizure.

Kava-Kava also has a strong effect on the CNS and could cause some problems mixing with Ultram.

I tried Kava-Kava for alcohol withdrawal and had seizures all day long. It sucked. I was saved the next day by my doctor who at that time gave me Librium. That was last November.

I have since had ove 100 seizures from alcohol withdrawal and seperate seizure disorder apparently covered up by the alcoholism.

I now take 50 mg of Ultram for chronic pain and mood elevation, 1 mg of Klonopin every four hour for seizures and anxiety disorder and 300 mg of Neurontin every day for seizures and anxiety.

It is a great combination and my body lets me know when I forget my meds. I shake and break!

[Stan]

I recently told my doctor how I was feeling withdrawl symptoms from going through my oxycontin presciption to quickly.He is planning on weaning off them and putting me on ultram.Anyone have any similar experience.Oxy great for the back pain, but my use is escalating and I expressed my concern of addiction.Will ultram work for the pain after being on something as strong as oxy?I'm expecting some discomfort from the weaning.Anyone have anything to offer on the subject.

[barbara to pain and lortab]

Stan, I can not compare Ultram to Oxy as I have never taken it. I have taken Tylenol 3 in the past and Advil worked better.

I do take Ultram now for chronic pain and it is excellent for me. It even has mood elevating characteristics similar to the narcotics even though it is non-narcotic.

[FROM JO TO KIM]

I JUST HAVE A QUESTION AND THOUGHT MAYBE I COULD FIND THE ANSWER HERE. MY SISTERIS AN ADDICT AND HER SOURCES HAVE DRIED UP. SO I THOUGHT. I AM BEGINNING TO BELIEVE SHE IS BUYING PERSCRIPTOINS OVER THE INTERNET. IS THAT POSSIBLE. I KNOW SHE TAKES LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY OUT OF THE BANK AT A TIME.I WANT TO HELP AND I AM AFFRAID FOR HER. I FIGURE IF I FOUND HER SOURSE I CAN INTERFERE. THANKING YOU AHEAD OF TIME

[tom to SAMMIE]

if your motive is to save money, then I'd say go ahead. But if your intention is to save your sister from drugs, don't bother. Cutting off her source will just make her that much more desperate. Only your sister can make the decision to quit and seek help. She'll just keep using, only now she'll hate your guts and become more secretive. She has to hit bottom and consciously ask for help. You can do nothing. Sorry.

[To Sammie]

Yes narcotics are available on the internet.I know people have ordered pills from Mexican pharmacies.Talk to her.Abruptly cutting her source will just send her elsewhere,perhaps into dangerous areas.She needs help,but sometimes the tough love approach isn't the best in this area.Best of luck.

[Brian to Sick and Scared § ALL you guys]

Ultram is known to cause seizures in some patients.  Barbara is correct that combining Kava with Ultram is dangerous.  Combining Kava with any CNS depressant is dangerous and could potentiate the respiratory depression to a fatal level.  With respect to withdrawing from Ultram, go slowly reducing your dosage by about 10% every 3-4 days.  If you start feeling withdrawal symptoms, reduce even slower.  Ultram has a particularly bad withdrawal syndrome which can last longer than that of narcotics.  And, for all those who think they can safely use Ultram because it is not a narcotic--don't kid yourselves.  Ultram binds to the opiate receptors, is addictive and the withdrawal is bad.  Furthermore, there is a risk of seizures.  In my opinion it is not a very good drug due to these issues and due to the misperception that it is safe because it is not a narcotic.  It is a wolf in sheeps clothing.

[Stan]

Still nobody outthere with any information on being switched from oxycontin to ultram? Really would appreciate it. Thanks.

[Brian to Sick and Scared § ALL you guys]

Let me see if I understand, your doctor is switching you from oxycontin to tramadol because you became addicted to the oxy?  Guess what, you're going to become addicted to the tramadol as well.  If that doesn't matter to you, I would stick with the oxy since it will control pain better.  Furthermore, despite it being stronger the withdrawal will not last as long.  Finally, tramadol carries a risk of seizures which oxy does not.  Good luck to you.

