Kicking tramadol HELP

[Arnouddegroot]

Dear substance (ab)users,

I have been using tramadol IR hcl for over 1/1.5 years on and off. Most of the time I used the drug for like a month, then cold turkey and after a week or something I tell my self.. hey, one time a week wont  be a problem right? After that I get hooked again and this cycle has repeated itself many times. I use between 250-400 mg a day, never more than 400, but I used everyday the last month. Right now Im really really done with it and this time I trew away a very big stash worth like €500,- and a lot of highs, just because I am so done with this ****.

I am doing a fast taper at the moment, starting with 200 mg today, 100 tomorrow and 50 the day after. Then Ill probably quit and face the full withdrawals ( this is the way Ive done it many times before). This time however there is absolutely no chance for me to get any tram again because I bought them in bulk from someone whom I probably wont be able to see anymore in my life. This means my tramadol habit will finaly be over for real, and not just for one or two weaks to get rid of the withdrawals and then start using again.

I also have loperamide which I will try for the first time, and I have a stash of oxazepam which I will use as a sleepaid in the first couple of days, and after that also get rid of. I have nothing with those stupid benzos, but I found out in previous tries that being able to sleep helps alot in the first couple of days with the lethargy and also depression etc. At last I have a bunch of vitamins, lots of gatorade and a bottle of 5-htp and some johnsworth, but I dont think I will use that last one because I dont want another ssri in my system.

I am a 20 year male btw and a university student and one of the reasons I need to clear myself of tram is because it has ****** up my motivation and grades from the last halfyear so badly that I might be kicked out of university.  

I would really appreciate the support from other (ex)(ab)users, because this time I am getting pretty anxious about the depression and about what I should do after detox when there is absolutely no way getting back on tram this time.

Greetings,

Arnoud

[Arnouddegroot]

hey fourjay yes I do feel down and overemotional and very tired ... guess that will takr a bit longer to heal:)

o btw good thing is I am not craving trams at all (sudden realisation). I think its partly brcause Im still in such pain and know its from tramadol and partly because I have non in my house so non to think of ..

[FourJays]

Congrats on day 7; sorry to hear you are still feeling bad :(  That really *****; you make it through the worst part of w/d but then get the flu?????  Wow what luck . . .   You are gonna be lovin life in a few days when that gets better!

You are so right about how trams affect the quality of life.  Aside from the physical stuff, are you feeling any depression or low energy?

[Arnouddegroot]

glad to hear you are feeling good at 18 days. Im on day 7 and still pretty sick but as I stated bfore I think it has something to do with the flu.

on previous tries I would feel totally fine at day 7 but this time it is al so different. what I do know for sure now is that i will never in my life accept an ssri or snri from a doc and ofcourse also no tramadol. These things do not help, they only do harm and damage to the quality of life!

[killerzoey]

I didn't get the zaps or shivers you describe but it affects people so differently. The chills were awful, and that is a serotonin thing, partially, I've read. I had ringing in my ears, too.

The good news is that for me those chills and sweats finally abated. In fits and spurts I felt better until now 18 days later I feel I regulate my temp fairly normally, even tho I just jumped ship off hydro. So far so good with that.

I hope you feel much, much better soon. Hopefully these things will resolve together and you'll feel like a new person.

[Arnouddegroot]

I understand what you mean. For me stimulants like M or C can be amazing at big events, if taken propperly and with a good break in between to get your brain and body restored, at least 2 months always (somehow I never had a problem with this but used opies daily... wtf)  The opiates are nice for use on a normal day... but thats so weird actually because as I stated it is within my beliefs that you should be very carefull with stimulants etc and really make sure you take a long enought break in between, and I have no problem with that, but I took opies almost daily without thinking to much about it, thats weird isnt it. Like I know how to handle one drug( stimulant) , but dont how to handle the other (opiate/AD), which is at least as dangerous/destructive long term

[YesLife4Me]

I never experimented with MDMA but from what I have read it also depletes seratonin and can have some after effects such as what you are describing.   I was always afraid of taking something like that or Coke that would make me lose control of myself and my thoughts.  They race enough as it is...LOL!    Honestly, I don't like it when my mind does that.   Opiates tended to jack me up with energy but I didn't feel like my mind was racing unless I took too much.  

[Arnouddegroot]

I dont know if its brain zaps... I dont know if you have ever done MDMA (maybe in your earlie days:P) but it feels like that the days after (when serotonine is depleted). It feels like electricity but it doesnt come totaly random, it is triggered by things that raise certain emotions, which would normaly not really affect me (or in a good way but not like this)

I am sure not to touch tramadol ever again, this serotonine **** is so heavy on the brain. Think actually it is one of the worst to come of off...

[YesLife4Me]

Are you having 'brain zaps'?   I would get those coming off Tramadol.    I have abused all the opiate drugs out there, but my choice is Norco 10's.   I'm fairly new to having clean time (yet again).   I quit counting days so that I wouldn't focus on it, but I was at 30 days at the beginning of the month.  

[Arnouddegroot]

Wow! thx for the tip on the flu!

I have read about the PAWS, not to afraid of that tough. My biggest isue are the shivers now. I just put on a youtube musicvid and I tought to myself, well this will probably make me shiver. Wel 2 sec later my whole face brain and spine where shivering :P The feeling is awefull... a bit like electricity.

How long are you clean if I may ask, and of which drug?

thanks for your help!

