What to expect? Tramadol Withdrawls

[needinghelpinmi]

I've been addicted for about a year.  i realized it was a problem pretty much right away, but I was living with a very mean husband and it was the only way I could get through an evening with him, so I justified it.  I wanted to keep us together for our children and if I had to be stoned to do it, I would.  Then he got angry and meaner, we fought, and I asked him to move out.  I remember thinkg "good, now I can go off those damn pills" and when I realized I was w/ding, I freaked and started taking them again.  I was afraid I was going to die.  So 9 months later I take about 30 pills a day!!!  3 months ago I ODed and had a seizure, no one knew that it was the Tram, but I did.  I went through a battery of tests for epilepsy etc as I kept my mouth shut about my addiction.  I could not let my future ex husband know or I'd lose the kids.  I don't want to lose the kids.  That is why I HAVE to get clean.  They deserve better than this in a mother.  My stepmom confronted me on xmas day, she knew.  She told me she'd support me if I got my act together but if she found out I was still taking them again later she'd tell my ex because she didn't want my kids to grow up like that.  So she scared the hell out of me.  She is an interfering and opinionated person who drives me up a wall, but I kinow she is serious.  Thing is, I know I want to do this for myself, for my kids, not b/c she found out...a month ago I saw an ad for help getting of Rx pain drugs and wrote in for information.  I talked to my dr about help.  I just never got up the nerve to do it.  The other night, I took too many again and scared myself I was going to have another seizure.  I didn't, but then and there I made myself a promise for me and my kids that I would stop this now.  I used to be a strong, secure, successful person.  I have a great job and I used to be on top of my game.  Now, not so much and my boss has threatened to fire me.  i used to be an involved parent who played with her kids.  Now I'd rather sit and watch tv with them.  I used to be animated and excited and have fun.  Now I just want to lay around and do nothing.  I let my house get messy while I watch movies and take naps on weekends.  So Wednesday I found this board as I was looking for info on wd symptoms.  I've been reading for these couple days now and am motivated.  

I don't want to start wd while my kids are with me.  It will scare them and I won't be able to take care of them.  So I need to wait until next week Thursday.  I'm trying to taper my doses down so I'm not taking 30 a day by that point.

How do you taper?

If you are taking 30 vs 3, will the wd be worse?

I can't take off work.  My boss will kill me if I take anymore time off.  Are the first couple days hardest?  Should I do those on Sat/Sun?  My thought was I wouldn't take any on Thursday and just suffer through work Thurs and Fri, and then let myself fall apart and be sick at home for the weekend...hoping that day 5 (Monday) would be a little better...or I'd do more suffering at work.

Thanks for the help.  I'm so scared.

[MMarty]

I am addicted to tramadol and have tried to quit ct and taper. I have been addicted to percocet and vicodin and was able to CT with out problems. I can not CT the tramadol, I have tried but couldn't afford the extreme physcial illnes/symptoms longer than the 6 days. Like you, I have as child and it doesn't lend itself to laying in the bed for weeks. Your best bet is a taper. I went down to 2 a day and stayed there for a long time. I fell off when my weight went up. I made a grave error and chose my figure over my health. Now, it's back to square one and I have been sick for 3 days for some reason so since I am miserable I made a huge cut in my dose and will taper quickly. You may have an easier time forcing yourself to work? It might actually be a good distraction from your misery and make it a tad easier.

I have so been in your place and you can not use any excuse at this point to make it okay to contimue. Someone is on to you and you owe your kids all the fight you have. May God walk with you. Marty

[needinghelpinmi]

So the tram withdrawl is worse than vicodin etc?  Argh.  I'm scared.

[Prospero73]

Check out Emily's Journal, which is all about tramadol recovery:

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/149564?personal_page_id=142