SAY NO TO ULTRAM!

[Janet1]

I have a history of being addicted to prescription pain medicines which I kicked years ago.  Since then I avoid pain medicine like the plague.  Recently I injured my back in a fall. Vioxx helped but then I developed some side effects to the Vioxx.  My doctor suggested Ultram.  I knew it was not considered a controlled substance. Boy do I ever wish I had taken the time to do a little more research!  I only took the Ultram for 3 weeks, but I did take the maximum dose.  After all I thought I was home free, right?  This is really benign stuff here....no danger with Ultram.  After about a week I realized that this stuff was making me feel a whole lot like the opiates I had taken!  Euphoria, go, go, go and never get tired!  I was scared but didn't want to stop!  Then I started reading, and learned of the horrors of Ultram addiction. I waited until I was going to have three days off.  I had read that withdrawing from Ultram was not as bad as other withdrawals, so I figured three days were enough.  BOY WAS I WRONG!  The first two days I did not get out of bed except to the bathroom.  I ached all over, had fever, sneezed constantly, continual diarrhea, could not eat without vomiting.  This was 10 times worse than my experience with opiates. I cried constantly.....the depression was the very worst!  It is now Day #5 and this is the first day that I have been able to stay up for more than a few minutes.   I have lost 8 lbs (which is a plus, but a damn hard way to diet)!  The first thing I had to do was come on this site and let others know that ULTRAM IS NOT HARMLESS!  STAY AWAY!

[Laurie6t]

Hi,
I just found this forum and I like it!  I'm looking for some advice. I'm 52. I have 12 yrs clean, my last thing was a 7 or 8 year heroin addiction. I have Hep C. I have severe arthritis as well as Peripheral Neuropathy, mostly affecting my feet, and plantar fasciitis. :( right!?  My question is; does anyone have suggestions for something EFFECTIVE that I can take for long term, chronic pain w/out the old monkey showing up?  I'm too old and much too tired to entertain that nasty little creep again but I am going to have to take something for pain until forever. As little Acetominophen as possible bc of the Hep C.
Thanks for this great forum
Laurie

[theGolden1]

Ha ahahahaaaaa .... that's me. I'd be so shocked if I actually got to post a question, I wouldn't know what to ask. I'd start another ultram thread. So glad you are doing well .. take care, ***@****

[theGolden1]

I'm so sad to see the ultram thread disappearing. I wish I knew the secret to posting a question on this forum. I have tried and tried, but keep getting the message that says they are all filled up ... does anyone have a clue?

[percsnomas]

Mornin Goldie!

I've had reasonable success by trying to post a question in the morning(like 9:00 to 11:00 am for the East Coast).  Remembering there is usually a 2 question per day maximum; however some days/weekends have less.

In fact i just tried, and it let me in..........now if only i had something useful to ask.

[percsnomas]

Amber, Hello!!

They were referring to posting on a thread higher up(not higher up in this thread......that isn't possible).

There really are no rules about posting per say.........

Anyways, i'm glad this place is becoming a part of your ongoing recovery!!!

percs

[AmberHunter]

i am new to this forum and saw where someone said to post higher up in the thread.

the only way i know to post is here, at the end... can someone email me the ins and outs of this forum and posting etc... please!

***@****

thank you so much!

amber

[theGolden1]

I saw my doctor on saturday and told him that I was tapering from ultram on my own. He said it was fine with him. Whatever I want to do ... I also switched to sonata. Ambien is too heavy. I feel better already. My last hope here is some good solid excersize. I want to get into shape to "just do it" ... (cold turkey) I'd like to be clean by July 4th ... I have to work on motivation now ... take care, Goldie

[Thomas03]

Are you sure about of that 15mg of Xanax? Most people use the orange .5mg Xanax, some the purple 1mg Xanax. 15mg would be a pretty tall dose. Whatever amount you're using, don't go cold turkey of the Xanax. Cold turkey from high doses of Xanax can result in seizure.

