... tramadol ER for 7 years and kept abusing them (crushing up so the ER part would be disabled; thus getting all of the meds in a rush) anyways, I finally decided enough was enough and went in to a detox center after significantly weaning myself down first. I got out and went to visit my mother for a week (lives at the beach and it seemed like a great place to go before returning to reality) Problem is: she is terminal and has more drugs than a pharmacy: morphine pump in her, but also oxy's, fentanyl, duragesic patches, etc etc. She gave me a bottle of methadone 'just in case' I had any withdrawal symptoms. I just couldn't make myself go to a clinic every day. I am a single mom of three with a full time job. So here is the immediate problem: I have one left. I made an appt with a subox dr yesterday, but he cannot see me until aug 5th. Guys, I cannot go through withdrawal: besides the regular withdrawal crap people go through, I am bipolar and the depression that kicks in is a killer. I tried last week to stop the methadone and had to call the suicide hotline. I have one bottle of tramadol 200 mg I could get filled today in order to make it to the subox appt, but I completely understand that is the last thing I should do. Can anyone please help me. Please don't condemn me: I know I have made some horrible choices. But I am trying. thanks for any advice at all. peace to all
Addiction - I need help! I will try to make this as short as possible. I had been on 500-600 mg?
- Posted:
- 20 Jul 2010 by cowildflower
- Topics:
- suboxone, methadone, addiction
Responses (16)
Anonymous 20 Jul 2010
Hi, you have four great reasons to kick the junk... your children and yourself! No one will condemn you for this, worry not, friend.
Hang in there, your question will be answered soon, by some great people here at drugs.com.
I did a cold turkey WD off of prescribed Oxycontin, so I know how you feel.
There are people much more qualified than I am who will answer you.
Wishing you the best,
sweetlemon
christine...20 Jul 2010
Personally, I would fill the trams and take just enough to keep you sane until you can see the sub doc. Do NOT crush or over use them! But you need to stop the trams for at least 2-3 days before starting the subs. If you don't, THEN you are talking big time wd's. Be sure and let your sub doc know. He will be able to tell if you are in the beginning stages of wd. So please try not to worry. Hang in there. You only have a little time to go... be strong and do this for your kids and YOU. Sweetlemon is so right about this...
Try to keep yourself thinking positively, lower the stress, and let it work itself out. Please let us know how it's going. If you need to vent, please do so. I just did and I feel sooo much better!
20 Jul 2010
cowildflower, I am sorry to hear about your predicament. I think the hardest part of withdrawal is trying to give your children the quality care and nourishment they need, when you personally probably do not feel well enough. They must, without question not suffer for your w.d's. I am not condeming you, I am not judgemental, but I speak from experience (lots) of trying to kick as many mgs. of methadone while trying to take care of an infant and a one year old, homeless and with a husband that would just leave me in a big city with no money, tranportation, nowhere to even get the children out of the heat, except the local hospital. You will make it till the 5th, because you have to, you might feel like you want to die (you won't). When things get straightened out for you on the fifth (only ten days) you can look back and be proud of yourself for not dragging your kids through your withdrawals. If you have no friends that can help you until then, you can do it.
Anonymous 20 Jul 2010
Yep yep i tell so many people that tramadol is addictive as i have recieved many questions asking about this drug. Although it doesnt give you a big euphoric high with enough of them it can and especially the way you take them straight to the brain. I would go with what christine said it would be a good idea to go ahead and not make yourself suffer because as soon as you start your suboxone treatment you wont have to worry anymore about withdrawls. We would never condemn you here we all have problems if we didnt we wouldnt be human and that is just the way life is. Its not perfect what so ever and neither are you so dont beat yourself up at least you are trying to get better some people dont want to get better and are sick their whole lifes. Be good to yourself and take care michelle.
subzero5820 Jul 2010
hi cowiledflower,i dont know how much methadone you were taking and for how long.remember if you have been off the trams for a week to 10 days your wd's are not going to be that bad.so take your last 10mg "dolophine" methadone pill and see just how bad you feel before running of to the pharmacy to get more trams.if you need them to function,then by all means do whatever you need to get through till you start sub. try not to do any methadone when you get close to your start day on subs.im the worst when it comes to being in withdraw pain.my sub therapist says i was a lazy and cowardly pill poper.i was on 400mg of morphine 2x a day.OUCH, still hurts when i think of what i became. not now,i'm a lazy and cowardly pill popin suboxone takin scared of pain guy. except now i haven't touched any other pills in over a year.might only be a few days over a year, but im on my way back baby.OH YEA...
20 Jul 2010
I just wanted to say thanks so much for everyone's comments and kind words. I'm just so ticked off at myself for being in this situation. I KNEW I shouldn't have taken any of my mom's meds when I went to visit her. I was 6 days clean for the first time in 7 years when I flew down there straight out of detox. Sigh.
I filled the Rx today but am not going to open it or take one unless I really have to (mentally) How long can I go without my methadone (10mg) before I start freaking out? Then do I take my tramadol for a few days and stop again before my subox dr appointment?
