Ultram: Fact or Fiction?

[memikey]

I know this is going to be a controversial post, but I felt it worth saying:

Being a chronic Vicodin abuser over the years, I have used many different methods of quitting each time I felt the urge/pressure to stop.  However, since tapering has never worked for me, and withdrawl pains are the biggest deterrent for stopping, this last run has proven to be the most difficult to quit.

So even against all the negative postings about Ultram's various evils, I decided to give it a try as a Vicodin replacement while quitting "cold turkey".

I am now at hour 36 of my "detox" from a (somewhat) mild 50mg/day habit, and having taken only 5 Ultram over that time span (which would have been about 15 Vicodin otherwise!), I have not only NOT suffered even the most mild of painful withdrawl symptoms, but I feel amazingly upbeat and motivated about finally not having to take any Vicodin.

I know a lot of you will be thinking that all I will manage to do is "cross-addict" to another substance, but remember: I have much experience with drugs, and while always managing to never exceed a 50mg/day addiction on Vicodin (even after a five-year stretch one time), I feel quite confident that as long as I gradually decrease the amount of Ultram I am taking over the next few days, there will be no problem when it comes time to finally take nothing.  I guess part of that is because I am just way too sick and tired of being addicted to Vicodin that I will succeed as in past times, but with much less pain.

Time will tell, though, so I will post again if no success.

--memikey

[TMP]

My two cents. My Doctor told me that Ultram was originally developed as an anti-depressant. Then they discovered how good it was at killing pain. That might be why the withdrawal is so bad. I too have suffered ultram wd after switching too it after narcotic use. By the way, I have been lurking on this forum for a long time. I just want to thank all of you for what you say and give to each other. It has helped me and when I get a little more time, I will post my story.

[Waking up]

I am very depressed and moody i"mthinking about trying kava-kava but i'm on other med's (methadone and pamelor) would this med interact or contradict my other meds. Please help i feel i"m going to have a nervous breakdown.

[Lucy and Ricky]

I hate to get away from ultram talk, but has anyone heard of Bextra? Will it help with withdrawls?

[mrmichael67]

As long as you do what you say, you should be fine.  Ultram is an excellent way to come off of Vicodin, as long as you do it right.  Make sure you taper and do it quickly.

[vikequeen]

An outpatient detox center in my area uses Ultram to detox people from opiates, The doc was using Buprenex but almost had his lisence lifted cause its not approved for a detox drug only for pain, I was interested in detoxing there but after I found that out I decided no thanks- Baddgirl

[kell737]

Ultram is a horrible drug!!!!!!!!  The withdrawls from that drug are worse than Ive heard of!  Cold sweats, vomiting, aching, nightmares and they last for weeks!   This drug is NOT controlled and it should be!!  Please be careful using this.

~Kell