Norco to Suboxone to Tramadol

[hydro_fool]

Hi.  I am need of some assistance in getting "completely" clean.  I was a heavy Norco abuser 15 of the 10/325mg per day and then asked my doctor for Suboxone to get off.  It worked and it worked well and I slowly tapered off the low dose suboxone. I even went down to a 1/4 tablet twice a day for the last few days.  Unfortunately after 24 hours I was down for the count.  Hard flu like symptoms, heavy anxiety but the worst was the depression and the suicidal thought.  I never experienced the strong suicidal thing with the norco witdhrawals in the past and I really was fearful for my life.  I did some research on the internet and found out this was relatively common with suboxone withdrawal even at the slowest taper.  So.... instead of taking my life I went to the emergency room and asked for Tramadol as I was hoping and praying it would ease the suffering but yet keep me away from Norco.  By the grace of god it did save my life, but I understand I have traded my suffering for another.  I have been taking 3 to 4 of the 50mg per day for 8 days now.  I want to stop and reclaim my life but I am really fearful of the repercussions.
I just missed a week of work due to the Suboxone WD's so I cant miss any more work.   What can I expect if I stop the Tramadol at this time?  I think I can get down to a 1/2 a tablet during the day and then just 2 pills at night, but still would have me at 125mg per day.  Has anyone been down this similar path?  Anyone have any ideas on what I should expect?   The anxitey and restless legs/loss of sleep is the part that really gets me me the worst so please advise.  Thanks again everyone.  

[hydro_fool]

Thanks Vickie!

[VICourageous]

Hi you have done your homework...I was on all of those at one time..I went up the latter to a 12 yr methedone plus othere pills with..I tryed the subs for four days and just Jumped form it all..The subs just tweek me worse..The anxitey and sleep is always a big issue when we come clean..I am now in my 7m and those issues took me a while..I take alot of magnz, ds, cals, and sometimes a melatonin for this..at night..I also used this powerder stuff called "Calm" it has some of the things mentioned above..I do not use it any more because all of this does pass...Drugs affect the Nervous system really bad..It takes a while for it to balance out...I also take things to balance out the chems in the brain that get knocked down by use..It does take awhile for the Serintoin (happyone) Enorphines and Gabba to balance back...Do some more wed search on the "Disaease of Additction  and the Pleasure Pathway" and it could takeyou for a ride into finding what helps "natual" to help the brain..OK
Just Ride the Wave it does go away..
vickie

[nursegirl6572]

More and more states are making tramadol a scheduled narcotic (schedule IV I believe).  Sadly, a lot of practioners still are not fully aware of how addictive it can be (not to mention the other issues, like seizures when abusing large amts).  You can browse the forum, there are countless tales of tram nightmares.  

Tram w/ds are very similar to opiate w/ds, so the symptoms may vary.  I would really try to keep yourself distrated as much as you can. I'm glad your doc is aware of what's going on.

[hydro_fool]

I just explained what was happening with my primary doctor.  I have been very open with him regarding my Norco abuse over the years and multiple surgeries, and I asked him about the suboxone treatment.  He did agree but did warn me about issues.  Anyway....he is a D.O. and is a very, very educated individual, but I just called his office to discuss the tramadol and was surprised that they too considered it a non narcotic and non addictive.  Though he did say you could experience some wd like symptoms when stopping.  I am surprised by the lack of  education/information regarding this medication so I did my best to inform him otherwise.  I mentioned to them the thousands of us who are suffering though mine might seem small to many who have used it for years, and that they should be aware that problems do exist.  He was open to hearing what I had to say, but could only recommend that I begin breaking them in half.  Is it just me or is the Anxiety and the restless legs and lack of sleep the WORST part of tramadol wd's?  The aches and flu and diarrhea are uncomfortable but bearable and manageable. The anxiety, rls and sleeplessness are not.  At leas for me.  Any thoughts?

[hydro_fool]

I felt no wd's while taking the suboxone, but when I stopped I got really sick.  Then by day 2 thru 5 I had horrible suicidal thoughts and knew I made the wrong move by taking suboxone.  I never felt anything like that before and I have been through norco withdrawals in the past.   Now the 8 days of tram and the anxiety is kicking in big time.  

[Clong45]

Well, I dont think you are getting withdrawls from the suboxone,  You have to take it over 21 days to feel withdrawl.  Plus you weren't taking that much mgs either.   How did you feel when you was taking the sub?