Avis - tramadol addiction

[minnie11]

Hi Avis
Remember me, Minnie? It has been almost a year since I posted last, and my intake of tramadol has been going up and down since then. Maybe you remember that I quit cold turkey last summer for six weeks, but due to the severe w/d that never lessened (and neither did my workload) I started again and maintained with two a day for several months. Because of the never-ending health problems, new dental infections and surgeries and on top of this a painful ulcer due to problems with my oldest son, I started again (sigh).
Now I finally feel better and stronger and know that it is time to stop once again. This time, however, I want to try the taper method, as the w/d are so intense and prolonged  coming off tramadol. I remember you had a similar addiction and stopped successfully last summer (showing great strength), and if you have any advice I would love to hear it - and I would also love some support when I start to taper. I have Kim's email address and I am sure that she will support me as well, whe has a wonderful perspective on life :-)
Finally I just want to say that I have checked the forum from time to time and noticed that you never stop posting and helping people, which is so admirable and helpful. Hope you are doing in general?

And before I say goodbye for now I just want to say to all struggling with addiction - good luck and try to stay strong and determined.
Minnie

[losttaya]

Sorry I 'm late getting back to you.  My story is long..so I'll give u the short verison (i'll tell u the long if u like).  I went cold turkey when I ran out.  I really had no choice. I was too scared to get it off the internet.   I pretended to have the flu so my husband and my job didn't except anything.  The first week was terrible...but I just hanged in there..I prayed over and over.  I hate that drug so much.  It took me a good month to feel better..I ended up going to a dr for my depression and now I'm handling it the right way.  Stay strong..I'm here if you need me.

[EmilyPost]

((minnie))

Yeah I missed you answer til just now.

I was not as scientific as Avis. I saw that I had maybe 30 pills left? I was taking 6 usually and sometimes 8. As I took more; the pain got worse. My Doctors also had my taking Soma for breakthru pain, something for PTSD, klonopin for anxiety. I have een on a bunch of different drugs since my accident in 2000. But Tramadol was the worst to withdraw from. Worse than codiene, vicodin, morphiene, darvoset, xanax.

The way that I did it was I took one less or two less per day. Then when I was down to about 4 I took one a day until they ran out.

Then I went into Cold turkey withdrawal.

Which was like being sick with the worst flu ever for 4 days. By day 7, I could walk around. By Day 10 I was kind of functional.

On day 21, I could feel my body PULLING me up out of it.

This is Day 23.  I have been to work since I quit and b-12 helped. I rely ALOT on the Thomas Detox. I use only klonopin now, because I have a true anxiety condition. However, I hope to get my dose lower over time.

Tramadol is in my opinion a truly random withdrawal. NOT predictable.  It makes pain worse. Studies show in one year it alone (THE DRUG itself) can create neuropathy. Scared? First the pain disappered in my back and leg. THEN it came back with a vengence. It was the drug itself TRYING to get me to take a pill. I know DRUG VOICES. And I know my own voice, so that helps. I know when my thoughts are TRAMADOL withdrawal thoughts.

I have written alot in my journal about this tramadol withdrawal. I hope it will comfort you and make you understand that regardless of what you do; you'll have withdrawal symptoms but they WON'T kill you. They WILL tell you that you are dying ... but you aren't. Tramadol is tricky.

I wish you the VERY BEST! And i will say this ... here at 23 days .... the changes are marked between Days 1-10. BUT there is no easy way out. I think it's a MUCH longer detox than ANY of us know. I was on it for 4 years I think. My memory is much effected by it.

Love and healing,
Emily

[avisg]

I did both the first time I cted off of about 8 give or take 1 or 2 .Next time I tapered the tapering was much better.I have heard the slow release tram I good for tapering .It sounds like you have a good schedule you can do this .

My son is doing very well Thank you !!! I am very happy I quit .I am present alot more now .

Let me know how this is going .
avis

[minnie11]

Sorry, I thought I had already replied to your post, please remind me how much you were taking before you quit, and did you quit cold turkey? I read somewhere that you quit because your son got cancer and I can totally understand your need to be alert and take care of him, but it is no less admirable that you were able to do it. Thank you so much for wanting to support me through this, I have been taking 12 a day, which i 4 more than the max. prescribed dosis, and way to much! I won't have enough tramadol to taper by your suggestion, but I have a 14 day plan that I will stick to, I have got the exact number of pills, and will start with 3 days at 7 pills a day, four days at 6, 4 days at 4, four days at to and four days at 1 and then stop. I have some slow release tramadol which I believe will make it easier to taper and I have some xanax, if I can't stand it and some sleeping pills, so I am as prepared as I can be, I think. I am ok with and naturally expect some discomfort, just hopefully not as bad as when I stopped c/t, I could barely function.
Tell me what you think.
I hope that you are well and all is well with your family.
Minnie  

[minnie11]

Thank you so much for your support, it is so good to hear that others have been through the same, most people on the forum deal with oxy-addiction and I understand that the w/d are not the same from the two drugs (I also was started on Tramadol by the doctor - who of course didn't suggest that I take more than the prescribed dosis, but which is enoough to get you completely addicted).

As I said I stopped cold turkey last summer, and it was hell - even after 22 days no change after 40 days either. Emily, did you stop c/t? How did you stop? I would love to know and maybe learn something.

And losttaya, how did you come off tramadol?

I wonder if you wil even see this, as the thread is way dowm on page two, for a while the post would go to the top, when you posted another reply, but apparently that is not the case anymore.

Hope you see this and you are both an inspiration :-)
Minnie  

[losttaya]

Hi Minnie,
I too was addicted to tramadol.  I use to whenever i got depressed.  I've been clean for 2months now.  I quit cold turkey...I would NEVER advise that. You can do it!!  You will be in my prayers!

[EmilyPost]

You can do it Minnie!

Avis is so right on about tapering.

I've been off tramadol for 22 days now. And I do feel alot better. I don't feel exactly right, oor strong yet. But it's a tricky withdrawal. My feeling is that enough of that tramadol stuck around intamuscularly, that when I overdo it, the withdrawal symptoms hit like a ton of bricks.

It's dangerous stuff you know? I'm so glad you are here! There's actually quite a few of us currently withdrawing from tramadol. The so called "safe non addictive, no with drawal non opiate" tramadol that the Dcotors pass out like candy. I'm very angry at the drug, that helps!

Love and healing,
Emily

[avisg]

minnie,
Of course I remember you .You can do this .How much are you taking know ? The most comfortable way to do this is to remove one pill every 4 to 7 days this gives your body time to adjust to each drop.I will be here to help you all the way OK .....
your friend avis