Tramadol Hydrochloride

[digital_monkey]

I took Tramadol Hydrochloride for 6 months due to joint pain from my work.  It worked wonders.  I had energy, no pain, and happiness.  But I began to notice that I had to take almost 8 pills a day to feel good.  So I tried to stop.  I cut dosage down little by little.  I felt like ****.  My body had this 'rushing' sensation of anxiety and aches.  So now I have to take at least 1 pill a day just to feel normal.  I stopped for 2 weeks altogether, but everyday I felt terrible, more so than I did before I started taking the meds.  The only way to feel 'normal' was to take at least 1 pill every 18-24 hours.  At least i don't have to take 8 anymore.  I just wanted everyone to know that even though the medical industry denies the addiction possibility, it is really there.  I'm afraid I will have to take one pill a day forever.  Anyways, just wanted to share my feelings with ya.  And my question is, why?  How can I get off this stuff?  2 weeks doesn't even do it.  

[Bsta1382]

Thank you wanna1450,

I am going to look into Effexor, but not exactly excited about trading off one drug for another.

[wanna1450]

From a middle aged woman's perspective:  Your story sounds so like mine.  I have "stopped" for months at a time with all the w/d symptoms named in the thread.  Depression, night sweats and chills being my worst.  I have "stopped" by using low doses of the anti-depressant Effexor (37.5) morning and night, then morning only, then Efffexor every other day for a period of 2 weeks or so.  Effexor has its own w/d demons, but its the only way I've been at all able to "stop" the tramadol.

Its still not fun, but it reduces the symptoms some.  Now the trick is to figure out how to stay "stopped".  I have returned to the tramadol even after 2 month breaks, convincing myself it won't get out of control and I can stay in a therapeutic range of no more than 8 per day.  I have never taken more than 10 per day, but I take it every single day that I have it in the house.  Otherwise, well you know the drill...

So, if you can get some Effexor and let yourself run completely out of tramadol then start Effexor the next day maybe you can stay "stopped".  If you can taper off, that would be even better but I just can't.  If tramadol is  around I take it all!

You wondered about long term effects, I have heard that if you use tramadol in an abuse long term manner as I have (and will again no doubt) it can cause fybromyalgia which would be an additional burdon.  I got that info from a site called "crazymeds".

[Bsta1382]

I am a mid-aged American male whom has been taking Tramadol Hydrochloride for about 2 years.

[pkcom]

I had the same problem and was up to 600 plus mg per day.

I developed appendcittis in Jan and while in the hospital they
stopped my Tramadol and I had insomnia every night there for a week.

After coming home the insomnia persisted plus old chronic pain was pretty intense
because I wasn't getting the hospital pain meds.

My doctor switched me to Utram ER 50 mg twice a day which took the edge off the pain and I was finally able to sleep.

I've since stopped the Ultram ER and the withdrawal wasn't as bad and am now trying Nerve Block Injections and wearing a rib belt as that's where the old pain is.

If you want to continue Tramadol I would you suggest try Ultram ER instead and the manufacturer provides a discount coupon for your first three fillings ($25 off)
Do a Google searh for the manufacturer.

Good luck and I hope you feel better.

[casablancas]

My mum had the same problem she basically went cold turkey and felt ill for 2 months, now she is totally off them but she still has the pain in her legs from CFS/ME which is why she got them in the first place.
They are highly addictive opiates and your tolerance quickly grows to them so you end up taking more and more just like a heroin addict. The Doctor was aware how bad they were but apart from morphine there is nothing else which kills her pain so now she just has to live with it.

[digital_monkey]

Thank you guys for your responses. Hey Embla_2010, to your question about bad withdrawls even if I stop taking one pill are like this:  nausea, super-achy skin, some mild chills, anti-social, and most definately restless legs.  BIG time on the aches and restless legs which makes it really hard to sleep.  And I notice the bad effects again about 18-24 hours after I take one.  Then I take one and the "normalness" comes back, and almost makes my eyes water to feel calm again.  I guess one a day isn't too bad, but i'd still like to get off totally, since it's not good for long-term use.  I'll definately talk to my doctor.  Thanks again for your support.