tramadol withdrawal

[Birdie23]

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.  I've been through vicodin withdrawl 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.