Trying to quit Tramadol

[killerzoey]

Hello

I've been on Tramadol for about a year, taking about ten 50 mg pills per day, so 500 mg. I didn't really keep track, though, it may have been more for a while. As I've been making my mind up to quit, though, I've maintained 10 a day for a while.

I'm wanting to quit, and looking for input about my plan as well as just plain 'ol support.

I originally took them for legit pain issues but honestly I don't know if I even have pain anymore. And I took more than I should have. I read how addictive they were and did not even attempt to stop. I knew it would be a big deal once I did. I didn't like  how they made me feel at first, and can't say I ever really did. I just didn't know when it would be a good time to stop.

I'm a busy, divorced, working mom of two little kids.

Some people, apparently, are real go-getters on Tramadol. Not me. And I have grown very weary of the zoned-out feeling I get on Tramadol. I feel dumb on it and I feel like a zombie. I feel self-conscious, like it's obvious. And I feel awful because my kids deserve a present mom. My boyfriend deserves a present girlfriend.

So, despite reading NUMEROUS horror stories about withdrawal from Tramadol, I started dreaming of stopping. Since I won't be able to take time off mommy-ing and working, I dug into lots of posts and noted what people said helped -- everything from herbal supplements to Benadryl to oxcarbazepine.

I believe that I've read that besides its opioid component, that Tramadol causes Serotonin release in the brain (not a true SSRI, though, I think?) and is an SNRI too, I believe.

From previous prescriptions I am presently armed with probably 20 hydrocodone, a month's supply of Zoloft (an SSRI) and Wellbutrin (acts on norepinepherine and dopamine, I believe). I'm probably not thinking very clearly and I'm just piecing together a bunch of crap I've read. But my thought with the hydro and antidepressants is that perhaps I can taper over to a very minimal amount of hydro long enough to get the antidepressant element of the Tramadol out of my system (should take 24-36 hours Tram-free, that's what I read) , after which I can take some amount of the antidepressants while I continue to taper off the hydro until I'm at zero for opiates. Then when I'm ready I can take a Prozac and be done with the antidepressant withdrawal component. Kind of a "divide and conquer" mentality :) Reading people's reports of coming off this drug, I think the antidepressant part has got to be the worst part to come clear of.

By the way, In case the Prozac part (above) didn't make sense, some people find that it's very very hard to come off an SSRI antidepressant, and I have found this to be the case when I came off the Zoloft a few years ago (I didn't like the way it made me feel and quit after 3 months). When I stopped taking it, my feet tingled and felt "intense" (kind of a restless-legs-syndrome feeling). I felt weird and disoriented. I tried a few times to taper off the Zoloft, taking less and less each day until finally my dose was simply nipping the very edge of a pill! Even so, when I finally stopped altogether, I suffered the discontinuation syndrome and it just made me feel horrid, so I went back on! Well, finally I read that the trick to coming off an antidepressant such as Zoloft (which has a medium-range half life) is to take a SINGLE dose of Prozac. Because Prozac has an long half life, it tapers itself down, beautifully. It worked. So for what it's worth that's my plan this time, when I'm jumping off the SSRI.

So here's what's happened this week, just kind of playing this by ear. I didn't intend to do a fast taper but I found to my surprise that it was possible to go a few days in a row at least on a much lower dose than I'd taken before. Based on my experience coming off an SSRI (where tapering quickly didn't really effect me too badly but that last jumping off point was like going through the rabbit hole), I thought maybe Tramadol might be similar. So far it is.

Sunday, I took 8 Trams (400 mg).  Less than half my dose of the previous week. I took a Unisom gel at night (the same stuff that's in Benadryl) and it put me out hard.

Monday, I took 5 Trams (I took 2 at 7am and coasted as long as I could. I took 1 after lunch, and then pushed it until 5pm, when I took 2). I just wanted to see if I could do it. I wasn't going for any particular number. I took a Unisom gel at night.

