tramadol withdrawal

[Birdie23]

I am in the process of getting off of tramadol. It was prescribed for me for ocassional use for mild to moderate pain like headache, muscle soreness, etc. I used it only ocassionally for several months. About 4 months ago, I became involved in a fairly intense project and was experiencing more discomfort. Without really thinking much about it, I started using tramadol every day and then increased this to 2-3 times each day. The dosage was 100mg, so I was taking 100-300mg daily (or 2-6, 50mg pills) for 3 months. After I finished the project in mid-may, I decided that I needed to stop using a drug to get through the day, so I tried to just stop taking it. WOW! Serious withdrawal symptoms including joint and muscle pain, stomch issues, fatigue, depression and a strange hollowness in my nerves ensued. I didn't feel I could just stop functioning for a week or two or whatever it would take, so I used some hydrocodone that I had to help me get my tramadol use down to 100mg per day over the course of a week. I would just take the hydro when I started feeling really bad in the afternoon to get me through the rest of the day. Then, I decided to just quit the tramadol altogether. The withdrawal was really difficult. I was worried about getting addicted to the hydro, so I got some concentrated kratom powder and was alternating use with the hydro every day or two so that neither of them was in my system daily. This got me through week 2 which was a reduced amount of muscle pain, but more fatigue, lethargy, depression. Now I am beginning my third week. I am out of hydro and I am still experiencing some muscle and joint stuff, but the big problem is the lethargy and depression. It's just kicking my butt. The kratom is very helpful in this and lifts the dark cloud that I seem to wake up with, but I'm worried about an addition to this as well. I am now taking about 1.5-2 grams in the early afternoon to get through the rest of the day. I am not using any other drugs or substances. I have never been addicted to anything before and wasn't abusing the tramadol. It didn't make me high or anything, but it did get rid of ALL of my aches and pains and let me do everything I needed to in the day. I don't have any major pain and I know I shouldn't have been so lazy about my health. Now, I am trying to be really careful without losing myself to laying on the couch all day. My questions are: How long will the tramadol withdrawal take to be completely over? and How long can I use a small amount of Kratom on a daily basis without just creating another addiction that I have to get over? Or can I just slowly reduce the kratom to avoid the withdrawal since it is a powder and very easy to measure out? Any thoughts on this would be helpful. I am reluctant to engage my physician in this too much. he knows I am having withdrawal fromt he tramadol, but I don't want to ask for any other drugs if I don't have to. I just feel like I've done something really studpid and I want to get through it without his help, if possible. Thanks!

[Kelseyannmarie]

I was on 200 mg of methadone for 3yrs at one point, and everyone thinks tramadol withdrawals are bad, which they are, I'm experiencing them now, but methadone is the devil dear,I thought I was going to die from those withdrawals, I was in detox for 4 weeks inpatient, seizures and all.. I lost my daughter due to my actions from the done use. I now have her back thank god. Just letting you know if you didnt already, BE CAREFUL and stop while your ahead if you can. It stole my life. But to answer your question, methadone can make you sick if mixed with and kind of opiate or opioid like tramadol. Vicodin, lortab, oxy, etc. good luck and be careful.

[bw23]

hey!!!!
just wondering I am coming off tramadol after close to 3 years on it I was on 300mg a day for l5 s1 disc/nerve pain after going cold turkey ive been having a difficult time getting or maintaing and erection any advice would be amazing thank you so much

[fried111]

My son is 23 years old..bi-polar. Has a history of drug addiction. He is  taking Lithium and anti anxiety meds (xanax). He is suffering from wisdom tooth aches and pains and has a appointment for Dec.15,2012 for removal.In the interim they have prescribed Tramadol for the pain.From what I have read online this is wrong.Please share your thoughts.
Thanks!

[monkeyback23]

I have done this dance w/ pain pills for several years.  I had a problem with street opiates 20 years ago, and went to NA and AA for twenty years.  Was prescribed opiates a few different times for different things.  Sometimes, I would take them and sometimes not.  In the last couple of years, I really embraced Hydrocodone and Tramadol.  I have experienced very similar withdrawl symptoms with both.  Like many people on this thread, I was under the erroneous assumption that the Tramadol would ease any of the Hydrocodone withdrawl.  Come to find out, the Tramadol has made me as sick as any other opiate.  I am shocked by the high doses that many people are reporting to have taken.  I have only taken between 50 mg daily up to 300 mg daily and still suffer pretty awful withdrawl.  It starts with sneezing and cold like symptoms.  Then the nausea and diarrhea.  Depression as well.  I have found that I CAN weather the withdrawl symptoms but it takes about a week of being far less productive and often times feeling sad and upset.  I CAN do it, but it is hard.  About a year ago I was so sick with diarrhea and nausea and runny nose for a couple of months, after having taken Hydrocodone for a few months or so.  Basically, the bottom line is that while these substances do make us feel better for the time frame we are taking them, it is a trap.  In the past, I have treated pain with yoga and healthy eating habits.  LOTS of water.  The substances I have used for pain have not really helped that pain so much as cheered me up, in general.  Total trap.  No one is likely to read these posts unless they are already in this boat, so the warnings here may not be terribly helpful.  What I can say is that I have been termporarily crippled by the withdrawls...for very short periods of time but it is TEMPORARY.  It is much better to get trhough the withdrawls, which seem to last anywhere from a week to a couple of months depending on what/how much you were taking. Again, I have not taken terribly high doses and still managed to get myself strung out.  That is what is so surpising and I don't see much difference between Hydrocodone and Tramadol when it comes to withdrawls.  Be brave my friends and let's all remember to be gentle with ourselves.  We can get to the other side and try to remember it wasn't worth the relief or fun part.  I have a very demanding life and can't afford to take the time to be  sick because I've fallen into the Tramadol/Hydrocodone trap.  The opiates or fake opiates always get you.  But you don't even have to begin again.  Hang in there, everyone!  There is another side to it.  I'm just grateful to read all these posts and know that I'm not alone!

[savana9]

everyone, I need help. I have been taking tramadol 50mg for the past 10 months, at my peek, i was up to about 10 a day. I had to take them as soon as I opened my eyes in the morning, to even make it through the day. well, I'm out, and don't get my next script for another 3 weeks. The withdraws are horrible, and i've heard of this kratom powder stuff that's supposed to help... where do I buy it at?

[freebird33]

I was thinkn the same thing. SERIOUSLY!!! Im gonna look into who to talk to about making some awareness of the potent addiction and w/d of this drug. To me its worse than heroin!!!! SERIOUSLY!!!