Partner Addicted to Ultram For Years....Suggestions Please

[oneup09]

Hello everyone. I came here hoping to get some advice and suggestions from those with experience with Ultram/Tramadol addiction. In the past month I have met someone who has changed my life. I have never fallen in love so quickly and deeply before and had such a connection with a person. I have some  experience with a variety of drugs from coming of age in the streets, so after a couple weeks of being with this person, who i'll call Rick, I noticed some tell tale signs. The pin-point pupils, nodding off, etc. Occasional moodiness. Also i had to sign for a package one day at his place and it all came together in my head. Well after a VERY difficult conversation last night, Rick confessed that he was an addict. He said he got hooked on Codeine from having major shoulder surgery and that turned to an Ultram addiction. Which has been going on for years. He told me had a very bad secret but just could not tell me what it was. I stated that I would not be able to carry on with him without knowing what it was, being worried about my own safety , etc. I know it was so very hard to come clean and confess what his secret was and that was a big step for him. I also reassured him that I did not look at him any different and that it did not make him a bad person. Those were his main worries.

We are going on a 3 day trip coming up and he told me he would have to have some to go, because he ran out 2 days ago and was starting to feel the physical effects. He got Balacet from his doctor, the 12 bottles of samples were gone in days because i guess it does not really compare to the Tramadol. He stated he takes 15 Tramadol at a time and also had a seizure a couple weeks ago. That is what really has me worried, the health effects.

I have assured him that i am not going anywhere and that I will help him as long as he wants to helps himself. The problem is the nature of his work and the fact that he cannot take weeks off at a time and also cannot be honest with his employer about the reason, because the type of job has no tolerance for drug abuse. He said his family and friends would be devastated if they found out and he has no one else to lean on about this. Luckily my job is on hiatus till March and I am being paid this entire time. He is really a great person and I would like nothing more than to see him get through this horrible experience a stronger man. I know that some will say I am crazy for sticking around especially since we have only known each other for a month, but i honestly feel that some people are put in our lives for a reason and I feel like i have the time and energy to help out right now. He has always treated me great and I can only imagine how happy we would be once this demon was kicked to the curb. He has been in rehab for this before, I am really seeking out advice as far as realistic options to treat this. i was reading about Suboxone a bit today also. Any help would be appreciated, thanks a lot.

[oneup09]

avisg and all-

Thank you so much for posting!!

I will definitely try and get him to come on here. i mentioned tapering off the dosage amount and he said that he has tried it before. but i don't really think he gave it his all, and that will take a bit of time but i know he can do it. also he ended a long relationship this year and i think the depression that everyone feels when that happens did not help the situation.

he must have taken 400+ Balacet in a couple day period to compensate for not having any Tram. God knows what that does to someones body.

In our discussion he also told me he was abused briefly as a teenager and his birth mother did not believe him. i think this is the main issue as to why he is drugging himself to escape the reality of the pain and life. i feel like if the root problem is not fully addressed the drug problem will remain. i am going to look on this site for info pertaining to that but any ideas on this would help too.

Thanks again

[dominosarah]

Yep there is avis!!!!!!

[dominosarah]

I see one of our Community Leaders is on here now so hopefully she will respond.  She has a ton of info on tramadol.........There is hope for him and he can get his life back.  Noone will be judgemental here so it would be great if you could get him to come here and look around.         sara

[avisg]

Tapering is the way to go. Its not safe to ct off of it .Try having him start at 12 a day and drop one pill every week it going to take some time but it can be done .I am so glad you are being supportive.

[oneup09]

thanks both of you. i really believe he wants to stop. i can tell when he cries that he really wants to change. i will see if he will come on here. maybe not to read my original post but come onto the forum in general. he is getting the tram online.

[dominosarah]

He shouldnt go ct off the ultram either due to seizures......He will need to taper off these.  Im sure someone who has been on these will post and let you know more about the ultram.  I agree with liscamdave........see if he would come on the forum......there is a ton of support and encouragement here.  Best of luck        sara

[liscamdave]

Well, first off..welcome to medhelp and you def came to the right place. Many here will try to help you as much as we can. Is there anyway to get your BF to come here and read and talk to us? Would he be upset with you for coming here w.out his knowledge? Does he want help. Does he want to stop and get clean? If you think he doesn't truly want to stop, then you are in for a battle. No one will take the steps to get clean unless they truly want to. So he has to truly want it. How is he getting the tram?