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withdrawing from tramadol

I am going through the hardest thing in my life right now - detoxing from tramadol.  I ran out yesterday and I can't get my prescrition filled until 10 days away.  It is now 5:30 in the morning and I still have not been able to fall asleep.  I will just about fall asleep then I will have the horrible sensations to just move - in my legs and arms - my whole body.  I am so scared. I have had two babies, back surgery, surgery on my knee and a fractured leg and I would much rather go through those things again then to feel this uncomfortable.  Does anyone know how long this will last and what can I do to get through this.  Tonight alone I have taken several over the counter meds to help me sleep but none of it is phasing me.  Help.
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Avatar universal
Hey!  I totally quit them over a year ago, and if I can, anyone can!  I stopped them CT to get it overwith.  Plus, I lacked the self control to do a taper.  Some people are able to do it, but I've never seen very many be successful with tramadol for some reason.  It just gets such hold on you that it's hard to not take pills if you have them.  The only way I could have done a taper would have been for someone to hold them, and even then, I would have been constantly looking for a way to talk them into giving them to me!  (addict brain!)

The total physical WD lasts about 7 days, getting better after day 5.  You will have some insomnia and low energy for a while after that though.  There are things you can get OTC to help with the WDs.  Nothing will take them away completely though.  The best thing to do is to see a doctor if you are concerned or if you have underlying health problems.  Your doc can put you on a taper or some meds to help with the detox for a few days if you need it.  Hopefully you don't have to be anywhere important for a week or so!

If you would like more advice on the OTC remedies then let me know!  I'll be around on and off!  

Good luck! :)  It's no fun, but it's doable!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi welcome to the forum well I been strung out on just abuot everything but tram but as one of the comuntiy leders I have read a lot of horror storys of people coming off all I know about it is it has to be tapered slowly we have a couple of girls here that no this drug well it may take to tomorrow to get them to respond so check back I am sending them both a message letting them know your here and need help they will respond I just cant say when listen to what they got to say they will stear you right good luck and God bless please dont stop taking this med you risk seizure if you do good luck and God bless.....Gnarly  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been taking tramadol for 12 months. I started taking tramadol because it helped with my depression and I started going to college so it helped me stay awake to study. I am so scared to quit because I cant stand being with out trams for over 24 hrs. The withdraw effects are so bad. RLS keeps me up at night and I get horrible feelings in my whole body. I wish I never started taking these pills. Does anybody know how to quit tramadol (ultram)
Has any one gone through withdraws from this? How long will this last. Never Never Never start taking tramadol. I dont wish this addiction on my worst enemy. I truly feel that way. Never take this medication.
Please post if you can help. I am desperate
Helpful - 0
217599 tn?1202850952
this is an old post, so if you want help, it would be best to start a new one.  good luck.

Lucy
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I never understood how a drug that gives no pleasure can be so addicting but it is.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey there,
I stumbled on to you guys and thought I might hear something to help me out. I'm trying to wean myself off this stuff (I've been on it for about 8 months and now am at ridiculous levels).
I'm at about 1200/day right now, coming from 18-2000.
Here is my worst problem... I feel as though I am 'cooking' from the inside out. I sweat profusely at the smallest activity. Is this normal??
If so, is there anything that will help this nightmare???

Thanks for anything you can offer...
demiDog
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
just make sure they are out of reach, when I was going through the hardest part I was trying to purchase some at any cost, then I was taking anything I could find in the medicine cabinet.  thank God I didn't overdose on everything I tried to get to sleep.  this site is wonderful, I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't had someone to talk to during the hardest part, thank you,   good luck, God bless you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Glad to read u are feeling better.  I am about to try stopping oxys n oxycontins.  Am very unsure if I can do it but must try.  Does help to hear others are winning.  I think this site will help and thx to all.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi everyone, it is now day eight off tramadol and I am feeling so much better.  Thanks to everyone for their support and advice.  My next challenge is to not get the refill.  I honestly don't want to but there has been stressful moments where I wished I had some.  If anyone ever says your body can not become addicted to tramadol they are wrong!  I didn't realize how addicted I was until all of a sudden I didn't have any.  I really feel I was lucky, I was only taking about 100mgs a day.  I went through two horrible days of withdraw and it has slowly become better.
Helpful - 0
451343 tn?1256250831
tramadol withdrawl...............yuk,,,, ive gone throught that and it is no pick nik.................RLS...you know that restless , creapy, crwaly feeling.........you need potassium and as stated above magnesium............do get you some epsome salt and some potassium like bananas or even a potassium right multivitamin...........cant sleep? get you some kava...........you get it at your local health food store and it usually comes in tea form..................saved my life............it is great for anxiety.........also you need melatonin you can get melatonin supplements at any store. but. i stay close to the health food store.............stay oraganic, eat lots of iodine and potassium rich foods.. good luck...........i have other natural remedies that have worked for me if interested.