Thomas

[Lisa_]

I am ashamed to say that I didn't start taking Ultam for pain, but for the euphoria that it gave me.  It all started about a year ago. I would take 50 mg on the weekends, then I would randomly take a 50 mg before work. Of course that dose changed gradually over time. My boyfriend and I both started at the same time and we work together. We decided in December not to work at the job, but due to contracts needed to stay until March. The last two months on the job I would take 100 mg in the am and 100 mg mid afternoon. I loved the way it made me feel. I could have a dreamless night and wake up groggy. I would take the pills and a smile would come to my lips and I got energized. It was a deal betweeen my boyfriend and I that when we left the job the Ultram would have to stop also. That day came 7 days ago. He warned be to taper myself and to get ready for withdraw. (I was taking 150 mg more than him daily) I didn't believe him. I never thought that I was physically addicted. I was so wrong. Luckily I had a week off for what lay ahead. The first day wasn't too bad I had the chills and sweats. It was day 2-4 that kicked my ass. I remember on day 2 sitting right here on this message board sobbing. I was reading everyones stories and I finally realized: I WAS ADDICTED. I WAS GOING THROUGH WITHDRAW. ME! After that I knew that I couldn't do this to myself again.  I stuck with it. Days 3-5 the physical withdraw took a back burner to the mental withdraw. I was so depressed. I was not reacting correctly to situations. I was crying histically at the littlest things. I can't forget to add that I haven't slept a full nights sleep since then. The hardest part was the knowledge that the little capsules that are under the sick would make this all go away. Where would that put me? Right back here a year or so from now. No way. I am very happy to say I am on day 7 and I FEEL better than ever.  The key word there is "feel". I thought I was living in a happy world, but I was living in a numb world.  I love that I can feel anything. Sex is much better too : ).
Thank you for listening to my rambled story. It has been a long week, but I know I am a better and stronger person now. Hang in there if you are going through any of this. I promise it gets better.

[loudtram]

Hi
I have being taking Ultram(Tramal) for about half year on a daily basis.I was abusing it from the very begining because it
made me feel full of energy,well being,talky...etc
The only thing that I know for sure that I developed quite
a bit of tolerance for this medication which in other words
means I am hooked to it.At the begining 200mg was enough for
euphoric feeling.Now,if I take 500mg I feel only a slightly
change in my mood.Beside that I am a heavy benzo user too.
You see,I was always combining Ultram with benzos to amplilfy
its effect.Eg.I can take 15mg of Xanax and only consequence is that I am bit more talky,amnesia is a thing of past for me.I ask you,could it be worse,hooked on Ultram and Benzos at the same time?Any advice is appreciated.

[sharonver]

It sounds like you are going at it the right way!!  The best way to detox without serious withdrawal is to go very very slow.  Thats what I am doing also.  I have been detoxing 1 millagram every other week.  So far it hasn't been too bad. I had a rough spot when I got to 6-7 millagrams (hit a wall) it took a month and a half to finally get adjusted to that dose!  Then when I started feeling better I starting decreasing again.  Now I only have 3 more millagrams to go!!  Getting nervous though, cuz i am sure it will be rough at the very end.  Keep up the good work. Not everyone can taper, so we are fortunate in that aspect.

Sharon

[g.g.]

I have read your posts and must say you are doing great!I tried ultram once and it made me feel tooooooo weird so I guess I was lucky cause I heard they have a law suit going too.Hope to talk again..              Jerri

[theGolden1]

I didn't realize you guys were posting on my favorite subject down here ... ULTRAM!! I wrote all my stuff on top ... I can never post a question anyway ... but I hope to be off this by May or June. If I have any serious withdrawals I will get seriously mad and go after someone ... because they lied to me.
I think there is a class action suit ... This drug is awesome for chronic pain. No cravings and has antidepressant effects BUT, quitting is a different ball game. You can't get a straight answer from anyone .... unpredictable symptoms, and it takes weeks to be over. I'm tapering 1/4 of a pill every 2 weeks .... I'm down to 2 1/4 pills every morning. I have toast first to protect my stomach. I have about 20 weeks to go .... hey, that's five months!! Oh well .... someday :)

[g.g.]

