[sherri90049]

Thanks, Robert! I really appreciate it! This is foreign territory to me and any info helps so much! Will try not to worry about the Subutex withdrawal too much. My goal at the moment (I hope it's not too aggressive) is to stop the Sub all together on Friday. I am so scared about what's going to happen after that. (i.e. how long after that I'll still have withdrawals) I'm even feeling more of the physical withdrawals tonight than last night when I first posted. :-( Dr gave me Nivigil to help with the severe fatigue I've been having. Will try that tomorrow AM.

It's so weird, because I never thought this process was going to be easy. I knew it would be brutal. But being in it now, it's worse than I imagined it. Part of me just wants to give up, but I also know that I can't even consider that! I've come too far! Maybe I'm just feeling depressed due to the w/d from the anti-depressant component in the tramadol. I'm not someone that's prone to depression normally. I just feel like complete ******** right now. :-( Any way, thanks for listening!

Sherri

[MaisieC]

Hi Sherri,

It's good to see you back. You're almost done with this thing now, which is great! I do think that the emotional withdrawal is worse than the physical with this drug. All I can say is hang on tight. Your feelings are just withdrawal, and they will go away.

When you say you want to be off the subs on Friday, do you mean day after tomorrow? I don't understand; I thought Robert said he thought three weeks was too fast. Did I misunderstand his post?

Take care,
Maisie

[se7en444]

Hey everyone. New member, longtime reader.

I have Sacroiliac Joint pain (or SI Joint Dysfunction) which started Sept. 14 2004 and Ive had trusty ol' Tramadol for a majority of that time.

About 4 weeks ago I started a tapering recovery from 13 pills at 50mg (650mg) a day. Im now down to 6 pills but I've run into a problem. I'm not sure if its better for an addict to take 2 pills 3x a day or 3 pills 2x a day. Is it just preference or is one tactic better than the other for any reason?
I ask because I can't feel the 2 pills 3x a day at all. The 3 p's 2x is great when I take it but its a tough stretch until the evening before I take the other 3.

So yeah, less more often or more less often?

Thanks a lot for being on this forum you guys. Its great to see other people going through this.

Oh any for anyone that can benefit from this: I realized that when I get into the mindset to quit Tramadol, I like to attack the problem hard and try to take the bare minimum. Someone on this forum mentioned to taper down slowly and now I see why. Your setting yourself up for failure when you taper too fast.

[MaisieC]

Originally Posted by se7en444

Hey everyone. New member, longtime reader.

I have Sacroiliac Joint pain (or SI Joint Dysfunction) which started Sept. 14 2004 and Ive had trusty ol' Tramadol for a majority of that time.

About 4 weeks ago I started a tapering recovery from 13 pills at 50mg (650mg) a day. Im now down to 6 pills but I've run into a problem. I'm not sure if its better for an addict to take 2 pills 3x a day or 3 pills 2x a day. Is it just preference or is one tactic better than the other for any reason?
I ask because I can't feel the 2 pills 3x a day at all. The 3 p's 2x is great when I take it but its a tough stretch until the evening before I take the other 3.

So yeah, less more often or more less often?

Thanks a lot for being on this forum you guys. Its great to see other people going through this.

Oh any for anyone that can benefit from this: I realized that when I get into the mindset to quit Tramadol, I like to attack the problem hard and try to take the bare minimum. Someone on this forum mentioned to taper down slowly and now I see why. Your setting yourself up for failure when you taper too fast.

Hi, and welcome!

My personal preference would be to do the 2 pills 3x a day, simply because that regimen would tend to keep the level of the medication more level and you would therefore be less susceptible to withdrawal symptoms. Easy does it.

When you say you can't feel the meds when you take them that way...do you mean you don't pain relief or you don't get high? In either case, I don't think it's recommended at all to take 3 pills at once, even for pain relief. If it's about getting some euphoria from the drug, my opinion is that it's better to try to avoid doing that when you're detoxing. (I know...no one wants to avoid getting high. ) But it's hard enough to detox without having the repeated temptation of getting a little buzz from the drugs. When you're tapering, I think the best thing is to use the drugs to keep the withdrawal symptoms at a minimum...and not to try to feel any better than that.