Tuesday I took 4, I think. Maybe I took half a hydro? Not sure when I started feathering in the hydro. I took a Unisom gel at night and I believe it was hard to sleep.

Wednesday (yesterday), I think I took 3 Trams (one at 7am, 1 late morning when I started to feel wonky, and I think I took 1/2 at bedtime, but not until AFTER it was obvious I wasn't going to sleep otherwise. I took half a hyrdro at bed, too, and two Unisom gels. Even with all that, it was a challenge to fall asleep.

Today is Thursday at 9:40PM and I have not taken any Tramadol yet. I took 1 hydro in the morning and 1/2 a hydro this afternoon. I also took 2 30 mg pseudophedrine (decongestant--the kind you have to sign for) in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. I saw them in my medicine cabinet and I have to say I think they helped me fight the lack of energy I am definitely starting to feel. My skin is crawling a bit but my mind just wants to sleep. I ate a good dinner, though. I am not sure what I'll end up needing to take tonight to sleep. I guess I'm hoping not to need a Tramadol because 36 hours without is coming up fast, and after that I can start taking the Zoloft and see if that's going to make me feel better. I may introduce the Wellbutrin, too.

To others who have quit Tramadol or even attempted it--my full respect.

- Zoey

[lilyzmom]

And having to sign for them...extra giveaway! Don't plan to have to deal with that ever again. So many reasons not to do it, why did we do it?

[killerzoey]

NoLife4Me, I cringed at the reaction of the FedEx guy! I have never made excuses, but for a while I was thinking, "We'll, my dad gets his scripts delivered, he orders three months at a time and saves money." Then I realized he just has them mailed to him. Not FedExed or Express Mailed. That's kind of a giveaway.

[killerzoey]

That kind of sounds nice, to have some alone time to go through some of this -at least that's how I felt. My bf left town for five nights while I was WDing and it was toward the end of that when I quit the hydro. Some people revel on support when they feel poorly, but I just like to crawl into a cave.

Sorry to hear about your experiences with therapists. Sounds like you might be better off talking to one of the dogs or the donkey!

[YesLife4Me]

This reminds me of the time I received pills at work and I made a comment in front of everyone that I was getting my scrips sent to me by the pharmacy since it was an option and the Fed Ex Guy said "yeah, right".   I wanted to crawl under my desk and die.   :(  

[lilyzmom]

I'm doing good so far, I am tapering 2 less per day and I have to say, I've only had two bad nights in the one week I've been at it.  I am at my boyfriend's for the week and he is heading out of town so I figured I could go through the worst part while I'm all alone. Well, alone with 4 dogs, a horse and a donkey...

So nice to have someone to chat with who is going through the same thing. I don't know why but it really helps give me strength and keeps my determination going. Unlike my therapist can provide. They just want to talk about themselves - two so far...  And making sure they get paid. A big turn off.

Thank you for being there.

[killerzoey]

Yeah, that, too :( I live in a small town and I hate that I feel I have to avoid making eye contact with my mail carrier. Eventually hopefully they'll forget. I can't dwell on that too much now. But yeah, the fear of being found out by my boyfriend was another big burden of the pill ordering thing. Soooo glad to be out from under that!

How are you feeling today?

[lilyzmom]

Not just the logistics of the delivery, but hoping you don't get caught by someone you don't want to know AND its embarrassing with the mail and fedex people. They know what the heck I'm doing and I feel like they look at me and think "she's a druggie". I hate that feeling.  I'm not damnit! Well, actually I am but there is a non-addict inside me. I was there before and I will be again.  Day 3 here and I'm doing really well. About half of what I was taking and I've had no problems at all yet. I know its going to be harder the less I take so this next week will be challenging and then I am traveling for business. Hope I don't have any problems while being in meetings with clients. I dont' want to relapse as a way of getting through meetings...

[killerzoey]

Missy, I could really relate to what you wrote. I have missed enjoying sex, it's so sad. I'm with a great man and it's a waste, at the very least ;) It is definitely appreciating things on this side of quitting :)

Oh, and the whole logistics thing with the pill delivery...so exhausting.

