tramadol adiction(addiction)

Dear Do.Julia. What a great and soothing feeling, that there is one doctor so concerning about this horrible and silent chaser of tramadol, I admire your concerning about this medication addiction. Today I like to ask for your medical advise as an expert in any addiction, I've taking tramadol for almost 7 years I never abuse it,I started with only 1 pill 50mg,per day and I stayed with one for almost three years, It was prescribe because my fibryomialgia and a chronic fatigue that it didn't let me function,but tra. literaly removed my chronic fatigue, but around 2008 I developed oesteoporosis and osthearthritis and as a consecuence the pain turned worst. My case it's too complicated but I'm gonna try to not to extend too much, right know I am going through the abstinence of the tramadol y started three weeks ago decreasing the dose until I stopped completely, 4 day ago I am totally out of it,obviously I'm going through a hell, hot and sweating flusches,restless leg syndrome,insomnia,chills,cough,sneezing throat sore,etc., my question is if i can take some antidepressants or anxiety medications,which were prescribed to me last year due to some psyco issues related with my past,present life,but since then all the medications that I was prescribed none of them seemed to be tolerated for my brain,obviously, tramadol was there interfiering with any other medicacion, I saw about three doctor of the menthal area,and there was no explanations on my weird and rare reactions, on the contrary new mental disorder apperared "depression",before it was only anxiety.Then I started doing my own searching to find out the real truth behind and after do many testing with all medications and finally stopped all of them except the trama.,I stayed only with that, and it was when through,s this forum (spanish one) I found the answer, hundress one havw this adiction (addiction) without any doctor believing . To help minimize the symptoms of detoxifications, can I take
celexa,Zolof or Buspar?

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

Thank you for your very kind words. My thoughts are that you can talk to your doctor and  see if s/he may be able to prescribe you some Requip for the restless leg syndrome and possibly something like Seroquel low dose for the insomnia, Clonidine will help the creepy/crawly feeling. You are absolutely tight in that Tramadol also has an effect on the serotonin receptor in the central nervous system.   That means you may also need an SSRI antidepressant to deal with some depression that may develop as the result of your withdrawal, so I would highly recommend for you to start taking either Celexa or Zoloft, whichever one works better for you. As to the Buspar, if it works for your anxiety, you can continue taking it as well.
The withdrawals do get better and better every day, so please don’t give up.  I encourage you to look at my blog on detox options for more info on withdrawals by clicking on my name and you may be interested in taking a look at my clinic’s website, www.mdsdrugdetox.com since we often detox patients with Tramadol addictions.
Once you get through the withdrawals, the only thing you should keep in mind is as people start to feel really good after a few months out; they forget how bad the withdrawal really was and think they can start using again.  Just once or twice....  and they get caught up yet again.  Please try to remember how bad it is right now and stay far away from all drugs in the future.  It is just not worth it.

[april2811]

What a real Dr. you are, I never thought you were going to answer my question on sunday and take your time, but there are real angels in this world, I will follow your recommendation to star with the Zolof, as you mentioned I was tight in the tramadol wiithout to even have any idea, But,thanks to this forum and your blog I was able to withdrawal  this horrible analgesic....my life was miserable, for me it's so hard to believe, I'm a woman who never drink or smoke, I've being a wife and mother living just for them,free of any abuse or addiction and always following a nutritional diet and a healthy life style. It's hard to believe how I was depending  of that medication which it's prescribed as an innocent pain killer.But as you says this horror will go away,the nights are nightmare,my husband have to massage my legs to minimize the restless leg syndrome I also apply ice packs to stop the creeping feeling, the chills and hot sweats are too hard to deal with. The other night to help me with my insomnia, I had chamomile tea and tilo and one pill of melatonina 3mg and I was able to sleep for almost 4 hours,that made feel so much better, then I repeated yesterday,but it failure,I don't understand, Tonight  I will take one pill of Baclofen 10mg,I read you recommended to one of your web patients.I hope it's ok. Again thank you for your kindness and good heart.God bless you!  

P.D. Do not worry that I never will forget how bad it is and I don't want to even see the drug never,never,never again, I'm a strong woman God gave me the gift,when I says no,means no!.I'm gonna make the report to the Administration of food and Drugs,I already got the form,I don't want more people who suffers from chronic pain fall into this hell too.. That's why every body will be so thankful to you. Your're really worry of how the doctors are prescribing this medication of TRAMADOL without the respect that it deserve it. Again you are our Angel in this Earth.














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[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

G-d bless you too.

[lemomtree22]

I had knee replacement surgery, 7 months ago. I was given Tramadole to help with pain, and get my leg moving. I am now going though withdrawal, and on day 5. It is very hard, and feel very unwell. No sleep, restless legs and depression. My doctor said i should go back on them for a month and start again. I feel i should keep going. Can you offer any advice please.

[april2811]

hi lemontree22, I'm sorry what are you going through right now, it's a hell the withdrawal but you'll gonna star feel better little by little, the abstinence period of the tramadol is compared with other illegal drugs, it's unbeliveble how this medication is still being prescribed for no-cancer patients as it was made,please don't get back with that garbaje it's gonna make your life miserable,it's extremely addicted, even when you miss one dose inmediately the abstinence syndrome arrived, the worst part it's that this drug it's not sale under the label of habit forming,therefore most the drs.doesn't believe the we complaints about withdrawal symptoms, I believe your dr.can prescribe you another pain killer,I understand all that you going through right now, I'm in my 12 day of total dropping of that evil, I took it for several years no more the 3 pills daily of 50mg each one, unfortunateley there people that got trap taking 20 pills or even 40 per day as you can check in this forum or if you to the spanish forum you will be horrified,how people ended at the hospital because the convulsions and serious respiratory problems.My advice humble advice is be strong trust in God,eat healthy a lot fruits,vegggies, yougurt,try chamomille tea it will calm you,don't give back and good luck!

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

you read my suggestions.
When you take opiates for a long time like you have, your body's physiology has been altered. Your central nervous system has created a multitude of opioid receptors that all are screaming for endorphins (opiates) to fill them, but your body has now forgotten how to make them by itself.  It will take time - two to four weeks at least, for your receptors to downregulate (for the brain begin to heal) and to start making its own endorphins. Brain heals pretty slowly, so it may take you as long as a couple of months to get rid of feelings of sluggishness, restlessness and depression. The best thing you can do is take good care of yourself, eat healthy food, stay hydrated, keep active and busy. Stay away from sugar, soda, and simple carbs. Do not consume caffeine at least 6 hours prior to bedtime.
See if your doctor can write you a prescription for some Requip for restlessness, Neurontin for anxiety and malaise, some Flexeril or Soma for a few weeks for muscle spasms and maybe some Seroquel low dose, for sleep. It will make your withdrawals easier.  Valerian and Magnesium is sometimes helpful remedies over the counter.
The residual symptoms of insomnia and depression can last another few months. Thus, it is not easy, but it gets better and better over time and you can look forward to a opiate free healthy energetic you in the future.
Just a note of caution: you mentioned that you also take tramadol, which some forget is also an opiate. Look at my blog about it and especially the comments I got to the blog. You can find my blogs by clicking on my name in blue.
Good luck to you.

[lemomtree22]

Hi i hope you get my note. I hope you are feeling much better. I am still off Tramadole. It has been hard  thank you for your help and support. I Still can not sleep, and have felt depressed. But will keep going.

[lemomtree22]

Thank you for your great help and support. I am still off Tramadole, and will keep going.