Quitting Tramadol (Support Group)

[PanSinoeis]

I'm just trying to bring together some people interested in quitting Tramadol.  I have made up my mind 100% and am going to quit.  So I'm tapering down 1 pill per week or two.  I was at 15 per day a couple months ago.  Now I'm at 11 per day.  I had an excellent support group when I had to quit taking Methadone back in 2004 Aug. and it helped me a lot.  So if anyone would like to join me, come on in.

[lifesaride]

I just wanted to say good luck on your getting clean, and your new group, thats a wonderful thing your doing

[done4good]

I'll join you. I got stuck in the Tram Trap again because I have been abusing vicodin and percs...using trams in between scripts to ward off withdrawals. I said I'd never do this again and here I am...sigh.
I'm not taking too many a day right now...maybe 8 max on some days. Today I had only 1 vike and 1 tram at 7am and can feel the WD already so took 2 trams. Hoping that will hold me for the day.
Minn

[PanSinoeis]

That's awsome!  I wish that was all I was taking.  It will be.  I'll get there.  Today took 11 again!  So far so good.  And I'm so proud of myself for not cheating.  (Easy to do when you got 300+ Tramadols like I have right now)  I had a hard time here for the last couple hours.  I threw up once.  More dry heaving.  Anxiety and some chills.  Hard to eat today too.  But at least all my withdrawal symtoms are mild.  I feel better now that I threw up 10 minutes ago.  And all this from dropping from 12 to 11.  I think it's because I have not been lower than 12 in years.  I've gone all over from 12-20 in the past couple of years now.  So I am really on track to quit.  I think I'm going to come down 1 pill per week.  I was going to do every two weeks, but I think 1 pill per week is better for me.  I need to free of this drug by my birthday, March 7.  That's going to be my gift to myself.

[done4good]

Wow, all that from decreasing by one pill! I have not been taking a consistent amount of tram this time because of the hydro and oxycodones intermixed. They hit the same opiate receptors so I think my brain thinks it's all the same ****.
When I tapered before, I  think I was taking about 6 per day, so I did what you were doing and kept it consistently at 5 for the week I started. I wasn't really keeping track before I decided to quit, so it could have been even more on some days. Like you, I had a ton cuz they are cheaper that way so it seemed easy just to pop one, even tho I KNOW what it leads to! I just have stuff going on in my life right now that needs attention and can't spend the time being sick till mid October so that will be my goal..to taper and be off by November.I'll have time to "get the flu" then.

Today, I am now up to 5 because I was relying on it as a stupid emotional crutch and took 2 for that "boost"...I know...stupid!  Now that you've posted I will try to be more consistent and stay on 5 at max tomorrow, less if I can do it. I definitely felt crappy after just taking the one and waiting 5 hours for another so I know I'm addicted again.

I think decreasing by 1 per week is good. That's what I did last time. In fact as it got lower, I would decrease by 1/2 a pill just to make it easier on me. I had the pills all doled out for the week in one of those weekly pillholder thingys. It worked pretty well.
The main thing is to stick with it. It definitely CAN be done.

I remember when I was down to 1/2 a pill on some days and even just a 1/4 pill on others...finally was able to toss the remainder out and that felt so good!

We can do this...it just takes patience unless you have the time to get sick.

Sounds like a great gift to yourself!!

Oh and I also did acupuncture during my taper and after I quit...helped quite a bit with the anxiety, which gets really bad for me. That's more what scares me...the mental repercussions. I have issues with depression and anxiety to begin with.

Done

This is my 3rd go round w/this stupid drug and the first time I went c/t...no fun at all!
Last time I was quitting cymbalta at the same time so who knows which one was causing more misery than the other. Cymbalta is a bugger to get off ...the brain zaps are killer. At least I won't have those this time.

[done4good]

me again!
Hey are you doing any of the stuff rec'd in the Thomas Recipe?
I think I will be getting the amino acids, the ones that don't interfere w/my SSRI that is.
And, I have a script for klonopin for anxiety. I haven't needed it yet....saving it for the really bad days. I don't need another addiction!

[worried878]

good luck to u guys!  pulling together always helps

[avisg]

Done for good how many trams are you taking ? Taking trams and an ssri are dangerous tram already raises your serotonin levels do not take any ltryo hpt5 or sam e .you can
end up with something called serotonin syndrome  .it makes you quite ill and if not taken care of can be fatal .

[done4good]

I'm taking between 2-6 50 mg a day. I have been on SSRI's before and taken tram and no seizures. Yes...I know I'm still stupid to go back on these. I was just so afraid of the opiate wd I succumbed again. sigh.
I def won't take any of the l tyro or 5-htp..was aware not to mix those at least.

I've had seratonin syndrome before, accidentally was taking double dose of  my SSRI when I was on Lexapro. I never have gotten it w/mixing ultram and celexa for some freaky reason. I did cut my celexa pill in 1/2 till I get this ultram thing done with.
thanks for your concern.
Done

[PanSinoeis]

Yea, all that from dropping one pill.  It was actually only maybe 1-2 hours of mild discomfort though.  I felt fine after I threw up!  Felt fine ever since.  I think I am leveled off now for 11 a day.  I might feel kinda junky a little at work tomorrow, but I'm staying on course!  And great idea about the half pills, I never even really thought about that.  LOL.  That idea will come in handy, I know it will!  Especially when I get down to 2-4 a day.  Thanks.

