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!

[FourJays]

Yes, as you can see, many of us have fallen into the Tram trap.  I am so glad you figured it out and have been able to get away from it.  I battled with this monster for 15 years - it stole MANY things from me.  But I found my way out and it looks like you have as well.  It sounds like you have all the right remedies to help get through the ugly withdrawals, and at 8 days you should start feeling better very soon.  Keep posting if you have any questions or comments - we all learn from each other's experiences; that is why this place is so great.  If you do want to post more on this it would be best to start a new thread - this one is pretty old and wont get viewed as much.  Just got to the orange box and click on "Post a question" . . . this will start a new thread and you will get more responses from more people.  In any case . . . congrats on getting of the trams . . . .probably the best decision you ever made!!!  Good luck :)

[roadrash364]

I am ticked off. I was never told this was a controlled substance. 2 weeks ago I went to renew my med and I was informed that I now needed a triple script. I have severe pain and take cymbalta and oxycodone. So i decided I would stop taking my 300 mg a day for the first time in six months. OMG!!! it is 8 days and I feel like I have been hit by a truck. every day since i stopped taking it I have experienced insomnia and sweating. Now I am suffering from aches,pains,headaches,sweats,chills,agression,depression and flu like symptoms. IF YOU CAN stay away from this crap. NOthing like I have ever experiened in my life and I am 43. YEs, it did work but the long term cost IS NOT worth it. I hve upped my fluids, vitamins, tryosine and vitam b's good luck to us all.

[adexec181]

Don't be ashamed...many of us got there with the best of intentions...a lot of us after accidents and injuries and it just escalated.  Myself, I was taking about 30-40 a day at the height, and I quit cold turkey Jan 25, with no Kratom, benzoz or anything but herbal supplements, vitamin water and eating right.  Can't say it's any picnic, but it is so worth getting out of the fog and at day 33, the fog is lifting and I now an just  struggling a bit with my energy level.   Nice not to hide the slamming down of wads of pills...worrying that people know you are not yourself when they talk to you and you have this blank expression because you're really not listening and won't remember what they said 10 minutes later anyways.  Believe me, it's great to have your mind back (although will still take more time for my brain's short-term memory to completely heal and get back to where it was), that whatever those first days of WD are like, it's sooo worth it in the end.  Look up the Thomas Recipe and prep yourself.  Also lots of previous things on here about Kratom, but eventually you'll need to just jump off and get rid if everything.  For me, I did not want to delay the inevitable, so just did it.

[lokisnooper]

I was encouraged to read these recent posts.  I thought I was the only person in the world who would gulp down 15 trams at atime 3x a day.  I've been doing it in secret for 1.5 years and I simply cannot stand it anymore.  I heard kratom can hep with withdrawl.  I have enough tramadol for a few days and then thats it, but I ordered kratom.  Thank you to all of you who have helped to encourage me and helped me not to feel so ashamed.

[FourJays]

Ya, that's what they say . . . . but they are wrong, very wrong.  Good thing you were not on them long and/or at high amounts.  And best thing - you are OFF them (right?).  The withdrawal symptoms should only last a few days and you should be fine (if this is all you were on for such a short time).  See the 'Thomas Recipe' (links on this site) for ideas of remedies that can help ease some of the symptoms for you, stay hydrated and be sure to eat healthy.  You are one of the lucky ones to 'catch on' to this drug so quickly and to escape!  Hang in there . . . . you will feel better soon.

[Beesus]

I'm experiencing withdrawal symptoms and you may not even believe how long and how much of this drug I have been taking. Ready for it? One 37.5mg pill per day for the past two or three weeks. That's it.

I stopped taking it and thought I had a cold or something. Tired, sweating, anxious, not sleeping, and feeling like crap.

Wow, and 'they' say there are no withdrawal symptoms..???