Hope that answers your question. Please keep posting and let us know how you do.

Take care,
Maisie

[se7en444]

Yeah, your right I didn't make that clear. I wont try to hide the fact that I do enjoy the high. But yeah, Tramadol was my drug of choice for pain. I am prescribed Hydrocodone and tramadol for pain. Hydrocodone was suppose to be for the worst pain. But Tramadol lasted longer and worked better. I stayed away from Hydrocodone because it was addictive. Now I've learned my lesson with Tramadol.

" my opinion is that it's better to try to avoid doing that when you're detoxing. (I know...no one wants to avoid getting high. ) But it's hard enough to detox without having the repeated temptation of getting a little buzz from the drugs. When you're tapering, I think the best thing is to use the drugs to keep the withdrawal symptoms at a minimum...and not to try to feel any better than that. "

Thats a very good point MaisieC. I didn't think about it like that but your right. Since I've been taking Tramadol for 4 years, how long should I schedule a manageable taper schedule for? I know its impossible to recommend this to anyone you know so little about but any guess of length of time would be great. Getting refills is not a problem so please let me know any suggestions anyone may have.

[MaisieC]

Hi there,

Here's a link to a tramadol taper schedule that's been successful. You can simply adapt the schedule according to your current dose. In my experience, it's good to go slow at the end, because the transition down to taking nothing can be bumpy.

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/725

As you taper down, you might notice some emotional symptoms, too. This happens because tramadol acts as an anti-depressant in addition to its opioid action. Just hang in there, and remember your feelings are just symptoms. You'll get through it.

Good luck, and please keep us posted!

Take care,
Maisie

[nesbitt]

I have been reading on here but just joined today.Everyone mentions restless leg problems with w/d's.When I was growing up I had a problem with restless legs at night,my grandmother would give me an aspirin as she said it would help.It did!It worked.I wonder if it would help in this situation too.I have not been through the w/d's with ultram, but if I did I would try an aspirin.Just wanting to help as I have a lot of compassion for what some are going through and I can see myself going through it too.

[msakms]

Originally Posted by donnaf484

Hello,
I have been taking tramadol for 10 months. I started using because I had 3 operations on my arm due to a compound fracture. I am now addicted. I cannot get off of it although I have tried. I am up to 18 pills of 50mg. tablets a day. Nine in the moring and nine at noon. When I tried to stop I have brain zaps and sleeping are out of the question. Even while on it my ears constantly ring very loudly. I am frightened because I know I am in a bad situation. I cannot stand the thought of running out. I would greatly appreciate any advice.Thank you,
Donna

Donna Forman

Greetings everyone,
I just wanted to share my experience with tramadol. I started using ultram on my second year in medical school to boost my studying hours and my effort to keep up with my A's. As a matter of fact, opiods under the tramadol family cause insomnia, generalized CNS hyperactivity and certain neurotransmitters over production which explains the reasons I used it for. Some people might be wondering why I didn't use adderall or so, well simply cuz it's withdrawal is so much worse than ultram on the long term usage "characterized by parasympathetic dominance". I will briefly describe the withdrawals I had after using it for almost a year ana half (I decided to cut off the pill popping habit from the first day", I had tremors along the extremities, typical restless leg syndrome, severe depression, insomnia "caused by pain" and not to forget the extreme weakness and tirdness. Of all these, the one I couldn't cope with was the depression that almost was going to kill me. I used alprazolam for the depression, nolfen, profin and neurontin for the pain, caffeine and a combination of both ephedrine and pseudoephedrine for the CNS depression and the flu like symptoms and finally hydroxyzine under the brandname Atarax for anxiety. After a week I was normal and ultram independent with having a feeling of being better everyday.Concerning the depression I suffered from, I could observe the progress of withdrawal through my dreams "seriously". In other words, while on ultram I had halucination like dreams "that I enjoyed indeed", during the withdrawal period I had goal acheiving dreams.Lastly, for comparison purposes "maybe", I was on 600mg daily, three 200mg of ultram equally taken through out the day.

