Ultram withdrawal

[theGolden1]

How long does it take to get Ultram out of your system? I take 3 a day ... I just need to know how many days or weeks will it take?

[wyndy]

I was put on suboxone for detox and was also told it would help for pain.  After I was on for a week or so, I decided it wasn't working..I was told by my pain doc that getting off suboxone was nothing-no w/d's.  I went thru hell for 3 months..then started reading blogs of others on suboxone and trying to get off and they all agreed that getting off suboxone was worse than getting off the pain drug they were on.  Mine at the time was 30 mg morphine for several years.  Trust me, read blogs about suboxone before going on it.  The doctors are wrong!!  Suboxone is a ***** to get off.  I will do a slow taper any day before going on sub.

[madtram]

It's great that you have only minor withdrawals after 8 years & it would seem that your body is able to metabolise tramadol successfully.

In theory, tramadol can be taken "as needed" & given your experience to date, perhaps this will work for you.  I do have some reservations relating to the antidepressant effexor-like component of tramadol, in that sporadically blocking the  reuptake of neurotransmitters is contrary to the design of these drugs which rely on achieving a steady state of serotonin & noradrenalin activity.  For this reason, it's not the same as taking straight opioids such as vicodin, when needed.

The valium may well be masking your withdrawal symptoms so you would have a truer assessment of tramadol's effects once you stop the valium.

Best wishes.

[PaPap9]

I am a 67 year old male who has been taking Tramadol (Ultram) for close to 8 yrs. for back pain. Surgery's out. I had originally been taking 50 mg. 4 times per day. I then discovered that 100 mg twice a day worked better for me. I would sometimes take 250 mg or rarely 300 mg per day if I had more pain. My doc was okay with that.

I had noticed some withdrawal symptoms after 14-16 hrs. if I forgot to take the med, I could not sleep either and, yes I was afraid I might end up without at some time. I also have eczema on my hands and considered that one of the side effects of long term use of Ultram can be "skin rash". I decided that was long enough and need a break from it, even though I had NO side effects from it other than insomnia if I took it after about 8pm, nor adverse health issues from it that I know of. I'm interested to see if the eczema is resolved with elimination of Tramadol.  

I started phasing down by only taking 125 mg per day-about a 40% decrease. Not much problem. Then after about 1 1/2 weeks I reduced to 100 mg per day for 8 days and now am taking 75 mg per day. Plan is to continue to decrease at 7 day intervals. I did not discuss this plan with my doctor.

The withdrawal symptoms now are: some anxienty, restlessness and mildly fitful sleep. Also, I'm experiencing increased incidence of back pain from not as much medication but can live with it so far by taking 800 mg of Ibuprofin occasionally.

If I have restleness and anxiety I take a low dose of Valium which was prescribed for back, muscle spasms and would only take occasionally. It  also helps with sleep for me with higher dose.  Medical marijuana also helps with sleeping difficulty occasionally, but I don't combine the two. I don't take any other medications presently. My withdrawal symptoms so far seem relatively minor.

I agree with Golden1 above "Each person metabolizes the drug according to their own individual physiology".

Don't know what is ahead If I start experiencing severe pain again. When I started taking Tramadol I was using a cain because of severe hip and back pain, but I hope I can at least get by taking it "as needed" for pain.

Any thoughts?

[bigrick21]

My wife has been on Ultram for 4 years 200-300mg/day). She has complained of "panic attacks" where she had to stop driving due to decreased vision.  Could this possibly be on-set of seizures?

[Transport1]

I was a Correctional officer at a state facility when i was diagnosed with severe nerve damage in my lower back and left leg. After several tests and procedures I was given severeal different pain medications. I have now been on Ultram for over four years and it has helped with the efects of the drug helping less and less. I recently have had two rhizotomies to burn the nerves so I dont feel such pain. It has now come to the point that the pain from not taking the ultram is actually worse than the pain from my nerve damage. I am trying to stop taking the ultram now and I have made it 4 days with extreme  trouble. I do NOT believe for a second that taking these drugs as perscribed makes any difference on a person becoming  addicted since I was taking them as told by my doctors.this is my first time dealing with any type of drugs or withdrawal and it is tearing me up. I am sure that all of you who have been throught this know what I am talking about so I wont bore you with details . I have been reading about ultram and most everything I see says that it is as bad to detox as heroin

I undrstand that my doctors are trying to help me with the pain and I am grateful for that . I just wish I would have known what I was looking forward to coming off of it. I guess no matter what it is that you use for to long in some way will be habbit forming some more than others obviously.

I wish the best of luck to all that are in this battle to regain their true self and get through it as easily as possible.
  

[Mike_505]

I am a soldier currently deployed to Afghanistan.  In 2006 I was wounded here and after surgery I was put on Ultram for pain.  I quit after a few months and didn't seem to have too many problems.  Then last year I reinjured myself and was put on it again becuase of the pain.  It has helped me throught the combat part, I am an infantryman, but I am trying to quit becuase of the heart palpitations I get at night.  Right now it is kicking my butt.  Any suggestions?