The DRS.think because the ultram is non narcotic its ok to use but from what everyone says I wouldnt use it either!Ask for celebex or viox they work great and are non addictive.So DR. will give them to you with no problem..    Jerri

[sharonver]

From what I have read ultram is not an opiate and percocets definitely are! Ultram reacts similar to our receptors as an opiate would thence helping with the pain, but for some reason the withdrawal in ultram is a lot worse. I don't know why but I have heard that it can be pretty bad. I would rather withdraw from the percs! (just my opinion)

Sharon

[madeline]

Well can anyone tell me the actual difference
in the percocet and the ultram.  I have been
on percocet and have been tapering off
and was give a prescription of ultram
for my elbow.   But from what I hear it
seems to be that ultram has the worst
withdrawals, more so than percocet.  I was
going to use the ultram when I come off
the precocet cause its not a narcotic.

Anyone out there have experience with
the two.  The doc didnt want to give me
the percs, she said the ultram would
be better, but reading these posts has
scaird me.

Thanks guys and gals.

[grappler]

I am not sure if it would hurt to take them every now and then but before I started to take them regularly I noticed that they would have a really strong effect that would make me feel kind of naseauiated.  So I don't really know.

Grappler

[sharonver]

I have heard a lot of horrors stories re: ultram, what if you were to take them for arthritis pain just on occasion, when there is an arthritic flare-up?  Would you still have the withdrawals if you only took them 1 or 2 two days every now & then?

Sharon

[grappler]

I can tell you if you just suck it up for about a week the worst will most likely be over.  I am so happy to be off of that stuff it is worst than morphine and all those other types of opiates.  I can't believe it this is the worst.  I wish I could personally help people that are on this stuff.  I think the doctors should quit prescribing it as a non narcotic.  Believe me I feel your pain because I know when I was getting off of it, it seemed that my pain got worse as I went through the withdrawls.


Good luck,

Grappler

[rainey]

I have a friend who took Ultram every day for a short time for back pain. He started telling me how he would feel depressed when he started trying to taper himself off of it.  He takes them only occasionally now and says that he continues to feel depressed when he gets off of them and that they don't really help his pain that much. He compared it to the depression that comes with coming off of illegal drugs or prescription hard core pain pills. I have another friend who I fear is hooked on them. He told his dad how they make him sick. I have taken only two Ultram and they made me so sick to my stomach that I haven't ever taken another one. I have to agree with everyone that Ultram is not a good drug and more warnings should be put out about the side effects and implications of this drug.

[divawritr]

I always thought that MORPHINE was supposed to be the baddest (strongest) opiate of them all.  Is this not so?  At any rate, it doesn't seem to do much of anything for me.  I stay on them now because of the horrid withdrawals i feel when i don't take one!

Am I doomed to forever be ADDICTED?  I am thinking about that recipe for kicking that Thomas recommended...

[grappler]

