tramadol withdrawal

I am in the process of getting off of tramadol. It was prescribed for me for ocassional use for mild to moderate pain like headache, muscle soreness, etc. I used it only ocassionally for several months. About 4 months ago, I became involved in a fairly intense project and was experiencing more discomfort. Without really thinking much about it, I started using tramadol every day and then increased this to 2-3 times each day. The dosage was 100mg, so I was taking 100-300mg daily (or 2-6, 50mg pills) for 3 months. After I finished the project in mid-may, I decided that I needed to stop using a drug to get through the day, so I tried to just stop taking it. WOW! Serious withdrawal symptoms including joint and muscle pain, stomch issues, fatigue, depression and a strange hollowness in my nerves ensued. I didn't feel I could just stop functioning for a week or two or whatever it would take, so I used some hydrocodone that I had to help me get my tramadol use down to 100mg per day over the course of a week. I would just take the hydro when I started feeling really bad in the afternoon to get me through the rest of the day. Then, I decided to just quit the tramadol altogether. The withdrawal was really difficult. I was worried about getting addicted to the hydro, so I got some concentrated kratom powder and was alternating use with the hydro every day or two so that neither of them was in my system daily. This got me through week 2 which was a reduced amount of muscle pain, but more fatigue, lethargy, depression. Now I am beginning my third week. I am out of hydro and I am still experiencing some muscle and joint stuff, but the big problem is the lethargy and depression. It's just kicking my butt. The kratom is very helpful in this and lifts the dark cloud that I seem to wake up with, but I'm worried about an addition to this as well. I am now taking about 1.5-2 grams in the early afternoon to get through the rest of the day. I am not using any other drugs or substances. I have never been addicted to anything before and wasn't abusing the tramadol. It didn't make me high or anything, but it did get rid of ALL of my aches and pains and let me do everything I needed to in the day. I don't have any major pain and I know I shouldn't have been so lazy about my health. Now, I am trying to be really careful without losing myself to laying on the couch all day. My questions are: How long will the tramadol withdrawal take to be completely over? and How long can I use a small amount of Kratom on a daily basis without just creating another addiction that I have to get over? Or can I just slowly reduce the kratom to avoid the withdrawal since it is a powder and very easy to measure out? Any thoughts on this would be helpful. I am reluctant to engage my physician in this too much. he knows I am having withdrawal fromt he tramadol, but I don't want to ask for any other drugs if I don't have to. I just feel like I've done something really studpid and I want to get through it without his help, if possible. Thanks!

[shelby74]

Hi Birdie,

It is so hard to give an exact amount of time as to when the withdrawal symptoms will end.  Especially, the depression and malaise.  If you do not want the doc's help, then in time you will notice a difference.  I have learned in my many attempts at quiting that each day is different.  Somedays will be worse then other's and then adventually you will have more and more good days.  Moral support is very important too.  And there is a lot of that here.  Just remember you are doing the right thing and getting out from under the weight of the drugs.  It is such a huge burden to carry.  Recovery can be trying but the end result is so worth it.  And let me tell you something I was clean for 3 months not long ago and I felt really good.  I made a mistake though and took just one pill and of course it escalated.  Fortunately, I learned my lesson and I was able to stop myself after a month of starting the vicious cycle all over again.  

All my best,

Shelby

[wheredidmyenergygo?]

I also used kratom when my energy did not come back after about the 3rd week of c/t.  I didi notice that the day following the kratom when I woke up my joints were sore, just like w/d.  It wasn't as extreme but it was there.  My energy level and the cloud over my head feeling really started going away on approx da 35 however,it has been just last week that I feel "normal", which I can honoestly say I was affraid was never going to come back.  That's how it worked for me I hape this helps!

[Birdie23]

Thanks Shelby. This is such a frustrating process. I can't take any antiinflammatories like ibuprofen or whatever because of an allergy. I thought Tramadol was an amazing drug. Very few of the side effects of narcotics, but excellent pain control. I had no clue that I could become seriously addicted to it. I don't even know if any of the normal therapies for managing withdrawal would work for tramadol, but I've somewhere down the road anyway. I just wish I knew how long it would all take. It's so muc easier to be in a hard place if you know when it's going to end. I guess I'm paying for my pain free months this month. I am trying to manage it with kratom to have days that are at least partially productive. I'm hoping I'll get some feedback on that as well. Good luck keeping yourself off drugs. I don't know if it will be an issue for me since it hasn't been in the past, but I guess I;ve entered new territory. I can tell you that the Tramadol I have in the cupboard isn't calling to me at all! It scares the **** out of me instead.

[Birdie23]

I am really interested in how you used the kratom and for how long. can you tell me more about this? It looks like I have another week or so to go.

[minnie11]

I have just gotten off tramadol as well, but I took way more than you - 12 50 mg a day - and it has taken me more than one month to start to feel normal again, I won't even say I am there yet, but I am feeling so much better now. I don't know if I am right, but reading here the past three months of other people's experience with tramadol, I believe it might be even harder to come off than Vicodin, it sure seems to take longer, but you just have to be patient, you will get better!!! I bought some Kratom as well, but never had the guts to use it, because I had leaves and no scale to measure it with, so I was afraid of getting too much, but if it helps you, then great.
Hope you will soon feel better.
Minnie      

[Crispy]

Alieve is a god send for aches and pains try it it might help u.

[wheredidmyenergygo?]

I also use the consentrated powder 10x.  Approx 2oz in the morning and 2oz in the evening.  I don't suggest thsi for everyone but I had an extremely hard time with my energy.  I could barely walk across the room without getting winded.  I'm usually a driven person,  I couldn't even do my hair my daughter didi it.  It got me through a time that I was feeling as though I was worthless to my family and friends and everyone would be better off w/me ond drugs!! (it makes me emotional to even say that)  I can see how kratom can be addicting, I don't know if I was just lucky so be caareful.  Like I said I did notice on the days after I used it in the morning my ankles and hip would be a little stiff.  My c/t date was April19 and now I feel "normal agian and I have no cravings for meds.  Some people on this sight might jummp on you about using kratom, but it got me through a time where I could have seen myself relapsing.  If you have any other quest. I'll keep checking

[Birdie23]

I'll give the Alleve a go. That would be great if it helps.

[Birdie23]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I hate the feeling of being utterly useless for so long too. I'll only use the kratom for the rest of this week. I think it works well and must work something like methadone does for other drugs in that it reduces your symptoms so you can function. I'm figuring that after 21 days, I should be functional enough to go at it without some help. Hope I'm right!

[wheredidmyenergygo?]

Just kind of taper off the kratom,  just take your morning dose. Then do every oter day.  I think I have used kratom a total of 8 days in the last month.  I noticed that when I take it my energy is lifted but I'm not quite as efficient. .

[victoria1667]

Hello, i have a question about Methadone. I have been on 90mgs a day since Feb. I used to take 16 to 18 tramadol a day and could not w/d by myself. Can anyone tell me why, when i took 4 tramadol one day last week, I thought I was going to DIE with horrible aches and pains all over my body?  What other drugs mixed w/methadone will cause this reaction?  Thanks for any info.

[Birdie23]

thanks for the encouragement minnie. Good for you to get yourself off the drug. I've realized it is just not worth it to take any drug everyday for pain unless the pain is REALLY bad. Mine wasn't. I just wasn't taking great care of myself. I know the kratom is bit scary. All the studies I could find suggested that it is addictive, but it seems to take a long time. I would not reccomend anyone use it unless they needed to for getting off of something else. Even then, you have to decide whether or not it's worth it to risk such an unstudied, but powerful substance.

[captainhaddock]

Hi all,

I have spent the evening searching the web for info on tramadol dependence as I have come to realise that I am hooked.  What I have seen so far scares the hell out of me.  Tramadol is a controlled substance here in south africa and I have been on it for 8 YEARS!!!  Nowhere have I seen anyone who has been on it that long....   I can set my watch by my body's need for my once daily dose (4 x 50mg at 8:30 pm) taken for severe back pain without which i cannot lie down never mind sleep.  I recently managed to leave my meds behind and had to spend a night without for the first time in  a long while. I came close to madness.   It is very hard for me to believe that this stuff is available over the counter in some parts of the world. What are they thinking??

[writerchick10]

Hey
I know it's been a long time since you originally posted, but I was really interested in what you're outcome was like and how long it took to get off the full tramadol experience.  I was on it for pain from endometriosis and back pain pretty regularly for maybe a month or so.  I stopped taking it about a week ago and almost immediatley I was hit with the withdrawl (withdrawal).  I've been through vicodin withdrawl (withdrawal) before, and was able to handle the shaking, chills, and sweats...but the depression and crying is unbearable.  All of a sudden I'm involuntarily thinking about horrible things, such as death and pain and losing loved ones, and I can't seem to make it stop.  I'm already on cymblata for depression.  I'm a full-time college student and I'm finding it amazingly difficult to do anything.  Im tapering off the tramadol, taking two doses of two 50mg each day, and next week I'll go down to three pills a day.  I just need to know that there is an end to this, and I was wondering how long it took you to get to that end.  Thanks so much.

[Michellebelle]

I am 24 years old and I have been on tramadol for the past 4 years.
I take about 15-20 50mg pills a day. I've tried numerous times to quit but I can't even get out of the bed without vomiting, shaking, even collapsing.
I continued to take them once I started having seizures without them.
I think there is no hope for me now.
Today is the first day without any at all and it hurts the nerves in my fingers to type this.
Someone please give me advise on how to make this easier.

[avisg]

Michelle, you have to TAPER slowly off of ultram that is why you are having seizures when you dont take them ......going from 15 to 20 a day to nothing is very dangerous .
do you have a family doctor ? to help you with this . there is a med called clonidine it is a BP med that the doctor can prescribe for you to help with some of the withdrawals .
electric blankets help with the body aches ......there most likely wont be much sleep for the next few days .it will be a rough week .... post often ....... we are here to help

[Michellebelle]

Thank you very much.
I am going to get the blanket today.
Not sleeping at all.
I don't have a Doctor and anytime I go to one they just want to throw me into rehab because of my dependance history.
I have two daughters that I can't go a day without so rehab is outof the question and never helped before, just made a enw addiction.
Again,thank you for the advise.
Michelle

[Michellebelle]

Thank you very much.
I am going to get the blanket today.
Not sleeping at all.
I don't have a Doctor and anytime I go to one they just want to throw me into rehab because of my dependance history.
I have two daughters that I can't go a day without so rehab is outof the question and never helped before, just made a enw addiction.
Again,thank you for the advise.
Michelle

[raubie]

I was taking 200 to 200 mg a day of Tramadol for 7 months for back pain.   Great pain reliever, and a nice euphoric, "can't upset me for anything" feeling as a bonus.  Of course both the pain relief and the good mood effect wore off after a couple months.   Tried tapering down for 3 weeks but that was making me crazy so I got rid of the rest and went cold turkey.   Utter hell for a week, first few nights shaking and sweating, thrashing legs, tears even.   I had to resort to weed or I was off to the hospital.   Been smoking one to two joints a night for the past 4 weeks in order to sleep and still not out of the woods.   I have one day where I am completely fine, and the next day everything is dark.  I try not to dwell on anything, because it will end up being negative and depressing.    I figure another month and I'll be back to normal.   I'm talking serious psychological consequences.   I can think of an old friend from grade 5 and get depressed for crying out loud, I feel like such a baby.   And then when I'm normal, I can't believe how I was thinking, and I declare myself out of the woods just to find myself back in the darkness again later on or the next day.   This drug is ruining people.   I'm so grateful to be free of it.

[Mike_B_]

I have been on both ultram and hydro and I believe the ultram is harder to get off of.  I got off the hydro back in Jan and my dr gave me the ultram for my back pain,  it does not help my pain so I quit it and man I have been through it.  I think the docs should take a closer look at this drug.  It's not what it's been said to be, non-addictive.

[vizantee]

hi. i have been on and off tramadol a couple of times.
on my first period when i left them it took me three weeks not to feel horrible.after a year without them i started using them again , i have no pain , i was just abusing tramadol.a couple of days ago i just said i wont take anymore , but the strange thing is that i dont have any bad symptoms yet , apart from boredom.i used to take 500-750 mg a day.and now i went cold turkey.i am also on a drug called nozinan which is an antipsychotic and antidepressant plus prozac , i think theyre helping with tramadol withdrawal.anyway i stoped using them because aside from the high dosage i felt none of the buzz from them , i just got tired of them i guess.best wishes to everyone.

[dwmckone]

Hello everyone. I just found this site. I am from the US, but have been living in Lima, Peru for about 9 months or so now. I had a long history of alcoholism. Quit for 5 years once, but started up again. I haven't had a dronk for about a year now, So that's good, but the Tramadol is kicking my butt now. I never even tried any other drugs in my lifetime, with the exception of pain meds when I was injured or in cough syrups when I was very sick. I admit, I LOVED the great feeling I got from them, but fortunately for me you needed a prescription for them in the US. I only took them when they were prescribed to me because I guess I was either too lazy to find a dealer who had them, or just not a very comitted junkie. LOL. Well I moved here to Peru to be with my fiance shortly after injuring my back on a jet ski. (Little tip-though it's fun to go 70mph on a jet ski, DON'T FALL OFF!!!)  Well here in Peru you can find certain things on nearly EVERY city block, A Bodega, a Botica (pharmacy), and either a chicken or chinese restaurant. A doctor in the US prescribed me Tramadol, 3 per day, 90 at a time. Saying"they are for minor pain and are non-habit forming."  If he was here right now I'd smack him, or kick him, ok both. Ok. I'll take the responsibility. I'm the addict here. So I'm hooked on tramadol, without which I can't really walk with my back and the detox is hell, and living in a country where I can get them cheaply, without a prescription, at about 50 locations within a 5 minute walk to my house.  Good news: they do have AA here! Bad news: NOT IN INGLES, and my lazy butt hasn't learned Spanish yet. I've tried quitting cold turkey a few times and haven't made in more than 2-3 days. I'm still not drinkin though. Anyone got any tips for me be sides,"leave Peru?" Heard that one already. Thanks for taking the time to read my poor me story!  Any Tips???? Any?

