mmm...K! Some advice on the danger of tramadol...JUST SO I AM CLEAR!

[LeaAnn807]

Hey guys.  I am seeing a lot of questions on here and people posting about using tramadol to "wean from opiates".  First of all...let me be clear.  Everything that you like about your mind, body, life in general will go south if you get on it and it gets a hold of you.  It is MORE THAN JUST AN OPIATE.  It messes with all the good stuff that your brain does on it's own.  I'll say this for the millionth time......I have been hooked on more opiates than I can list or even want to, and tramadol will always be the worst on the list to WD from, ok?  Get me?  It was month-long misery.  I would rather see someone say that they were using oxy to wean from tramadol than the other way around...it's that bad!  So please, please, please do not get sucked in and conned by a doctor who is wanting to use tramadol to taper you from an opiate.  IT IS AN OPIATE for all practical purposes....and much more!  

The reason I am posting this is that if I can save even ONE person from going through what I have gone through, then I have done at least something for someone.

I'm sorry, but I am so passionate about keeping anyone from suffering like I did with this "safe, non-habit forming drug".  I did not post this for comments, but feel free.  I posted it so that maybe someone who searches tram thru a search engine will see this and think first!  Or, some sweet soul on this forum will see it and say NO to their doctor!  

Have an awesome night everyone!  

Hugs all around!

[LeaAnn807]

Overit....Thank you so much!  I just think you're cool too!!!!!  : )

Bucks.....Ok, let us know how it goes!  I'm afraid of you being on the tram, I have to tell ya!!!  Be careful on your trip and have a ball!!!

Nay...YES!  Always say no to tram if there is ANYTHING else you can do!  I'm glad my post helped!

Mamakirk....Glad you flushed it!  You should be ok soon since you just took the one a day for a short time.  But as you see, even at that you still had some icky-ness!!  Proud of you for flushing!!! : )

Love to all of you!

[overit2day]

I think you are so awesome! Seriously... Just had to tell you.  I love seeing you on here because I feel like you are a "familiar face".

[bucksfan]

Just an update! I feel awesome today and it has been 8 days with only 15MG of Roxi. I have already cut down to 25MG doses of the tramadol from 50MG 2X a day. This will be a second day of 75MG total down from the 100MG I started at a few days 6 days ago. I am also taking a stress herb pill, multi-vitamin, b12 & a xanax for sleep. but only 1/8th of a bar. I leave for the vacation tomorrow so I will post how the 10 day tramadol taper helped  after a few days from my last dose. My knee is actually starting to feel better and I prefer a 25MG dosage of tramadol vs. the whole pill. That is very strange IMO. The only thing that still ***** is now I am having trouble sleeping. Days 1-5 were fine with sleep, fine as in at least 4-5 hours of deep sleep but now its tossing and turning and maybe 1 hour in and out throughout the night. I think a large part of it is my back because I sleep on the couch a lot. I will say I woke up at 6AM and just felt like electricity was running through my body and had to shake it out. Craziest thing I ever felt it was soooo weird....Anyways, I can already tell today is going to be a good day. I mean can you believe it only 15MG of ROXICOTIN in 8 DAYS!! WOOHOOO! To bad my wife isnt very supportive. I do not drink, smoke weed, take any DRUGS besides Pain Medication or a few Xanax (I persoanlly think it is the worst drug ever made, in college I saw so many peep do so many dumb things on it)I am taking a couple for sleep but trust me I would never abuse them..EVER. It ***** that everyone has a vice they enjoy such as smoking cigars, drinking alcohol or smoking weed and I do not care for any of them. My vice was pills and they never ruined my life because I was an addict not JUNKIE. What I mean, is I never sold, stole or traded any personal belonging for a pill. It never hurt my relationships with my famiiy as I would talk to them for hours on them. I only took 5MG dosages at a time so I never was so messed up I would nod or couldnt function and they allowed me to work 23 hours a day. I never bought pills instead of paid a bill. With that said, I know and seen many friends die from overdoses or start where I did and it lead to heroin or worse. I took pill recreation and habitually over the last 7 years and to still get high from a lortab 5 was crazy in the eyes of my friends. I am a morale person and always dreamed of the white picket fence life. I will never obtain this with these in my life and luckily I had enough will power to not allow my addiction ruin my life so please pray I have enough will power to stay sober!

[Nay1962]

"Thank-You So much tramahater!!!" Had never heard of it, & have no idea what it is. But if I decide I need help from my Dr. to get off "Vicodin", I will definitly say "NO" to Tramadol if it is offered....That's exactly what I don't need... another addiction, when my goal is to get rid of the one I have!!!  "HUGS BACK!!!"