christina
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
thanks to everyone, you have been an unbelievable help, I am off to work, wish me luck.  
Helpful - 0
199177 tn?1490498534
Andi, You have a rough week ahead you can get threw this .Don't get that refill once you have gotten threw this next week It will all be over .This med is very addicting ,I know the lack of sleep is killing you but it does not last forever even if it feels like its going to.Sleep meds are not going to help at all the quickest way to get your sleep pattern back on track look into natural supplements.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
tramadol was my DOC also. i hope you don't get them refilled. its a horrible addiction and will get worse and worse. i am a little over 6 months free from tramadol. life is so much better without pills!!!!!
Helpful - 0
502050 tn?1243602535
Hello and welcome to the forum,
  I am currently @ day 35 c/t from tramadol around 1200mgs a day. These feeling you have will be @ there worst for a 2-6 days then less and less. I would suggest telling your spouse about your fears that you have become addicted to the meds. Support @ home can be a great help. As far as work you might be able to pull it of by telling them your just not feeling really well. You will have flu like symptoms so just generalize how you feel.  Read the health pages and try the Thomas recipe and the amino acid protocol, plus post and ask questions. You have just started one of the most important journeys of your life and it will be a life long one that is worth the walk. Good luck and God bless
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
          avisg is on the way, as I said I don't have experience with trams but she does and is really nice you will be in good hands. I'm glad you managed to get some rest. If there is any thing I can do please just let me know. Just tap on my user name and you can leave a message or pm me I will look for your post here and see how you are doing..
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
thank you, I will try the epson salts, thank you.  I noticed my pupils are huge, very dialated, is this due to all of the other stuff I took to try to sleep?
Helpful - 0
352798 tn?1399298154
It can take the better part of a week to get through the worst part. In your baths, add 1-2 cups of Epsom Salts. It helps force magnesium into the muscles. I am sending a note to avisg. She is quite good with Tramadol withdrawal.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
the bath helped a little bit, I slept on and off for the past two hours.  How long will it take for this feeling to go away.  I feel so drained.  Last night alone I took 3 percogesiacs, 1 sominex, 2 flexeril, 4 restless legs tablets.  I have two kids to take care of - Im really scared.
Helpful - 0
352798 tn?1399298154
Welcome to the forum! Tramadol is a tough one to withdrawal from. It is best to taper off of. But since you are out and your intake was low. I would just go through with the withdrawals. By the time your Rx would've been ready. You can be free from these pills
You now have a choice to make. Do you want to be free? If so, you need to NOT refill your Rx. There our OTC things for the legs. Get something made for RLS.(restless leg syndrome)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The hot bath right after jump in bed and try to fall asleep I do not know how much you will get but it is worth a try. What have you taken otc to help
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Have you considered just giving up on the trams and getting clean, Hubbys can be great support it is worth the embarrassment to have that kind of support at home. It sounds like you have been thru a lot and myself see it as a perfectly understandable that you may have become addicted... You have just started upping your dose it sounds like. This would be a good time to quit as that is the pattern with addiction upping the dose, and it goes higher and higher and with that your life gets worse and worse
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
yes, at noon.  It is only a six hour shift, but I am a director for a summer program for children.  I need to be able to make good decisions, right now I only want sleep.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I hope the bath or shower helped I would go thru rls that would drive me up a wall
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm so sorry you have to go thru this,, as I said I do not know trams but I do know addiction and it is he1!, Do you work today
Helpful - 0
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