David

[avisg]

David , best way with tram i not taper off .Can you have your GF help you by holding on to your pills You are not supposed to CT off of them because of the seizure risk .It can be done its not easy but you can do it I have been off of them for 9 and a half months ....If I can do it anyone can ...stick around post often we are here to help.

[jeremybear]

I have been addicted to tramadol for several years and I take anywhere from, well too many to count. i want to quit sooo bad but i cant even go to sleep at night without taking a bunch . i need some good advice or support, even if i could cut back, my life wouldn't be so miserable.

[canada_boy]

hi everyone
i feel like a moron saying why i started taking tramadol, but hope it may help others.
my experience with the drug is short lived but very suprising. 2 weeks ago i went to cancun mexico with my girlfriend, and although i'm not a chronic drug user, i do dabble here and there (1 to 2 times a month), i had always heard prescriptions were not required in mexico. i thought it'd be fun to pick up a few pain meds while on my trip, and the store owner of where i went told me tramadol would be similar to America's percecet. i bought a bottle of 100mg capsules.
i was on my trip for 1 week and took about 200mg a day. it seemed like fun (stuupid!) and i was even dumber to bring the rest of the bottle home with me, over the next week i consumed an average of 600mg a day and then finally flushed the rest of the bottle. on these posts i haven't seen anyone with a daily habit of only 2 weeks...but let me tell you, saturday was the last day of my 2 week binge:
sunday - uneasiness, fatigue and nausea
monday (called in sick) - sunday i awoke in the middle of the night for 2 hours feeling anxious and hot, slept for about 6 hours (usually get 8)
tuesday (called in sick again) - monday night got 6 hours again with the wake up. today my legs and arms ache and i even cried i felt so ridiculous (seems depression is a common side effect)
i'm hoping that since my spout with the drug was only 2 weeks long, my withdrawal will subside soon
i feel like such a moron, and i definitely learned my lesson
currently to deal with the symptoms, i'm simply taking advil every few hours, multi vitamines, and for the joint/mussle pain i'm using Ice Cooling Gel (rub a535 type stuff). i picked these things up today and don't feel quit as bad but we'll see how tonight goes
marijuana does help a bit i find with sleeplessness and anxiousness
i'll continue to post through my recovery
i wish everyone the best of luck

[victoria19]

I really hope you come back here. I, like you, also decided to dabb in this horrible drug. I was given a prescription about three weeks ago for bladder pain. I took the pills everyday, taking one more each day. Total amount of time was three weeks. I knew you can get addicted to this drug but never knew how quickly. I am going on day two now of feeling horrible. Sweats, major depression and anxiety and general flu like symptoms. Its awful. Being I was only taking them a few weeks, I'm looking for an answer on about how long I should feel like this. I have hydro pills, small doses, and I took one last night just to sleep but I only have two more of them and then I'm cold turkey. I'm really worried about getting through the night. I have a baby to take care of and need my sleep. Please, anyone, just let me know what I'm in for. Thank you.

[sway1]

i have been addicted to opiates for over 2 decades. i have had many scripts for tramadol. i never caught a buzz from them and i never had w/d from them. they also never helped my pain. can i be immune? i would just give them away, yet post after post is about tramadol. i am trully perplexed.

[victoria19]

I have never had addiction problems to hydro or vicodin or anything else except Tramadol. I have taken Tramadol once before for back pain and just took one at night for months only to find out I was extremely addicted. It helped me to sleep. Never knew if it made me "high." Getting off of it that time was hard, it took me almost a year with doctor's help. I weaned myslef off. This time, I only took it for a few weeks for bladder pain (I have interstitial cystitis and was going through a flare). With the IC I have been on and off pain meds for years. Never had an addiction problem with anything else except Tramadol. I never let a doctor prescribe it to me only last time, I had no choice because I did not know what he gave me until I got home and I was in extreme pain. I did not think a few weeks would cause a problem. This is awful and I just want to die. Stay away from it. Its an awful drug.

[canada_boy]

hi sorry i didn't come back on sooner.but good news, i'm over the withdrawal. all together i had 3 ****** nights of anxiety/mild insomnia.
if you see my above post last sunday was my first day sober, monday and tuesday i stayed home from work
tuesday night was still restless but i made it to work for wednesday afternoon for a half day. thursday i was still tired but was sleeping back normal hours (7-8 hours) and felt good enough to go to work. after the 3 first days its tolerable, its been one week now and i've felt normal for 3-4 days.
so my answer to how long will noticable withdrawl (withdrawal) last after 2-3 weeks of use: 2-4 days.
a few things i  used to help me through the worst of it were:
- ice cooling gel (really helps for muscle aches)/rub a535/ben gay
- advil (general pain/discomfort)
- hot showers
- funny movies (depression)
- multi vitamins (recommended from other site)
- lots of water
- i took some organic sleep pills at night about 4 days in and that seemed to help the insomnia (the active ingredient is called melatonin) its called sleep ease or something like that, you can get them a vitamin stores. i took two chewable tablets before bed
- tea before bed (de-caf)
i also tried to eat as regularly as i could to avoid weakness
i'll keep checking back on this post if theres any questions
but i'm proof that you will feel good again soon!

[roddy132]

Hi
    Anyone having problems with Tramadol withdrawal please check Emilys Journal.  There are quite a few of us on there having or had similar problems.  Take Care Rod

[TeenyGenie66]

Quiting 20 years of alcoholism was easier to W/D from! Why didnt I just start drinking for the pain? Right now I'm in the puter room with the door closed as I can't stand the noise. My anxiety is running wild. If a doctor ever ask's me if I'm allergic to any meds. I'm gonna say yea! "TRAMADOL". I gave up the "F" word for new years. No it's not going so well. But I'm gonna say this. They are the " DEVIL PILL"! I think i'll have it posted in the National Inquirer! And yes reading helps ALOT. Also just typing helps. Well helps to take my mind off of it but dont help with the aches and pains. If I'm boring you I'm sorry. You can just click it off.I have lost 11 lbs. since i have been on them and hell no I didnt want to lose that! I'm down to 104 lbs. I just had no craving for food. I ate a tiny bit the last few days. I'm running out of things to say. lol I will talk to you sooner or later! <3TeenyGenie<3

[braddo]

do not take anything with this in it I was taking 500-600 Mg a day after to major sholder sugeries oxicodone took them for about 1.5 years withdrawal was the most horendus time of my life I wanted to die sueisidel leg ached like he'll the hole time it took 3-4 weeks to feel normal then to years later knee sugary so itried tramadol is is just as bad was taking 500 mgs a day for 3 months then tryed to stop exactually. The same symptoms lying fing doctor is he getting paid by the drug company to flog them the answer is a **** load so my conclushion do not take any opid mess ever they are very very dangerous I'm taking sleeping tabs to try to sleep again you all have addictive natures so watch it I mean it be very carfull with meds

[Binky1968]

Hi All:

I'm a very busy attorney.  Well, let me correct that.  I've been in withdrawal from Tramadol since March 24th and, because of the intense vomiting and diarrea (diarrhea) and, now the horrific depression, I WAS a very busy attorney.  My clients have all had to seek other counsel because I couldn't make my court dates.  

Its been over a month and I still have diarrea (diarrhea) and EXTREME fatigue!!  Unfortunately, my Tramadol addiction is being shared ONLY with you guys.  My family and colleagues would be shocked and very angry, I'm sure.

Does ANYONE have advice for the depression???  I'm used to aches and pains (I have spondylitic disease) but I was such a driven person.  Now, I'm 60 pounds overweight and when you throw in the depression and fatigue of withdrawal, well, I'm SCREWED.

Please, someone, tell me how to overcome the fatigue and depression WITHOUT another addiction.  

Thank you so much

Mary

[Sierra7760]

Wow!! I had no idea after reading all of this. I've been very sick for the last few weeks and my docs say it couldn't possibly be caused by Tramadol withdrawals. I was on it for 2 months after a whiplash injury that led to severe nerve pain in my neck, shoulder and arm. But when the pain started to go away, I started cutting back on the number of pills I took a day. At that point I started getting sick. I thought I had a light case of the flu for a couple of days, but then strangely noticed that when I took the med I felt better again. I was taking 4 to 6 - 50mg/day. it's been a month now and I'm down to one pill a day, but daily experience stomach cramps, horrible nausea, sweats, chills, abdominal pain, dizziness, and if I try to go a day without out I feel I will go crazy and have broken down at my husband twice and told him I felt I was dying! The pain that travels through my body and the skin crawling really creeps me out. Today I almost fainted 3 times and they told me at the doc that my bp was through the roof. What scares me the most is that I can feel so horrible and then take a pill and I am feeling better. That just is not cool! Only a virus, bacterial infection or cancer should make you feel that sick. I've had my blood drawn twice in the last two weeks and seen 3 doctors, all trying to figure out what is going on with me. All they can find is increased liver levels, one says is more then likely due to massive doses of Ibuprophen or the Tramadol. I certainly don't want to toast my liver over this trying to taper off, but I've gotta quit.

[E_Streete]

WOW! I thought I was in this battle alone. I want to choke the M.D. who told me it was ok to take these little football shaped devils! I'm a recent college graduate who is close to starting a new job and I just want off these fu*king things! I started taking them about 16 months ago and been on them daily. Between 5 to 7 50mg devils per day. Early this week I noticed I was sweating really bad while sleep, like swimming in a damn lake, then I became soooo depressed, I wanted to kill myself. I just kept wishing a truck would hit me with a truck. So I talked with my mother and girlfriend, so that night my mother called my P.C.P. and she was like why the hell is that doctor still providing him with Tramadol if his bleeding ulcer has healed, so she suggested weening myself off and after I finally researched the drug and read all the blogs. I went cold turkey Thursday, January 14, 2010 and have not taken a single pills since. Thursday was complete HELL! I stayed in the bathroom most of the day and sleep...FORGET IT! Friday was a little better, still in the bathroom but not as much. Sleep got a little better with O.T.C sleep aid. It's now Saturday and I feel ok sluggish but ok, my mother says she see the old me coming out slowly, but I'm still kind of depressed and I have no reason to be depressed at all! Tips I can give others is have some will power, tell someone they can help you a lot, try and keep yourself active. Take vitamins, eat balance meals, although you don't want to leave your bed, GET OUT THE HOUSE! It helped me a lot just to get out for a car ride. Protein shakes that have Whey protein is also great to have. TAKE YOUR VITAMINS! Well I'm almost at the end of day 3, wish me luck. But I do have a question for anyone who took it for the length of time I took it and similar dosage, how long will the W/D last? I refuse to take another pill, to hell with those bastards! Sorry for the language, I'm just very upset I allowed myself to become dependent on these things. All advice is great advice! I will keep everyone updated on my progress. The mind is a powerful tool but prayer is GOLDEN!!! E. Streete

[pharma9]

You got caught in the tramadol trap...Most doctors do not know the true addiction potential of this drug.It is touted by the drug reps as a non addicting mild opiate...NOT TRUE..It is very addicting and has an antidepressant effect like effexor and is hard to stop.After you get over the opaite withdrawal,you have to deal with the antidepressant withdrawal which is longer and more difficult.There is a tramadol withdrawal site that has many people in the same position as you.You have the right idea with the vitamins and deal with this like an antidepressant withdrawal.The Emily Post thread#25 is a good place to go and talk with others in the same place as you.Best of love in your jhealing.That thread is also in Medhelp.

[Prospero73]

In the course of reading the posts on this old thread, I noticed that people quite often remarked that Tramadol didn't make them high, just helped them "feel good."  I wonder if this isn't part of what makes it such a problem.  The anti-depressant effect cancels out what one expects to experience as a "high," so there seems no reason to be as cautious about using it as would be the case with other opiates. With increased dosage, one expects a corresponding effect of impairment, and if it isn't there, the instinct for control is weakened.   It's as though there was a form of alcohol that didn't make you feel or appear drunk: you could consume enough of it do become addicted without even noticing it.  Just an idea, but this drug seems unusually insidious in getting people hooked.

[pharma9]

I don't think it is the narcotic action that is as difficult to withdraw from,but that antidepressant action is very difficult to withdraw from.Effexor is the most difficult antidepressant to stop and must be stopped slowly.I have even made liquid mixtures so a patient could withdraw so slowly that she took only drops in juice daily.Tramadol also seems to develop a tolerance like all narcotics.As the person takes more tramadol for pain ,they also get more antidepressant activity and end up taking a high dose of antidepressant which causes all the problem in my opinion.In high doses effexor and tramadol which is similar,increase all the brain chemicals,serotonin,noradrenaline,and dopamine much like amphetamine does and therein lies the problem.Tramadol is not just a glorified tylenol for pain but a potent drug that should be controlled.In high doses it is like speed and narcotics rolled into one pill.People should be aware of this.

[avisg]

I think its the double whammy the narotic and and anti. I did not sleep until night 4 off it .
I was very depressed and all I could do was cry ...It does get better it just takes time ...

[Sierra7760]

Man, I know how you feel. And...I am sooooo sorry you are going through this. I was sick for almost two months coming off 6-8 pills/day before I finally got off Tramadol at 1/day. Was completely off for 10 days and then the depression got so bad I felt I could not stand it and wanted to crawl out of my skin. Couldn't sleep and the anxiety was out of this world. Plus, I've been driving my family nuts with all of this and I'm worrying about that too! They don't understand. Well, by the 10th day I finally caved and took half a pill. that was a few days ago. within an hour I felt better again. and three days later even better than the first. but now I can see I'm building a tolerance to it again as the depression is starting back in. I plan to widdle it down to 1/4 pill in a couple of days, hopefully. otherwise, i'm gonna have to go back on antidepressants and I was off Celexa for over a year...FINALLY...after 14 years! The depression with this is worse than what I had going off Celexa, so I don't know what I'm going to do.

E_Streete: I'm just concerned for you that if you were really depressed while still being on the little devils, a few days afterward it will only get worse. I know the first week I was just going through night sweats, chills, dizzyness, and a little nausea. the depression didn't hit until about day 8. I will definitely be praying for you and me both. This is tough serious stuff. I almost wish my family was going through the same thing so that they can understand what I have been and am going through. But then again, that's probably just mean thinking on my part. I don't want them to feel this way.