And finally, sorry for so many questions, does anyone else out there struggle with dual diagnosis that can provide some words of wisdom or support? (bipolar and addiction in my case)
thanks again
DanielleC...22 Jul 2010
I didn't bother reading the responses I'm gonna throw my opinion. Stop the 'done.. and try to stay at a low dose of trams. I switched from 'done to sub but I had to w/d for 54 hours before I could take the sub because of methadone's long half life and how it sticks in your body and receptors like glue. I had success... you have to be on 30mg or lower of 'done to switch to Sub.. at least that's the most successful. I'm not sure if trams is a short acting opioid (I know it's not really considered an opiate but whatever)... the best is to be on a short acting at least a week before you switch to make the transition more smoother so you don't accidentally put yourself in precipitated withdrawals. I also heard of people being able to take both Trams and Subs at the same time because it doesn't attach to the same receptors? Correct me if I'm wrong so maybe it is best to be on the tram even though it's your DOC ..
22 Jul 2010
Thank you for your responses all. I think I agree-I am out of my methadone anyways, so no worries about stopping that before the induction. I guess I am just concerned about interactions with tramadol and sub. Like, do I need to go into withdrawal from the tramadol before induction? I know you are supposed to if you are on methadone, but not sure about this one.
Tramadol is a weird drug. It is a synthetic opiate, but only binds partially (or something like that) but it also affects your seretonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, etc-all those important brain juices that help one to function without depression. I had a double whammy when I stopped the tramadol, I also cold turkey'd my lexapro antidepressant meds. So my brain went haywire!!! No wonder I became so suicidal I guess.
cowildflower
28 Jul 2010
I wanted to send an update on what's going on. I took my last methadone 10 mg on friday (today being tuesday) and I did refill my tramadol Rx. I have been taking those bc Im literally terrified of going through withdrawals mentally. I flipped out about two weeks ago and had to call suicide hotline, was put on hold, (Kinda funny in a dark way) but made it through the day somehow. I started back on lexapro (had used it for years, but cold turkey's when I went in rehab/detox a few months ago) I feel a little better as far as the mental stuff-the anxiety attack I had was the scariest thing I have ever been through. I have suffered depression my whole life, but have never had the anxiety part. All I can say is wow, am I ever sympathetic to those who struggle with that on a daily basis.
26 Sep 2010
You got enough on your table to deal with methadone! Take it from me and get the f$#k away from them ASAP! Go with the Tramadol. Long term methadone addiction is harder to kick than cigarretes, heroine, oxycodone... Save your soul. Get out of this evil circle! Single mom of three aint got not one second! of time to devote to coming off that crap! Hot showers (when you dont have a childs head up your butt!) Stay out of your head. I know its hard to trust other's, but young people give off energies that you can feed off of (sounds kind of Vampiric?). Suicide isnt an answer. No one is gonna condemn you after you spill your guts like that on the web (at least I won't!). Trudge forward toward your Suboxone apt. YOU'LL make it. (You got three great reasons of why you must!) I can't give you any answers except how not to do things. (We've all written pages in that book!) Hang in there. Peace to you and yours.
I<3theOcean27 Sep 2010
First off, where are you located? It sounds like you could really use someones help whos been through all this and can help in person. Id be glad to if you are around here.
Secondly, dont worry about taking Tramadol before taking Suboxone. You can take them both together. So you can keep taking the Trams until you get to start Sub
mlb_kmd9 Dec 2010
All i have to say is good for you for admitting your addiction and wanting to stop. it takes alot of guts to post your addiction online. another thing i would like to add is that you mentioned you are mother of 3... there is a good reason for stopping right there.
anyways, kudos for having the guts to post this.
hope all goes well.
alicewatk...9 Dec 2010
First of all let me commend you on making the best choice of your life!!! and not only yours but yours kids!!! Not alot of people that are hooked on drugs can make that choice, not that they dont want too but they just can't. I dont do drugs myself at all but my husband does and I used to harp on him and tell him that the drugs are killing him and that he chooses them over me and the kids but as time went on, I realized that he does love us but he has a problem, i thought that he could quit when ever he wanted too but now i realize that is not the case. When i see people like you want help that gives me courage to stay with him and encourage him , not put him down or say things like " you love the drugs more than us" again I am so... proud of you. I think with you wanting help and getting the help and having a good support group that you WILL DO FINE.
19 Aug 2011
No one who understands could possibly condemn you, and those who don't understand are not important ;) I am an addict myself... methamphetamine, daily smoker, I probably spend $100.00 EVERY 3 days. I take ativan and SOMA every night to sleep. Sometimes I forget that I took them and double the dosage unintentionally. (that really causes problems) I also have been on Zoloft (100 mg) for 2 years, and I drink about a pint of liquor a day. I received a 30 day (unpaid of course) medical leave of absense to go to rehab... however, My 30 days is almost up, I am worse than ever, and I just realized my medical insurance doesn't cover ANY mental health services, including addiction. I am due to return to work in a week and a half, and I can't even remember what I was doing 5 minutes ago. pretty scary stuff.
17 Sep 2011
I totally understand what you are going through. I too suffer from depression and also am addicted tho for me its perocet 30s. Being depressed makes it that much harder to beat the addiction. When your so depressed and know that a pill can take all that away for at least a few hours it's so hard not to. I cry daily because I want to stop. But it is so hard to beat it when you can't function without it. I also am a mom. The guilt is awful when I look at my kids and think of the money I spend, getting behind on bills and all that comes with it. I'm also a widow I could go on and on. I wish you the best with this and myself also god bless both our children deserve mentally healthy mothers and we deserve well being also. Hang in there I'm with ya freind.
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I meant that I vented on another question. I need to learn Fall Queens coolness in her answers, always the calm, logical, straight to the point lady! Kudo's to you FQ
taking tramadol before suboxone will NOT cause withdrawl i take both of them at the same tim ewith no withdrawl