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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!
I hope you're past this. But your obviously not alone. It took me seeing how a family members addiction was causing enormous an devastating pain in everyone around them, for me to finally after years of abuse, to stop. We all lie to ourselves and say it doesn't effect them and that they don't know. But we never fool anyone but ourselves. And we scourge our families with our selfish abuse.
I don't want you to feel shame. Shame is counterproductive and won't help them or you. Just think what you'd do, the lengths you'd go to, if someone was hurting your family. Then this isn't such the monster we create in our heads. Fight. Because it's your enemy and because you're it's slave. Fight for those people you love that you're causing pain in. Fight because if you don't you'll fade away from everyone, including yourself. God bless you with His strength, in Jesus's name.
I don't want you to feel shame. Shame is counterproductive and won't help them or you. Just think what you'd do, the lengths you'd go to, if someone was hurting your family. Then this isn't such the monster we create in our heads. Fight. Because it's your enemy and because you're it's slave. Fight for those people you love that you're causing pain in. Fight because if you don't you'll fade away from everyone, including yourself. God bless you with His strength, in Jesus's name.
After taking a relatively small dose (50mg) of tramadol 3 times daily for approx 3 1/2 yrs I had relocated to another state and changed healthcare providers. Being new to the area I chose pretty much at random from the limited providers in the area and, unfortunately, wound up with an inept moron as a primary care provider.
Now I'm 64 yrs old and not in the best of health and I've run into some pretty low quality doctors in my time but this guy beat anything I've ever seen. Anyhow, long story short, after a couple of months of struggling just to stay current on my meds (I take several regularly) he pushed me beyond the limits of my patience and I wound up with no provider and no way to get my meds.
Side Note: If you're in the area of Athens, Tennessee his name is Kevin Dansby. Do yourself a favor and steer clear of this guy.
Naturally when I fired him he immediately cancelled all my Rx. At that time, I had zero tramadol in my possession and every new provider I've spoken to refused to provide tramadol as treatment for arthritis so the decision was pretty much made for me to stop, cold turkey. At that time, I had no clue how hard it would be.
Step one: The psychological effect of knowing that I was addicted to this med and unable to obtain it was pretty much overwhelming. Although I consider myself a strong minded man, the anticipation of withdrawal was foremost in my mind and seemed to be inescapable. Anxiety would be a mild description. Even after researching and becoming more aware of what I was in for, I was still unsure what to expect as there are so many symptoms which vary individually, thus adding to the anticipation.
Step two: Flu like symptoms. Starting at day two, sinus and chest congestion, headache, nausea, overall body-ache that lasted about 5 to 6 days.
Step three: Insomnia. For lack of a better term, absolutely unable to even lay still, much less sleep. Coupled with the lack of sleep comes lethargy and mild confusion along with many other aspects associated with sleep deprivation alone. This for me was the worst part of the entire experience. My entire body was like a wound up spring just waiting to be released. I cannot say how long this will last as it is still with me today, on day ten.
Step four: Diminished motor skills. Seemingly unable to coordinate simple movements that required the use of both hands at once or similar tasks, I would find myself staring at my hand almost willing it to move. This lasted about a week.
Step five: Nausea/diarrhea. Although I was nauseated to the point of not wanting to eat, I seemed to crave sweets, any sweets no matter what the form and I have never been a fan sweets or snacking. Stay close to a restroom.
Step six: Temper, temper! I have never been a very aggressive person without provocation but I seemed to be hovering on the edge of explosion with even the slightest irritation. I managed to subdue this with the help and understanding of a very loving wife, but it lasted for a week or so.
Step seven: This is my day ten and although I am writing this at 2:30 am due to the ongoing lack of ability to sleep, for the most part things are smoothing out and I consider myself lucky with the understanding that it could have been much worse. So what is next?...Now I have to face the fact that I still have arthritis and that it must be treated and that any med that is effective enough to relieve the pain is addicting. So where do I go from here?
Now I'm 64 yrs old and not in the best of health and I've run into some pretty low quality doctors in my time but this guy beat anything I've ever seen. Anyhow, long story short, after a couple of months of struggling just to stay current on my meds (I take several regularly) he pushed me beyond the limits of my patience and I wound up with no provider and no way to get my meds.
Side Note: If you're in the area of Athens, Tennessee his name is Kevin Dansby. Do yourself a favor and steer clear of this guy.
Naturally when I fired him he immediately cancelled all my Rx. At that time, I had zero tramadol in my possession and every new provider I've spoken to refused to provide tramadol as treatment for arthritis so the decision was pretty much made for me to stop, cold turkey. At that time, I had no clue how hard it would be.
Step one: The psychological effect of knowing that I was addicted to this med and unable to obtain it was pretty much overwhelming. Although I consider myself a strong minded man, the anticipation of withdrawal was foremost in my mind and seemed to be inescapable. Anxiety would be a mild description. Even after researching and becoming more aware of what I was in for, I was still unsure what to expect as there are so many symptoms which vary individually, thus adding to the anticipation.
Step two: Flu like symptoms. Starting at day two, sinus and chest congestion, headache, nausea, overall body-ache that lasted about 5 to 6 days.
Step three: Insomnia. For lack of a better term, absolutely unable to even lay still, much less sleep. Coupled with the lack of sleep comes lethargy and mild confusion along with many other aspects associated with sleep deprivation alone. This for me was the worst part of the entire experience. My entire body was like a wound up spring just waiting to be released. I cannot say how long this will last as it is still with me today, on day ten.
Step four: Diminished motor skills. Seemingly unable to coordinate simple movements that required the use of both hands at once or similar tasks, I would find myself staring at my hand almost willing it to move. This lasted about a week.
Step five: Nausea/diarrhea. Although I was nauseated to the point of not wanting to eat, I seemed to crave sweets, any sweets no matter what the form and I have never been a fan sweets or snacking. Stay close to a restroom.
Step six: Temper, temper! I have never been a very aggressive person without provocation but I seemed to be hovering on the edge of explosion with even the slightest irritation. I managed to subdue this with the help and understanding of a very loving wife, but it lasted for a week or so.
Step seven: This is my day ten and although I am writing this at 2:30 am due to the ongoing lack of ability to sleep, for the most part things are smoothing out and I consider myself lucky with the understanding that it could have been much worse. So what is next?...Now I have to face the fact that I still have arthritis and that it must be treated and that any med that is effective enough to relieve the pain is addicting. So where do I go from here?
Like you said just do a real slow taper, you may even have to get some more tram to complete the taper, but do it very slow or your body will quickly realize that its not getting its daily fix , I am just starting to taper off a 800 mg a day habit , so ill let you know how its going if you like?
I went through all these withdrawals as well. These are the things that helped me. For depression: NIACIN non flush (take double dose), For Diarrhea: Immodium Liquid not tablets, For anxiety: Try to find some Clonzapem or Xanax but be careful they are addictive, To Sleep: Sleeping pills. Watch a lot of comedy TV, Walk no matter how you feel do some walking. EAT!!! I know you will not feel like eating but it is very important. No matter how little the food but EAT. Also, take a hot shower 2-3 times a day. I hope this helps, it's what helped me. Good Luck Everyone!
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