Advise

[PanSinoeis]

I am no longer going to give Advise.  I am only going to seek information and talk about my own problem.  Seems that I am making quite a few people angry.  For that I am Sorry.  I never meant to do that.  I'm just trying to speak from my own experiences.  But everyone is differant and maybe me giving out advise may not be the best of ideas.  Especially since I found hydrocodone withdrawals mild, and am finding out most do not really agree.  And I have taken 40 Norcos in 14 hours, so believe me I was addicted.  Taking 8 at a time, five times in one day.  I was taking a lot.  And I quit cold turkey off hydrocodones 3-4 times.  I quit hydrocodone and methadone.  But the Tramadol seems to be more complicated for me for some reason.  Which is what I am on.  8 per day now.  So I'm going to focus on my problem and that's it.  This is mainly to those I upset, Again I am Sorry!

[PanSinoeis]

Yea, I know about the % decrease when tapering, thank you for the thought of that advise, it is Very Good Advise!  It's the hop OFF, that's going to be real bad.  But it has already been harder and harder the lower I get, I have already been experiencing it.  When I get to 7 next Saturday, I may start going 1/2 pill per week.  I'm just so Happy I've brought myself down to 400mg a day now.  I was taking 15 pills a day for the longest time, and sometimes 17, 18, 19, and 20.  I never passed 20 in one day.  Thank God.  But I've come a long ways.  And I'm not stopping, I going All The Way!!  And I took my 8 today, and still have not cheated yet, so far.  But now I'm even a little more prepared for 4,3, 2, and 1 pills per day (and lower), now that I know how it has been effecting you, Thanks again.  And we will be free of this, we just have to keep on fighting!

[elizabeth46]

Hi I am new to the forum and am interested to hear that in your experience the tramadol is more difficult to get off. It is an opiate like drug so this is not surprising as from what I am reading opiate withdrawal is really bad physically and mentally on the scale of things. It is also an SSRI (like Prozac) so this adds to the mental dependance.

I have no withdrawal experience before Tramadol (which has been prescribed for me by a Dr for 3 years).  I have tapered from 8 to 3 tramadol 50mg tabs over the last 12 weeks and each taper has been tough but not impossible. (Minus One every two weeks)

However I tried stopping completely and this was unbelievably bad--and presented as full blown opiate withdrawal which I could not manage.

So I am trying to taper. But I can't get from 3 to 2. Tried 3 times and each has been terrible and I couldn't keep it up. I've been told tapering should be at 10% to avoid withdrawal symptoms--which of course takes forever (literally) so this can't actually work in practice. Eventually you just have to stop. Just be aware that once you get down in doseage each taper is a higher percentage of what you were taking before and is therefore tougher potentially to get used to.

This might not happen to you but it is worth knowing that if you are feeling worse each time you taper then there is a good medical reason why this is happening aso don't get discouraged.

If you can cut your tablets in 2 and taper by a half for the last part this might help. But check with your Dr that the tablet is OK to cut. (Some are dangerous to do this to)

Last week I tried cold turkey from 3 but that was just as bad as doing it from 8. I have capsules and cant halve them.

So tomorrow I go into a funded detox programme for the final hurdle. 3 to zero! Hope you are stronger than me and can do it yourself. Good luck.

[bluespence]

You are the man...good for you on the taper. I hope your headache goes away soon!

Take care,
Blue

[PanSinoeis]

That all makes so much sense.  I know exactly what you are saying there.  But I have noticed sometimes people make judgements about people, or assumptions, and when you try to explain that they may in deed be mistaken, well sometimes they don't take it so well.  People hate to be wrong.  But that's just one of those things I guess here at the Forum.  I still doing real good, on track!  Took only 8 today.  Had a Real Real bad headache and ended up taking 6 Aleve, which did little for it of course.  But just been taking it mainly.  (The Pain)  I hope it's gone in the morning.  I'm already getting excited about next weekened, I drop to 7 Per Day!!!    WoooHooo!!!  I know I got a ways to go still before I even level off on this 8, but I don't care, I don't see me messing up, this week anyways.  So wish me luck and if all goes as planned, as it has been so far since 13 Sep, I'll be at 7 Pills Per Day!!!  Slowly getting there.  I kinda feel like the Man right now!  The Man with a headache from hell, but still feel like the Man.  I'm stomping this addiction into the ground.  You know how you feel when you are just about to come down with like a cold or flu?  I kinda felt like that also.  That and the headache.  Some mild anxiety.  Nothing I can't live through so far though.  