Sierra

[E_Streete]

Thank you so much! I've been feeling better each day, but I know I'm not out of the woods yet. Is there anything you have taken that helps with sleep? I've tried 5-HTP, Melatonin and Rapid Sleep RX. My sleep and energy has improved over the past 2 days, but I know it takes time, will power and prayer to get completely over this. If you have any suggestion, they would be greatly appreciated!

[Sierra7760]

Yeah, I started taking the 5-HTP, more St. Johns Wort and increased my omega 3,6,9 yesterday. I've been also taking sublingual B12 for a while. But after starting the others yesterday, I feel wonderful today. My energy was great and I sped right through my job today and got it done in good time. Depression is much, much better today. I go down to 1/4 pill/day tomorrow. We'll see how it goes.

Hope you continue to do better each day.

Sierra

[maximo911]

I had a car accident before 3 years and a half, and since that time I have been using Tramadol day by day! My daily dosage is 400mg (200mg morning / 200mg evening) and somtime 500mg even, before 2 weeks I decided to quit, so I reduced my dose in to 200mg per day, and this week I will start with 100mg daily. Sometimes when I feel tired and headache I take two tablets of Cataflam 50mg or Paracetamol for pain reliever.
All what I want to say is that Tramadol is a very very dangerous drug for people who don’t have the ability to stand pain, who aren’t patient enough to work in a long term bad mood :(
All what I need to stop the addiction is a self courage and avoid thinking of how I will feel if I increase my dose, and now I hope within another one or two week I will stop taking any Tramadol and forever.

[nyc2010]

First of all I have no pain at all and no reason to be taking these pills. But I still do. Started with 4 to 6 a day 3 months ago. Now on 25 - 30  50 mg tablets a day. Trying to start reducing today and quit nxt Sat.  Did it before and this works. Will drop from 25 to 8 tonight (02/11) then 6 tomorow ,4 Sat, 4 Sun, 3 Mon, 2 Tuesday, 2 Wednesday, 1 Thur ,1 Friday, Next Sat no mor pills. Do not take them during the day. Take them only before bedtime to go through the night without leg pain. Weed helps to go to sleep after you are completely off the pills for next 2 - 3 days. Will keep you posted.

[snuffokk]

I really had no idea that there are so many people that are going through what I am going through right now.  I am not going to go in details about why I was taking the Devil’s Pill (Tramadol) but I will say that my daily dose was about 5 pills a day.  I took two pills in the morning, another two in the afternoon and one around 6:00pm.  

The one thing I loved about this pill is the energy it gave me!  While on Tramadol I could work, talk more cook, clean, dance, read, shop, and help with kids with ease!  Tramadol gave me the energy to do anything.  Seriously, when I was on tramadol everything seemed easier and more enjoyable.  

Now that I am off Tramadol, nothing seems worth doing.  My energy level is at zero!  I feel pain all over my body. I feel achy.  My body starts sweating at weird times.   Worst of all is that I can’t fall asleep!  I do feel depressed.  What is up with the muscles burning and aching!  It’s annoying!  I know I have to stop taking these pills.  However, I will miss the energy it gave me.

I am up late right now.  I just can’t sleep and after reading all of the comments, I am more depressed that the next couple of weeks are going to be hell for me.  My advise is to stay away from Tramadol.  I will try the sleep aid though.  
  

[jeremy4444]

  I began taking tramadol about 8 months ago for knee problems.Within a week I was taking more than twice what I was supposed to.within 2 weeks I was taking 1500mgs a day.I quit a week ago and I'll have to ask,like most people here are wondering,how long will the wds last? I've heard anywhere from a couple weeks to a couple months! I quit cold turkey and can honestly say I have 0 desire to go back to taking them.I just feel for everyone here and wish you all the best.My secret to dealing with all the wds,and I have them ALL,is prayer,love for my son and realizing that I can't be the dad I'm supposed to be if I'm taking a bunch of pain pills.One of the biggest things that has helped me so far is taking responsibility for my addiction.No one made me take all those pills.I chose to.Claiming responsibility for my addiction also allows  
  me to claim responsibility for my recovery.At this point depression is a huge problem .Realizing that I 'm feeling  this depressed is because I've decided to clean up my act helps take the edge off the depression.It will pass.It has to.That is the nature of  everything.Everything here has it's life to live and it's death to die.Even addiction and sadness.So as this addiction dies I must feel it's depression and simply realize this is a passing discomfort.New days are coming.Clean days are coming.I can't wait until this is just a memory.

[rattytatty]

I'm SOOOO glad to have found this community of folks who are experiencing the same types of withdrawal symptoms from Tramadol that I am experiencing.  I was prescribed Tramadol (50 mg.... 1-2 pills every 4-6 hours for pain) a few months ago for a nerve problem in my leg which was causing considerable pain.  My physician told me it is not addictive.  
I beg to differ...
I obviously built up an immunity to the drug and it was taking more and more to accomplish the same pain relief that 1-2 pills previously accomplished.  I took my last pill Friday and have vowed not to have the prescription refilled, but I am experiencing  EXTREME depression to the point of not wanting to do much except sit in the chair and watch television which is NOT like me at all !!  I cried off and on all day yesterday, and since Friday night probably have not gotten 3 good hours of sleep.  Sleep just does not come regardless of how long I lay in bed.
I liked the way Tramadol made me feel -- mentally uplifted and energetic, and yes... it did help relieve the pain.  
I was not aware the depression was a symptom of Tramodol withdrawal, and am glad to know the reason I've been so "down" the past few days.
I pray this will pass soon.  I only took the Tramadol for 3 months, but was up to 4 pills (200 mg) four times a day!  I've never taken drugs in my life, but sure found myself relying on this drug more and more as time passed.
I'm glad to know I'm not alone.

[testhello]

I was on 800mg of tremal for approx 4 years.  I am coming off them now, my dr didn't warn me about any withdrawals or seizures.  I thought I was going mad.  My fuse has been so short, this extreme anger comes in waves out of nowhere and for no reason.  I can not sleep even though I now take sleeping tablets.  I am extremely dizzy and light headed.  Anyway I have come ohttp://www.medhelp.org/posts/Addiction-Substance-Abuse/tramadol-withdrawal/show/53256#ff them over about 2 weeks now and I just went my first day without one at all.  I have been tapering but I think I did it too quickly thus the withdrawals.  

My advice? Be strong.  You and ONLY YOU have the power to get off these tablets.  By the way, if there was a god then you wouldn't be addicted in the first place.  Prayer has been proven to be a bunch of ******** in all medical trials.  But if you want to kid yourself into thinking it is "god" helping you fight the addiction then go right ahead.  A pretty cruel god if you ask me.

Good luck.

[testhello]

I was on 800mg of tremal for approx 4 years.  I am coming off them now, my dr didn't warn me about any withdrawals or seizures.  I thought I was going mad.  My fuse has been so short, this extreme anger comes in waves out of nowhere and for no reason.  I can not sleep even though I now take sleeping tablets.  I am extremely dizzy and light headed.  Anyway I have come off them over about 2 weeks now and I just went my first day without one at all.  I have been tapering but I think I did it too quickly thus the withdrawals.  

My advice? Be strong.  You and ONLY YOU have the power to get off these tablets.  By the way, if there was a god then you wouldn't be addicted in the first place.  Prayer has been proven to be a bunch of ******** in all medical trials.  But if you want to kid yourself into thinking it is "god" helping you fight the addiction then go right ahead.  A pretty cruel god if you ask me.

Good luck.

[Rochellerat]

HI!  I might be repeating the same comments as the above Tramadol users, but I am so thankful that I am not the only one who suffers from withdrawal symptoms of Tramadol!!!  I am more desperate today being weaned off of Tramadol than I was last year when I was addicted to it!.  Briefly, I was prescribed Ultram by doctor for minor back pain until I found that it enhanced my moods.  I eventually found the generic Tramadol available online in large quantities from online pharmacies that did not require a "prescription" for these pills.  Long story short, I was taking over 400 Tramadol pills per month.  Before taking them in such large quantities, it didn't take many to suffer physical withdrawal symptoms....I wanted to stop taking the pills, but couldn't handle the side effects such as chills, overwhelming sleepiness, ringing of the ears and overall body aches.  
I quit cold turkey after admitting myself into the hospital and what frustrated me was the indifference the medical doctors displayed.  They said that this drug was too new to know the long-term effects, the actual withdrawal symptoms and longevity it would have on my body.  Well, I'm living proof that if you can get through the first month of physical (described to me as a heroin withdrawal), then everything would be ok with an antidepressent.  If anyone can remotely relate to this, I am begging for your opinion and help!  I have been sufferening from SEVERE depression for over 12 months now and it's far worse than withdrawing from the actual Tramadol.  I am seeing a Psychiatrist who has prescribed Cymbunmalta, but I have not told her about my addiction to Tramadol because of my past experience with doctors who say there has not been enough research done on the long-term effects of Tramadol........is this a form of "synthetic" heroin and should I pursue asking about a maintance drug to treat a heroin addiction?  I am so tired of being depressed and have only experienced since I became clean from the Tramadol addiction.  I feel suicidal at times, can sleep 15 hours a day, hopeless, unmotivated.......I just need someone who can relate to these symptoms.  I have no desire to ruin my life again by even contemplating falling off the wagon of my sobriety, but if this is how it feels to be clean and Tramadol-free, then I don't want this alternative!!!!!  Please help me.....I'm desperate for some advice....or just someone who will listen......Rochelle in Texas.

[Sierra7760]

Hi Rochelle,

I so relate to what you are going through. It's really tough. I've suffered with depression on an off my whole life. Was on an antidepressant for 14 yrs. Finally got off of it and was trying to manage it, when I got prescribed tramadol for severe neck/shoulder pain after a car wreck I was in.  I was on tramadol for two months when my pain symptoms started getting better, so i literally stopped taking the med. That's when I got really, really sick. to the point that I was sure i was dying of some awful disease, cancer or worse. Cost me well over $400 in med costs the insurance didn't cover for all the blood testing they did. Then I found this site and everything made sense. There are a lot of people here that can help you get through this with support, vits and other supplements, plus a taper off the medication is very helpful. I went back on the tram at one full pill/day for a week, then cut it in half for a week, then 1/4 for a week and then stopped. Mood enhancers like St Johns Wort and 5-HTP, and sublingual B12 helped a lot. It's been a couple of months for me since I finally got off Tram and am still taking the St Johns. The depression is a lot better now.

But I tell ya, I was seriously thinking crazy and having a hard time sorting it all out. I don't know how I could have gotten through this without the Lord Jesus helping me through it all. It seemed no one else around me could understand what I was going through. No one, but those here on this forum.

Anyways, talk to Pharma9. She will tell you what is best to do and not to mix mood enhancers. I took both the St. Johns Wort and 5-htp at the same time for a couple of weeks when the depression was really bad. Helped me get through, but she says that's not good to do, especially while taking an antidepressant like what you're on. Click on this link, Recovery Room 30: http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/172820 This is where everyone is talking right now.

Hang in there. I WILL be praying for you!

Sierra

[scaredlonelyandlost]

I was prescribed Tramadol for pain just under 4 years ago when Codeine did not help with tummy pain- Somewhere deep down maybe it was to do with the buzz as well. I have suffered with depression since I was 21 and now finding out I am pregnant with my second child I have no choice but to stop them. I have struggled and beyond anything I have ever experienced, this is up there on the top 5 toughest things in my life.
I used to take 8 50 mg a day but over the last year reduced it to 2 to 4 a day depending on how my moods were. In the end taking them was nothing to do with the pain.
I used to take 4 at about 7pm, sometimes the effect was brilliant other times I felt awful.
Over the years I have struggled to do a lot in the day, all my bones ache and I have little energy, my poor daughter easily spends most days watching tele in her pj,s. The guilt I get from this is beyond words.
Now pregnant I tried reducing to 2 a day and I also came off a tranquiliser Seroquel as well, anxiety kicked in and I couldn,t cope so I took 2 to help. I have been started on Lofepramine 2 a day and now back on Codeine to help with the withdrawals. I am too scared to come off it all.
What annoys me the most is I was only on 2 co codamols per day in the afternoon and 2 tramadol in the evening. Now I am on 8 coders to get me through the day.
I stopped my Tramadol on Friday taking 2 at 4pm. It is now nearly 4 pm on Sunday. The withdrawal symptoms have been the worst, I have had skin crawling which makes me so cold but the next minute I am hot on the inside. I have had.awful buzzing in my body so I cannot relax. I cannot stand without blacking out and I have no energy at all. I have no interest in anything and I am scared of getting depressed...scared beyond belief as I don,t think I can go through it again.Sleep is a no go and is the worst thing. My eyesight has gone weird and I don,t feel part of this world. I am scared. Doing anything or nothing does not help..I wish I could sleep through It all. What scares me the most is the feeling of whatv is the point in anything, I hate the site of my house, bedroom etc...I am on the brink and I am so god damn scared.
As I am pregnant and suffering with m sickness all through the day the thought of having Tramadol is making me feel sick which is a good thing. My partner has got rid of all my tramadol and also the ones at my mums. I am not turning back now.
Since being on TRamadol I have caught everything and my immune system is shot.
Anyway, today being the second day, I do feel slightly better. Whether its the codeine and Lofepramine helping I don,t know. I might just be having a few good hours. Don,t get me wrong, I cannot stand without feeling dizzy or blacking out but at least I feel a bit better in side (should I say that out loud). I just want anormal life back and so I can just deal with morning sickness rather than having the flu, a water infection and major withdrawal symptoms from a drug, I do not think should be given out without serious long consideration from the doctor and being told about its effects on your life. A copy of people,s statements of trying to come off should be given aswell.
My doctor has given me no help whatsoever even though I have tried suicide in the past. This cruel world dishes out the problem but will not help you get over it. I wish I had money as I would be in rehab right now getting help. As I do not have that money available, I have to do this myself and i t has been awful so far.
I want to cry but can,t, I just need some help.
The scary thing is I was ordering 100 codeine tabs and 100 tramadol every few weeks and it was not queried once. In this life look after yourself no one else will.
Hopefully will be able to report back in a few days things are better.
To start your cold turkey, get at least 2 weeks off work, someone to look after little ones and if doc will help get sleeping tabs to get you through the first 3 days. I didn,t have this choice as pregnant but if I could I would jump at the chance-anyone can do it just believe in yourself. Make sure your friends and family know so you don,t have to turn people away at the door.