[YesLife4Me]

Oh...and I was just listening to a tip on the radio for when you have the flu.   They said you can cut up to 4 days off your healing time by soaking in a hot bath at least once a day for 20 minutes.   Something to do with raising the core body temperature killing the virus and the steam opening up your sinuses.   It can't hurt!   :)    

[YesLife4Me]

The extreme emotions seemed to peak during the first week then subside.  Everyone is different on how they recover emotionally afterwards.   It depends on how long one was using and what.   But everyone does go through periods of PAWS.   (post acute withdraw symptom)   The severity and  how long they last also has much to do with what you were using and how long again.    PAWS is when acute withdraw symptoms randomly appear out of nowhere, one at a time as your brain is resetting itself.   Depression and anxiety are the biggest ones.   I would get yawns, sneezing, sweats and tummy problems and freak out thinking I was starting all over again, then they would disappear rather quickly.   Sometimes within minutes.   Your lack of sleep is affecting all this right now since sleeping is the way our bodies and brains heal.    Right now you are probably feeling like your body needs a new head and your head is wanting a new body, right?   LOL!     It does get better.  

[Arnouddegroot]

Thanks for your quick reply:) Do you know how long this state of extreme emotions last? When I have taken MDMA usually it takes 3 days (when I sleep good). Right now I have been battling insomnia for a couple of nights so I think that has to do with it to...

[YesLife4Me]

Sounds like you have the flu which is bad timing when going through wd.   Or maybe it's good so you get it all done and over with at once!    I always seem to get sick after getting through wd.   ugh!    

Your seratonin levels are depleted right now, so the shivers are part of your natural emotional responses returning.   Welcome to the feeling world again!   It takes a while for our brains to balance back out when it comes to our emotions.   It's normal to feel depressed, think about bad things that have happened, get emotional over things that normally don't bother us, etc.    I was watching a movie once and there was some roses on a table that reminded me of my favorite rose bush I used to have, and I got all weepy eyed over it.   Just go with it.  

[Arnouddegroot]

Btw I dont mean the normal shivers which are common with opioid withdrawals but the shivers which go from my brain al the way trough my spine when Im comfronted with something which is related to good/bad emotions, and which make me feel like crying

[Arnouddegroot]

I called my doc and he said there was no thing he could do about it... he said this flu is extremely cruel and alot of people get it right now.

Personally I think because of the stress and the w/d my imunesystem isnt functioning to well so I got very prone to this heavy flu.

Btw I have noticed something else coming along since yesterday. I am experiencing symptoms which I also feel a day after taking MDMA, which is caused by very low serotonine levels. I'm getting shivers trough my whole body when thinking of the most normal thinks (very sentimental, in good and bad ways.) For instance when I think of a good concert I get the shivers and when I think of my ex gf I get em to.

These symtoms are common to me as I always have them for a couple of days after using MDMA, but right now I havent used for 8 months or so. I'm just thinking has the tramadol ******* me up so bad that it caused extreme serotonine depletion? + if so, is there anyone who can tell me how long this might last?

Any help would be great :)

[killerzoey]

Do you get a fever with WDs though? That seems like a pretty high fever. Let's see...gotta get my Yankee calculator...holy cow 104 degrees? That is getting into scary range. I hope you'll see a doctor  :'(

[Pat1956100]

Quite often withdrawals feel like a very bad flu.  I always seem to get bad cold like flu symptoms.  Achey all over, you name it I got it.
You are doing really well and have a very determined attitude.
I hope you start to feel better soon.

[dominosarah]

You may have to see a doctor as this flu is a b!tch.  Sinus infection has been the big one around here now.  Make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids.  You dont want to get dehydrated.

Congrats on 6 days clean!!  Feel better~

[Arnouddegroot]

oh this ia getting worse and worse (not the w/d I thibk but the sickness) still no sleep and 40degree (celsius) fever. pain in my face and bosy eveeywhere. this is day 4 of being sick and day 6 of tram:)

btw i got some melatonin, will give it a try tonight

[killerzoey]

I'm sorry you're sick on top of the withdrawals! Can you take the next few days off life? I sure hope so! Do you have any non-addictive aids to help you sleep? I hope you feel better soon.

[Arnouddegroot]

hey guys,

last 2-3 days I have been feeling pretty sick, but I think it is something on top of the w/d bcause it really feels like a heavy virus infection (influenza).

I have been experiencing high fever, runny everything, bit of a out of the world feeling, sore troath... coufing and sneezing al the time and heavy headaches :( Have not slept to well for the last 2 days, been awake almost all the time. Mentally its up and down, physically its sick as **** but as I said I think its not only the w/d right now.

Btw I'm on day 5 :)

Hope I'll catch some sleep tonight, because being sick is much worse when battling insomnia.

[killerzoey]

Hey there--I'm here. Sorry you're feeling poorly. Could you really be coming down with something, maybe?

I'm having an exhausted, down day, and feeling sweaty and clammy again/still. Not bedtime here yet, though.

What sleep aids were you taking last? Might you consider some melatonin?

[Arnouddegroot]

okay itsnin the middle of the night and I woke up having a high fever headache bodypains and I havrnt been able to sleep since... it seems to go up and downnwith this **** because right now its more physically then mentaly again...

dont think there will be sleep for me tonight because I am not willing to take sleepaid anymore (as I ould use it one week max)...

hope there is someone oine to chat to atm:p

x

[clean_in_ks]

You are doing SO good.....and passing TESTS, too!! LOL  Good on ya!!