[b lew]

All your adise from what I can tell is good advise. I have started weening myself off the ultram and at first it was hell.I felt latargic, cloudy, and a real sence of vertigo. I have now cut my dose in half. I'am taking the ultram for chronic pain as a result of a ray amputation in my left hand that had taken place almost nine years ago. I was taking vicoden es steady for about 6 years and was nothing to quit compared to the ultram. The ultram seems to work better in the sence that I really don't feel anything from it other than the relief it gives. But if I forget to take it my body reminds me, I get light headed and sometimes a headache. My advise to anyone out there considering ultram, do a little reserch and look at all the pro's and con's.
I would like to get off the ultram totally and stick to the kava. I have quit the kava totally now, but really felt better when I was taking it. Thanks to all your responces and remember don't mix ultram and kava or any other antidepressants.

[Stan to Brian]

Brian thanks for info on ultram. Glad to have you back.I imagine you REALLY needed a vacation.

[Brian to Sick and Scared § ALL you guys]

You're welcome.  And b, you make a good point about not mixing Kava with Ultram, etc.  Kava is actually pretty potent and mixing it with other drugs that act on the central nervous system is dangerous.  By the way, go very slowly on Ultram tapering.  It usually works better that way, but you will still feel somewhat crappy at the end.  They are, for many people, harder to withdraw from than the hydrocodone.  Stan, I REALLY did need a vacation.  I have a new theory since returning.  The longer your vacation the quicker you feel like you need one once you return.

[tom to Brian]

Vacation is a semi-synthetic experience with multiple actions qualitatively similar to those of leisure; the most prominent of these involve the central nervous system. Psychic dependence, physical dependence and tolerance may develop upon repeated administration ...

but surely you've read the literature.

[Brian to Sick and Scared § ALL you guys]

Thanks for the laugh.

[comment by: donna to brian mon october 2]

what you say about ultram is true-it IS a wolf in sheeps

[Bam]

I have taken just about every pain med trying too find one that doesn't have side effects.  Ultram is by far a way harder pain killer than vicoden or percocet too stop taking.  Physically when you come off of ultram you cant sleep or eat.  You have anxiety so bad you feel like you are bursting.  You cry alot and I mean also from the depression it causes because your brain is used to the ultram making the seratonin and it takes a while  for your brain too catch up and start making seratonin again.  You honestly cant find anything too look forward too and the things that used too make you happy all of a sudden SUCK!!! The people in your life will be on your nerves and you just could care less if you live or die.  It is the only time in my life that I have ever felt suicidal.  This lasts a full two weeks at the least and every hours seems like eternaty.  I now take anti-depressants and without them I dont think I could make it threw the day.  I am so disappointed in myself because we are only given one body and once your body gets addicted to something it never forgets.

[REALITY MAN]

TO THE PERSON GETTING YANKED OFF THE OXYCONTIN, AND PUT ON THE
ULTRAM.  YOU ARE GETTING ********.  AND I MEAN ****** BADLY.
SEE ANOTHER DOCTOR BECAUSE THIS ONE IS OBVIOUSLY AN IDIOT.  HE
SHOULD HAVE TITRATED YOU UP ON THE OXYCONTIN IF YOU WERE HAVING TO TAKE MORE THAN PRESCRIBED TO RELIEVE YOUR PAIN.  CONTRARY TO WHAT MOST DOCS THINK AND BELIEVE, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY *NO* CEILING OR MAXIMUM ARBITRARY DOSE OF ANY OPIATE THAT CAN BE TAKEN FOR SEVERE PAIN.  I ONCE HEARD OF A 14 YR OLD GIRL WHO HAD CANCER THAT HAD TO HAVE 33,900 MG OF MORPHINE PER DAY!  THATS RIGHT,
THIRTY-THREE *THOUSAND* MILIGRAMS OF MORPHINE PER DAY.  AND SHE COULD SIT UP AND CARRY ON CONVERSATIONS AND HAD SOME QUALITY OF LIFE.  LESS THAN THAT AMOUNT, AND SHE WAS WRITHING IN PAIN.  DOCTORS NEED TO GET A ******* GRIP AND EDUCATE THEMSELVES.  IF YOU ARE TRULY IN PAIN AND NEED RELIEF, FIND A DOC WHO WILL GIVE YOU WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET YOU SOME REAL RELIEF.  **** THESE UP TIGHT ASSHOLES THAT THINK YOU WILL BECOME ADDICTED.