[Josephine28]

You all are scaring me to death.  I was on Hydrocodone for 7-1/2 years but lost my insurance and it was hard to afford the 100.00 doctor visit and another 130.00 for 120-10 mg Percocet every month.  Not only that but I went to my regular appointment on April 1, 2010 and my doctor's office was empty with a sign on the door saying his office was permanently closed.  Talk about panic!!  So, I decided "oh well.  Here we go again with the cold turkey withdrawals."  So, knowing that Tramadol had helped me with hydro withdrawals in the past, I just ordered 180-50 mg Tramadol online last month - including overnight delivery, the total was $124.90 and in the past 1-1/2 weeks, I have received 5 or 6 emails telling me it's time to refill.  I only have 15 to last me 9 days so I've tapered off and was wondering why I am having diahrea every day and feeling rather depressed.  My energy level hasn't gone down too much because I've doubled up on my vitamins (due to being experienced with opiate withdrawals and what helps) and caffeine but I had NO idea that Tramadol had such horrible withdrawals.  Now I'm scared silly to run out of these few I have left because I just started a new job and cannot afford to lose it.  I read every post on here and you are all right about the fact that doctors prescribe Tramadol like it's the "safe" thing to prescribe in place of Lortab or other narcotic pain pills.   I'm just going to take 1 a day until I can get my paycheck and get a refill.  There is no way I'm strong enough to quit anything cold turkey right now but I am SO glad I found this forum because now, thanks to all of you, I am going to consciously try and slowly taper off of the Tramadol.  It's nice to know there are still kind people in the world who have taken the time to share their stories.  Thank you so much.

B.

[soeasybutnot]

I am on my 3rd day and was ready to quit but you have helped me to keep going on with this strugle many many thanks for your post

[Beargizmo]

You need to to step down off of these..a slow weening process..each week reduce your intake by 1...I reduced by 2 each week and have done real well to the point I'm just about  done..I went through withdrawls once before and it was horrible...but a slow process of weening yourself off of these things is best...

And then get into some therapy and aftercare (NA) which will help tremendously.

good luck

Jim

[me2558]

Hang in there...man, it sounds tough on you right now. I agree that tapering is a better approach and especially during pregnancy! One day at a time and one new step at a time. Everyone's brain is different, so what "works" for one person may not "work" for another. Depression sounds like one of the overriding main issues associated with this drug addiction.
My brother went through it preceding, during and after his divorce! I was his number one confidant and I sure am glad that he had me to go to for support and that he was honest with me about the extent of his problems because then I could really help him.

I've been in drug abuse RECOVERY for 7 years and 3 months and 4 days....and still counting each day one at a time and going through each day one at a time because I discovered that is the only way for me to get through my days sometimes without caving into that old feeling of wanting to "feel good" and/or just HIGH. In my brother's case, his drug addictions started with LIFE'S PROBLEMS...and trying to cope with a wife who was constantly bi__hing at him for everything he did ; right or wrong. It started with one drink of alcohol a day usually an upscale microbrew so that he didn't feel like a regular "beer drinker". His one a day drink slowly grew to 2 and then 3 and then he knew he was developing a tolerance and that he already had developed a habit.

Then, he had a back injury and discovered the opiates. He discovered something that made him feel even better than beer. And so, he cut back on drinking a little as he continued to take oxycodone daily; not just for pain, but to also help him GET THROUGH THE DAY (as he put it). His life was SO MISERABLE, you see, that he was using substances just to get through the day!  His usage slowly crept up as his marriage continued to unravel. He was SO UNHAPPY in his marriage all he could think about was ESCAPING somehow...but he couldn't just leave or escape because he felt he needed to stick about for the sake of his kids. So he escaped and coped with the "assistance" of drugs.

He probably should have gone to a doctor and just asked for script for antidepressants and antianxiety meds, but he was too ashamed to admit that weakness and to openly vent to his doctor about his "problems".  Somehow, taking something for the pain was something he could live with at the time.

When he and his wife finally split up, it was actually a relief to everyone, but the process of divorce and right afterwards is very very difficult. BIG CHANGES, STRESS and anything that causes a person to feel stressed out and anxious are all red flags about a person's life that we need to pay attention to as we can easily find something destructive to turn to to just COPE with getting through the day.

me2

[Drugssuck]

Take cymbalta are another kinda serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor.'
I had the same withdrawal symptoms with tramadol as I did cymbalta withdrawal,it must be serotonin-norepinephrine withdrawal. Also Gabapentin works wonders for tramadol withdrawal,but gabapentin has horrid withdrawals if taken too long,just take it for 2 weeks at the most.
God bless you all!! Don't give up I pray for us all!

[me2558]

I am glad I found this forum. I've been off all opiates now and clean for over 7 years and still counting...I STILL get cravings for the "high" that I got at times from opiates.

Did a bout with tramadol for awhile as I maybe it was the lesser evil vice that was consuming my life. But I would take any kind of opiate there for awhile that I could get. OxyC was definately the strongest oral opiate that I ever used, but sometimes it caused negative reactions and a not-too-pleasant "high"...I was antsy and extremely moody and even grouchy when very high on oxyC.

Tramadol was easy to obtain and at first it didn't do much to me compared to hydo's and oxy's but with a little experimentation i found out that higher doses gave a pleasant mild high; not too much. I was also under the impression that tram's were not really narc's, but after doing a little lookup on it and reading about other's withdrawls I since changed my mind.

life is one day at a time. I am praying for us all too!

[Lady79]

I was taking tramadols for 16 months. I was up to 20, 50mg pills/day. Tomorrow will be day 10 off cold turkey. It's been hell! I've been very close to giving up! I have about 100 pills left and some days I feel like just taking a few. So far, I've been able to resist. I'm still having some stomach issues and the depression is aweful! I'm able to sleep better now. I was able to take the first week off of work so, that helped a lot! The depression is so bad! Can anyone tell me how long until the depression is gone? Or at least better? Also, is there anything that I can take to help with the depression and anxiety? should I take 1 pill a day for a week and go down to a 1/2 and so on...just enough to get through my work day and to go to the gym...I've been working out but missed 3 days at the gym because of the freakin' depression and unable to get out of bed!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[avisg]

lady ,
This is a very old post .I would copy your post and start a new thread that way it wont get over looked.There is tons of support here we have many people here that have been addicted to tramadol...Welcome and I hope to see your new thread soon .

[heroinuser11]

  I've been taking about half to a full  gram of heroin a day for nearly 3 years.Tomorrow I'm stopping (really) and am going to use 50 mg of
Tramal for a week. The idea being that I'll use the Tramal for long enough for the Heroin to be out of my system mostly, and get off the tramal after a week before I develop too much of an addiction to it.

I've done cold turkey before and had success but started using H again soon afterwards.

So this is my plan. 50mg of Tramal (slow release) twice a day (every 12 hrs ) for  week.

Reading your posts has been very rewarding and am now Very cautious
about using  Tramal. My plan is to use it just long enough to get me through the Heroin withdraal period but not long enough to develop a serios problem with it.

I'll keep tou all informed. I'm interesred to see how effective this technique is on getting off Heroin without too much pain.

Will post in a couple of days.

[IBKleen]

Hi & Welcome,

I have to be honest, I don't think you have such a good plan there. First, Tramadol is going to do absolutely nothing for the H withdrawal. Second, Tramadol is a serious and dangerous drug. So, you will take it, it won't help with the withdrawal and you could be setting yourself for more problems down the road. You had/have no control over your H addiction, what makes you think you can control the Tramadol? A drug is a drug is a drug.

Is there any way you can get into in-patient treatment? I don't recommend this to everyone but in your case, where you are on H, have been for some time, and have relapsed without aftercare (I assume), I think the in-patient is the way to go.

I hope you take the advise of the members here who have gone through what you are going through and hope everything works out for you. Best of luck.

[Hollow79]

I was first given tramadol in oct following wrist surgery. I took it for a month ad when i stopped taking it i had a a very hollow depressed feeling for a while. I didnt even know it was the tramadol until now. I have just stopped taking it again after taking about 5 (50)mg tablets a day for about a month and a half. Now after 4 days of very little sleep and this utterly horrible hollowness and depression is consuming me. I can't think of anythig without feeling sad about it. I miss people and and dwell of the possibility of loved ones dieing. Please someone tell me this will pass soon. It's been 5 days so far. I want to see the light. I never cry, but i just sat and cryied today......for no real reason except missing people????? I still have 90 pills left but i am sooooo scared to use them even when i am in pain because this withdrawl (withdrawal) is not good, not at all.

[avisg]

I would dump the pills .Exercise helps, here is the thing with tram it works as a pain reliever as well as an ssri antidepressant so when you stop taking it your serotonin level plummets that is what brings on the depression .As long as you are not on any other antidepressants there is something called the amino acid protocol its in the heath pages on the column too your right .It helps with mood and helps your body start to heal .Hang in there it does get better I promise .I have walked in your shoes. I know how it can be .Hang in there.

[LeaAnn807]

Get rid of them!  There is not really any benefit to them, and the detox is awful!  Take 800mg Ibuprofen.  It will help just as much.  I have been where you are, and it's the pits.  Just stop now before you take 90 more and then REALLY have it bad.  You have gone thru 4 days without them, correct?  It won't be much longer till you feel better.  Hang in there!

[penn43]

hi, i started taking tramadol to get off the oxy's and now tomorrow i am starting the brupernorphine [suboxone] program. i spend 2 days on 16mg, then go down a mg every 2 days and stay 4 - 5 days on 2mg. i know of quite a few people to successfully get off the tabs this way. wish me luck

[freakedout72]

I don't know why doctors are telling people that Tramadol is non-addictive.  I was told the same thing.......I've been taking 6-8 50mg pills a day for back pain for the past 3 months.  I recently had an epideral shot and my back pain has reduced dramatically.  I quit taking tramadol thinking I didn't need it anymore, and I don't, at least not for back pain.  I have now been having withdrawal symptoms for the past three days - unable to sleep, restless legs, chills and sweating and crawling skin.  I finally broke down and took one pill and felt better within 30 minutes.  What is really freaking me out is this.......I called my doctor and told him I had been researching tramadol withdrawal and that I wanted his advice so I could withdraw correctly and under his supervision.  He is STILL saying it's not addictive.  I will never allow a doctor to prescribe this to me or anyone in my family again.  Good luck to all of you - and wish the same for me.  

[Sierra7760]

I know what you mean. I have come up against this so many times. even my orthepedist doc said most people don't have any withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms. my daughter is a pharmacy tech and she said docs won't prescribe vicodin or percocet because it is so addictive, but they will freely handout tramadol. she says then she has to deal with all the people calling in at the clinic she works at and they are going through tram withdrawal and just a mess begging for more. and of course the doc prescribes them another 120 pills, some 500! Wow!

i had surgery here a couple of weeks ago on my sinuses and i told them whatever you do don't put me on tramadol. they were all baffeled to hear about my experience. i told them about this site and about tram warriors and it being called the devil's pill. they were shocked.

i've been on vicodin for a couple of months to deal with the sinus pain, and now i am dealing with some withdrawals from it. not comfortable, but praise God it is no where near as bad as what i went through last winter with tram!!!

Sierra

[running4u]

I am in the process of getting of Tremadol. I had some huge marital problems and my job is extremely stressful. I couldn't function at work and I was going to protect my job and marriage at all cost. I made the mistake to cope by using Tremadol. I made a huge mistake. I self medicated with Tremadol. I live in a border city and get the tremadol in Mexico and it is legal to pass 4 bottles of 100mg.
I went into a down spiral. My problems were becoming unbearable. I exercise and run about 4 times a week. It didn't help. I went up in my dosage to function at work. I was taking 16 pills of 100mg per day. Yes you read it right. It was out of control. I decided to slowly cut back and cope with my problems with prayer and by reading the bible. After several weeks of trying, I am down to 5 pills a day and will reduce 1 pill per week. My goal is to be completely of it by XMAS 2010.

[maghse]

I am new to the forum,... today is my birthday, 49.  I am 9 days into my Tramadol withdrawl (withdrawal),... and I am managing pretty well.  I had to cold turkey it...no other way for me I guess.  It has been a hard lesson to learn...  I am coming off of 6 years of Tram at rouphly 30 ..50mg tabs a day,... 180 tabs a week.... at an avg cost of $125.00 per week,..do the math,... that is enough to make you sick.... bad part is I am a nurse that got hooked into that **** many years ago... it makes you feel motivated and productive, then slaps you right in the face.....  I have just had enough already,.... the time is now or never.

[JohnG88]

I tried hard. I was off of them a whole 2 month after taking them for 4 years 25 a day of Tramadol 50 mg. I was still having bad withdraws after 2 months. My body will not adjust to not having them. Legs pains all the time, Get upset about nothing, no sleep and very snappy. I just felt like crap. I cant live with the withdraws anymore. I just started back two days ago. I fill normal again thank god. I tried very hard to stop. I even lost my job going through the withdraws because I could not work.

[troubador]

I have read all these comments and I feel blessed. I started taking Tramadol a month ago, one or two tablets a day to relieve stress from work. It was tremendous at first; it even helped my capacity to defecate large satisfying stools.

I am a very sexual person, however, and as time went on, my orgasms became more difficult to achieve, which makes sense because I was combining my Cymbalta, which I take for depression, with tramadol, which also contributes to anorgasmia because of its SSRI properties.
Furthermore, my orgasms became MUCH less intense and left me unsatisfied.

My dreams became just too weird too. I am quitting today. My "issue" is ultimately depression, and I'd rather go back to where I was before taking Tramadol than stay where I am now....less anxiety, more willpower to get through my day at work.

