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am I addicted to tramadol

I have been taking tramadol now for just couple of months usually 2in the morning.I don't take them for a high I used to take co codamol.I started taking tramadol because I noticed they had an antidepressant effect immediately which nothing else had ever had.Ialso read on the internet that it helped other people with depression.But now when I wake up in the morning I feel dreadful and if try to get up stumble all over.I don't feel better until about an hour after taking the tramadol.now I am worried that I will have to take this every morning and wot will happen if I can't?
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Avatar universal
Thanks very very much for your support.Ihave been managing with just 2 tramadol in the morning however I am not sleeping and I can't wait to have them when I need to get up...I feel like im dying if I don't get them down .
I pretty much failed yesterday as Icould see it wad turning into a long day and a few family upsets and ashamed to say had another late afternoon.
Sorry you've not been feeling great do appreciate the advice very much.I really don't think I could go cold t judging from the way I am until I have those morning tramadols.I think I am going to try for ur other suggestion of one in morning and another in the evening.Because also Iam running out and really don't want to have to get more.
Very well done to you though for getting off the pills thats fantastic.and hopefully ur sleeping will improve very soon.I know you must have and still are suffering so I do really appreciate your support.
Helpful - 0
4204073 tn?1361831476
Great job on 12 days of the Trams!    Nasty, nasty stuff to withdraw from.   Like Teresa, been addicted to them as well.   I thought I was going to die in withdraw from those compared to oxy and norco.  

To the original poster; if you can manage to taper off, then that is the best way to do it with this drug.   You will be uncomfortable, but far less uncomfortable than if you go cold turkey.  
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Avatar universal
Today is my 12th day with no tramadol and vicodin so can definitely do it. The sleeping part ***** and still now my sleep is messed up but I find if you focus on the long term and picture yourself 3 months from now without needing to depend on pills helps you deal with the pain of quitting. There's some great people here that are more than eager to help and support so know that you don't have to do it on your own. I'm still trying to find my own way but it's comforting to know that there's support here when I need it and that does help because once you get past the physical Ed's it turns into a mental game.
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Avatar universal
Sorry for not being here just not been feel too well. Here's my advice and don't think you'll like it is to just go cold turkey off the tramadol. I did that and I was taking like 400 MSG a day and vicodin on top of that. I won't lie it was not fun at all. At 100 to 200mgs going ct it will suck but is totally achievable. If you can't do that try to do a taper and stick with it. I could never do a taper cause I would keep taking the pills and tell myself tommorow and then they would run out and I would be in for a world of hurt. I would suggest to aim for two a day. One in the morning and one in the evening and then next week do just 1 1/2. You will be uncomfortable but not so much that you will be in your bed all day hoping the world ends. To me I also liked how it lifted my mood as most times I'm kinda depressed. I agree with Jeff as well to be cautious with the Valium. I don't mean to be harsh I just really dislike this drug now because its so seductive and sneaky. Let me know what you think and what you think the best plan for you is.
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Avatar universal
Hi ,yes I am very wary of the valium I do not want to create another problem,so even though Iam having the awful sleepless nights I haven't touched it as I no it is very addictive too.If I get really desperate I will have a half but thanks for your concern and I really wish you well too
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Some people do feel pain on their arms while wd but I never had it. So I'm not sure, but if the pain on your arms feels the same as your legs then I would think it is the tram wd.
I'm just a bit worried. How many Valium are you taking? It helps wit sleep but I would try to use it only to help you sleep and not for a long period of time.  I will be taking the .50 xanax every other day to help me sleep cause I did sleep last night for a total of 5 hrs. I'm only doing that for no more than 10days, I don't want to get addicted to it. So just please becareful as to how many your taking and for how long.  Best wishes to you...  
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Avatar universal
Thanks for reply and well done for your 4 days off the tram.I was thinking of doing that.I have one problem with tapering off I only get the tramadol in capsule form so would have to taper a full one at a time? The only thing that I have to help me sleep is a limited number of valium.the doctor used to give me 60 a month but I actually don't get any nowas I actually managed to get off them .I had to as my new Dr wouldn't give me any. The horrifying thing is since taking the tramadol I've needed valium as my anxiety has got worse which is awful as I had managed to do without the valium all together.
The other thing Iam worried about is I have had constant nagging ache in my arm for the past few days which is making it difficult to type this in fact,is this anything to do with the tramadol?
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Avatar universal
If your wanting to taper down your daily dose than maybe just take one to get you through the night.
I'm on day 4 off Tramadol and haven't been able to sleep. I tapered down to 1/2 a pill. Friday was my last day, took it in the morning and prayed for the best. Hot baths have been helping wit restless and leg cramping. Do you have any meds to help you sleep? I took a .50 xanax 30min ago so I'm hoping that will help.
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Avatar universal
Hi ,thanks for ur advice.I do usually try and take just two in morning but some days I will take another 2 at about 6 o clock to get me through the evening.I have now been awake since about 3 in morning it's nearly 5 and I can't sleep,im just tossing and turning and my legs are very restless and achy.I can't help thinking it's because I've only had the two so I feel dreadful,would that cause pains in the legs?
I can't blame this one on the Dr either as I initially got them from a friend and Iam now heartbroken that instead of making things better for myself I seem to have made things much worse.Icant see myself being able to sleep now so I really don't no wot to do,do I stick it out with just two or do I take another 2  in the evening so I don't feel like this?I really am suffering and my legs really hurt.
Thanks both for ur help,this really is a lonely situation for me and finding it hard ti tell anybody
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Avatar universal
Thanks Theresa, that's some good solid advice there too.
Helpful - 0
4149717 tn?1389503561
Hi there! So My advice for you would be to stay FAR AWAY from trams as you can!! These are a NASTY NASTY little drug to kick. I have been hooked on both trams and other other opiates like Norco and Oxys and to be honest, the W/D's from trams were far worse. Im not sure how much you know about them but they are not only a synthetic opiate, but they also have an old school antidepressant in them. SO when you said they helped with the depression, that is why! So for this reason, this is why they make you feel worse when you come off of them.

