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!

[ImDONENoMore]

Yes the RLS is a very common symptom.  As you mentioned, tonic water w/quinine does seem to help some people w/that symptom.   I found bananas to help me the most though - something about the potassium.  My RLS was in my legs and my arms it was rough.

Also there's a product called Hylands Restful Legs that many members here swear by.

Good luck to you - and congrats for getting off the trams.  I quit tramadol almost two years ago and it was one of the best decisions of my life.  :)

[shelbyshay13]

Hi:  I am on day 4 of "cold turkey".  I only found this site because I wanted to know if RLS is a withdraw sym.  I have suffered RLS in the past from taking Tylanol PM so I wasnt sure if I was in "withdraw" or not.  

I have taken Tramadol or Ultram everyday of my life since 1998. (yes it's true - do the math) my dosages have varied over the years sometimes taking as many as 1200mg a day down to 50mg a day.  I just resently decided to stop taking them b/c all of a sudden after the birth of my son Feb 2012 this "devil pill" is making me sleepy instead of giving my the high energy that I'd come to love so so much.

I thank God every single day that this drug did not affect either pregnancy.  I also have a very healthy happy 3yr old daughter.

I have never had withdraw b4 so not sure what still might b coming.  Yes I am experiencing sleepless nights due to the "restless leg syndrom", but after reading all these postings I am so worried what might be arround the corner.  I have found that the 600mg Motrin I got after giving birth has helped me sleep at night but I took my last one last night.  I also heard that soda water helps but havent tried it yet.

I do know that I have an iron will the same as when I quit smoking cold turkey in 2008.  But I hope I don't have to test my will much further.

[joanlouise]

I am on day 14 still not feeling up to par.But have faith as you go
the symdoms subside..but i am still in this nightmare.. But its getting better..
Yesterday i found this and read it with insomia....It helped because there
were people out there that understood..My recomendation would be read..
Good Luck.. and God Bless  My prayers are with you..

[ZOEY12345]

DCF IN CONNECTICUT TOOK CUSTODY OF MY 3 GRANDCHILDREN 14 MONTHS AGO . THEY HAVE BEEN IN FOSTER CARE AND I CAN ONLY SEE THEM ONCE A MONTH FOR A 2 HOUR SUPERVISED VISIT.. THIS EVIL SATANIC AGENCY HAS LYED ABOUT MY DAUGHTER USING HER PAST DRUG ADDITIONS AGAINST HER. THEY WANT TO ADOPT OUT MY 3 BEAUTIFUL GRANDCHILDREN AND THE ATTORNEY HAS ALREADY COST 20 THOUSAND DOLLORS. SHAKE SUFFER SIDE EFFECTS AND GO THREW PHYCIAL HELL BUT DONT RISK LOOSING YOUR CHILDREN. THEY WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE HELL . I USED TO THINK THIS AGENCY HELPED PEOPLE B UT I WAS SO WRONGE. DO NOT DO ANYTHING, ANYTHING EVER, DO NOT CONFIDE IN ANYONE. THEIR ARE SO MANY MANDATED REPORTERS IN SCHOOLS DOCTORS OFFICES AND ELSE WHERE. YOUR CHILDREN ARE YOUR LIFE, NOTHING IS WORTH LOOSING THEM.

[shermy89]

"Fake it till you make it" - awesome!!! My new mantra to get me through this Hell.

[MIkanik]

I had a Tramadol (and I agree..the Devil's Drug) addiction for 6 months and went c/t about this time last year.  I had to end up going to the ER after spending 24 hrs with SEVERE flu-like symptoms.  Crying because of the INTENSE pain, not being able to keep anything down or in my body.  The ER doctor told me that he's seen this before and that doc's need to get more educated on this ADDICTIVE drug.  He said I was lucky to be alive.  That c/t with Tramadol isn't the smartest move, but since I started it to just stick with it.  He gave me some anti-nausea med (Raglan) which worked wonders with my nausea and keeping things down.  I also started drinking marijuana tea (which I'm a big supporter of)  ...that made it actually possible to keep my vitamins and other things my body was lacking in my system.  I started a regimen of vitamins high in amino acids and B vitamins, fresh juice, apple cider vinegar, water and whatever "food" I could possibly eat.  By day 3 I was finally able, even with the extremely clouded head and muscle spasms (that were so bad that I actually had to have help going up and down our stairs) to start doing small things....doing the dishes, sweeping the floor, a load of laundry here and there. While I was doing those I would implement exercises into the choires.....lifting the laundry basket up and down, instead of walking I did lunges across my rooms, when sweeping I would ..and this is silly..I would do a little dancing.  That helps IMMENSELY with the depression and late night aches.  Then by day 10 I was out taking walks.  I must say that by day 7 or 8 I was feeling mroe and more like myself.  I had depression for quite awhile...to the point that my relationship was in jeopardy and we actually split up for a small amount of time.  That really woke me up to how I needed to adjust my attitude.  I put the thoughts in my that these feelings I was feeling weren't really ME....it was just my brain being tricked by a drug.  That it was just temporary and I have a full and happy life ahead of me as long as I accepted it into my life!  After that, I got work, we got back together and have been wonderful ever since.  I'm not perfect, and am going through another c/t stop......no one is perfect...we're all human and make mistakes, but getting past those mistakes only makes us stronger.  It doesn't mean we're "losers", "stupid" or anything....just plain ol' human.  

Anyway...that's my story with that horrible drug.  This time has been much better and I know what to expect and how to deal with it.  My daily thing is "Fake it till you Make it".  One awesome poster here said the same thing basically....tell your body that you just have the flu or bad food poisoning and it's only temporary.  It sounds funny but it really does work!   I wish everyone dealing with this GOOD LUCK and keep those positive thoughts in your head as much as you can.  I even go so far to search them out on the internet, people I love, etc....(my mom has been sending me texts of positive thoughts all morning and  it has helped more than I can say.....along with all the great people on this board! <3