[PanSinoeis]

I get brain zaps before a full 24 hours without Tramadol goes by.  Because I take all my doses before 10am, I have to go 20 hours roughly before my next dose.  And I already start getting mild brain zaps when I wake up in the morning.  Been like that for a long time.  Anyone else get that?  All I do know is that I kinda like the brain zaps.  OK, I don't kinda like 'em.  I like them.  Wierd a?  About the only withdrawal symptom I like.  I've never had a seizure or anything from Tramadol.  But I heard the real risk of having one is when someone is withdrawaling from coming off Tramadol.  Just hope I don't ever start having seizures.

[PanSinoeis]

No, no Thomas Recipe.  I was going to do that when I quit taking Tramadol all together for sure.  I have my herbs for now.  That helps, but I may have to look into the Recipe for some help.  

[K Todd]

I am happy for you, and pulling others together in here.

I do have a question...because I have used tramadol in between scrips..(but they never stood a chance)...and then I would get hydros and quit the tramadol...

I am on Day 28 from 18-20 hydros a day....and I took 3 tramadol on day 4 and day 5...which did not seem to help with anythings...so I quit taking the tramadol...and had to side effects.

I was just wondering, you said that your took tramadol in place of opiates...hydro's, oxy, percs...and went through meth treatment 4 years ago....Just be honest...because to me tramadol is like asprin...but I know that there are many who do get some type of boost or buzz if they take enough....so my question is:

In all honesty....which is harder to quit?

1.) Opaites...cold turkey from hydro's, perc's. oxy etc....

2.) Tramadol....tapering off 1 pill per week?

I seriously dont know...but am curious...it seems you have done both...and I am just wondering is tapering of tramadol...or cold turkey from opiates harder?? There have been alot of posts on tramadol...and "Avisg" even posted the FDA facts in the health pages...

So in all honesty...which one of these is harder to quit...for you?

God Bless,
Todd

[done4good]

Oh so maybe my brain zaps were from the tram and not the cymbalta. Or probably just from decreasing seratonin? I didn't get the the first time I went off tram so assumed it was solely the cymbalta.
That is um, amazing you LIKE them! I thought they were horrible!

Yeah I think that's why it's so important to taper slowly, due to the seizure thing.

Do you take any other meds, aside from the herbs?

-done

[done4good]

I'm not sure if I'm qualified to answer that, but I would probably say tramadol for me because of the resulting depression and anxiety after coming off it. (Though I got that from vike/percs as well, so.....

Physically I think they are the same...diarrhea, flu stuff etc

Tramadol is easier to get...that's the problem. I WISH it only felt like asprin! I got a couple scrips for vike and perc and got addicted so when I had family coming to visit and needed to be "on" and not in full-blown withdrawal, I resorted to my old enemy, tramadol, to make sure I could avoid WD while they were here. Problem is...I got used to it and now am using it in btwn scrips as you said.

And I said I'd NEVER go back to it. The irony is that it really doesn't give me much of a high...slightly euphoric but nothing like vike or percs.

--Done

[No1toTalkTo]

I have never said or written this to anyone. I have been using tramadol for atleast 5 years now. I had them prescribed to me when I had a surgery, but since I was also prescribed oxy as well I didnt even notice the tram so I stopped taking it. I was only 18 and this was the first time I even heard of painkillers.Before long I ran out of everything but the doctors werent interested in giving me anymore scheduled drugs. I was in real pain back then so I got the doctors to prescribe me 60 tramadol a month. This lasted probably about 2 years and then I found online vendors. The most I ever got up to was about 12 a day and I have been doing that on and off for about 2 years. Anyways I decided I am gonna quit and not waste any more money. I hope I can find support here as I have decided to try and taper fairly rapidly.

[tramaddi]

I would love to join a tram support group I am struggling on a taper of about 8 per day it is a slow taper cuz I am 5 mo pg It makes me feel terrible and I am scared to death.  I could use to talk tp someone who can help me.  What is a brain zap???  

[avisg]

I have done both hydro withdrawl and tram wd tram was much worse

[done4good]

in what way was tram worse for you avisg?

[done4good]

Hi there,
I don't know what to say about being pg. Have you talked to your ob or another dr?
A brain zap feels like someone tied a fishing wire around your brain and the tugs on it. It doesn't make me dizzy or last long, but it's not a good feeling. So far, I have not had them.
I have only taken 2 trams so far today...going to see how that goes to wait till 5pm.
-Done

[avisg]

The depression sleeplessness the rls and I would wake in the middle of panic attacks not fun

[done4good]

Thanks. I do have ambien for the sleep issue and I've been lucky not to have had rls on any of my detoxes from opiates or trams.
Do you recommend starting in on the l-glutamine, l-taurine, vit c and l-thanine while tapering?
-d

[avisg]

I wouldn't until you are almost all of the way off .The vit c and b and a magnesium calcium supplement you can start now . I would hold off on the amnio just to be safe

[done4good]

ok thanks, I do take B and calc/mag now but I probably don't take enough. Maybe I'll get some of those emergenC packets too.

[tramaddi]

I take aprenatal vitamin everyday w/ folic acid I wonder if that is any help w/ w/d I was also considering Sam-e or St. Johns Wart the info is really not there on pg women tho (as I am findong w/ quite alot of things) So I guess I can ask my Dr. at my next apt.  The depression is really the worst part for me.  I haven't got so far into w/d that I can't sleep.  I can take tylenol pm  My plan is to taper and be completely off before my due date of 1/16 so my son is not born addicted or having w/d It is very hard but I am working on it w/ my taper plan.  Being pg and trying to get off this stuff is hell cuz there are so many things I can't take or it is just unkown if there are any side effects so I pretty much just have to pray and suffer:(