[bucksfan]

I dont get high from it and need something for my knee while on vacation. I dont see to much to worry about considering I only took opiates for the high so that is what I want. The tramadol helps with the knee a little but no high and I would never take more than 2 50mg a day. I will stop when I get back with no problem, I promise you that. Now whether or not I feel WD's is yet to be seen but 10 days 100mg a day with a ween should be very minimal compared to the time I CT off 80MG of OXy.

[mamakirk2]

My doctor gave me Tramadol last month and I did not think about this medicine being so strong.  He told me to take 3 a day if needed.  I took about 1 a day because  I was afraid I would get addicted to them.  My husband and I were trying to get long term care insurance and when  I mentioned this med, they would not insure me.  My husband and I got to looking about this med and I immediately got off and that was day before yesterday.  Felt just a little WD.  I was so annoyed that I let myself start on this med because about 5 years ago I was on Ambien and had major problems getting off.  I WILL NEVER let myself get into something like this again.  I will really question my doctor the next time.  Thank you for this site because you encouraged me and I realized I did the right thing.  Flushed tramadol down the toilet.

[LeaAnn807]

Yes, tram can actually cause pain!  I had headaches on it too.  Honestly, it doesn't sound like it's worth it for you to take it.  Is it?  Really?  Think through it.  If your knee is still hurting AND your head now, then why are you taking it?  I just don't want you to end up in the mess that I did! : )

Please think about stopping it, ok?

[bucksfan]

Did you get bad migraines on tramadol? This is the second day since I quit taking the opiates that I have got a horrible headache around this time of day. I am wondering if it is a WD sympton or the tramadol. Since Friday at noon I have only used one Roxi 15 so I persoanlly think I am through the worse of the WD's but this headache crap is killing me. Its awesome that both my knee and head get to hurt...haha

[LeaAnn807]

That's true, just don't take on too much while all this is going on.  You could be setting yourself up to fail by not being prepared with a good plan.  The important thing is to get SOME aftercare....something!  Just whatever keeps you from using again....period!  

You will be so glad you did this.  I promise!

[bucksfan]

Thanks tramahater....I never thought about a priest. That is a really good idea. I have never been really religious but I feel like I need something to help me get through this so I started praying a lot. Keep in mind I quit at an improbable time. I got married, had two deaths of my closest friends, got in accident & work is crazy. I chose to quit with all this on my plate because I felt like if I could do it at this time then what could I not face sober in the future. What could I not do?

[LeaAnn807]

Then do something to make sure that you don't fail.  I live in a small town too, but I drive out of town for aftercare sometimes.  You do need something, ok?  I used to think I was the exception to the rule about addiction too, and that was, oh, about 3 years into using, and I continued it for about 12 more!  All because I didn't think I needed help!  

Maybe you are the exception......but I doubt it! : )  Do something ok?  Even if it is speaking with a pastor or therapist!  I want you to succeed at this!  I want everyone to!

[bucksfan]

WOAH, 15 A DAY!!!!! You are very lucky to be alive! I bet the WD's were absolutely awful. I mean I would only take Max 8-10 lortab 5s a day when I was at my worse with those. Yea I will keep you updated and I gave the script to my wife and told her to get rid of it. I live in a small town and have a good job so I had to fight all these battles alone and cant tell my doctor. I know very few get clean without outside help but why cant I be the exception? I have always been one to do what they said they would and this is the only thing I have ever failed miserably at. I will NOT fail again!

[LeaAnn807]

To answer your question, I was on max 15 a day.....WAY TOO many!  It was the most brutal thing I have even been through.  In all honesty, I would stay away, but having said that, if you don't get any more tram, you will probably be ok other than some fatigue and insomnia when you stop after 10 days.

I would do what Sara said and get rid of that refill!  You are not as likely to stop if you have them that easily accessible.  I wouldn't have anyway!  I even called my doctor and said NO MORE tramadol no matter what!  And he has complied happily with my request.  I had to do it, because as long as it was available, I was going to keep calling, ya know??  

I guess I am a TRUE addict!  In fact....I KNOW I AM!  

Best of luck to you!  Let us know how it goes!

[bucksfan]

Yea, I know the right thing to do is to let them go but you are talking about very close friends. I want to help them and have tried in the past when I was clean. Unfortunately they lie to me so I never know what to do. They are trying to quit as well and are weening but they had a much larger habit. I know what my problem is and its boredom. Its crazy that I am ok until I get off work and then if I dont leave the house or go do something I go nuts!! Is that normal in the process? I know most say they have a hard time wanting to do things but with me its not doing anything that brings the cravings on or almost gives me WD symptons. Like right now I am fine because I am chatting on the board and working from home but if I just stopped it would be blah! Its also hard to do stuff like work. I have to be doing something fun, I guess releasing natural endorphins...

