How long will it take to kick Ultram?

[theGolden1]

I have been reading and reading here .... and I thank you all for your response to my question. I just didn't understand the answer. I want to quit Ultram, but I will have to plan it. With the holidays coming ... it's not a good time. So far I have read that it will take anywhere from 4 days to a month, depending on how much you are taking and how long you have been taking it. I am not taking that much, but have been taking it for 2 years. If I knew exactly how much time I will need to withdraw ... it would help alot. Thanks ... and sorry for the confusion.

[airn124]

i have been on tramadol, generic for ultram, for 7 years taking 30-60 tabs per day, yeah alot! and only had 2 seizures that i know of, thank god! i was sent to gail awhile ago and spent 14 days in lockup, i had to quit c/t, it sucked the first couple days but after about the 8th day my withdrawl symptoms where pretty well gone, except for the eye twitching, u know what i mean! by the time i was out i was doing very well, almost normal so to speak. i was stupid though and when i went to the doctor about a year ago for a cold and got more tramadol, now im on my 3rd day of c/t again and im having withdrawls but everyday gets better i swear, stick too it its mind over manner, cold turkey is the best way for me, but stick with it it does get better!!! I PROMISE!!!!!

[cycmoxy80]

I found a great site with good tips that helped me during my opiate withdrawal. Natural remedies, like supplements, are key to restoring the body to its natural state. I found this info at:  http://www.managingwithdrawals.com/index5.htm

[GetITRight]

Man, Smothered Hope really hit the nail on the head.  Everything from hot flashes, to insomnia, depression, restless legs, and a major runny nose.  Also add in anxiety, stomach pains, and diarreha.  

I've been taking ultrams for about a year and a half now, with my average dose being around 8-13 50mg pills a day.  I had once quit by tapering off one pill a day until I was down to zero.  After about the 2nd or 3rd day I started feeling minor withdrawls, but it wasn't until after I completely quit that they started getting pretty bad.  I think I stayed completely off of them for about a week, until the next weekend showed up and I talked myself into just taking a "few".

That was about 6 months ago.  Tramadol gives me a sense of inner peace and security, especially right after it first kicks in.  But instinctively I know that the long term effects are seriously hurting my health.  When I have to stand there and concentrate just to urinate, I know something is wrong.  Plus my energy and motivational levels are WAY down from my normal "healthy" level.

Anyway, I have decided to quit cold turkey.  I tried a few other times to taper off but I never stick to the plan.  I'm the type of person that if you want to break a habit you better do it while you have the motivation.  Today is day one.  I took my last dose of four pills almost 24 hours ago.  I've read a few stories about people using kratom to help with the withdrawl symptons so I bought some.  Earlier this afternoon I started experiencing hot flashes and sweating, and took my first dose of about 3-4 grams of kratom by just swallowing it with a glass of water.  The symptoms actually subsided for a few hours but are starting to come back again.  I just took another dose of kratom although now I'm starting to feel a little nauseous to go along with the hot spells.  Not sure if its too much kratom, not enough Ultram, or both.

I will report tomorrow on how the rest of the night goes.  Hopefully I will succeed this time.  Wish me luck!

[Victor322]

It does get better and please keep posting! Ultram can be a Devil of a drug to quit, but it has been done and you can do it too! Remember that it does get better but you have to want it really bad...and finally being clean from it will be a dream come true! Please keep up the good fight and again please keep posting!

Clean from Trams,
-Vic

[Smothered_Hope]

Ive been on ultram for a couple years now.I would take 3 every morning because I thought,"This isnt very strong"? At my worst for about two months I was doing 3 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon.I started getting back to only 3 or 4 a day after a while,so I did that for a year and decided I cant live on this forever.So I decided to quit cold turkey,,,,,,,I woke up and after about 5 hours started feeling light tingles in my legs and thought "oh ****,here it comes",that evening I started yawining alot,Alot!! Then my eyes watered with a runny nose.When I tried to lay down for bed my legs were going everwhere ALL NIGHT LONG! There was no way I could sleep they were twitching and kicking.(Kicking the habit)as its known,the next day on thirty minutes sleep, I was getting the chills and hot flashes,I was crying alot because your brain is telling emotion to regulate after all the numbness opiates create in it.Then more waves of chills and hell.The second night possibly worse,more uncontrolled movements in my legs and arms this time,my whole body thrashing about,sweating,crying,depression sets in harder now.I only slept 1 hour the 2nd night.So it's today,Thanksgiving! My head is in a daze It's about 8am I go to my families house,I ask my mother for a Soma and sleep on her couch,at first It did trigger the legs again but I fell asleep and woke up at 11 and here I am writing this.I really hope the three day period is true.I do feel a whole lot better now.

[Eureka86]

I'm on my fourth day without ultram, and I'm still a little irritated. The first two days were hell! It seems like during the day I do fine, but at night time I withdrawl worst then ever. I have trouble sleeping, and once I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel it gets further away. Just yesterday I was feeling great and wasn't withdrawling, but then I took over-the-counter sleeping meds (unisom) and it made me irritated again just like withdrawling. It seems like anything will throw u back into withdrawls, but i hope thats not the case. I just wish I could feel normal again! I think doctors mislead people into taking ultram, by telling us its better than narcotic meds and non-habit forming. Seems to me its worse and takes longer to get off of them.