[kelaltieri]

hi everyone. i've been mulling around this forum reading everyone's story and i've decided to post the short version of mine.

i was in a car accident 3ish years ago. i was prescribed tramadol and/or ultram ER on and off for a while. i quickly became addicted. my doctor then stopped prescribing it to me and i detoxed. it wasn't that bad from what i remember, but i wasn't taking it for all that long either. and i've also detoxed from heroin in the past and it wasn't all that different from that.

so, some odd months after that, i started working for a veterinarian and they had tramadol on hand . as much as i wanted! so, i started taking it again .. alot. i was up to 12 - 50mg pills at a time .. a few times a day. then, i had a complication from my gastric bypass surgery and was hospitalized for almost a month. there, i was receiving IV pain meds at regular intervals, obviously. so, i comfortably detoxed from tramadol.

more recently, i started taking 750mg tabs of vicodin and became addicted to that. the person that i was getting the pills from gave me her doctors name and i started getting tramadol again, on top of the vicodin .. and 300mg ryzolt (extended release tramadol), which i was breaking in half and taking 3 of them a day, instead of the 1, as directed. i wasn't as bad as i was in the past, but i got up to 6 or 8 - 50mg tabs again, if i didn't have the ryzolt or vicodin, which i was taking at 3000mg at a time. i don't have the willpower to taper myself off these pills. so, i decided enough was enough and decided to get some professional help. i decided that an outpatient methadone clinic was best for my life style and financial and personal situation. so, i went there, filled out paperwork, saw a nurse and they did a urine screening. because tramadol isn't an opiate, my urine came back clean and i was told that they couldn't help me. but, the director told me without coming out and telling me to go get some narcotics and come back. ethically, he couldn't come out and tell me that .. but, i read between the lines and swallowed a handful of vicodin and went back the next day. i've been on methadone 40mg for 7 days. besides making me tired, i feel NORMAL. finally. i haven't decided on maintenance or detox yet. i'm taking it one day at a time.

i just wanted to share my story.

good luck to everyone.

tramadol is the devil.

[alkisses]

i am using tramadol 50mgs to help me get through endocet withdrawl.
im hoping it works.

[purpledog]

be careful, methadone is also the devil in disguise.

im now on subs, trying to get off methadone after 10+ years.
it will make you feel tired a lot, and you may even nod off in the evenings, it is such a sneaky drug.

just be aware mate, it is one of the most addicting things out there. for sure.

it seems a bit of over kill to go on methadone to get off tramadol, but its done now. hope while you are stable you life gets back on track.
good luck
purpledog

been there done that got the tee shirt too

[bev49]

kelal, this is jut my opinion but I would advise the detox route rather than the maintenance route. Methadone maintenance is really a long term drug not necessary to get off tramadol. A detox program is limit to a certain time period, they bring your dose down rather quickly also. I would say its a better fit for your circumstances. I think methadone is and can be a great tool but mor eso as a last resort for a hard core opiate user. I was on methadone maintenance for over 30 years after a 10 year IV heroin habit. I'm 60 years old, off methadone, on subutex, down below 1 mg. a day and trying real hard to get off that. Purple, Intel, and I can all tell you methadone maintenance is a long term, last resort kinda drug.

