Is this withdrawal?

[Yulishea]

A few questions for anybody that could possibly help me out.

So I got into a pretty bad trammy habit (by my standards, at least.)  Sometimes I would take around 8 a day, sometimes 4, sometimes upwards of 10.  I used it to get crazy energy at work (please don't judge here when I need help [judge all you want after I figure this out,] I realize it was a mistake,) I did my job much better on tramadol.  However, one day I took about 17 pills total and had OD symptoms - hallucinations, felt like I was going to seize, clammy hands, dizzy, hot flashes... it was one of the scariest experiences of my life.  However, I didn't call the ambulance or anything, I rode it out and I'm happy nothing worse happened; I did end up with a UTI from that experience (dunno how tram does it, but it can happen.)  I was doing this for about 2 months maybe, sometimes with two week breaks between, sometimes one week, sometimes... no break.

Stopped taking the pills for about two weeks or so - absolutely no "W/D" symptoms. When I started again after those 2 weeks, I tried to keep it to ~4 a day, and not every day.  Well, I did that sometimes, but sometimes I took between 8-10, sometimes a bit more.  Took 13 one day and had similar OD symptoms, but not even 1/2 as severe.  Laid off a bit again after that, until I decided that it just wasn't worth risking my life... too bad it took so long to realize.  I then stoppped taking tram all together.  This was probably for about a month that I was taking it for the second time.

Now - I haven't taken the tram in about two weeks or so (I really don't know exact time.. can't remember. Could be shorter or longer.)  But it has been HELL for me, and I'm not sure exactly what is going on.

* I am extremely shaky (hands/wrists)
* Chills
* Hot flashes
* Lightheaded/dizzy very frequently - it almost feels like something
* Extremely moody - had a mental breakdown at work when I was feeling completely fine the whole day
* Nausea
* Fatigued all the time
* Tingling and twitching limbs
* Terrible headaches

If anyone has gone through tramadol withdrawal, is this what it's like?  I looked up tramadol withdrawal symptoms and such online, and it really seems like that's what I'm going through.  But I am rather confused; howcome this did not happen the first time I stopped taking the drug, if this is in fact withdrawal?  I have never been addicted to anything in my life, so this is extremely new to me.  I don't have mental urges to take the drug, which is another reason why I am confused.  Is it possible to be physically addicted to something, while not being mentally addicted?

And now for the main question:

HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST?

TL;DR: Think I'm going through tram withdrawal, how long does withdrawal generally last?  Can you be physically addicted to tramadol while not mentally addicted?

*Note: I realize this is my own fault and I have learned my lesson, please don't yell about the fact that I didn't use them for pain relief.

[jstntime]

Hey there and welcome,

You won't get judgement from this addict!!!!

Of course those are wd symptoms.  Everything I've read says that Trams should be tapered for risk of seizure but if you're clean for several weeks now I would think that risk is minimal.  Also, if it's been 2 weeks things should be starting to improve for you.

I'm not sure why you didn't get wd the first time.  

It IS possible to be "physically" addicted (dependant).  Only you can answer whether you are dependant or addicted.

If you do an online search for a pamphlet from NA titled "Am I An Addict?" you will find many questions that can help you answer your question.

Keep posting and goodluck!!!!

bob

[abritt121222]

yes this is very much withdrawals i have not been addicted to trams but the withdrawals from them are pretty much the same as the oxy and hydro i was addicted to the physical withdrawals from oxy and hydro usually last anywhere from 5 days to a month it is different in everyoneand the mental withdrawals last a good bit longer and if your are physically dependent then you are going to be mentally dependent also and usually for most ppl the mental part is the hardest part because your brain is a very powerful thing and once it gets addicted it will do whatever it can to try and get you to take more pils and noone is going to yell or judge you on this site i can promise you that much well like i said i was never addicted to trams but im sure tomorrow someone that knows more about them will be on here to help you if not tonight but i can tell you that the symptoms you say you have are def withdrawals

good luck and just hang in there because it will get better from here

Abritt