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Trying to quit Tramadol
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
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
Oh, and atthebeach, to answer your question, I have those prescriptions from before. I have an autoimmune disease and at one point I was in a lot of pain and he prescribed me the hydros, and the antidepressant Zoloft, as he thought the combo would help. The Wellbutrin was added when I complained of sexual side effects.
OK so today is Sunday, day 4 without Trammies.
Yesterday I made it until 1pm and took a 5mg hydro. A bit later I took a 50mg Zoloft and Wellbutrin SR 150. Felt ok, low energy, but functional.
Went to bed around 11pm, decided to take Immodium as I've heard it can ease withdrawals, and I was going to try to see if I could take just that and sleep. If not, backup plan was to take 1 more hydro for a total of 2 that day.
Well...weirdest thing. I think I felt pretty relaxed when I took the Immodium. Hard to say because I hadn't yet tried to sleep. Sometimes when you just lie there, THAT's when you notice the restless legs. But I am almost sure that I became more agitated after taking the Immodium. Weird.
I took a Unisom and still tried to cubscout through this sleep thing...no dice. Kept tossing and turning. Finally took 1/2 a hydro, waited...no dice. Took another 1/2...eventually fell asleep and slept a long time.
So total for yesterday (Saturday)
0 Tramadol
2 hydros (10mg total)
1 Zoloft (50mg)
1 Wellbutrin SR (150 mg)
It's noon on Sunday and I'm feeling pretty wonky, but ok. Haven't taken anything yet today, but probably will in a bit.
I'd have to say that so far this has been ok, much better than I thought. I know I'm using crutches, but if I'd known I could transfer over this easily to something I KNOW I can get off of, I would have done it sooner. I guess you never know until you try. I'm still experiencing withdrawal, though...for sure.
Yesterday I made it until 1pm and took a 5mg hydro. A bit later I took a 50mg Zoloft and Wellbutrin SR 150. Felt ok, low energy, but functional.
Went to bed around 11pm, decided to take Immodium as I've heard it can ease withdrawals, and I was going to try to see if I could take just that and sleep. If not, backup plan was to take 1 more hydro for a total of 2 that day.
Well...weirdest thing. I think I felt pretty relaxed when I took the Immodium. Hard to say because I hadn't yet tried to sleep. Sometimes when you just lie there, THAT's when you notice the restless legs. But I am almost sure that I became more agitated after taking the Immodium. Weird.
I took a Unisom and still tried to cubscout through this sleep thing...no dice. Kept tossing and turning. Finally took 1/2 a hydro, waited...no dice. Took another 1/2...eventually fell asleep and slept a long time.
So total for yesterday (Saturday)
0 Tramadol
2 hydros (10mg total)
1 Zoloft (50mg)
1 Wellbutrin SR (150 mg)
It's noon on Sunday and I'm feeling pretty wonky, but ok. Haven't taken anything yet today, but probably will in a bit.
I'd have to say that so far this has been ok, much better than I thought. I know I'm using crutches, but if I'd known I could transfer over this easily to something I KNOW I can get off of, I would have done it sooner. I guess you never know until you try. I'm still experiencing withdrawal, though...for sure.
I really don't know what to say at this point...today it's four o'clock and I've only taken half a hydro, so 2.5 mg. I feel fine. I'll probably have to take one to sleep tonight but maybe I'll try just half.
I even got out today and ran errands that I didn't have to run, I felt so ok. I feel a bit of an awakening. Not back to myself yet, but getting there.
I even got out today and ran errands that I didn't have to run, I felt so ok. I feel a bit of an awakening. Not back to myself yet, but getting there.
hi zoey, so glad you are doing ok.keep up the good work.
you do know it takes a few weeks for the psych meds to build up in your system? how much do you have?
when your zoloft and wellbutrin runs out will you get more?
continue to do with the least you get to get by. try to get some exercise in and make sure you are eating a diet with lots of fruits,veggies and protein and drinking enough fluids.
how many hydros do you have left?
sending support and encouragement,
debbie
you do know it takes a few weeks for the psych meds to build up in your system? how much do you have?
when your zoloft and wellbutrin runs out will you get more?
continue to do with the least you get to get by. try to get some exercise in and make sure you are eating a diet with lots of fruits,veggies and protein and drinking enough fluids.
how many hydros do you have left?
sending support and encouragement,
debbie
Debbie,
Thanks for your reply. I know that it takes a few weeks for build up, I guess I was thinking if I was already used to those aspects of the Tramadol that taking those ADs would mitigate that part of the withdrawal. I guess, though, that I may just want to play it by ear since I am seemingly having an easy time of it. I am not sure how many hydros I have left. At this rate, I am thinking plenty to get me through this. My doctor has prescribed both of those antidepressants as part of my pain flare treatment last time, and I went off them when no longer needed because I didn't like being a zombie. I actually had my dr call in new scripts for those in preparation for this withdrawal, just in case. I don't really want to be on them but I understand that post-withdrawal the brain has a lot of stabilizing to do.
It's 6pm, still going on the 2.5 mg hydro from this morning. My arms and legs are definitely restless, but I'll be comfortable enough until I try to sleep. No diarrhea or anything at all yet. Maybe the Immodium precluded that. I tell you one thing (tmi, sorry)...I'll be SOOOO glad to be able to go again! I've been incredibly constipated while on Tramadol. Ew. Sorry :/ While I'm dishing out tmi, though...I'm also looking forward to having er, "drive" again!
I don't know how work will go tomorrow. I have a few people under me and above me working in proximity to me and they'll probably notice if I'm TOO out of it. I'll have to play it by ear and just see what little I can get away with taking. I'm very motivated to get this over with, but don't want to raise eyebrows. All in all, though, I'm very happy with how this is going. Thanks again :)
Thanks for your reply. I know that it takes a few weeks for build up, I guess I was thinking if I was already used to those aspects of the Tramadol that taking those ADs would mitigate that part of the withdrawal. I guess, though, that I may just want to play it by ear since I am seemingly having an easy time of it. I am not sure how many hydros I have left. At this rate, I am thinking plenty to get me through this. My doctor has prescribed both of those antidepressants as part of my pain flare treatment last time, and I went off them when no longer needed because I didn't like being a zombie. I actually had my dr call in new scripts for those in preparation for this withdrawal, just in case. I don't really want to be on them but I understand that post-withdrawal the brain has a lot of stabilizing to do.
It's 6pm, still going on the 2.5 mg hydro from this morning. My arms and legs are definitely restless, but I'll be comfortable enough until I try to sleep. No diarrhea or anything at all yet. Maybe the Immodium precluded that. I tell you one thing (tmi, sorry)...I'll be SOOOO glad to be able to go again! I've been incredibly constipated while on Tramadol. Ew. Sorry :/ While I'm dishing out tmi, though...I'm also looking forward to having er, "drive" again!
I don't know how work will go tomorrow. I have a few people under me and above me working in proximity to me and they'll probably notice if I'm TOO out of it. I'll have to play it by ear and just see what little I can get away with taking. I'm very motivated to get this over with, but don't want to raise eyebrows. All in all, though, I'm very happy with how this is going. Thanks again :)
hey zoey,
how did work go today? how are you feeling? i am glad you have been feeling ok. that is great. one day at a time is how you will get through.
just take it as it comes. dont anticipate. you are doing awesome.
how did work go today? how are you feeling? i am glad you have been feeling ok. that is great. one day at a time is how you will get through.
just take it as it comes. dont anticipate. you are doing awesome.
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