[dominosarah]

If you have a refill on your Roxi's call and cancel that.  Be very very careful hanging out with the ones who are still using.  We dont do well with tests like that.  Hopefully you will be able to tell them you are clean now and intend to stay that way.    sara

[bucksfan]

Well excluding the last 15Mg Roxi I took after aggrivating my knee in the backyard a couple of days ago. Thankfully I didnt have WD's all over again.

[bucksfan]

Yea I actually live near two of the states that dish out Roxi/Oxy like its going out of style. I cant believe its so accessible. I think everyone in America knows that Oxycontin is the worst pharma imaginable. Therefor, it should be monitored and prescribed less than any other drug. I mean my real DOC was lortab or percs or viks. I never liked OC or Roxi. Then the past two years its impossible to find plan old Lortabls, Percs but everyone and I mean everyone has OC/Roxi. Must be a bonus program for docs....Anyways, in the last 5 days thanks to tramadol and will power...I have had not filled my Roxi script, I have been around addicts who were snifffing them in front of me. I havent told them I am clean or not doing any yet because I know that I must end my relationship with them so I wanted to spend some quality time because they are very good people who have a disease and I have got about 7 phonecalls saying they got perc, or oxy or whatever. Everytime I refused them!!

[dominosarah]

Hopefully you will be fine being on it for 10 days.  Enjoy your vacation and let us know how you are doing when you get back......sara

[bucksfan]

Anyways, I will be the test dummy and post my experience. Once I get back from trip and after 3 days of no use I will let yall know if the tramadol gave me any WD's or prolonged any WD's. I can already tell you they havent done that because I went through and I am still going through the Roxi/Oxy Wd's. They are however weaker than the 6 previous times I kicked this habit. I am using tramadol for 10 days and began the first the day after my last day of Roxi/Methadone use.  I am taking 100MG a day which is below my recommended/prescribed use which is 200MG. My plan is to only take 50MG a day for the last 3-4 days. I have to take something for this vacation and since this does NOT get me "high" or make me feel like I am on a cloud I really wanted to stay sober and just use the tramadol. I mean to have a script of Roxi and not get them filled is a huge plus for me. I actually found out I have will power & can say no! I also realized that it takes several times to beat an addiction and it could be lucky number 7! Something feels different this time compared to the past.  Anyways, pray that I do not get any WD's and I will let yall know if the tramadol helped me beat my opiate addiction or cause the worse WD's ever after 10 days of use. Oh, on  a few medical boards I saw posts that said although the tramadol physicals were awful the mental was much easier than the opiates. That is my problem is the mental. The physicals are never as bad as I hear they get. I mean I hear of people wanting to go to ER because of it. I couldnt imagine WD's that bad, for those that got through that they must have been some of the strongest peep on planet.

[dominosarah]

You would think so but that isnt usually the case.  Look how the oxycontin was pushed years ago and the pharmacutical company was fined many many millions as they knew it was addicting.

[bucksfan]

I wonder why it is prescribed so much. It seems like everyone knows someone who had a bad time with it yet its prescribed more than any other pain killer in my area. You would think the medical experts would be wiser than the users.

[dominosarah]

Great post tram.....I remember a girl who used to be on here and she took some tramadol one weekend and started having seizures at work.  Ended up in the hospital.  This med is no good.........sara

[Dav125]

Prior to surgery I had conversation with my doctor about the fact I felt the pain meds had gotten the best of me and what suggestions did he have short of going CT when the day comes. He mentioned he would switch me to Tramadol. I have not spoken with him since as my surgeon has not turned me loose yet. He's a great and understanding doctor, but from all I have seen here, especially your warnings Tram, I believe I'm going to have to decline getting anywhere near that stuff. If anything, do a taper and then jump ship is whats in my mind. My brain chemistry is cooked enough. Don't need anymore demons playing with my circuit breakers in there...

[bucksfan]

So do you suggest a ween then like I plan on doing? They are 50MG pills and I am prescribed 4 a day. I only take 2 a day. Anyways, I was planning on taking only 1 a day for the last 3-4 days. I have been researching all morning and most peep that had WD's from them were at much much higher dosages like 400MG. What was your dosage when you stopped? I also see some that say their WD's were not as bad as the Opiate WD from oxy or roxi or I see some that say they were worse. Its crazy how each person is different. I think so much of it is mental and since they dont get me high but do help with pain unlike the Roxi's I think it will be much easier to stop them so I will not fill roxi script. Anyways, I appreciate your help and get back to me when you can.