[bluespence]

I agree with the original post. There are many people on here that don't want to hear the truth and get mad when you are honest. But I am a firm believer that if something I say makes someone mad then it is probably b/c I hit a nerve and they don't want to face it. So instead of trying to looker deeper within themselves they get angry at you so they don't have to work on themselves. I think you should always say what is on your heart to say (respectfully of course), but when people come on here they are looking for help and if we aren't honest then we aren't helping we are enabling. Just my two cents...

[january43]

We ALL do this differently.  We all react to drugs differently.  You share what your experience is and we learn from it....sometimes the drugs are different but the process is the same.
I always look thru the posts and read what you comment because you have good things to say-non judgmentally.
Huzza for you for not having a hard w/d and may I walk in your footsteps.
january43

[laurel453]

your words that  " we have to tak what we need and let the rest go " are so right. The best  way to help ourselves here is doing this.

[laurel453]

yeah, bravo for you !

[dominosarah]

You should be proud of yourself.  Tapering takes alot of willpower.  I didnt have that so had to go ct.  You have a plan and that is good.  Keep telling yourself you are doing well and soon you will be down to zero.  This is a hard fight but so worth it in the end.  Keep posting as it does help.    Stay strong          sara

[PanSinoeis]

Yea, I got this.  8 per day.  I am proud of myself and my success up to this point.  Not even cheating once.  I know I say that a lot, but it is a big deal to me.  I have to use a lot of my will power to resist cheating, it's hard.  But I'm just going to keep going down 1 pill every Saturday.  But when I hit 4 I'll probably start going down 1/2 pill per week.  I plan to take two (2) weeks vacation, for when I jump off 100%.  Off that last 1/2 pill per day, lol.  I have no other medications right now to help, but plan on getting some.  Ambien at the very least.

[dominosarah]

Am glad to see you are tapering down on the tramadol.  You can do this.     sara

[PanSinoeis]

Wow, thanks.  That makes me feel good.  I have been very open with my problems at this Forum.  A lot of people would not do that.  I took my 8 per day today.  I'm happy with myself for going down today another pill.  Another $18 per month saved!  lol.  I have still stayed on track...13 Sep I was at 13 per day.  Now I'm at 8 per day.  And have not cheated even once.  Last night I so bad wanted to cheat and take a few.  I took a few Aleve instead.  I'm happy.  I almost cheated for the 1st time.  So far so good.  Still on track!  

[dominosarah]

We should be able to say what is on our minds and be honest.  As long as we are not name calling and all of that there should be no reason why you cant say what you have too.  Around here we have to take what we need and let the rest go.  I have seen many a post from people who have said that the hydro wd is totally different than the tramadol.  stay strong         sara

[laurel453]

sorry for my english.

come to think that everybody is always trying to help and being honest here and i so like it.

[laurel453]

DOn't !

i mean, please, go on giving your advice.

i like reading you ( i also find your problem easy, you know ?  just joking ) . You are always honest,  straight talking, you are  one of the people  here who has a tremendous amount of experiences (  and you know  it's also cause you love learning and knowledge and this approach to things , me too )  and you share everything with us and that's great for me and you like helping . i  still  have to learn a lot from  you, from people like you.

i wasn't ungry with your comments, no way (  they were in so good faith ) . I was just worried for the person who from the begginning was showing not a lack  of confidence because he was coming from failed attempts. you know that each time is another fight and i thought your tempo, truly  "vivace" and so enthusiastic was a little bit scary for someone in his position. That was all for me. I tried to balance your comments with mine. sorry if you thought i was ungry with your comments. i was only trying to help with my experience like you did.

oh, he needed also your opinion: hydros withdrawls are not unbearable. You were right but mental's are the same for all of us, otherwise, few people would relapsed with hydros and i did it  ( my opinion and experience , again )

give me your opinions  ( about easy hydros),  and i'll give mine to you or whoever , ok?