I have been taking ultram/vicodin for the past 6 years. I started on vicodin (up to 6 10/325 a day but only about 4 a day average, then after 3 years switched to ultram rather the generic version which I took no more than 4 a day (average 3) for 4 years. I quit cold turkey 5 days ago and withdraw symptoms (cold sweats, uncontrollable temperature variations (too cold/too hot, can't regulate) were actually extremely mild, but the jitters, they are persistent.
I don't suffere anything during the day (other than everything feeling blank, no energy, no motivation, general agoraphobia (mild), and having a hard time "feeling" anything (life has no flavor/energy etc..) these i figure will change as my body and psychology adapts to not using the drug (for the last 3 years I only took them to not feel these withdraws but I started to realize my brain was not working the way it was and I wanted to return to "normal" a feeling I forget how it feels.
My only issue right now (luckily I guess) is that I'm fine all day then ten minutes after i slip into bed (watching television even) the jitters magically start to appear... its in one arm and pulses through my body (mostly one arm/hand one leg). It's driving me mad because I can't sleep at night, I stay up watching television (in the living room so I don't wake up my wife) and the jitters subside (if I sit up) eventually I'll get so tired I'll pass out on the couch (I can't sleep anywhere else effectively) but then I have to get up 3 hours later for work exhausted.
Does anyone have any suggestions that are non prescription to help me deal with the jitters? I can't take otc sleep medications because they amplify the jitters... I know my issues are very mild compared to many but I really would appreciate some information about this particular isolated withdraw symptom (there doesn't seem to be a lot of help with this one)... thank you for your response- btw I'm 35 if that helps
JitterMan