[killerzoey]

Thanks, Debbie, feeling better now...not writhing in pain and timing my contractions, haha. I am trying a little soup now after basically a two-day fast. Wish me luck :)

How are you?

I just realized that the ice cream my boyfriend got has sorbitol in it, which tears me up big time. He served me a whole bowl if it the night before I went into "labor". Not saying I wasn't already uncomfortable, but that may have sent me over the edge. I need to sleep with one eye open, I guess. He's trying to kill me, haha! Oh wait, never mind. I don't sleep. Ah....detox is fun.

Thanks for the well wishes and concern, I really appreciate it. I havent looked  into aftercare, a little nervous about it. Small town, vindictive ex, worried about my reputation and undergoing the humiliation he has been known to dole out.

[killerzoey]

Thanks, Debbie, feeling better now...not writhing in pain and timing my contractions, haha. I am trying a little soup now after basically a two-day fast. Wish me luck :)

How are you?

I just realized that the ice cream my boyfriend got has sorbitol in it, which tears me up big time. He served me a whole bowl if it the night before I went into "labor". Not saying I wasn't already uncomfortable, but that may have sent me over the edge. I need to sleep with one eye open, I guess. He's trying to kill me, haha! Oh wait, never mind. I don't sleep. Ah....detox is fun.

Thanks for the well wishes and concern, I really appreciate it. I havent looked  into aftercare, a little nervous about it. Small town, vindictive ex, worried about my reputation and undergoing the humiliation he has been known to dole out.

[atthebeach]

hey zoey,
I hope and pray you are feeling much better now. have you
checked into any counseling and/or support groups?
congrats on your clean time. well done.
keep up the good work.
be blessed,
debbie

[Missy1231984]

I wish it was too!  You are right about it being a quick pick up, but not worth it in the end!  Ever since I started trams I have had ZERO sex drive.  In fact in makes me not want my husband to even touch me.  It also makes it very hard to sleep unless I take way too much.   My husband comes home from deployment in a few months and I want to want him.  It was feeling like a chore before he left.  I also hate having to figure out a time to have my pills delivered without him finding out.  I had to travel for my grandfather's funeral 2 years ago and actually had pills delivered to a family members address while I was there.   I hate having to have a pill bottle attached to me.  It is so absurd!  

[lilyzmom]

PS - I wish this thread was listed from newest to oldest instead of the opposite...

[lilyzmom]

I am looking forward to that day and its not too far in the future, I know this. I can relate to Missy - that looking for that "pick me up" feeling you get from Tramadol. However, I must say its only short term and I know mentally the negative things such as having no desire to exercise, sweating all the time, lack of sex drive, blurred vision, sleeplessness, feeling disconnected when I've take too much, etc. kinda outweighs that little pick-me-up short term feeling that seems to get more and more difficult to achieve.

My daughter found my latest stash, she's found them before and has been all over me to get help.  The problem was, I didn't want to stop until now. She said a few things to me this last time that struck home. One she said is she is done caring about it. If I don't care, why should she?  The other one she is said is "Mom, you're better than this, why don't you see that?". And she is so right. Out of the mouths of babes, right?  Although she is 24. Whose the parent???

When I was doing it for someone else, I didn't seem to have the motivation to stop. Liked it too much.  Now, its for me. I am better than this.

Two 2 of tapering. I have been taking a lot so I took half my normal allotment yesterday and didn't notice a thing.  Just curious, how does immodium help with the sweats?

[killerzoey]

"Geez. I am a fairly intelligent adult woman, how did I let this happen?"

I sooooo relate to this! You're not alone.

