tramadol withdrawal

[captd]

My wife is in her 4th day of tramadol withdrawal. She was taking 16 tramadol a day for 2 years. She has her first seizure in november and was still taking tramadol. She had her second seizure three days ago and was put on some type of seizure meds and quit tramadol cold turkey. She now hasnt slept for 2 and a half days in addition to her other symptoms. The Dr. prescribed her a sleeping pill tonight but she still cant sleep. I dont know what else to do. How long can she go without sleep before i take her to the er    Please help me....

[pup3]

I know this post is a year old or more, but I just saw it.  God bless you for a good-hearted, strong and courageous man and a wonderful husband.  Go to Amazon and look for a book called End Your Addiction Now by Charles Gant.  He explains, in layman's terms, the neurochemistry of addiction and how to correct imbalances so that the addict can recover and feel GOOD again (most go back to the pills or their drug of choice because it's the only thing that makes them feel normal--faulty neurotransmitter balance).  I am in a similar situation and am finding some hope (and some physical and emotional help) in this approach.

[captd]

JUST WHEN I THOUGHT MY WIFE WAS FINE SHE HAD A GRAND MALL SIZURE. FOUND OUT SHE WAS STILL TAKING TRAMADOL  30 A DAY KEPT HER HOME FOR A WEEK AND LET HER GO BACK TO WORK WHERE SHE STILL HAD ACCESS TO TRAMS  WHAT A FOOL IWAS  THOUGHT SHE HAD LEARNED A LESSON  ADDICTION HAS NO LESSON  SHE WENT BACK TO WORK AND CONTINUED THE TRAMS  BUT THIS TIME SHE GOT CAUGHT AND WAS FIRED   OH A BLESSING IN DISGUISE   NOW I HAVE HER HOME AND SHE HAS BEEN CLEAN FOR A MONTH  THE HARD PART IS OVER BUT I KNOW THIS PROBLEM WILL ALWAYS BE HERE.  PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA HOW DRS PERSCRIPTIONS CAN LEAD TO THESE ADDICTIONS BECAUSE A DR IS SOMEONE WE ALWAYS TRUSTED  I HATE TO BLAME OTHERS BUT THIS IS WHAT CAUSED MY WIFES ADDICTION NOW SHE IS EVEN HAVING TO FIGHT TO GET HER UNEMPLOYMENT IN MISSOURI BUT THEY SAY SHE CANT GET DISABILITY BECAUSE SHE IS ABLE TO WORK

[Coleen2014]

Thank you  for your posts. I want to start off by saying how inspired I am by everyone here!!!

I started using Tramadol as prescribed by my Dr. For MS & Fibro pain.  I used it sparingly until about 2 years ago when the pain & side effects of other prescription medications became so debilitating I couldn't function.  The tramadol started out as a lifesaver and over time I became to realize it was destroying my life!  My  maximum dosage was 200-300 mg per day  and right now I've weaned my self down to 25 mg a day.  I'm struggling with the not sleeping and the zinging, needing to move my body, waves a nausea, that are hitting right now.  I've done Epsom baths, sleep aids (non prescription), and take an anti anxiety medication  to help but nothing is really working that well

[AllAssistanceWelcome]

I am two days in, miserable. Did the wean but must have been too fast. Help.

[AllAssistanceWelcome]

I started on Tramadol for "osteoarthritis" to ease pain. That was two years ago. So last week I decided enough. I weaned from approx 12-14 50mg per day to 2 today. Tomorrow. I quit. I've had some pretty significant anxiety, chills and irritability.

I had previously had taken a nerve pill for anxiety. But, it seems that the anti anxiety  medication interfered with the Tramadol. The MD called it  Serintonin Syndrome. That was horrible. So I decided to stop nerve pill and take  Tramadol only, then Tramadol caused the Serintonin Syndrome again, so I said the heck with this. So that is what started the wean.

I'm glad I read up early in the wean to know about the symptoms and the need to wean. I've done it rapidly though. With the reading I realized it's probably a good idea to take the nerve pill so I did one yesterday am and one today am. I've had some feelings of my old self a few minutes ago. Sort of the need to get up and do some stuff. I felt better today even with the lower dose. But I'm afraid tomorrow will be horrible...and of course that is the busiest day at work.

But, I don't care. I will get rid of this medication once and for all. I've never had any substance abuse of any kind and I'm appalled that I am here. That said, it really needs to be controlled.

The one thing I look forward to is mornings. I used to awake at 5-6 am and be ready to run. With the Tramadol, I slept to the last minute and then just wanted to take the pills first. That is so sad.

Tomorrow is the first day!

[DonRet]

I started off on tramadol because I could get it online (before it became a narcotic).  I couldn't believe the euphoria it gave me for not being a narcotic back then.  I soon realized I was in trouble and went c/t when taking around 12 50mg pills every evening for about 3 months.  I had a lot of will power at that time and really only suffered one day of pure agony of anxiety and depression (that was the worst for me).  My sleep didn't return to normal for almost exactly 10 nights, although I only missed two days of work during the withdrawal.  However, the longer you use and the more times you try to quit the harder it is mentally to finish.

When I was clean I just felt like life was so boring and nothing made me happy.  I had little motivation for work or anything else.  I finally relapsed when I had a project to do for work, and well, that relapse turned into years of opiate abuse.

I don't recommend suboxone or methadone, mainly because it sounds like she has a support system and thats really important. If you could find a way to take control of her meds and wean her off that would be the preferred option.  However you might want to make sure she isn't getting them from an online source and hiding the extras.  

Bottom line is she really has to want to quit in order for it to work, she can't do it for you or anyone else.  I know that you might think she is being ridiculous for choosing the pills over everything else but its a disease.  My girlfriend never understood why it was so hard for me, she acted like I was just mentally weak and just picked drugs over her.  She didn't give me the support I needed because she didn't understand what its like for an addict.