[kelaltieri]

bev49 and purpledog - tramadol was my drug of choice, but i was also using vicodin, dilaudid, heroin and pretty much any opiate i could get my hands on. i think what i was doing before was "a bit of over kill" .. not what i'm doing to heal my body. i'm a single mother and don't have the funds for suboxone or the time to go into an inpatient facility for a 3 or 5 day detox. my options are a bit limited and this is what works for me. i'm taking a low dose and so far, it's helping. i know about the side effects and have read endlessly about the pros AND cons of the drug. i'm not going to be on it for 10 or 30 years. i'm going the detox route, i think. so, i'll only be on this a few months .. hopefully.

it does make me a little sleepy in the afternoon, but if i'm able to take a small nap or get to bed early, it's not too bad. i'm also taking vitamins to help keep my mood and energy up.

this is the most normal i've felt in the past 4 years. 13 days with no pills. so far so good.

alkisses - tramadol is NOT a good drug to use to wean off of endocet. you'll get even more addicted to the tramadol!!! you're better off going cold turkey. tramadol is a DANGEROUS DANGEROUS drug! more dangerous than endocet, in my opinion. anyone of the people in this forum can tell you that!! PLEASE, see your doctor and talk to him about your options. this is not a smart one.

thanks guys!

kellie

[Robert_325]

kellie .... Have you considered the Thomas Recipe for lessenning the w/d symptoms. It's inexpensive and helps. I'll put a link at the end of the post. Let me know if I can help you further in any way. I do this every day.

BTW ... you don't have be concerned with alkisses and his filthy mouth. He has been banned from this forum permanently. People who curse in vile language at other members are history especially when people are just trying to make suggestions to people that will help them. He won't be back here EVER. His filth was deleted as well. this was all his loss. God bless.

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/...show/16?cid=66

[kelaltieri]

hi robert,

i've tried the thomas recipe in the past and haven't had much success with it. i'm ok with my method of choice to get myself off of these poisons i was taking. i feel that it is the best choice for me. thank you for your input though. it is appreciated. do you have any suggestions for herbal remedies for depression and/or fatigue. right now, i'm taking a multivitamin and B12. i have an appt. with my counselor tomorrow to talk about my dosing (right now i'm taking 45mg of methadone) and therapy options and remedies for these things. i may have to meet with the doctor also. let me know if you have any ideas. someone suggested 5htp or something .. but, i don't know what that is.

is alkisses a forum troll? someone that just likes to cause trouble and fights and sit back watch what they've caused? i cannot stand people that do that! thankfully, i didn't fall into that trap. thanks for the info.

talk to you soon!!

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by kelaltieri

hi robert,

i've tried the thomas recipe in the past and haven't had much success with it. i'm ok with my method of choice to get myself off of these poisons i was taking. i feel that it is the best choice for me. thank you for your input though. it is appreciated. do you have any suggestions for herbal remedies for depression and/or fatigue. right now, i'm taking a multivitamin and B12. i have an appt. with my counselor tomorrow to talk about my dosing (right now i'm taking 45mg of methadone) and therapy options and remedies for these things. i may have to meet with the doctor also. let me know if you have any ideas. someone suggested 5htp or something .. but, i don't know what that is.

is alkisses a forum troll? someone that just likes to cause trouble and fights and sit back watch what they've caused? i cannot stand people that do that! thankfully, i didn't fall into that trap. thanks for the info.

talk to you soon!!

You should get the professional opinion of the dr tomorrow. Then let's put our heads together and see what we come up with. That will work best for you I think. Let's get the pro opinion first, then we'll react.

Don't worry about alkisses. He had been on here for several years and thought that entitled him to curse and swear at others on this forum. It doesn't work like that. He was permanently banned as NO ONE is irreplaceable. I know the owners here and they don't appreciate people talking like alkisses was doing as they are good guys. Had his questionable posts deleted and had him banned. That was the simplest, most professional way to handle it. I won't fight with the likes of him nor will the owners of drugs.com. They are classy guys, don't need that kind of behavior here. It hurts everyone including our reputation when that kind of behavior is tolerated.

Keep us posted how you're doing. I'll be watching after you go to the dr tomorrow. I want to hear the professional opinion. Let me know how it goes. God bless.

[kelaltieri]

Originally Posted by Robert_325

You should get the professional opinion of the dr tomorrow. Then let's put our heads together and see what we come up with. That will work best for you I think. Let's get the pro opinion first, then we'll react.