I am a world class athlete (wresler/ultimate fighter) I was in a serious accident I ruptured some discs and had some fractures in my spine and had some nerve damage that extended into my stomach and made my stomach very sensitive to the touch and  that almost took my life and was forced into retirement and my olympic and fighting career was put on hold or held off indefinetley. Well, anyway I was given many medicines including opiates for back and nerve damage and pain that was incurred from my accident. I must admit that I had withdrawl symptoms from Morphine when I was discharged from the hospital but overcame them in a few days. Later I went to see a doctor and he perscribed me some Ultram or as generic is known Tramadol it took some time to get used to but once I did it did ease the pain and ease the symptoms especially the ones I have the most trouble with which are the damage to a nerve that extends to my stomach.  I started to run out of the perscription before it was time for a refill and this happend time and time again I felt extremely dependent I never felt like this even with the vicodine or whatever else I took.  I have a tremendous amount of will and I told myself I am getting off of this **** no matter what.  It was so tough but I did it and the withdrawls continued for two-weeks and I have never encountered anything so mentally challenging and I'll tell you I have fasted for a couple of days no food no water while still training like a madman to get down to weight for competitions and I thought that was mentally challenging for the normal human. Over the course of my two-week withdrawl I developed sores in my mouth like blisters probably because of the fever and chills I got, but man, I thought,"this is heavy duty" I can't believe how rough this is.  I would not advise the use of this medicine to anyone and the doctor said "don't worry about it it's not a narcotic medine" Well it might not be narcotic but it sure has some allout more than narcotic effects.  I have since stopped taking it and am now taking some other medicine that does'nt totally take my pain away but I don't care I will probably have to live with it for the rest of my life it's nagging but tolerable.  I can still workout and strengthen my muscle tissue and hopefully training hard but not stupid will take away my pain.  I invite anyone or any other person with a similar story to email me.  But to recap please Say No To ULTRAM!

[redrover]

My problem is similar to all entering this site; Problems with a prescribed pain elimination drug, touted as "non-addicting". I started taking Ultram two years ago to help with pain associated with multiple fractures suffered in an auto accident. I associate my every-day activities with my slowly climbing dose of this drug. I feel energetic, TALKATIVE, and happy with every-one I meet. My life as a musician, teacher, disabled person, center around my ability to clearly communicate, and to articulate to my students the finer aspects of musicianship. I have put myself in "double jeopardy" with the use of this drug. I am allowed to earn $8oo.00 per month as a teacher and still recieve my social security disability checks.(this is all I am making) The government will likely stop my disability payments due to the employment status I Have earned with the help of my Ultram usage. If I stop taking my "little helpers", I will undoubtably suffer to the point of not being able to teach with the same energetic approach, and my pain will intensify. I think we need to look at a "class action" that will stop the medical profession in it"s tracks with this misleading discription of Ultram. I am discontinuing the use as of today, and have already noticed "sneezing episodes", and light headaches. This is my first day. I used this drug for two years and have built up to 4 50's a day, not bad considering I would love to take more. Thats what led me to this site. I have experienced urination problems, erection difficulties, lack of sexual interest, and some sleep problems. Thank you all for your candid honesty regarding this ADDICTIVE DRUG. If anyone wants to organize,..... please respond. Thank you, Redrover Redrover, let the pain be over....

[redrover]

My problem is similar to all entering this site; Problems with a prescribed pain elimination drug, touted as "non-addicting". I started taking Ultram two years ago to help with pain associated with multiple fractures suffered in an auto accident. I associate my every-day activities with my slowly climbing dose of this drug. I feel energetic, TALKATIVE, and happy with every-one I meet. My life as a musician, teacher, disabled person, center around my ability to clearly communicate, and to articulate to my students the finer aspects of musicianship. I have put myself in "double jeopardy" with the use of this drug. I am allowed to earn $8oo.00 per month as a teacher and still recieve my social security disability checks.(this is all I am making) The government will likely stop my disability payments due to the employment status I Have earned with the help of my Ultram usage. If I stop taking my "little helpers", I will undoubtably suffer to the point of not being able to teach with the same energetic approach, and my pain will intensify. I think we need to look at a "class action" that will stop the medical profession in it"s tracks with this misleading discription of Ultram. I am discontinuing the use as of today, and have already noticed "sneezing episodes", and light headaches. This is my first day. I used this drug for two years and have built up to 4 50's a day, not bad considering I would love to take more. Thats what led me to this site. I have experienced urination problems, erection difficulties, lack of sexual interest, and some sleep problems. Thank you all for your candid honesty regarding this ADDICTIVE DRUG. If anyone wants to organize,..... please respond. Thank you, Redrover Redrover, let the pain be over....