[loner]

I have a neuro disease which by it's nature causes me to have spasms.  I "stack" 3-4 Ultram a night because it makes me feel less lonely.  When I first started taking it I noticed a large increase in my spasms, just as you described, but only when taking the stuff.  I don't seem to have quite the spasms I used to, so I assume I've built up a tolerance to the drug.  I've done some research on the neurotransmitter Seratonin, which is affected by Ultram, and I think part of the "high" of Ultram is a bump in this Seratonin.  Drugs that affect Seratonin levels affect my spasticity, but then again, I am particularly sensitive because of my disease.  It seems to me that your brain chemistry may be a little less typical than mainstream and that is why you are experiencing the spasms; your receptors have changed due to the change in Seratonin levels.  Zanaflex is an excellent drug.  At one point I was taking 32mg a day for my spasms, but I reverted back to Baclofen which seems to be more effective for my spinal injury.  I can't speculate as to whether your spasms will go away, but THANKS so much for posting your problem.  I am going to toss the Ultram.  By the way, I've been abusing this stuff for six months now and can go cold turkey with no negative effects.  I don't even miss it much, so thank you all for your postings so I can get out of this trap before I'm in rehab.  I wish you all the best and I think I'll try the Vitamin B just for my neurological problems.

[theGolden1]

There is less ultram and tylenol in ultracet. I don't think a person can get "addicted" to anything by using it once or twice. It takes at least 3 days of heavy use. That would be the physical addiction. The mental "obsession" is a whole other thing. If you are an addict ... then you are more vulnerable. Take care .... and be good to yourself.

[Pinkit]

I am reading all of this stuff about ultram being addictive which I am really surprised because it doesnt say that on my script paphlet. I am addicted to vicodin, but I do still have ultram from befor that my doctor had prescribed me for my endo pain. He wanted me to try ultram instead of vicodin because he said it wasnt addictive. Well, the Ultram didnt work anyways or it may had been because I was addicted to vicodin so that was what I wanted.
Anyways I still have a whole bottle of ultram. I was going to take it for pain once I get off the vicodin, but if it's addictive I am not going to take it. Well I guess it's not ultram, it's ultracet. Is that the same thing though and if not is ultracet addictive?  Thanks for any replies
Pink

[theGolden1]

My doctor perscribed ambien for sleep. It is used for sleep disorders. I take 2 ten mil tablets before bed and I sleep like a rock. I wonder how it will work when I am completely off ultram. I am doing this ever so slowly. Tommorrow will be day 5 that I have cut back 25 mil of ultram. Next monday, I will cut another 25 mil ... so far so good. I used motrin and another time tylenol, but so far it hasn't been that bad. Let's just see.
I think you should consider seeing a rheumatologist about "restless leg syndrome" . Also ... just another thought. Build up your brain and nervous system with daily dosing of vitamin B. It takes about 3 weeks before you see the difference. I did this before attempting to cut down .... good luck.

[idaj]

I had taken Ultram for back pain for about 3 years with no problems except it wasn't that effective.  I took 50mg 2x, then later increased to 3x (low dose as doses can go).  I started having itching spells and went off of Ultram to see if that was the problem.  (It wasn't it turned out.) I went into almost immediate withdrawals.  I couldn't stand it.  It was awful.  I then weaned myself off during 1 week.  It has been almost 3 months and I am still having major problems.  My muscles spasm and are spastic, especially when I move after having been still for a long time, as in the night when I want to roll over or when I get up in the morning.  My doctor said, "What do you want me to do about it?"  I asked for a muscle relaxer, Zanaflex, which helps a lot.  I was only sleeping 1 hour or so at first and Zanaflex increased sleep to 4 hours or so.  I now can sleep about 5 or 6 hours sometime.  My question:  Has anybody else had the muscle problems?  How long will this last? What about the sleep difficulties?  I am a 59 year old female with no prior med problems and no addictions.

[puma]

Golden,

You may consider a slow taper, say take Advil during one of the dosing periods and then in about three to four days two dose periods Advil and then after another week three doses Advil instead, and then after another week, by that time you should be ready to just quit without too much trouble.

I am taking four doses a day as well and plan to quit since I had a seizure last night, the first in two months that I know of, and it is known that Ultram lowers the seizure threshold. It also makes me retain alot of water and therefore I feel lazy or yucky. I will taper, just in case and not get any more. It is good for severe pain and I wouldn't mind taking it only at those times and Advil the remaining times. I'll see how it goes, but I am not worried about withdrawal as I was on it before and went off c/t without anything but the runs. It is very constipating so I didn't mind the good cleaning out so to speak. I hope this helps. take care and good luck.

Chatahan.......wildcat

[vikequeen]

I am using ultram to detox from vikes yes I know it can be dangerous but I don't take gobs cause it does nothinf for me, as far as all this soap opera stuff I mind my own bizness, if someone wants to make a love connection here I don't care. I only read the relevent stuff anyway to lets all get along we all have a common bond here. Stop beating up on Suze and Mariposa and lets all be peaceful, love to all Badd

[groovygirl]

Sorry, but there isn't anyone who can give you that answer.  If you read some of the threads here, you will see that it takes different people different amounts of time.  Some get over it more quickly...some don't.  I know people who have been clean over a month and still don't feel great.  

It isn't something you can plan out in advance.  You can take various things to minimize symptoms - Thomas' recipe for example.

Again, sorry....you'll just have to wing this one...good luck.