Don't worry about alkisses. He had been on here for several years and thought that entitled him to curse and swear at others on this forum. It doesn't work like that. He was permanently banned as NO ONE is irreplaceable. I know the owners here and they don't appreciate people talking like alkisses was doing as they are good guys. Had his questionable posts deleted and had him banned. That was the simplest, most professional way to handle it. I won't fight with the likes of him nor will the owners of drugs.com. They are classy guys, don't need that kind of behavior here. It hurts everyone including our reputation when that kind of behavior is tolerated.

Keep us posted how you're doing. I'll be watching after you go to the dr tomorrow. I want to hear the professional opinion. Let me know how it goes. God bless.

i'm not seeing the doctor tomorrow. i'm seeing my counselor. after i've talked to her, we'll decide if/when i should see the doctor. he's only at the clinic 3 days a week .. so, it might be a bit before i get to see him. but, i'll definitely let you know how it goes with my counselor.

i'm not worried about alkisses. i have enough of my pwn problems to deal with. i don't need to add a some internet nobody to the mix. he's already forgotten.

[fresh223]

Hi to all,

sorry if somoene has already mentioned it but I have a useful supplement I used to counter anxiety.

I was only on 100mg of tramadol for 2-3 months and got a little disturbed about addiction worries on here so I decided to come off them altogether and did experience bit of diahorrea and anxiety (tho im not sure if it was just me returning to my anxious , bit depressed self) tho it was bad for two days or so.

I ended up taking a supplement that contained theanine and it did help with the anxiety. I read up on this theanine and it has the unique ability to modulate both seretonin and dopamine (precursor to norepinephron), I also searched on google and lots of people seem to have had help with it. Also this supplement i bought only had smaller amounts of theanine than if i bought it just as theanine by itself. Therapeutic doses are 600-1200mg a day for severe anxiety/ depression. GABBA supplement is also recommended.

The jury is still out for myself if i will take tramadol again, i probably will for depression and anxiety occassionally but ill definately build in tramadol holidays to build no significant addiction. I am awaiting for the stronger theanine to see if this will handle it anyway.

anyway hope this helps

[kelaltieri]

Originally Posted by fresh223

Hi to all,

sorry if somoene has already mentioned it but I have a useful supplement I used to counter anxiety.

I was only on 100mg of tramadol for 2-3 months and got a little disturbed about addiction worries on here so I decided to come off them altogether and did experience bit of diahorrea and anxiety (tho im not sure if it was just me returning to my anxious , bit depressed self) tho it was bad for two days or so.

I ended up taking a supplement that contained theanine and it did help with the anxiety. I read up on this theanine and it has the unique ability to modulate both seretonin and dopamine (precursor to norepinephron), I also searched on google and lots of people seem to have had help with it. Also this supplement i bought only had smaller amounts of theanine than if i bought it just as theanine by itself. Therapeutic doses are 600-1200mg a day for severe anxiety/ depression. GABBA supplement is also recommended.

The jury is still out for myself if i will take tramadol again, i probably will for depression and anxiety occassionally but ill definately build in tramadol holidays to build no significant addiction. I am awaiting for the stronger theanine to see if this will handle it anyway.

anyway hope this helps

what's the exact name of the supplement you're taking that contains theanine? i'd be curious to try it. let me know, thanks!

[fresh223]

Originally Posted by kelaltieri

what's the exact name of the supplement you're taking that contains theanine? i'd be curious to try it. let me know, thanks!

Well I live here in Australia and Im assuming your in the United States? Here I got the product "Sleep More" by Totally Natural products that has Theanine, Hops flower, Kava root and Passion flower (note though it says sleep can be used for anxiety at any time of the day) - but the point i was making is the active ingredient is the theanine and this product does not have a high enough dose at only 28mg.

L - Theanine is the active ingredient that has been isolated from Green Tea. You need to get a 100% theanine product (my understanding is Suntheanine brand? is the gold standard - you do not want to get just a green tea extract).

an interesting link i found is:
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/drug...anine-theanine

lot of people with anxiety, social phobia seemed to have been helped. Seems also the supplement GABBA also helps, which also helps with the seretonin and dopamine balancing.

