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!

[dwanechurch]

Hey, .. I'm just as stupid.  My wife's dad gave me a large bottle full of Tramadol and said they would help me sleep ... (I have issues going to sleep at night). ... Well, one night recently I couldn't sleep so I took two of them .. actually they put me in a weird state, not really asleep, but not awake .. but when I got up I felt rested.  Strange feels.  Anyway .. the feel was nice .. so, the next night I took like 6 throughout the night ... and continued to do so for like a little more than a week.  I had no idea what would happen when I stopped taking this evil drug .. depression, anxiety that is maddening, skin crawling, no sleep, it's crazy bad.  I haven't sleep now in like 2 days .. and finally just took tablets hoping I could at least sleep tonight ... no deal.  No I probably have to start all over again ... this was a huge mistake.  I think I'll get potassium tablet tomorrow, .. and walk 3 miles again like i did yesterday morning, ... I'm currently unemployed so at least I'm at home.  I never told my wife that I did this, since it was so stupid ... she just thinks I'm having a little more sleeplessness than usual.  I was hoping this anxiety and no sleep would end ... I can put up with the pain and stomach issues, .. but not being able to sleep and this feeling like I could run a marathon in 10 secs is driving me crazy.  It's hard to sit still and type this posting.  When will this be over ... ugh.

[widgets0468]

you're right... tramadol is an antidepressant... makes it really tricky... i got st john's wort to help with that part... but it's not helping... i wonder about interactions, now...

[widgets0468]

thank god i read this site... i already knew that tramadol is a combo pain/antidepressant medication... but i never, ever suspected the withdrawal would be this bad... i was taking two 50mg tabs 4x a day (@ 6 hrs)... the max dosage total of 400mg a day... i would wake up in withdrawal if i slept in... i have been on tramadol for years now... it started as needed and gradually increased to 400mg a day for over a year... i spend the past two weeks decreasing my dose... today was day 1 without... but i just took 2 tabs... i am so horribly depressed and in pain and i can't move...

[Morg030]

I came off tramadol yesterday I was chewing 4 200mg slow release twice a day and maybe another 3 in the middle, I have the junmps which I can only explain as  my limbs just need to flit and I can't stop it, when will this go as this is killing me, please help

[sether82]

these things suck!! I have beentaking tramadol for almost 3 years. b
Been off of hem for 3 days now. Feel like i could die. The rls is bad enough, but the sore bones and joints, and my head feels like i'm being electrocuted. I just hope i can get through this, I have 3 boys that dpend on me. I cant hardly get outta bed in the morn. Let alone go the the shop and work all day.
  I just found this site and I hope that a little comunnity advise will help me cope with all this...   I used to think crank was the devils drug, but i'm not sure these things are so terrible.

[LadyBella31]

Hi Jeremy,
   I was currently on up to 3500mg of Tramadol a day. I live in Australia and this is only available on prescription, so imagine how many doctors i had to go too provide myself the amount of Tramadol needed just to get through the daily life. Iam a Mum of 2 boys and have just currently just come out of a Detox facility and the withdrawals have now hit in real bad, Aches, Pains, Depression, Lethargy (big time) Upset Stomach, Sleepless nights. I hope that this will all pass as soon as it can as iam currently into my third week and still feel like utter crap!! WILL IT EVER END???
I have also noted that not too many people on this site were addicted to the amount that i was using daily.
On parting words i pray that everyone is still sober and not taking this "Devil Pills" again..
Keep struggling through and take each day as it comes as iam going to
All The Best