Without the Tramadol, I will go back to my daily routine of 800Mgs of advil, 90 mgs of Cymbalta, and 100mgs of Viagra. The Viagra I take is for improved erections, but unlike the reports you read, Viagra also works as an aphrodesiac for me. By lowering my blood pressure, it also reduces anxiety. I take it sometimes for this property alone even if I'm planning NOT to have sex.

I'm also planning to exercise again. Here is MY problem... Too much exercise actually begins to increase my depression and anxiety. Finding the right balance between sex and exercise becomes very difficult.

If I only had a girlfriend all my problems would go away, but when you're 53, and can't be a sugar daddy, finding a beautiful girl in her 20's, 30's, or early 40's is so difficult for me. I am good looking and slender, but I'm only a 7 or maybe a 7.5 out of 10....i.e. I'm no Brad Pitt.

I do my best to treat all people just the same, with love and respect. But my chemistry for intimacy requires extreme outward beauty in a women. This is just who I am and I no longer beat myself up for it.

My "girlfriends" all have boyfriends with whom they live or have sex with. Someday, I pray one of them will become my "real" girlfriend. It worked for Guiseppi, it can work for me!

[docinks]

as a family physician I can probably count on my fingers and toes the number of times I've written Ultram prescriptions.  The first few times I prescribed it my patients reports really odd side effects and stopped it.  Lately I've had a little more success.  I have noticed a recent trend, however, of drug-seeking behavior in people wanting Tramadol.  In the last 2 weeks I've had two patients come in, reporting a history of back trauma from car wrecks, saying they got hooked on narcotics by a local pain specialist, and subsequently got themselves clean.  Now they just want something non-addictive, and both mentioned Ultram.  Although I have suspected the abuse potential, I had low enough suspicion that I did prescribe it for one of the two, but high enough that I didn't prescribe it for the other.  AFter some internet research I fully realize the dangerous aspects of this drug, and will not write it again.

One thing I will say in defense of many of you is that the drug wasn't taken for the wrong reason.  Addiction is defined as taking a medication apart from the prescribed purpose (pain control in this instance).  Many of you took it for pain, within the prescribed range, but then suffered from the difficult withdrawal.  I would classify this as dependence, which is the natural course of this drug, obviously.  My prayers go out to anyone dealing with this problem.

[chichi474]

HI IM AM ALSO ON TRAMADOL THIS IS ONLY MY 3RD MONTH AND I WASNT TAKEN AS MUCH BUT I REALIZED WHEN I RAN OUT OF MY PILLS I FELT REALLY BAB AND THAN I GOT A REFILL AND THAN STARTED TAKING THEM AGAIN I DIDNT REALIZE THE PILLS WAS MAKIN ME FEEL LIKE THAT TIL THIS LAST TIME I HAVE THE BAD COLD CHILLS OMG I HATE IT AND I DONT WANT TO TAKE THE PILLS IF ITS GOIN TO MAKE ME FEEL LIKE THIS AND WHERE DO THE KRATOM AT I HAVE KIDS AND I CANT BE FEELING LIKE THIS BUT TAKIN PILLS IS NO TTHE ANSWER IF I KNEW THIS WAS GOIN TO HAPPEN I WOULD OF NEVER TAKEN THEM PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND READING EVERYONE COMMENTS R REALLY HELPING

[moonshinegidget]

I HAVE BEEN TAKING TRAMADOL  DR PRESCRIBED FOR 8 YRS.. WHAT A SNEAKY DANGEROUS DRUG, WHEN COLD TURKEY, THINKING THAT BECAUSE I TAKE PERCOCET AS WELL I WOULD SUFFER LITTLE,, WRONG.. FIRST PAIN IN LEGS AND BACK AND HANDS, THEN HEADACHE, THEN STOMACH DISTRESS, AND WORST OF ALL. MAJOR DEPRESSIVE FEELINGS, SADDNESS ANGER, SLEEPLESSNESS, VOMITING, AND BLANK SPOTS IN MY THINKING,,I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE, CAUSE I SEEM TO JUST FORGET WHAT IM DOING FOR A FEW SECONDS, AND THEN SHAKE MY SELF BACK TO REALITY.. THIS IS AFTER 8 DAYS OF HAVING NONE.. AND STILL TAKING 15 TO 30 MG, OF PRESCRIBED PERCOCET.. PLEASE DONT TAKE THESE, AND IF IS HASNT BEEN YRS, DONT LET IT BE,, I AM MISERABLE AND WONDERING HOW LONG TIL I AM NORMAL AGAIN, FEEL FREE TO COMMENT, AND GOOD LUCK AND GOD SPEED TO ALL WHO ARE TRYING TO STOP USING THIS DRUG...

[bntheredunthat]

I have done the tramadol w/d myself.  I am 6 yrs in a twelve step program but need to take meds for pain.  Some insist that I am not sober and I probably agree.  I tried to go med free and there is NO WAY I can function.  When w/d was over it got much better but as I got older the pain increased!  I now take morphine and try to be very careful with my dosing.  I am getting immune to the pain relief effect and need more to take the edge off.  This month it caused me to run out last night.  I cannot have them refilled until 3 days from now and am dreading this! I did take a couple of my husbands tramadol and do feel a little better. I HATE being addicted to anything but have no health insurance and managing my pain in any other way is financially out of the question.Tramadol works well with my husbands pain but some days he needs stronger meds.  Tramadol w/d is just like that of any narcotic.  I've taken THEM ALL and w/d is the same for me, NO FUN!  I would stronglyurge anyone to grab a twelve step meeting for support.  Ya' never know where it may take you and everyone there knows exactly what you are going through.

[Jacki78]

My husband was put on tramadol about a year and a half ago, at the time they told him it was a nonaddictive non narcotic.  After the first time he ran out of tramadol, he knew he didn't feel right.  The doctor told him there there is no withdrawl (withdrawal) and she didn't know what he was feeling.  Now a year later, he ran out about a week before his next refill.  I spent all day yesterday in the ER with him, he looks like death, he's dizzy, eyes watering, irritability, can't sleep (even with muscle relaxers), and he feels like he's walking through water.  ER doctors wanted to help and put him back on tramadol to ease his withdrawl (withdrawal) and HIS doctor refused!  I just called to make him an appointment and they basically acted like I was crazy!  They keep saying there is no withdrawl (withdrawal)!  I went through methadone withdrawl (withdrawal) in the past and I know what it is and how he feels, it's not pretty.  Basically his own doctor that prescribed this HORRIBLE drug is now refusing to help him!  I don't know what to do, he has to go to work, and we have 4 children here at home,  Should I call a detox center?  I'm at a loss,  any advise?

[Tapering]

Here's my question (after some intro):

Sure, I was abusing the medication, taking 16 a day on a regular schedule for about a year.  After awhile, I really had no desire to take them, but I knew what the w/d effects were and didn't want to experience them.

I've been tapering since the Wednesday after the Super Bowl.  I'm down to four - two at each 9:00.  The taper has been super easy.  I honestly have little to no psychological compulsion to take any more than I have to in order to avoid w/d.  The w/d from dropping a pill has been really minimal and easily tolerable.  I'm cutting out a pill each week from here on out until I'm down to just 1/2 per day (1/4 2x per day).

Even with the slow taper, what can I expect when I take that final 1/4 pill?  Will the symptoms still be really bad, or will they be negligible?

[NeverAgain23]

I have had chronic pelvic pain for over a decade. I have not tried any of the big pain medications as it is more of a urological discomfort and I suppose doctors haven't seen it fit to prescribe these. I read online about other people with similar symptoms having some success with Tramadol. I had tried it briefly in the past, but it made me uncomfortably dizzy and so I took a pill every now and again - never daily.

Lately my symptoms of pelvic discomfort have been worse. So I said, screw it, I'm going to force myself to give Tramadol a try. It's available over the counter here. So I started on 50mg a day and slowly went up to 150mg a day. I started about a month ago and was on 150mg/day for about 2 weeks. The first week was 50mg or 100mg.

During the second week, I felt great. For the first time in many years, after urinating, I did not have a sensation to urinate anymore. That was a real blessing. And the dizziness seemed to wear off. Also, it made me feel extra alert and excited and talkative. I was a wiz at work. I could multi-task and work long hours and pump put high quality work (I'm in marketing).

I did notice that I would wake up in the middle of the night sometimes and my pillow would be soaked in sweat. Also, very bizarre and vivid dreams. And it made me somewhat excitable and irritable.  But pain was much less so I could put up with that!

During the third week, I urinated and afterwards, boom the sensation was back. That was a real letdown. I thought I finally found something that worked. For the next few days I upped the dosage to 200mg and then 4 days ago I upped it to 250mg. Then I realized that I wasn't getting any real pain relief anymore. So three days ago, I decided that it wasn't for me and I stopped.

Since then, my pain has flared up big time. It has been at this level in the past and always comes down to a more manageable level after a few days, but it is not fun. Along with that, I don't sleep well and I feel extraordinarily depressed. I thought the depression was just about being in pain and another pill that doesn't work for me. After reading this site, I realize that it is also due to withdrawal.

Over the past three days I have found myself sobbing, feeling completely uninterested in everything, in a haze, without appetite, extremely fatigued, wondering what the point of anything is, and also feeling anxious.

Since it's been three days, i don't think it makes sense to start taking a small dose to wean myself off. Am I correct on this? So now what? I just wait for my body to get itself back in order?

[bsakal]

OMG! I can not believe they dont have warning signs on this drug for the severitly of the withdrawal when you want to get off it. It should not of told me i could take up to 8 a day! I woulda rather sat through the back pains then to feel how im feeling now when im trying to get off of it and not become dependent. I have only taken about 2-4 the first month of 50mg and then 4-8 the second month of 50mg and didnt want to be relied on it and trying to stop now. The muscle aches, restless body syndrome, and a fever feeling is ridiculious! I did cocaine for a year when i was younger and didnt have this bad of physical withdrawal symtoms (symptoms). This is really scary that even the majority of doctors do not know the withdrawal effects or i dont think it would be prescribed for mild to moderate pain.

[bsakal]

Whos down for a Class action lawsuit!

[gazzer690]

i think the doctors need there arses kicked for even thinking of giving tramadol to anybody.i have been on 350mg a day for about 2 years and the more i took the less pain relief i got so they dont work well not for me.i am down to one and a half 50mg pills a day now but i am finding it a nightmare i dont sleep hardly just a few hours i night hot and cold shivers. sick.depressed.anxious.blinding head aches every day..maybe it will stop soon .i am thinking that if i stop them all together and go cold turkey .but im realy worryed what will happen to me as i feel realy bad now..

[Holdontight]

How long does the depression last i can deal with the physical withdrawals
its the depression that is killing me.  I was only on 400mg a day for about
a month and 1/2 but now OMG severe Dr's put me on prozac should this help

[breann687]

My last Tramadol tablet was 7 days ago.  My doctor prescribed it for hip pain and like everyone else, not only did it help with my pain, but it made me feel better (more energy, easy going).  I was only taking 3 50mg tables per day, not much compared to others.  Last Sunday at 6pm I took my last pill and on Monday when I went to get my refill the pharmacist told me they were unable to fill it for another 2 weeks because it was considered a controlled substance. At the time I felt that was fine, I probably should stop. By 8pm that evening I was a complete mess (and that was taking only 150mg per day).  I spoke to my doctor on Tuesday and he told me for the second time it was not addictive????  I am taking prozac which I think is helping a bit.  I tried some over the counter sleep aids which did nothing. My doctor gave me Ambien but that only helps me for about 4 hours then I am awake again.  I think the worst is over but I still am dealing a achey (achy) muscles, headache and feeling sick to my stomach.   I feel like if I could at least sleep well it would make all the difference in the world.  I don't understand how my doctor can continue to say it is not addictive and the pharmacy refilled this without any problems for almost 2 years!? I will never take this medication again!

[EliotSpencer]

I just wanted to throw my story out there, as it is slightly different and may offer some insight, despite the similarities to many other accounts here.

I did not get a prescription to Tramadol because of pain.  No doctor told me about it. I just enjoyed the occasional mellow that I got from other opiates that came my way (hydrocodone from the dentist, or something that someone else got from their doctor), and I went online looking for one. I found a Tram source.

I first bought 30 tablets of 50 mg. Lowest dose you can get, I think. I took one on Saturday nights, purely for recreation. I didn't take them more often because I wanted to make them last. Soon, though, I had more disposable income, and as I don't drink or smoke and don't do much of anything for recreation, I decided that I'd get another bottle and I took one 50 mg tab on Wednesday nights (Hump Day) as well as the usual Saturday dose.  All was well.

Next time I placed an order, I saw that I could get the 100 mg for just a couple bucks more. Hey, why not? I was still enjoying the 50s, but this double dose might be good. I never upped my dosage after this.

In recent weeks, I would take a 50 or a 100 on Wednesday night. Thursday and Friday, nothing, and on Saturday I'd take a 100. Maybe, once in a while, I'd take one 100 at noon and then another 4-5 hours later, but that was the absolute max. That was if I was going to be home all day and not doing much of anything.

I was never incapacitated on Tram. I could have driven across town if I had to, though I never did. I couldn't say the same thing about my abilities if I'd had 4 beers, or smoked a joint. I thought Tram was pretty safe.

On Monday and Tuesday nights, I'd have trouble sleeping. I always chalked it up to having had caffeine too late in the day, or a late-day snooze. I'd have restless body syndrome (not just legs) but I didn't think much of it. In recent weeks I've been out somewhere and felt the need to stretch, because (I thought) I wasn't doing anything physical and since I work out with weights or on the treadmill 6 days a week, I figured the inactivity was getting to me. I was wrong.

Last Saturday, I took a 50 mg Tram at 1 and then a 100 at 5. On Sunday night (it was rare that I would dose two days in a row) I decided to pop a 50, just because. That was my last Tramadol. I had several dozen more of each dosage, but they all got flushed on Tuesday night, because on Monday I went through the worst night of sleeplessness I've ever had.