[FourJays]

Hello - I can really relate to your situation; wondering how and when I got to where I was.  I also have a Tramadol problem.  I took it for 14+ years and was up to 40+ pills a day.  I am very happy to say I'm at 67 days clean today.  It will not be easy; especially the first few days/week, but you CAN do it.  Better, clearer and happier days await you . . . hang in there!
Julie

[Missy1231984]

I don't have any "prescription" meds to help taper with either.  I order some Kratom and kava kava after reading somewhere that it helps with withdrawals.  Honestly since I was still allotting for 10 trams a day my issue isn't so much the physical symptoms, as it is the mental ones.  I keep looking for that pick me up.  I feel so blah just feeling "normal."  It's like "normal" isn't good enough anymore.  

[lilyzmom]

I don't have anything to augment the Trams while I taper such as hydrocodone. Im not familiar with what Kratom is?  I am hoping the Withdrawal-ease I ordered will help me. I really want to stay away from any opiod altogether.  For night, I take a half of a Zanax to sleep. If its really difficult, I'll take a whole one but they really knock me out. I began tapering yesterday, although I was up to quite a lot. Scares me to think how many i've been taking. Geez. I am a fairly intelligent adult woman, how did I let this happen?

[killerzoey]

Missy, I tapered over to the hydro and paid the piper there, meaning I went through the worst of the Tramadol wds while buffered by hydro. Not sure if that might work for you with Kratom a bit later... I went with what my body felt it could do, and it sounds like you're using a similar approach along with a taper plan to guide you. I wish you the best of luck. You can do this!

[killerzoey]

That last one was for lilyzmom, by the way :)

[killerzoey]

Good for you! You can do it! I'm still off Tramadol and stopped the hydros ten days ago. It's been an interesting month. I'll be looking for updates from you, best of luck!

[Missy1231984]

Thank so much for constantly updating.  This whole thread gives me hope that I can do this.  The changes in the tramadol law was partly why I decided to quit also.   I just tapered down from 10-15 trams a day to 10 trams a day a week ago.  I was suppose to go down to 9 but ended up taking 12 yesterday.  I had run out of benderyl so I didn't have anything to help me sleep last night.   Today I went out and got more benderyl.  It's 9 pm and I've had 8 trams.  I took 2 benedryl 2 hours ago and am hoping sleep kicks in before I get tempted to use the trams.   If I could do 8 a day for the rest of the week I will be ahead of schedule.   My plan is to go down one pill a week until I get to 3 and then start reducing 1/2 a pill a week.  

I am thinking of getting some vitamins.  I did order Kratom and kava kava, but have not tried either since im still on quite a bit of tramadol.  I am thinking that it might be better to start on magnesium, potassium, l-tyrosine, and melatonin instead.  What do you guys think?  I did start taking flinstone vitamins and fish oil 3 days ago.  If there enough vitamins in the flinstone vits or should I try something better?  

[lilyzmom]

I am about to undertake the same thing - quitting Tramadol. I've been taking them for over 5 years and I take about 30-40 5MG per day.  I hadn't heard of the immodium for sweating so I'm running to the store to get some. I am going the tapering route. I did it cold turkey a few times but couldn't get past the 4th day without going back. I also ordered something called Withdrawal-ease off the internet and hoping that helps. I'll post my updates as well. So nice to feel like I have somewhere to go where I can be honest about what's going on. Wish me luck!

[killerzoey]

Took everything I took before that sweat-free night...except the Wellbutrin. Guess what? I was a puddle of sweat. Withdrawals=random!

Woke up, showered, toweled off, sweaty within 30 seconds....and cold.

Really didn't want to to to work drenched and shaking from the chill. Took Immodium (14 mg?) and felt relief! Was able to go until afternoon when withdrawals in the form of fogginess, tearing, and yawning started to become obvious, I feared, in a long meeting with higher-ups. Took a hydro during a bathroom break. It's almost bed time-yay.

I had a long, productive, relatively sweat-free day. Had so much fun being with my kids after work. Just took some more Immodium, going to see if I can sleep on that.

Oh-by the way, I took a Rhodiola supplement this morning...maybe that helped? I had bought it for general mood support and energy, but hadn't started taking it yet.  Thought I'd put that our there in case it helps someone. I think it provides adrenal support, as well.