You are only taking 2 a day right now is that correct? My advice is to get off of them now before your dependancy/addiction gets worse. I was taking upwards of 15-20 a day but I started with just 4 a day. Like any drug, your addiction to them grows and grows but thsi drug is no fun to kick when you take to many of them.

I would normally tell people to do a SLOW taper from Trams because if you try to come off c/t at a higher dose you rick having a seizure, but taking only 100mg a day, you should be ok if you wanted to jump off now. You could also taper down too if your more comfortable with that but either way, please do yourself a favor and get off these drugs once and for all,  My hope is that one day in the very near future that the DEA will ban this drug all together. Too many Dr's still know very little about it because they still say its not a narcotic and its not addictive! Both are wrong!!

Anyways, We are here for you and lots have beaten this drug and can help give advice. Just stay close to the forum and ask questions. Its slow today because of the holiday but normally there are alot of peple around here for support. Im always just a PM away too if you need anything!

Oh and Merry Christmas! :)

***COngrats to you Mintyfresh79 for your 10 days off trams! I know the hell you went through so thats a nig thing!!

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yeah I hear you about it helping with depression. I think I also suffer from depression and that's why I was so drawn too it. It's hard for someone else to say if your addicted or not but in my mind if I can't go a day without something without suffering or having sever cravings then I would say yes.

Honestly I have script for more tramadol and since I stopped I've been pretty depressed just sitting in my room 80% of my days but I'm seriously afraid to go down that path again. There's a lot of other drugs for depression that don't have that same addictive feeling to them. Tramadol can you get high if you take enough but it also has a risk of seizures at amounts over 300mg. If something makes you feel good why wouldn't you want to take more. Idk hun I think it's a pretty sneaky drug.
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Avatar universal
Hi thanks for ur reply,I was shocked to hear ur experience with withdrawal from tramadol,sounds horrible.I take co codamol for pain relief,tramadol does nothing for my pain but what I did notice was it gave me a lift to get through the day so I occasionally have 4.but the feeling I have when I wake in mornings is awful and I am suffering terribly until like I said about an hour after taking 2 tramadol.the reason why I continued to take tramadol even though for me it wasn't an effective painkiller or gave me any high it did lift my mood and after suffering with depression for many years I thought I had found something fairly safe and effective
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Avatar universal
Hi there , today is my 10th day tramadol free. What happened was I told my doctor I was abusing my prescription for vicodin and he gave me a script of tramadol and to take as many as needed to get off the vicodin. I suppose he was joking but anyways for about two weeks I was taking tramadol. Some days 5 other days up to 8. It helped me get off vicodin but when my doctor refused my refill and I couldn't call him cause they were closed for the weekend. I've withdrawn from a lot of drugs before but I was not prepare for what was about to happen. It was the most miserable days of my life. 3 days of no sleeping or eating, no control over my emotions, going to the ER because I started to panic. I remember stopping vicodin last year and I was not a happy camper but nothing like the tramadol withdrawals.  Mind you I was taking way more than you are but please don't listen to doctors when they say it's non-addictive cause that's a lie. It's a semi anti-depressant and a pain killer. I would even say this is more addictive than other drugs like vicodin.  Vicodin has always been my DOC while using but I could see myself switching to tramadol if I ever went back. The only reason I won't is because of those 3 days of hell I won't ever forget.

My advice to you is to slowly taper off tramadol and if you really are in pain talk to your doctor about a different med. Honestly I wouldn't wish what I went through on my worst enemy. I know I'm not the only one if you google tramadol withdrawals you'll see a lot of other horror stories. I don't mean to scare you but in regards to tramadol doctors are very ignorant toward it and say it's not addictive. That's bs.
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