Tram finally really got its claws into me. Maybe it would have happened sooner if I'd upped my dosage more or taken it more frequently than 3 times per week, max. So it took some time, but it turned on me. It scared the living hell outta me, and I realized that I was chemically dependent. Monday night was awful, Tuesday night was at least as bad, and after following the advice on this thread, I made sure to have a good workout yesterday (despite not feeling as up to it as I normally do). I also chugged as much water as I could stand (three cheers for Crystal Light Fruit Punch!), and I got my hands on a hydrocodone tablet. There was no way I could stand another night like the last two. Miraculously, I got solid sleep last night. My jitters are gone, and my muscles feel pretty good, despite the absence of junk in my system. I'm optimistic about tonight. It's hard to believe that I could feel better tomorrow than I do today, but I know it's possible.

I definitely dodged a bullet with Tramadol. I just wanted to post my story here (no replies needed, it's not "all about me") because I want people to know that you can still get addicted at such low and infreqent dosages. My heart goes out to anyone who is still trying to kick, especially at 400, 600, or 800 mg PER DAY. I can't imagine the hell you're going to go through, even with tapering. I'm never going back. I got real lucky. I hope for even greater luck for anyone reading this, whether you're using or not.

[windsocklady]

I am a 68-year-old widow who has had two low back surgeries that left me with horrible back pain.  About 7-8 years ago I was given tramadol by my pain-management doctor.  She told me it was a non-addictive opiate.  It did little for my pain, but I took it along with ibuprofen.  I was on 6 50mg tablets a day for all those years.  About two weeks ago I decided I needed to get off it.  I knew I shouldn't stop all at once, so I dropped 2 tablets from my dosage and, boy, did I develop withdrawal symptoms.  It was horrible!  Then this past Sunday, July 10, I went online to do some research and found a site that told me a drug called Clonidine (a HBP pill) could help with the withdrawal and that it is also used in detox centers.  So I contacted my doctor and talked to him and he agreed to give me some Clonidine to try.  I picked it up yesterday and took a 1/2 tablet at bedtime last night.  I slept better and no withdrawal symptoms all day today.  BUT, and this is a BIG BUT, my doctor told me NOT to go cold turkey, but to reduce by one pill every 2 weeks until I'm off them altogether.  I can take the Clonidine until I don't need it anymore.  So now I'm taking 5 tramadol per day for the next 2 weeks and then down to 4 and so on.  It will be at least 12 weeks before I am off them, but it will be worth it.  I will never take anything like this again, and I encourage everyone on this site to get off as soon as you can.  I will be seeing my spine surgeon again soon, and hopefully he can do a new procedure that will take away the back pain.

[Juliet40]

Amazing to read all these stories. My story is different I went to Mexico about 5 years ago and tried a few pills that claimed they were non narcotic so after trying a few tramadol was the one cheap no pain. I was up all day no appetite no side affect moved around fast and lost weight.  Learned to eat on it I'd take it first thing in the morning and I'd need my second dose around 5 later then that I'd be up past 3 am. I got everything I needed done I slept 10 hours got back up and took about 1 to 200mgs in the morning and 100 to 150 in the evening I tried stopping many times and the symptoms of feeling like I couldn't move were terrible this time I stopped and took lortab for a few weeks. It helped it's now been about 9 weeks and I still have diarrhea  I assume it's from this major detox I'm not tired or have any other mood swings everyone tells me I'm calm I was edgy and moved so fast that people couldn't keep up with me when I was on tramadol I do miss it because I have gained 15 pounds and it's not that I'm really eating more I think the tramadol had an effect on my metabolism. Anyone else experience this weight gain or have any suggestions please let me know. Thank you Juliet

[kickback]

I’ve been struggling with tramadol for years. I've tried so many times to stop, but the withdrawal symptoms are horrible. i take this drug as a way to keep me relaxed throughout the day. I don’t use it to get high. Actually it doesn’t make me high. It only gives me a relaxed, positive feeling. Sort of like an anti-depressant, but better. I can't seem to stop. I feel so retarded for being stuck on this one drug. After my doctor stopped prescribing it to me, i began ordering online. i have spent thousands of dollars on tramadol and i don't want to keep spending, but i can't seem to just stop. I've asked for help, but no one seems to truly understand how much pain this drug puts me through when i try to stop. I dont know what to do anymore. I've just been living with it, making tramadol a normal part of my life. i know thats wrong, and i can't live like this for the rest of my life.
I found this forum while I was looking up detox info on tramadol. I figured I just post something and also share with all of you a facebook page I started a few days ago. I started the page because im tired of dealing with this issue alone. This drug is not even a narcotic, so how can I be so addicted to it. It’s ridiculous. Anyway, I would greatly appreciate it if you all would join me on facebook.  Right now I’m trying to wean myself off the drug and it would be nice to not feel alone during this struggle.
I do hope that you all found a way to stop taking tramadol. If you have found a way, please share what steps you took. Thanks.
Here is the link to my facebook page
http://www.***.***
Jordan

[mommy2twins0718]

I was only taking 2 or 3 tramadol a day (for 4 years). I tapered down a little but went off pretty quickly due to having them stolen from me (another story). I am feeling very, very depressed. I am wondering if the depression I am feeling is from the withdrawal, even though I was taking such a small dose. Does Tramadol have an antidepressant in it? I have never felt like this before, utter sadness and no energy at all. Will this pass? I have 2 wonderful, amazing children and I feel so aweful about Mommy being sleepy all the time. Please someone tell me this will pass. I have been to this site alot before the withdrawal, and since ,and I hope someone who was taking such a small dose can answer my question. Someone even told me that I am not technically going through withdrawal because I was taking only 2 or 3 pills a day, but after 4 years, I imagine my body was pretty used to it. Thanks in advance for any help.

[ImDONENoMore]

Hi mommy2twins and welcome!

And yes, I do believe it's withdrawal you're experiencing.  Although my dosage of tramadol was a lot higher than what you've been taking, but considering the length of time you'be been on it, you're going to experience withdrawal (sorry).

But I PROMISE you it's gets better - SO much better than it ever was when I was taking that poison.  And there are a lot of things you can do to help you through - maybe things you've read about already - but hot showers, vitamins/supplements, exercise, melatonin for sleep and immodium AD for stomach issues.

And YES there's an anti-depressant quality to this drug (similar to effexor) which is why the withdrawal can be so difficult.  So I started taking St. John's wort about a week after I quit and stayed on that for months - and I know it was because of the St. John's that I experienced very little depression - in fact, it wasn't depression - just an overall sadness for a while but with the St. John's, I felt a lot better.  Might be worth a shot?

Also - you might want to post a "new" question since the older threads tend to get overlooked here (I didn't know that either when I first came here!)  And I can tell you this place has been a g-dsend for me - I don't know what I would have done without the support of this wonderful forum.

I'm happy to share my experiences with you so feel free to ask away!  :)

[mommy2twins0718]

Thanks so much, that was quick. I hadn't thought of St. Johns Wort, but I am going to go get some and try it.  I am taking melatonin, I haven't slept well in about 2 weeks. I think it's making the sadness worst, too.
Thanks for the advice on the new post, I had no idea.
I feel better knowing that this will pass as time goes on.
Thanks again.

[ImDONENoMore]

You're very welcome - good luck with the St. Johns.  It really helps.  Just make sure to check with the pharmacist first if you happen to be on any other meds - there can be interaction issues with certain meds and the St. Johns.

And hang in there - feel free to message me if you have any questions as you keep moving forward.  I'm rooting for you!  :)

[windsocklady]

I posted my first post on July 12, and have continued the weaning off process to get off Tramadol.  The Clonidine that I'm taking along with the Tramadol is a godsend.  Since I took the first 1/2 tablet on July 12, I have not had another withdrawal symptom.  I was taking 6 50mg pills per day before I started this process.  I am now down to 4, and on Monday, will be down to 3.  It is a 12-week procedure, but it will be worth it in the end.  I will have to find something else for my back pain, but I won't take tramadol again.  My doctor strongly advised me NOT to go cold turkey because of the seizure risk, etc.  I would strongly urge any of you out there to contact your doctor and talk to him about getting some Clonidine.  It will really help.

[thishappenstootherpeople]

Dont know how to say it. I enjoyed the feeling of wellness That everything is gonna be okay with ultram. I get up take 2ea 50 mg by the time I smoke my first cigrette I was ready to rule the world. I had no pain and felt ten years younger. I have finished every project and have no more excuses to take the stuff anymore.But I was taking 6 ea 50's in a day. I dont sleep at all without ambien. in june I deceided to quit smoking..so  I started to take chantx I took it for about 3 weeks and quit in the first 3 days, I had a  health insurance change and I didnt realize how addicted I was to tramadol until I had to do without it for a day or two...holy hell.. I finally figured what it was like to PMS..I was in a rage over nothing.I knew it was nothing, but I was still angry. Well I stopped  taking everything on the 20th of Aug. I had It. I am having a problem with sweats and chills and a metal taste in my mouth. I have mellowed out with the rage,  with the support of my 3 kids and my wife. The good news is my house is super clean, I take a ambien once every 3 to 4 days when I need rest. I have nightmares and I have for a long time, ambien lets me sleep. But my 12 yr old daughter made me a dream catcher to hang by the window. the smallest things seem to help.If you have any tips on how to get rid of the sweats and lazyness I would love to hear them. thanks everybody. This isnt the hardest thing that i ever have done but the SUCKFACTOR meter is pegged.

[EliotSpencer]

you were taking more Tramadol than I was, and my depression lasted the better part of a month. I honestly thought I was losing my mind, I was ready to check into a facility for two weeks or whatever it took.  The main thing to keep in mind is that the depression DOES end!!!  The worst part is that you feel like, "this is how my life is going to be....I'm ALWAYS going to feel like this," and you just can't imagine that it could possibly get better.  Because if it could, wouldn't there be something you could DO about it?  The answer, of course, is no. But I have to admit, I never got around to trying St. John's Wort or any of the other suggestions that people have made on here. So that might've made it worse for me. After the first few days of major physical withdrawal, I thought the worst was over. In a way, it was, but a different kind of suckiness had begun.

No one who's not going through your depression can imagine what it's like. Not even me or other people on here, because your personal sh*t is YOUR sh*t.  You can't even try to explain to someone who's never been on the Tram what the withdrawal is like, there's no way they could get it.  But I promise, the despair goes away. Take joy in your kids, take joy where you can find it. Get on a treadmill, lift some weights, do some jumping jacks, sleep as much as you can. If it takes a month for it to be over for you, then it takes a month, but those 30 days WILL pass, and when you get to the other side you'll scarcely believe you could have made it through something so bad.  But you will, and when it's over you'll know that you did something tougher than most people could ever imagine.  You can send me PMs if you want......

[TNPoliceWife]

Hello everyone... I am at teh end of week one of Tramadol withdrawal and although it is getting easier, there are times when it is still ubearable. The restless legs are killing me and depression and lack of energy are difficult, at best, to get through. I quit cold turley about a week ago and used the remaining hydro prescrip I had to help, but this is miserable.  I was on 300-400 mg a day for about 2 years. Any idea how long it takes to get this crap out of your system? I just want to be normal again. :(  My hubby is a major crimes detective and it's difficult to talk to him about how hopeless I feel with this right now.

[marytrese]

Hi everyone,
   I am new to this post. Reading them,cannot believe how many people are hooked on this. I have fibromylgia (fibromyalgia) so bad, cannot work & have days when i cannot get out of bed...Originally i was taking tramadol, relafen, klonopin & inderal for a heart problem..My husband had cancer & i had to take care of him & work...  I was taken off relafen ( my favorite) two years ago because a blood test determined my kidney level was down to 30...So now I really need the Tramadol....I am trying the holistic route, thinking of liver damage& want to get off Tramadol....Well I quit for one day, thought I had lost my mind....coughed non stop & could not sleep. Back on the Tram& do not know what to do...Oh by the way, my Dr gave it to me& said it was not addicting!!!!!! Need help...

[thishappenstootherpeople]

Getting better....I said enough was enough,and that was since 20 aug. I had surgery on the 27 and I knew that i was gonna be hurting for awhile. I was given a script of hydro and I have been taken one every other day when the chills come back. All in all things are a lot better. The metal taste in my mouth is about gone, the sweats/chills are much better. My Rage subsiding (Though I think that was from quitting smoking) Its been 25 days and things are going good. We had a summer party and It was taking everything I had to prepare for it (cleaning), But I had fun, it was good to have fun again, I fell off  the smoking wagon after 3 drinks, but such is life,The party was just the thing my wife and kids needed, and I haven't thought about smoking today so it was worth it. But know that it gets better, And yes a once and a while Hydro seemed to do it for me when my skin was crawling. I am still lazy and feel guilty when I dont feel like doing anything with my kids, but when I force myself I feel better. Bike rides with the kids 2-4 miles seem to be enough exercise to help. Then a long hot shower. This website has been a real help for me thanks for the tips and support. good luck to the rest of ya"ll. Oh yea,,, Ice  cream always helps too.

[EliotSpencer]

your physical symptoms are probably nearing the end by now, if you're anything like me, and just in case you're not, I read a lot of posts (here and elsewhere) about the restless legs (etc.) taking about a week to get over. I thought I was through the woods after that, but then I went through the depression thing, and that was pretty sucky for about 2-3 weeks.  I found a clinic online that offered a Tram detox for about $8000.  I called just for some info and the woman told me that Tramadol is what they have more doctors coming in for than anything else; tons of doctors are getting hooked on it & having to detox. She was the one who told me I was looking at about a month of withdrawal.  It was somewhat shocking and definitely disheartening to hear.  

Read all of the posts on here and take advice from them.  For myself, sleep was a *****. I wished I COULD sleep. But I busted my *** on the treadmill and in the gym, so definitely try that.  Good thing it's August -- you can sweat a hell of a lot of toxins out this month.  Good luck and keep posting when you need to.

