Ultram for withdrawals symptoms

[skittles139]

I have been on Lortab first 7.5/500, then 10/500 and then recently went back to 7.5/500 for a little over a year now for chronic back pain. I started out as 2 a day..one in the morning and one at night then it went up to 1 every 6 hrs. I never took more than the recommended dosage because of the affects acetaminophen has on the liver, BUT I was still taking them for more other than pain. It got worse after my mom died in December. The pills made me get through the day. I knew I was dependent of them. I had a hysterectomy 3 weeks ago and I decided that this would be the time I would get off. I took the pain pills for the surgery pain. I was on percocet, 2 5mg/325 every 4 hrs and then when I ran out of that I started taking my Lortab which took 2 7.5/500mg to ease my pain. Well when the pain stopped I stopped taking as much. In one day my body went through withdrawals just because it wasnt getting as much. I had diarrhea and restless leg. It scared me and i refilled my prescription and was taking them to get through the day. It didnt take me a day or two to realize that i had made a promise to myself that the time off I had was to kick this habit. I tapered off and I was down to 1 in the morning..but only when I couldnt take the restless leg anymore..and one at night. Yesterday i took my last pill. The pharmacy sent for a refill request and she sent me ultram instead. Mentally I was like YAYYYY but physically i was like OH NO! I researched and researched and found people used ultram to get through withdrawals. Some succeeded and didnt get addicted to them and some did. I have used ultram before and it never gave me a want to take them for a high. But I see it like this..why substitute a pill for pill? It has been approx 28 hrs since my last lortab. I woke up great. My legs did ache but I have flexeril which i have 10mg and i take 1/2 so i take 5mg when i need it. I also have Xanax that I only take when I absolutely need it. I have a script for 5mg and I take 1/2. I took a hot shower and drink a smoothie and at a banana for breakfast and I took a one a day vitamin and just kept busy. When i stopped I did feel anxious and depressed. And I cried and cried and I was having horrible back pain. I took a ultram and it did nothing for me. I have 2 beautiful daughters that i look in their eyes and I want to do this for them. I even had a friend that offered me 2 lortabs and I said no. I was so proud! Its only day one and I know I have a long road ahead. I feel like the tapering off did help me and I was ready mentally. Lets see what tomorrow has in store.

[skittles139]

Thanks Dane! I am not turning back. I knew I was heading down a bad path. Once I go through the surgery pain I knew it was time. I did alot of research on Ultram and its still a pain pill! Keep in touch and we can help each other!

[Dane74]

You are doing great, and i  love  your idea of  not trading one pill for another.  Ultram is an opiate, so thats why it would help, i would advise to stand FAR away from that drug.  Stay positive you are on the right track:)

[skittles139]

Thank you for your support! I am definitely keeping in my about the ultram. I dont want to trade a pill for a pill. I am doing so well. Its been almost 48 since my last Lortab, The only thing Im experiencing is restless leg. I am keeping busy. I am feeling better mentally but not quite physical. Im expecting the worse but hoping for the best. Im hoping this is the worse. Im hoping the tapering helped and I wasnt on a high dose to begin with so im hoping that did help. I will keep in touch because this has helped me so much. I had been reading the forums for awhile and finally decided to join and im glad I did.

[skittles139]

Thank you Sonrissa! I had been reading all the comments and finally decided to join, And I love skittles too!:) Its day 2 and almost 48 hrs since my last Lortab. I woke up restless and tossed and turned awhile and then took 5mg of flexeril. It helped some. I am feeling pretty good all day. We decided to go bring my daughters to the splash pad today. Im trying to keep busy. The only symptom I seem to be fighting is the restless legs. I did have one bathroom visit and that's it so far. Im expecting the worse but hoping for the best. I did check out the Thomas Recipe but I cant be in bed that long with my daughters. I will take the Ultram if I absolutely need it which Im keeping in mind Im not gonna trade a pill for another pill. I will ease my pain other ways. I did read some forums where they had bad withdrawals from Ultram so im definitely keeping that in mind. Im doing so well and i'm feeling better mentally, not quite physically yet. I was so happy I had some responses:) Thank you for your support!

[Bkitty]

Hi! I would stay away from the ultram is possible and use the flexeril and xanax as comfort meds and finish withdrawing from the Vicodin. Ultram comes with its own set of problems. All the feelings you are having are very normal,,from the anxiety  and crying. It takes about a week to start feeling better and you were not on that much so hopefully your withdrawals wont be as bad (maybe?). Its great that you recognized that you are dependent on the pills to get thru the day. Thats when the trouble really starts and thats how we become addicted. Opiates screw up all the neuro-receptors in the brain and throw the chemistry off,,it will kinda act like an antidepressant at first (energy, motivation,anti anxiety) and then will turn on you where you will have to take more and more to get that feeling again. And you never will. Pain will increase in the beginning coming off the vicodin too,,for some reason the pills make the pain sensors more sensitive to pain. That too will subside. I wish you all the best! Keep posting and keep us updated!((hugs))~Bkitty

[Sonrissa]

Hi skittles and welcome! By the way, I love skittles! LOL your story is so similar to many of us! We start out taking pain pills for legitimate reasons, and find out that they did way more than take away the pain! Then suddenly, or so it seams, we find ourselves on this awful roller coaster!

Be very careful with the Ultram! It doesn't sound like you think it will work for you! That's good, because if you were to become addicted,  I've heard that the withdrawals are worse!

Your tapering will help the withdrawal symptoms be less intense! Have you checked out the Thomas Recipe at the bottom of the page? There are several things you can get to help with the restless legs and sleep, stomach issues! The emotional stuff and crying is very normal! I cried for days and it actually felt good and cleansing to get it out! Take care and all the best! Please post if you have any questions or if you need any support! Lots of wonderful folks here who will be happy to help!