does anyone have any advice on how to get off tramadol?

[goodgirl7789]

I am currently taken tramadol and i am 25 wks pregnant. Im really trying to taper myself off and its killing me. Im so worried that this medicine will effect the baby. The dr isnt too worried bout it tho. I have been takin this medicine for 7 yrs and was take 8 sometimes more a day. I am currently down to 2 and a half a day. Im just not havin much success gettin the dosage lower. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[mtgoat911]

to the new "mommies"
way to go!!!
you are going to be just fine, keep up the good work
xo

[tramaddi]

I am 35 weeks pg and just took my last tram today I tapered but it was extremely hard for me so now I am preparing for w/d and will let u lknow how it goes.  I do not want my son born addicted!!  so if I have to suffer to make sure he's ok so be it.  I should have gotten off long ago but u know how that goes.  I am just gonna try to keep eating and drinking fluids, my H scrubbed out the tub so I can take as many baths as I need too.  It is tough to imagine klife w/out tram but worse to know I hurt my child when it could have been avoided.  u can pm me if u want.  

[goodgirl7789]

Thanks for all the replies. Yes this is my first baby and im both anxious and excited. Ive been taking the tramadol for 7 yrs it helps with my tightness in my neck, migraines, and sciatic pain. I had a brain decompression 3 yrs ago for a chiari 1 malformation. I  really do want to stop the meds completely im just havin a hard time tapering this last bit.

[avisg]

I would try either a half a pill or a whole pill a week you are pregant you need to go very slow it will help your body adjust easier.You can do this you have been on this med a very long time so it goig to take a while . good luck we are here to help.

[mtgoat911]

the reason your doctor is not worried about it is because your not his wife and thats not his baby
i had the same experience while i was pregnant with my 1st son and was taking paxil for depression, this was 9 yrs ago
but guess what, 7 yrs ago they found out it causes developmental delay and learning disibilities
now i get to spend 5 days a week homeschooling my learing disabled child
you are already 6 months pregnant, its time
ultram has not been tested in pregnant or nursing women, now your doctor should of said that he can legally tell you to take ultram without getting sued, because there is no medical jounals to prove that it is safe
i am not sure why you are taking them, if a patient needs surgery while their pregnant or gets in a really bad car wreck,
i still would suggest that they take codien vs the ultram, ultram is a strange pain med, it has anti-depressant qualities in it,
if you are in that much pain think about taking another drug, if you want off now you can follow dele's taper plan
i understand what its like, i was so depressed when i was pregnant, i had to be hospitalized, i had no idea that paxil would cause problems, when my child was born, he looked perfect, then as he got older i noticed that he was not learing as other children did, i believe that the majority of his problems were heriditary, i too have ld, but knowing that paxil causes dev. delays just kills me

[dele]

I have just completed a taper off of tramadol.  I went from 15 pills a day (5 pills, 3 times a day) to none.  It took me about 6 weeks.  I had very mild withdrawals.  I tapered quickly at first and had some minor RLS and a couple sleepless nights (nothing too bad at all.  Once I got to 2 or 3 pills a day, I started decreasing VERY slowly and stayed at each dose for about 2 to 4 days depending on how I felt.  If I felt mild withdrawals, I would stay at that dose for 4 days.  If I didn't feel anything, I would drop after 2 days.

How are you dosing?  It is important that if you are taking 3 pills a day that you take 1 pill, 3 times a day versus all 3 at once.  This avoids spiking.

Here is what I did once I got down to 3 pills a day:

1 pill at 7 am, 1 at 2 pm, and 1 at 9 pm.  
Dropped to 1 pill (am) 1/2 (afternoon) and 1/2 at night.  
Dropped to 1/2 pill (am), 1/4 pill afternoon and 1/4 pill at night.  
Dropped to 1/4 pill (am), and 1/4 pm.  Skipped the mid day dose
Dropped to 1/4 am and a sliver 1/8 in the pm.
Dropped to a 1/4 am.  Skipped pm dose

My most significant withdrawals occured before I got down to 3 pills a day.  I had some mild RLS and 2 sleepless nights when I dropped from 15 pills down to 10.  When I dropped my mid day dose, I felt sluggish and a little wierd but nothing too bad.  I watched a TON of movies to take my mind off of how I felt and that REALLY helped.  Plus, I read just about EVERY post ever submitted on this board and that REALLY helped too.

I actually had very little real withdrawal symptoms when I jumped off altogether.  But, I began taking Sam E, L Tyrosine, etc. when I got down to a pill a day.  I don't know if you can take these while pregnant.

Please keep with it.  You can do it.  I am a GIANT baby when it comes to being sick and if I can do it, I know that you can.  Plus you are doing it for your baby.

[Mercedes175]

To correct my first line up above..I would advise getting OFF the Trams as soon as possible. Sorry for the mis-spelling.

[Mercedes175]

I would not worry about what you have taken up to now but would definitely advise getting on the Tram as quickly as possilbe.  Tramadol is not familiar enough with doctors to be prescribing it to pregnant women.  The fact doctors say it is non habit forming and minimal to no withdrawals should speak volumes to YOU.  There is plenty of withdrawals and I speak from first hand experience.  At one time last year I took trams for 2 days and spent the w/end withdrawing with excessive listlessness and depression.  Your body aches all over.  That was only on 2 days.

I wouldnt not chance your baby having withdrawals from this.  Please do yourself the peace of mind by just quitting.

[enemy48]

#1.  Great that your doctor is aware of this.

#2  Awesome to have successfully decreased your dosage from 8 a day to only 2 1/2.

There are plenty of nurses here, so you'll be getting a lot of good advice.

Congrats on baby!  Is this the 1st, or do you have mroe?

[emergee]

there have been other women on this forum with this issue.  please research this here.  they will have advice and support.  i know at least one was kicking it.  good for you for tapering.  i am ct tram myself and it's no joke.    maybe enter a tag or something in search.

[cathy5841]

i am surprised your dr is not concerned.  i have read trams can harm the fetus.  do some research.  trams were not my doc, but avisg was on them.  she has info in her journals...she can also give you some info on taking them while pregnant.  she has probably gone to bed now but if you pm her she will get back to you in the morning.  please continue to taper your baby deserves a clean start.