[lorilynn1970]

OMG have been on tram 4 about 5 day only 1 50 mg tab every 12 hrs want to stop now i no longer need it was told to ween off but causes real bad drowsiness i dont want to take any more had last pill at 3am yesterday had some sweats obout  9 pm ok so far will i get w/d from such short time and low dose please someone answer i dont ever want this drug and it did help but ill take advil i think instead now

[lorilynn1970]

i dont know where my post went well i have taken tram for 5 days now  50 mg two times aday i no longer need it they said i still need to taper off it helped for pain but i did not like this drug if i just stop only having taken 100 mg for 5 day will i with draw  realy  lori

[Vida55]

It is a great support to read all these accounts that I am not the only one going through some version of Tram addiction. I have to say I am grateful that I have not been taking huge amounts. I am only at 100mg/day tops (2 50 mg pills/day). If I take any more, I get headaches and some nausea. I have not had a day without taking at least 1 pill for 5 months now. I know some of you who are up to 300-400mg a day might scoff at me, but this is as much as i have taken, and even in it's small (by comparison) amount it is giving me trouble.

I am going for NOT taking any today and seeing how i feel..waiting for some sign of dependence to creep in. I have tried to go from 1 a day to 0 a day, but bad anxiety sets in, and I cave. Even tho I feel better within the hour, I know it is because my body is addicted to this drug. If I take two, I usually wake up with my jaws sore cause I clench them at night, and really depleted energy feeling. Also, the joints in my hands are sore.

My question for tapering off: Has anyone tried Ativan or Lorazepam to allay the anxiety? I like that comment up there where the guy said he had some in his cabinet and they scare the sh** out of him! My bottle of pills does not quite scare me yet, and i know I need to get unattached to it. Thanks for any comments.

[julius6slam]

I am now coming up on three weeks since I took my last dose of tramadol.  I was taking very high doses of the once daily format plus adding some of the shorter acting formats as well.  This had been going on for 4 years.   A month ago I ended up having a seizure and as a result I decided that I  had not choice but to come off of tramadol.   I was very worried because I had been taking such high doses for such a long time and that I was going cold turkey.  My doctor prescribed clonidine to help with withdrawal symptoms and seroquel for sleep at night and I beleive that these did help me.   The first two days were the worst by far.   I had all of the symptoms that are listed by everyone.  Most notably to me were the following symptoms:
- intense anxiety
-skin crawling
- insomnia- I only slept 1 hour each night for the first 2 days
- general restlessness
- restless legs
- hallucinations (ask my wife and she will tell you some funny stories)
- headaches
- vomitting
- sweating
it sounds bad but it is something that you can do and cope with but I reccomend having some moral support with you all the time.  My wife and dad and mom took turns staying up with me through the night.
In order to cope with everything I would basically walk for 30 minutes outside with music and counting to keep my mind off the anxiety etc. then I would have a long hot bath and shower, and then I would try to sleep, and then I would repeat this again   I am sure the neighbours thought I was losing it when they saw me outside but it helped me pass the time and take my mind of the symptoms.  I also drank tons of water to flush my system as often as I could.
Once I made it through the first two days it started to slowly get better.  
Now that it is three weeks, I am feeling good, but I do still suffer from insomnia and diahreea and some anxiety but it is slowing going away.   I believe that it does take a good month to clear your symptoms but that if you get through the first few days the rest you can manage fine.   If any of you are thinking about doing it I of course reccomend it, it is probably the worst 3-5 days of my life but it is over and I am feeling really good now.  Just keep focused on the future and dont look back ever. good luck

[justhurtinginny]

I think I am posting because I hurt so bad I don't know what else to do. I quit cold turkey. My last dose was sunday, and it is now tuesday morning. I can barely get through the minutes. I haven't slept. I think what is worse is that I am doing it alone. I have been able to hide it well from my family. I have told everyone that I have a case of the flu. I am encouraged by all the previous posts. I am praying continually and I hope that I can break this habit. I just want to feel better.  justhurtinginNY

[Webber87]

Man... I've been taking tramadol for over a year, made the jump from hydro codon, wrongly thinking it wasn't addicting and would get me over it. Well it got me over that too easy but on to it.  At first due to my severe bronchitis it did little then I noticed that I could still attended my college classes and be more than productive and active.  I liked that no matter how crappy I felt due to the illness this stuff picked me up and pushed me forward without effort. Then I honestly can say I don't know what happened I got online looking for more hydro which obviously wasn't there but I did find tramadol and that was all she wrote so to speak.  I tried a few times to stop it but the leg kicks and lack of sleep was not even alieviated by muscle relaxants... so I always went running back until I got online and realized the first few days are the worst! Then it came to a money issue I couldn't afford to buy it till the next week thus the w/d symptoms ensued not by my choice but once I got through those deadly feeling 3 days with my mom thinking on day 3 that I was just dehydrated from lack of eatTing brought on by my prescribed and underused for fear of abuse adderall (adderrall). After those days it was like why would I want to go through that again?? I can't take it forever and I defiantly don't want to go through that crap again!! I did it once and made it through I'm done....so I sit here just a week clean but minus most of the very worst symptoms.  Gabrapene really helped at night for the leg aches and sleep. It's been my saving grace.  I swear without it I would not even be trying!

[pillpoppingannie]

Hi,

I too started taking tramadol (got it without a prescription online). OMG! I was pain free! Was diagnosed with fibromyalgia years ago. This tramadol was awesome. I also did not feel hungry so I have been eating less and lost weight. Next thing you know I am up to 12 (50mgs each) a day. Some days I took more just to see how high I could get.
Well I realized I had a problem when I did not take it one weekend because I had a cold. I felt like I was going to die. So I took a bunch the next day and was 'normal' again. That is when I knew I was addicted.
This went on for many months. I would have them delivered to my parent’s house so my husband would not know.

I finally told him because I needed to get off of them and he needed to know in case something happened to me-at least he would have an idea of what could be wrong if I have a seizure.

So I started just weaning myself off. First week (start on Sat.) taking 12. Then the next Sat-11 and so on. Yesterday (Sat) I started 5. I am almost there but I am having some symptoms- insomnia, sweating, anxiety. But it is not too bad. I take a xanax to get to sleep and usually advil during the day. When it is really bad during the day-I take a xanax as well.  I have not taken any time off from work and am actually starting a new job on the 14th. I look forward to getting to one a day and then none.

It is great pain reliever but highly addictive. Once I ran out and was calling everyone I knew to get a hold of hydrocodone or oxycodone or anything I could get my hands on. HORRIBLE! I never should have gone to work those 2 days. But I could not go to re-hab because I could lose my job. I work with lots of people and lots of money. (Looking back I see a lot of mistakes that I made as well.....not good.)

When I think of all of the money I spent getting it online and having it delivered.....Over $100+ a month....I cannot wait to get off of this and get back to normal.

Good luck to everyone. Weaning off is the best way. I would no way recommend cold turkey with this one. Unless you have a week or so off and someone to watch you.

m  

[LeaAnn807]

Hey guys!  This post is a few years old, so you'll get LOTS of support if you start your own thread by posting your own question.  We are not as quick to read these older ones!  So.........PLEASE make a new one so we can help you!  Just hit the "post question" at the top!  You can copy and paste exactly what you have written here to make it easy.  The original poster probably does not follow anymore!

Thanks and best of luck! : )

[roadrunner565]

I stopped taking tramadol about 3 days ago.  I had been taking it for about a month and a half for pain.  Now I am anxious to know how long the symptoms will last?  Can I speed up the process of eliminating this drug from my system? Is it safe to take Ambien for sleep at night?
Any comments would be helpful as I most interested in getting back to my normal self!

[hopeful0254]

I inadvertly came across this site as i was looking for a description of a drug online that was prescribed for my damaged nerve.  wow!  they say there are no coninsedences.  im been on tramadol for about 5 years everyday. i started by taking someone else pain pill for a some body ached, i forgot what the ache ws. but it was an innocent request, really.  now 5 years later, im addicted like hell.  i often wonder i did i get here?  i am so ashamed, cz ive been here before many years ago.  herion kick my but 30 years ago.  i supposed to know better, right? i messed up.  and i feel so horrible and emotionally torn up behind the request i made 5 years ago.  ok but now i know i must do something about this.  i follow a religion that dictates i donot take any mood altering substance, unless its absolutely necessary and for the appropriate reasons only,  so with this i am bothered, religiously, morally, emotionally, mentally and physically. Wow! writing this down and reading it makes it all seem so real! i will continue to read and post this site.  i believe this was a God sent site for me to tackle my problem of addiction to tramadol.  thank you all      

[hopeful0254]

test

[sunnyside364]

someone please give me advice! I have been taking 400mg of tramadol per day for 2 years, i can't get my script filled until tues or wed and I am going insane!!! I am a horrible person to my husband and my two kids are not having the "fun" mom they once did,  its been 3 days w/out and i cant quit crying, being bitchy or function. I told my husband, but he like myself, doesn't wanna tell anyone else or take me to a rehab for the fear of losing our children, one of which has a disability. How long is these symptoms going to last?? not a horrible person, just got too comfortable taking the wrong medication :(

[mikatr]

How are you doing?  I am off since last Friday and I am full blown into withdrawels....hang in there.

[mikatr]

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and little by little I fell for the drugs. I started with Savella and hallucinated and then tried lyrica not realizing it was in the same family along with Cymbalta. The Lyrica I was up to 200 mg a day and didn't like the feeling so backed myself down to 100 mg. Cymbalta I went up to 90 mg and then back down to 60 mg. I kept getting swelling in my lips and would be put on predisone until one day I had what I feel could have been a seizure triggered by flourescent lights. It kept flashing like a camera for several minutes and I was freaked, maybe a panic attack? After that I had heart racing and felt like a heart attack. I was checked out in ER and taken off the Lyrica and had HORRIFIC withdrawels. I swelled up again and the next thing I went off (after seeing my Neorologist) was Cymbalta. HORRIFIC withdrawels again. I was also on Tizanadine and Tramadol as needed as was taking them x3 a day and I said enough, it's still effecting me so went off those last Friday. HORRIFIC withdrawels and am still going thru them. Any help out there, I know I am rattling on but this has been really bad. I highly recommend thinking twice before putting any of these meds in your mouth and they alter your brain. Read online about the withdrawels of these meds and know that they have to be doing something to you if the withdrawel is so huge. I hope I can stop one person from putting any of these drugs in their mouth. I am not sure what I will do for the pain as it is now coming back, I will see my Dr in February and address that but it was so scary to have these things happen and I still live in fear wondering if I will be okay and ever feel normal again.

[mikatr]

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and little by little I fell for the drugs. I started with Savella and hallucinated and then tried lyrica not realizing it was in the same family along with Cymbalta. The Lyrica I was up to 200 mg a day and didn't like the feeling so backed myself down to 100 mg. Cymbalta I went up to 90 mg and then back down to 60 mg. I kept getting swelling in my lips and would be put on predisone until one day I had what I feel could have been a seizure triggered by flourescent lights. It kept flashing like a camera for several minutes and I was freaked, maybe a panic attack? After that I had heart racing and felt like a heart attack. I was checked out in ER and taken off the Lyrica and had HORRIFIC withdrawels. I swelled up again and the next thing I went off (after seeing my Neorologist) was Cymbalta. HORRIFIC withdrawels again. I was also on Tizanadine and Tramadol as needed as was taking them x3 a day and I said enough, it's still effecting me so went off those last Friday. HORRIFIC withdrawels and am still going thru them. Any help out there, I know I am rattling on but this has been really bad. I highly recommend thinking twice before putting any of these meds in your mouth and they alter your brain. Read online about the withdrawels of these meds and know that they have to be doing something to you if the withdrawel is so huge. I hope I can stop one person from putting any of these drugs in their mouth. I am not sure what I will do for the pain as it is now coming back, I will see my Dr in February and address that but it was so scary to have these things happen and I still live in fear wondering if I will be okay and ever feel normal again.

[Tdogg34]

OMG! I have been off Tramadol for two weeks now after being on it for about a year or more and getting up to 300 mg a day. I slowly increased it and the doc would write a new script. I am a mom and I have neve been addicted to anything. Didnt even know I was addicted. Clonidine helps slightly but it makes me tired. The deppression, pain, fatigue, and uselessness is killing me  and driving me insane and I still have a lot of uncontrollable muscle movements like restless leg syndrome. i am suffereing at the hands of this "GREAT" med. I am so sadened by this and hope the end is coming soon. i cant take much more.

[misty97]

i know what ur going through..ive been off for just over a week and still have my moments..but i fell good considering that i was on em for 5yrs..if ur at 2 weeks it will be coming to an end soon. just dont give up. have u looked at the thomas recipe at the bottom of the forum page? its been helping me

[slaw310]

I have been on 400mg of Tramadol for 9 years because of injuries sustained in the military.  I have tried in the last year to quit taking all together to see if I could manage the pain.  Well Wed nite I took my last dose at 745pm.  It is early Sat.  Morning and I am going through the ringer.  I can take everything it wants to dish out :  No sleep, the runs, Flu like stuff, icky feeling all over my body...Bring it on...The one thing that has brought me to my knees is the bone pain in my legs...Thats were the "KICKING THE HABIT" comes from.  I cannot control movements in my legs and use a heating pad 24 hours a day on high...Just thought I would vent a little..I am 79 hours clean and I would say day three was better but it is not.  Bone pain just as bad today as day one.

