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

[I'm Done]

Does anyone know about the potential problem of mixing an anti-depressant such as Paxil with Norco? I am trying to wean off of a nasty hydro habit (400-550mg a day). I have had a dcotor label me as depressed and said that Prozac or Paxil would be the way to go. Is this a dangerous mixture? Could I safely start taking Paxil while still taking 100mg of hydrocodone a day?

Help.

I'm Done

[GOD]

* Please read disclaimer!

Well here goes:

You said: "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."

That feeling of Motivation and being amazingly upbeat IS NOT you feeling good about kicking your vicodin habit. That's the "Great" side effect of Ultram. That's why some of us took 30-50 pills per day, for God's sake! You don't get a narcotic "High" on Ultram, you feel FANTASTICALLY UPBEAT, you can do ANYTHING. try not to take it for too long, because the WORST part of coming off Ultram is the terrible depression you will get when that fake sense of happiness goes away. (Not to mention all the other withdrawel symptoms like the shits, RLS, and just feeling like **** for a few days.)

Good luck, anyway!
Jess

*As I've said before: "This is just MY experience, and the experience of others that I've talked to. It MAY be different in YOUR case. As always, when changing any medications, please consult your physician..."

[Sis1]

I take Ultrams all the time. I love them. I don't know whether it's working to your benifit by switching from Vicodin to Ultram, But I know that I can take 5 Ultram one day and take two the next day, sometimes taking two has the same effect as taking 5 for me. It's a weird drug. But seems to work miracles for my anxiety and sleeping disorders. I do know they sell them over the internet in the US, so i'm not sure if it's a "schedualed" drug. I know the status of prescriptions like that have alot to do with the knowledge medical researches have on them. I'm sure were going to see alot about this drug in the future and eventually it won't be sold on the internet. But I wouldn't fool yourself by thinking you're working your way down the line of harsh prescription drugs to less hard ones. I've heard Ultrams (Tramadol) is actually synthetic morphine. And often I get off more on a couple Ultrams then I would 5 Vicodin.

[fairlight123]

From my experience with Ultram, I have to say that you are pretty much trading one addiction for another.  My Ultram withdrawal was the most horrible thing I have ever been through. I took it for 2 months, as perscribed, and suffered horrible withdrawal when I stopped.  That was 8 months ago.  Since then, I was prescribed Ultram again, and decided since I hadn't taken it for 8 months, and this was very short term (10 days) I'd be fine. Guess what?  I stopped after 10 days and went through what I called a mini withdrawal. Same symptoms, less intense and for a shorter time, but still there.

Personally, I wouldn't use it to wean from another opiate.  You will probably end up going through withdrawal anyway when you stop taking the Ultram, and it may even be worse than Vicodin withdrawal; I've heard some people say it's much worse.

When I was going through my Ultram withdrawal, my dr. gave me Valium and Ambien to help me through.  It helped quite a bit, but I still had to just buck through it.  I wish you good luck and much strength :)