trammadol

[bleuTRAM]

I have been taking Tram. for around 5 years. At times I have taken as much as 30 "50´s" in a day. I'm kind of on day 2. Yesterday I took one pill in the morning, but that's instead of my usual 5 or 6 pill minimum every day.
Last night I shoved a closet door off it's tracks and punched two holes in the washroom wall. Thank god I live alone at the moment.  I didn´t really know I had done it until I saw it hours later.
   I've been having brain buzzing since yesterday and the tingling and thrashing in my arms and legs kept me up all night. I could go to the doc and get a another script probably today but I really don't want to. Trammadol has helped me wreck the last few years of my life and I want it to stop. I can feel almost a burning behind my eyes and ears and I really feel terrible.
Is there anything I can take to make this even a little better?
I'm thinking about going home and drinking myself to sleep... The real catch22 is I have massive and legitamte chronic back pain from when I fractured some vertabre and got a spinal fushion back in 08. I need something for the pain but always end up taking too much of it :(

[Dozeman]

Tramadol was hell on me when I tried to stop makes me glad I just have to quit methadone 5mg and 25 mg loratabs I am haveing way less trouble with them maybe just me

[Frogger76]

Good for you!!  I myself am 5 years clean off of them, so I know how hard you worked to get clean, I was on them for about 5 years, taking 50-60 per day!! WOW, how I'm still here is beyond me. Congrats on the 3 weeks off alcohol too!  Keep up the good work, every day gets better!!

[bleuTRAM]

It's been 6 months and 11 days and still no Tramadol. Now I'm 3 weeks alcohol free as well, which is the most by far I've gone without drinking since I kicked the TRamadol. Holding steady but not always easy.

[bleuTRAM]

P.s Thanking for the support :)

[bleuTRAM]

Day four and still holding. I never confirmed my theory until you said that bit about opiotes making one more sensitive to pain but I always felt like that. I remember, for about a year and a half after my back surgeory I didnt take anything for the pain. I had really bad times but for the most part was ok and managed, until I had to start sitting in the same chair for more than a couple hours a day...any way I say that because when I look back, my pain has been worse (when I feel it) with the meds than before them. Trouble is, a hand full of Tramms and I could run up the side of a mountain and wrestle with my kids and that´s what kept me coming back at first.
I have a friend who is a doctor and I'm planning on telling him about all this as soon as I can see him. I know it sounds like I',m trying to keep the door open to get high but that's not it. I don't want to be labled a junky for several reasons and even though this is a precription drug and I didn't put myself in for this on purpose, it could wreck my career and ability to get meds if I need them. That being said, day four and I have less pain then before. Not perfect but I think it's close to what I remember from before the Trams.
I haven't slept at all the last few nights...this morning I woke up at 2am. Legg jumping stopped sometime around midnight I think but I was wide awake when I opened my eyes. I went to the gym and spent some time in the jacuzzi which seems to always help a bit.
right now, sleeping is the absolute worse part followed by having to feel all the pain (towards the end of the afternoon it got bad yesterday until I could lay down flat on my back for a few hours)...

[nursegirl6572]

I hear that you don't want to tell your doctor, because you want to leave that door open.  That's dangerous and will put you at risk for relapse.  You can tell your doctor about your problem with tramadol, and ask that your pain be managed without narcotics.  Narcotics aren't always the answer for pain management anyway.

You DEF don't want to be drinking.  That will make you feel LOADS worse, especially with the antidepressant component of the tram w/ds.  The alcohol will cause/exacerbate anxiety and depressive symptoms something terrible.

It's tough to endure the w/d symptoms, but remember it won't be forever.  You cannot medicate your way through the w/ds with alcohol or other drugs.  Your doctor could help you with non habit forming medications however.

I hope you've confided in a loved one too.  This isn't a battle meant to be fought alone.  Those who try white knuckle through it and often relapse.  

Very best to you...keep posting....

[atthebeach]

Has it been 3 days now without any?
That is great your pain has lessened. How is your head feeling?
Still getting brain zaps.
Please read up on hyperalgesia, Opiate induced pain. After you are
On opiates for awhile the opiates actually cause more sensitive to pain.

Yes you can get antidepressant by itself.
Yes most have a hard time with a taper.
When is your next refill?

[bleuTRAM]

I think your right about tappering off, the only problem is every time I've ever tried that I end up just taking more than I should. Haveing the bottle of pills is a real problem I've found that when I run low I can force myself to regulate as I know it will be hard to get more before the refill date. I really don´t want to tell my doctor about this because like I said, I have legitamate pain problems but I will if it comes down to it.
Is it possible to get the antidepressend as a stand alone?
Honestly, last night was pretty horrible but I did get probably 3 hours of sleep and I feel better than I did yesterday at this time.
Back pain is also better this morning. I really think the level of pain I feal is elevated due to my body wanting Trammadol, but that's just a theory. At times I should feel ok other than that I'm getting to the 6hr point where I would normaly take more and the pain gets unbearable. Then there are times like now that I feel relatively little pain and haven't taken anything in days...

[vicki595]

Hi and Welcome-  You've been taking some pretty large amounts. I would recommend that you go back on a normal dose and taper off slowly. You'll be a lot more comfortable and less dangerous. You should also speak with your prescribing doctor for advice.  Tramadol contains an antidepressant which will cause the symptoms you're describing when it's abruptly withdrawn. Be careful and good luck.