[selfinduced]

I don't have experience with this drug, but from what I have read the more you can move around the better for your restless legs. Also, a hot bath with epson salt seems to be recommended a lot. There is someone on here "tram hater" that really seems to know this drug and has many words of wisdom. Maybe private message her? Good for you in getting your life back and thank you for all you did for our country while in the military :)

[Shauna13]

Hey all :-) im new here and quite ashamed that i am here...not sure where to start:'(

[peterrandolph]

I am going through exactly the same thing.... I was on them for 2 weeks for a sprained foot and I loved them...they got me able to walk enough to go to work and do everyday things. The problem is now my foot isn't healed after 3 weeks because I walked on it so much AND I am so achey (achy) and exhausted from the withdrawal. I also wake up in the middle of the night and it takes a long time to get back into rem mode. I should have just gotten on the crutches and stayed off of my foot and the drugs. I can see why people love them so much...I certainly did but I am not the kind of guy to take pills...I don't even use caffeine so when I say I am exhausted from this, I mean I am laying down and achey (achy) every minute that I don't absolutely have to do something. I feel like such a loser and 10 years older. I can't wait to have this behind me..
Pete

[mgriff]

My husband was prescribed tramadol 3 months ago and became immediately addicted. He had a pain pill addiction a few years ago after hip surgery. I blame him for not telling the doctor about the addiction but he did ask for a non narcotic drug...the dr said it was and so did the pharmacist...well they were wrong and it destroyed our relationship. It took a wonderful man that i loved so dearly and who loved me and turned him into a irritated nervous angry man who only wanted to be alone. fatique was awful for him though he pushes himself to work because he has always prided himself on physical fitness and owns a gym. he has lost weight and has violent outburst of temper. he promised to wean himself off the drugs but i found where he renewed his prescription and we separated. it all feels hopelss i can not talk to him he is so completely different. has anyone else had a complete personality change that cost your marriage or are you married to a addict?

[shermy89]

Hi. I am on Day 2 of not taking any tramadol cold turkey. I have beenon tramadol since December 2010.  Like a few others here, I have only taken a minimal does - 4 to 5  of 37.5 mg tablets a day. It is a wonder drug for my surgically altered back and it never made me high. My doctor also told me it was not addictive so I felt fine taking the dose I was at. So I felt I was fine, right??? Nope. When my back pain was not bad and I felt I could skip the tramadol dose, I had flu-like symptoms and fetl edgy, irritiable, sweaty and skin crawling. I researched and found that indeed this is a problem with stopping tramadol and I am stunned that I became physically dependent! I have tried stopping cold turkey and also reducing grandually and felt the withdrawal symptoms the same so this time I am going back to cold turkey and hope for the best. I am suffering greatly! I have back pain but can tolerate it with ibuprofen and my TENS unit. It is the withdrawal that has me climbing the walls. I feel if I can get through at least to Day 3 or 4, I should be feeling better. Is this true? I am trying to function at work but find it tough but pray I am not called to do anything that requires me to be alert and responsive. I can lay low for anoither day or two and hopefully get through this hoirror. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated and God bless you all!

[MIkanik]

I had a Tramadol (and I agree..the Devil's Drug) addiction for 6 months and went c/t about this time last year.  I had to end up going to the ER after spending 24 hrs with SEVERE flu-like symptoms.  Crying because of the INTENSE pain, not being able to keep anything down or in my body.  The ER doctor told me that he's seen this before and that doc's need to get more educated on this ADDICTIVE drug.  He said I was lucky to be alive.  That c/t with Tramadol isn't the smartest move, but since I started it to just stick with it.  He gave me some anti-nausea med (Raglan) which worked wonders with my nausea and keeping things down.  I also started drinking marijuana tea (which I'm a big supporter of)  ...that made it actually possible to keep my vitamins and other things my body was lacking in my system.  I started a regimen of vitamins high in amino acids and B vitamins, fresh juice, apple cider vinegar, water and whatever "food" I could possibly eat.  By day 3 I was finally able, even with the extremely clouded head and muscle spasms (that were so bad that I actually had to have help going up and down our stairs) to start doing small things....doing the dishes, sweeping the floor, a load of laundry here and there. While I was doing those I would implement exercises into the choires.....lifting the laundry basket up and down, instead of walking I did lunges across my rooms, when sweeping I would ..and this is silly..I would do a little dancing.  That helps IMMENSELY with the depression and late night aches.  Then by day 10 I was out taking walks.  I must say that by day 7 or 8 I was feeling mroe and more like myself.  I had depression for quite awhile...to the point that my relationship was in jeopardy and we actually split up for a small amount of time.  That really woke me up to how I needed to adjust my attitude.  I put the thoughts in my that these feelings I was feeling weren't really ME....it was just my brain being tricked by a drug.  That it was just temporary and I have a full and happy life ahead of me as long as I accepted it into my life!  After that, I got work, we got back together and have been wonderful ever since.  I'm not perfect, and am going through another c/t stop......no one is perfect...we're all human and make mistakes, but getting past those mistakes only makes us stronger.  It doesn't mean we're "losers", "stupid" or anything....just plain ol' human.  

Anyway...that's my story with that horrible drug.  This time has been much better and I know what to expect and how to deal with it.  My daily thing is "Fake it till you Make it".  One awesome poster here said the same thing basically....tell your body that you just have the flu or bad food poisoning and it's only temporary.  It sounds funny but it really does work!   I wish everyone dealing with this GOOD LUCK and keep those positive thoughts in your head as much as you can.  I even go so far to search them out on the internet, people I love, etc....(my mom has been sending me texts of positive thoughts all morning and  it has helped more than I can say.....along with all the great people on this board! <3

[shermy89]

"Fake it till you make it" - awesome!!! My new mantra to get me through this Hell.

[ZOEY12345]

DCF IN CONNECTICUT TOOK CUSTODY OF MY 3 GRANDCHILDREN 14 MONTHS AGO . THEY HAVE BEEN IN FOSTER CARE AND I CAN ONLY SEE THEM ONCE A MONTH FOR A 2 HOUR SUPERVISED VISIT.. THIS EVIL SATANIC AGENCY HAS LYED ABOUT MY DAUGHTER USING HER PAST DRUG ADDITIONS AGAINST HER. THEY WANT TO ADOPT OUT MY 3 BEAUTIFUL GRANDCHILDREN AND THE ATTORNEY HAS ALREADY COST 20 THOUSAND DOLLORS. SHAKE SUFFER SIDE EFFECTS AND GO THREW PHYCIAL HELL BUT DONT RISK LOOSING YOUR CHILDREN. THEY WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE HELL . I USED TO THINK THIS AGENCY HELPED PEOPLE B UT I WAS SO WRONGE. DO NOT DO ANYTHING, ANYTHING EVER, DO NOT CONFIDE IN ANYONE. THEIR ARE SO MANY MANDATED REPORTERS IN SCHOOLS DOCTORS OFFICES AND ELSE WHERE. YOUR CHILDREN ARE YOUR LIFE, NOTHING IS WORTH LOOSING THEM.

[joanlouise]

I am on day 14 still not feeling up to par.But have faith as you go
the symdoms subside..but i am still in this nightmare.. But its getting better..
Yesterday i found this and read it with insomia....It helped because there
were people out there that understood..My recomendation would be read..
Good Luck.. and God Bless  My prayers are with you..

[shelbyshay13]

Hi:  I am on day 4 of "cold turkey".  I only found this site because I wanted to know if RLS is a withdraw sym.  I have suffered RLS in the past from taking Tylanol PM so I wasnt sure if I was in "withdraw" or not.  

I have taken Tramadol or Ultram everyday of my life since 1998. (yes it's true - do the math) my dosages have varied over the years sometimes taking as many as 1200mg a day down to 50mg a day.  I just resently decided to stop taking them b/c all of a sudden after the birth of my son Feb 2012 this "devil pill" is making me sleepy instead of giving my the high energy that I'd come to love so so much.

I thank God every single day that this drug did not affect either pregnancy.  I also have a very healthy happy 3yr old daughter.

I have never had withdraw b4 so not sure what still might b coming.  Yes I am experiencing sleepless nights due to the "restless leg syndrom (syndrome)", but after reading all these postings I am so worried what might be arround the corner.  I have found that the 600mg Motrin I got after giving birth has helped me sleep at night but I took my last one last night.  I also heard that soda water helps but havent tried it yet.

I do know that I have an iron will the same as when I quit smoking cold turkey in 2008.  But I hope I don't have to test my will much further.

[ImDONENoMore]

Yes the RLS is a very common symptom.  As you mentioned, tonic water w/quinine does seem to help some people w/that symptom.   I found bananas to help me the most though - something about the potassium.  My RLS was in my legs and my arms it was rough.

Also there's a product called Hylands Restful Legs that many members here swear by.

Good luck to you - and congrats for getting off the trams.  I quit tramadol almost two years ago and it was one of the best decisions of my life.  :)

[shelbyshay13]

DAY 5:  Cold Turkey
Very much on edge!!!!  Seem to snap at just about anything but then the next min I'm fine. Well maybe not fine but I am so so lucky because its hard to stay angry when a 2mo old baby boy flashes a huge toothless grin at you, or if a 3yr old little girl puts her arms around you and says "You'll be ok sweetie."

RLS has spread to my arms and fingers.  The right side of my body is a little more effected than the left - very strange.  Moving around non-stop seems to help during the day (a body in motion stays in motion). I dont have time to sit down much during the day anyway.

The fatigue is the most painful part.  One min I seem ok with an ok energy level and then all of a sudden, like hitting a brick wall going 90, I am so tired that I am getting dizzy spells.  I keep telling myself to keep moving that it will pass.  Yesterday I was lucky enough to get a power nap while both kids were taking a nap. I only slept about 10mins because the RLS woke me up, but if I could squeeze in a few more power naps during the day I think it would help the dizzy spells quite a bit.  That's just unheard of for a Mommy with a newborn and a toddler.

I thank God that I still havent experienced any "flu" like issues.  I'm still looking out for them to come, but there is NO way I could take to my bed (or bathroom) for a couple of days like some people have had to do.  Having my babies to take care of has helped me so much. Focus on them - get thru the day task to task. My little girl loves to play baseball with Mommy but the last couple of days she has had to make do with tea parties, puzzles and coloring. Thank goodness she also loves being Mommy's helper (dishes, laundry etc..) but when will I be able to play baseball again?

[ggmango]

Wow, this will be way old, but how long did you take the st johns wart? I took Zoloft and had a grand mal seizure and have been the hospital for 3 days with abnomral EEG and EKG readings. VERY VERY dangerous drug

[dougoo]

I have been on tramadol for only 3-4 months and just lately I ran out, low dose for back pain and for 2 days I could not sleep and was having muscle spasms, I was addicted to heroin when I was in vietnam and had very bad muscle spasms then. I cant believe I let myself get in this situation. Im a carpet installer and have lots of aches and pains. Im 60 years old and now I have got to kick this stuff.

[dougoo]

I have been on tramadol for only 3-4 months and just lately I ran out, low dose for back pain and for 2 days I could not sleep and was having muscle spasms, I was addicted to heroin when I was in vietnam and had very bad muscle spasms then. I cant believe I let myself get in this situation. Im a carpet installer and have lots of aches and pains. Im 60 years old and now I have got to kick this stuff.

[cheryl49952]

No there is nothing out here that is more important than our children. People need  to check out the prescrip. before they take them. Sometimes the drugs that the Drs. prescribe do more harm than good. Good Luck and God be with  you.

[cheryl49952]

No there is nothing out here that is more important than our children. People need  to check out the prescrip. before they take them. Sometimes the drugs that the Drs. prescribe do more harm than good. Good Luck and God be with  you.

[delta210]

You should not be taking Tramadol if you are on any type of anti-depressant, Tramadol has a anti- depressant in it this is why you have to taper yourself off of the Tramadol. But if you are taking Tramadol and anti- depressant it is very dangerious and can cause seizure an can also be fatal. Always tell your doctors if you are on anti- depressant do take it for granted that he will look at your meds because sometimes they don't.

[delta210]

Doctors are pushing this Tramadol now like crazy what is up with this! Is this because all these actor/actress like Whitney Houston are over dosing or something. I have used pain pills off and on for different things I have went through concerning pain and was never hooked on pain medications. These Doctors can not handle everyone like if they are drugs addicts this is crazy I am not crazy about downers anyway I barely have energy now, but if I am in pain I am in pain and do not need to be on anti depressant to control my pain.  Than they put you on Tramadol and do not tell people that this is a form of anti depressant it blocks the receptors that deal with pain but it is still messing with your brain just like ant depressant would do. Anyone that ever had been on anti depressant knows that you cannot just stop them because the withdrawls are horrible. I was taking effexor 37.5 mg the smallest amount you can take and I stop this drug and I thought a was going to die. I had brain zaps I still cry alot and I have been off them for over 7 months. I have problems remembering things now. But now I had frozen shoulder and the doctor gave me Tramadol because they do not believe in giving norcotic, well what do they think this Tramadol is watch and see if this does not make it on the schedule drug sheet soon because from what I understand this is very addictive or causes a dependency but really what is the difference it means you are addicted regardless of how they flavor it.

[delta210]

If you are on Tramadol you are going to have to taper yourself off of this drug just like if you were on a anti depressant, because that is what you are actually dealing with a anti depressant a drug that it is dealing with receptors in the brain not just your flesh.

[delta210]

That is a shame that these Doctors are now forcing you to take Tramadol I am taking it now because I was in so much pain I could not handle it by myself and this is the only thing they are giving you now something that you have to taper off of are you will regret the day you was every on it. My husband went to the Doctor yesterday because he was having pain in his knees, I want him to go and see if the Doctor could give him a Cortizone shot in his knees for the pain. But instead the Doctor gave him Tramadol and told him to take 100mg twice a day, thank God I asked him to see what the Doctor gave him because I use the computer to learn knowledge about things like medication I am taking and other stuff. When I found out that this Doctor gave him Tramadol I asked my husband did you take this yet and thank God he did not. My husband is on anti depressant and you can not take this drug if you are taking anti depressant because it is to much Serotonin and can cause Serotonin syndrome which is a potentially life threatening drug reaction that causes the body to have too much serotonin, a chemical produced by nerve cells. I will be calling his Doctor myself on Tuesday because Monday is a Holiday but he will hear from me on this one, my husband said he did not tell him about the anti depressant but still it is in his file and that is the first thing a Doctor should look at is the medication that you are on and are presently taking. If I would not have caught this this could have kill my husband you know I am not a happy camper right now.

So If anyone is out there that is taking this drug please do not take this if your are on any of these drugs you can develop this syndrome if you take Tramadol with any of these medication  

migraine medicines called triptans together with antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs). Popular SSRI's include Celexa, Zoloft, Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, and Lexapro. SNRI's include Cymbalta and Effexor. Brand names of triptans include Imitrex, Zomig, Frova, Maxalt, Axert, Amerge, and Relpax. these drugs