Hi, I am a 24 year old registered nurse, and I have read all of these postings and researched tramadol, and have realized that I am addicted to it. I have recently been experiencing dizziness, a feeling like I'm coming out of my skin, diarrhea and nausea. I never would have believed it was tramadol withdrawal. I just took my normal dose of it, and my symptoms are gone, I'm taking that as a big sign of addiction. It makes me so angry, I was told by two different physicians that this medication was safe, and that there is no chance of addiction, and if you don't want to take it, just stop taking it. I was in a car accident and have herniated disks in my neck, so, with the type of job I do, there is a lot of physical labor involved (moving patients, etc.). My doctor prescribed this, telling me that it was very safe, very low interactions with other meds, and almost no chance of addiction. I was told that it is not like other narcotics. I was worried about it because I know that I have an addictive personality, I have already been addicted and weaned off of fioricet, which I refuse to take and now lie and say I'm allergic so I can't be prescribed it. My physician knew this, and that's why she prescribed ultram. I don't know what to do. So, with that being said, this is day one of my withdrawal. I have mapped out a few week taper down regime. No one knows that I have this problem, my husband just thinks that I should stop taking them, in his mind, I don't over take them, I take the dose recommended, so why not just stop them? But, if I don't take them, I feel like I want to die. Is this normal, this withdrawal? It seems to be, but has anyone else experienced it? And, what does everyone recommend? I want to stop taking it, but I need some guidance, and with my physician telling me that it's not addictive, I don't know where to turn? How long does the withdrawal process last? What are normal symptoms, and what are serious side effects? What is the safest way to wean off of the drug? I would appreciate any help, because even though I am in the medical field, the medical field seems to be way behind in understanding the effects of ultram.
Thank you in advance,
Aleisha