MARK

[REALITY MAN]

TO THE PERSON GETTING YANKED OFF THE OXYCONTIN, AND PUT ON THE
ULTRAM.  YOU ARE GETTING ********.  AND I MEAN ****** BADLY.
SEE ANOTHER DOCTOR BECAUSE THIS ONE IS OBVIOUSLY AN IDIOT.  HE
SHOULD HAVE TITRATED YOU UP ON THE OXYCONTIN IF YOU WERE HAVING TO TAKE MORE THAN PRESCRIBED TO RELIEVE YOUR PAIN.  CONTRARY TO WHAT MOST DOCS THINK AND BELIEVE, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY *NO* CEILING OR MAXIMUM ARBITRARY DOSE OF ANY OPIATE THAT CAN BE TAKEN FOR SEVERE PAIN.  I ONCE HEARD OF A 14 YR OLD GIRL WHO HAD CANCER THAT HAD TO HAVE 33,900 MG OF MORPHINE PER DAY!  THATS RIGHT,
THIRTY-THREE *THOUSAND* MILIGRAMS OF MORPHINE PER DAY.  AND SHE COULD SIT UP AND CARRY ON CONVERSATIONS AND HAD SOME QUALITY OF LIFE.  LESS THAN THAT AMOUNT, AND SHE WAS WRITHING IN PAIN.  DOCTORS NEED TO GET A ******* GRIP AND EDUCATE THEMSELVES.  IF YOU ARE TRULY IN PAIN AND NEED RELIEF, FIND A DOC WHO WILL GIVE YOU WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET YOU SOME REAL RELIEF.  **** THESE UP TIGHT ASSHOLES THAT THINK YOU WILL BECOME ADDICTED.

MARK

[Urban Legend Reminder]

With all due respect... being prescribed 33.9 grams of morphine per day is simply an urban legend. That is more than an ounce of morphine. You'd be dead long before you could inject or eat that much no matter what your tolerance was. Despite Mark's claims of unlimited tolerance, respiratory tolerance to morphine is reality. Any person being give an ounce of morphine in a day... 28.5 grams is an ounce... would stop breathing and wouldn't recover without a lucky shot of naloxone. I myself was put on a hospital regimen of 4mg IV morphine per hour... that's a maximum of 0.1g per day, or .003% the quantity Mark discussed. Even at oral dosages for a person with high tolerance, daily intake could never come anywhere close to that high figure. No disrespect meant here, but that story is urban legend and nothing more. Unless the story ends with that girl going to the grave immediately after receiving her dosage.

[urbanlung]

Hi, some of what you say sounds very familiar.  My last dose of Tramadol was on sat 19 July 2008. When I woke late on Sunday I felt like I was in a dream and disconnected from reality. Then very deep anxiety and paranoia set in. The doctor thought I might be suffering a drug interaction with alcohol which I drank sat night (the reason I held off the tramadol) so they suggest I do not take tramadol anymore. It is now Monday noon and I still feel the same disconnection and anxiety. I also have dodgy stomach and no appetite. Nothing gives me any sense of pleasure or joy and I feel like a part of me or my brain has been removed. I have been taking between 4 and eight 50mg tramadol a day for last six weeks. My doctor has no advice or other ideas although she did send me off for a blood test. If I am suffering from withdrawal how long might it last?  Thanks  

[painful103]

I have been taking Vicoden ES for almost 2 yrs now for very painful headaches after sinus surgery.Well my docter that I have had for the last 8 yrs preformed a blood drug screening test & a urine test on me to make sure he could find opiates in my blood. To make sure I was taking them!Well my urine test came back positive, yet the opiates did'nt show in the blood test!!! So he pretty much called me a lair, WHICH I AM NOT! so he did 2 more BLOOD tests & the opiates still didn't show!!! Am I a freak of nature? Or is it possible that something to do with my liver could some how conceal it? & I was just told by the same doctor that my liver is enlarged & wants me to have a liver & spleen scan!!! P.S. my docter told me he would no longer prescribe me my Vicoden ES or any other pain meds contain opiates!!!!

[avisg]

This is a very old post you can copy your post  and start a new thread that way everyone gets to see it ...Welcome
avis