Even when the physical stuff goes away, there is a period of time in which you feel dead to the world.  You don't think you can ever be happy without the pills.  You might be sleeping fine, going to work, etc, but on the inside you are a walking zombie.  Thats where the aftercare comes in, sometimes just talking about it and hearing others viewpoints is just enough to insert some courage into our mental state.  

So many outsiders think drug users are weak minded and should be able to put up with a couple days of pain and just move on.  Those same people may not of ever been in a situation in which they suddenly had full access to unlimited pain pills.  All types of people go through this, the key to getting better is to have a support tree, and it looks like you are a good person to provide support during this time.  Tramadol ***** and effects A LOT of everyday people because doctors prescribed them like crazy before it was ruled a narcotic.  They didn't think people got high from them or could get addicted, they were soooo soooo wrong.  

[Sweetness91]

I'm most certainly not trying to rock the boat here, but I have to disagree with turning to Methadone or Suboxone for a two-year Tramadol addiction. She's eventually gonna have to come off of something, and those two drugs are HELL to come off of, with physical WD symptoms lasting for two months or more. An intensive outpatient rehab program, aftercare, therapy and support from those around her would be a route I would try before even considering something like methadone and Suboxone. How is she getting the Trams? Does her current doctor know she has a problem with them? I hope you find the help and answers you're looking for. Good luck and God bless.

[bama_mama]

I think at this point its going to tske a lot more structure to get her the help she needs. You can slways start out with outpatient rehab instead of putting her in an inpatient facility. Considering how long she used them for i think she should go on suboxone or methadone admistered in an outpatient facility daily and get it administered from a nurse. Its not for everyone of course but considering her history of relapse and being dependant on a prescription med for sooo many years i think thats her best route to go. Just research the outpatient clinics online and see if its something you may want to think about, consider and talking it over with her

[captd]

It  has been a few months and i thought my wife had quit the trams. Found out today she hasnt quit them as i found them hidden and confronted her. She promises she is going to start trying to taper off again. I have no idea what to do. Should I force her into rehab.

[vicki595]

Is she going to participate in any recovery support? We always recommend that because it's tough to go it alone...Have the two of you talked about the meds at work? Does she think she can stay away ( most wouldn't be able to)?

[james22778]

Well I hope she's able to get a good nights rest I would show her support and trust and not act as a detective interagating a subject I wish you and your wife nothing but the best let us know how things are going

[captd]

She went to work today and came home sore and tired. Shes off sun and goes back monday, She took a nap when she got home and is in bed now. I hope she sleeps. She has access to tramadol at her work because it is an animal hospital and they dont lock it up.I can control the trams at home and think id be able to tell by her actions if she was taking more at work.
If she does my only option then would be to get her in treatment.

[james22778]

How's she doing

[vicki595]

How is it that she has access to Tramadol?  That's not good at all...

Have you discussed this with her?

[captd]

He is drinking and eating well. For the second day she got six hours sleep. She seems tired but is not depressed. She is going back to work tommorow a and maybe keeping busy will help. She still needs sleep but is getting some anyway. I hope its not to early to go back to work and i am driving her back and forth because of her seizures. Im really worried about her  workplace though because she has access to tramadol.

[vicki595]

Well, finally!  I'm sure she feels a lot better...

It's up to you both about tapering off. When she's ready, just go very slowly dropping small amounts at a time. The forum doesn't allow me to be anymore specific than that but you know what I mean...Let me know if you have a question though...

How is doing mentally? Okay? Depressed? Is she eating and drinking well?

[lizbuzz]

Hi Cap, been following your post here is a link that I hope helps its storys and support from people coming off of trams....I pray for the both of you stay strong....lizzy

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/989796/Tramadol--Ultram-Recovery-Room-61?personal_page_id=142

[captd]

My wife finally slept last night for six hours. she just went to bed tonite and im praying she repeats. How long before we can start getting her off the trams.

[vicki595]

You may want to do some reading about Tramadol. It can cause seizures in doses above the recommended 8 per day...

I've heard great feedback on Alteril.  Insomnia is very common in opiate withdrawal; are you still giving her the Tramadol 3x per day?  If not, she's gone back into withdrawal and this may go on for awhile...Hang in there-

[captd]

The Dr. did not know the cause of her seizure. She never has any problem until her first one in November. The Dr. thinks it could be from the tramadol use. She slept a few hours last night, over 6 days now. Shes getting super tired. She just laid down again. Im off to work, havent worked since sat, my daughter is with her today. The Ambien doesnt seem to work, Dr. said to give her sominex or ateril.

[vicki595]

The sleep will return. Her system just went into a type of shock with the abrupt withdrawal of all that Tramadol. It's not unusual.

I think keeping her on the Tramadol 3x per day as you did yesterday will help her system equilibrate.  Also, no caffeine right now...

Were the seizures explained to you as to cause?

[captd]

Over five days now without sleep. She dosed off and on last night about 5 times, maybe 20 minutes each time. Praying she sleeps today.

[Pat1956100]

Well it sounds like she is comfortable and that's the main thing.  I am praying she gets some sleep soon but it sounds like she is relaxed right now so don't stress about it.
Keep us posted.  I'm glad you have a doctor on board.  

[captd]

NO BUT SHE ATE GOOD, TOOK A WARM BATH,AND IS WATCHING TV. SHE SEEMS MORE ALERT, I DONT KNOW IF THATS GOOD,   IM WAITING FOR HER TO GET SUPER TIRED AGAIN AND GIVE HER A NOTHER SLEEPING PILL  DR SAID SHE CAN ONLY GET ONE 5MG AMBIEN A DAY.