Aa
tramadol
I'm confused about everything I've been hearing about tramadol (Ultram). I understand that it should be used with caution (or not used at all) amongst abuse-prone individuals, but the other info I've seen seems contradictive. I've seen some treatment centers advertise that they use tramadol to help with opiate withdrawal, yet I've also read that taking tramadol during opiate withdrawal can INCREASE withdrawal symptoms. Can someone set me straight on this? Thanks in advance.
For me, tramadol is an absolute life saver. My story is the same one that's been retold 1,000 times. I got my first vicodin from a co-worker when I was a teenager, and it was the best feeling I'd ever experienced. I think I was actually hooked from the very first time I took a lortab. I didn't know the difference between opiates and others pills, so I swallowed everything that I found. Muscle relaxers, valiums, xanax's, ecstasy. I found out that nothing compared to lortabs. My friend had a script, and I used to buy 10 to relax on the weekends. Not long after, I received a big raise at work, and all of my extra money started going to pain pills. Soon, just weekends wasn't good enough. I started taking them after work on weekdays. Then I started taking 1 or 2 at work. Then I started taking several at work.
I got to where my body was constantly craving opiates. Even when I was buzzed, I could feel minor withdrawal pains. Soon I was buying my friend's entire script. I was buying half of 2 other peoples' scripts. I found a doc to give me my own script. Plus, people knew if they needed extra cash, I was always buying. So I'd get a random phone call or text every so often about someone wanting to sell tabs or percs.
It was a constant chase. If I wasn't at work, I was either on tabs, or chasing them. The only reason my work didn't suffer was because I needed it to maintain my drug needs.
But to get to the point. Tramadol helped me get away from pain killers. They mask the withdrawals, but the opiate withdrawal is still there. I could feel leg cramps for the first week of switching to tramadol. But it was nowhere near the unbearable leg cramps i get cold turkey. Lucky for me, I don't tolerate trams very well. They make me dizzy and they make me want to vomit. I don't get pleasure from tramadols, so I don't have any urge to take them other than to help with withdrawals. Within a few weeks, I was able to ween down to only a couple trams a day. After quitting, I'd randomly get mild withdrawal symptons. Then I'd take one as needed. I still get my prescription every month, and unlike before, they work when I'm in pain.
My financial situation was changed. I have my own house vs roommates when I had plenty of extra money to buy pills. Now, I can't afford my previous habit, even if I wanted to and I've lost contact with my old suppliers. If nothing else, this keeps me in check. You've gotta break the hold that pills have on you and either give them up completely, or set up some sort of oversight that prevents you from getting out of hand.
I got to where my body was constantly craving opiates. Even when I was buzzed, I could feel minor withdrawal pains. Soon I was buying my friend's entire script. I was buying half of 2 other peoples' scripts. I found a doc to give me my own script. Plus, people knew if they needed extra cash, I was always buying. So I'd get a random phone call or text every so often about someone wanting to sell tabs or percs.
It was a constant chase. If I wasn't at work, I was either on tabs, or chasing them. The only reason my work didn't suffer was because I needed it to maintain my drug needs.
But to get to the point. Tramadol helped me get away from pain killers. They mask the withdrawals, but the opiate withdrawal is still there. I could feel leg cramps for the first week of switching to tramadol. But it was nowhere near the unbearable leg cramps i get cold turkey. Lucky for me, I don't tolerate trams very well. They make me dizzy and they make me want to vomit. I don't get pleasure from tramadols, so I don't have any urge to take them other than to help with withdrawals. Within a few weeks, I was able to ween down to only a couple trams a day. After quitting, I'd randomly get mild withdrawal symptons. Then I'd take one as needed. I still get my prescription every month, and unlike before, they work when I'm in pain.
My financial situation was changed. I have my own house vs roommates when I had plenty of extra money to buy pills. Now, I can't afford my previous habit, even if I wanted to and I've lost contact with my old suppliers. If nothing else, this keeps me in check. You've gotta break the hold that pills have on you and either give them up completely, or set up some sort of oversight that prevents you from getting out of hand.
Hy what's up?
Frst things first stop taking the vlium! Benzodiazepines are the worst drug to withdraw from. They make opiate withdrawals seem like the sniffles. I actually told a doctor about my addiction to pain killers and he prescribed me tramadol. I was clean for about a month and then started taking the trammys and now Im walking a slippery slope of relapse. To answer your question though the absolute best way to effectively stop taking opiates is to ween off your drug f choice by using lower and lower doses of said drug. If you have friends or family that are supporting you use them to lean on. Whatever your normal dose is or was take 3/4 of that for 5 days or so, then go to half your normal dose for a week or so, then 1/4 for 10 days until you feel comfortable not taking them. For instance I used to take 5 30mg. perks a day. So to get off I went to 4 for 5 days 3 for a week then then 2.5 for 10 days...so on and so forth. Its how doc's bring you off of them and it allows your body to start producing the vital chemicals that you stop producing in an opiate driven haze. Good luck its one of the hardest things you will ever do. It can and is done everyday and if you screw up one day start over the next.
Frst things first stop taking the vlium! Benzodiazepines are the worst drug to withdraw from. They make opiate withdrawals seem like the sniffles. I actually told a doctor about my addiction to pain killers and he prescribed me tramadol. I was clean for about a month and then started taking the trammys and now Im walking a slippery slope of relapse. To answer your question though the absolute best way to effectively stop taking opiates is to ween off your drug f choice by using lower and lower doses of said drug. If you have friends or family that are supporting you use them to lean on. Whatever your normal dose is or was take 3/4 of that for 5 days or so, then go to half your normal dose for a week or so, then 1/4 for 10 days until you feel comfortable not taking them. For instance I used to take 5 30mg. perks a day. So to get off I went to 4 for 5 days 3 for a week then then 2.5 for 10 days...so on and so forth. Its how doc's bring you off of them and it allows your body to start producing the vital chemicals that you stop producing in an opiate driven haze. Good luck its one of the hardest things you will ever do. It can and is done everyday and if you screw up one day start over the next.
Please post your question on a new thread but I did want to answer you in case you are not good with navigating around websites - Don't be misled regarding Tramadol - it is an opiate-like drug and if you take it while you are withdrawing your withdrawal will not be as bad because your body is getting an opiate like substance so all you are doing is prolonging your withdrawal.
If you are withdrawing from opiates replacing that opiates (whatever it is) with another opiate like substance is not the way to go.
I'm 43 days off hydros and it can be done, it isn't fun but you can do it. The only way over opiate addiction is straight through it, withdrawals and all.
Please post for support per instruction of prior poster - this board is very active and we've all been where you are right now.
If you are withdrawing from opiates replacing that opiates (whatever it is) with another opiate like substance is not the way to go.
I'm 43 days off hydros and it can be done, it isn't fun but you can do it. The only way over opiate addiction is straight through it, withdrawals and all.
Please post for support per instruction of prior poster - this board is very active and we've all been where you are right now.
Hi wasted Welcome to the forum.. you are posting on a old thread if you scroll to the top you will see back to the forum, hit that it will take you to the current board on top you will see a post a question on the left. post there You will get more support on your own thread. I wish you well. lesa
I'm not sure if this sight is still active but do u think tramadol could help with WD from a 500 miligram a day addiction to hydro?
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