Hope this helps.

[kelaltieri]

Originally Posted by fresh223

Well I live here in Australia and Im assuming your in the United States? Here I got the product "Sleep More" by Totally Natural products that has Theanine, Hops flower, Kava root and Passion flower (note though it says sleep can be used for anxiety at any time of the day) - but the point i was making is the active ingredient is the theanine and this product does not have a high enough dose at only 28mg.

L - Theanine is the active ingredient that has been isolated from Green Tea. You need to get a 100% theanine product (my understanding is Suntheanine brand? is the gold standard - you do not want to get just a green tea extract).

an interesting link i found is:
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/drug...anine-theanine

lot of people with anxiety, social phobia seemed to have been helped. Seems also the supplement GABBA also helps, which also helps with the seretonin and dopamine balancing.

Hope this helps.

ahh .. i didn't realize that the theanine dose in that supplement was too low. i just thought that since all of the other things were in it, it would be better to take that one pill instead of taking 4 or 5. thanks for the info anyway!

and yes .. i am in the US.

[fresh223]

Originally Posted by kelaltieri

ahh .. i didn't realize that the theanine dose in that supplement was too low. i just thought that since all of the other things were in it, it would be better to take that one pill instead of taking 4 or 5. thanks for the info anyway!

and yes .. i am in the US.

Hi, just noted the L-theanine I just got is made in the US by nowfoods (www.nowfoods.com) if your having trouble sourcing it.

I think the passionflower and hops are also great calming herbs.

In the end its experimentation to see if something helps you through those withdrawl periods.

[hopeandhardwork]

Its seems selfish to share my story as if its important, but I'd like to get it off my chest and maybe someone can give me some ideas on what to do.

My addiction to opiates started a couple of years ago after a very painful breakup with a long-time girlfriend, the girl I thought I was going to marry. It turns out she had been cheating and shortly after our breakup moved in with her ex-boyfriend (before me) and married him. She did and said some things that really hurt me and I found great comfort in opiates.

It started with Vicodins and Percocets, that lasted about a year or so, I would also take tramadol, but didn't consider them on the same level of the other harder opiates. The Dr I got my opiates from was busted, and then just moved to tramadol and poppy tea. I don't drink poppy tea anymore but still take a load of tramadol. It has really gotten out of my control I feel, i go through a couple 180 count bottles (mail order) a month. I think I take around 15 a day, but perhaps more. I take about 10 after work everyday to enjoy the day, which doesn't work anymore. So maybe I take in upwards of 20 or more a day, I just don't count anymore. I also smoke pot every night and take sleeping pill to sleep. Very few moments of the day are acting myself, mostly just being the addict and selfish person I am, which I hate and others hate.

I did try to quit about a year ago, made it 8 days, buy day 8 I just couldn't even stand being awake anymore so I started again. It was hugely disappointing and a wake up call for me realizing what it would take to quit. Since then I have quit my job and moved closer to my family and started another job. I have not been going to work lately because of the illness it has caused in my head when I'm not taking it, a lot of self hate and cutting and borderline paranoid behavior and thoughts. My new job is the worst, people don't seem to like me and my work sucks, its so unlike me.

I should mention that when I was 22 I had a major mental breakdown, clinical depression and anxiety at which point I started taking benzo's and an ssri, that solved it, but I think my tramadol use it my chemistry up and I feel out of my head and have for a long time. The problem has been that I just don't care enough, but now more than 2 years into my addiction I realize nothing good is happening in my life and its likely because I'm an addict.

I think what is going to happen is that I will get fired or more likely quit my job and move in with my parents to detox and get therapy, my family wants me to do this and support whatever I need to do to get better. I'm planning on quitting tramadol cold turkey since I don't seem to have the strength to taper, it always just comes back up. Maybe I will do a fast taper down to 6, then the next week 4 and so on until 0. I know that I will experience great physical and emotional pain, but I am currenly flat-lining in life and need to suck it up.

These drugs accompanied by my existing emotional, and mental issues has cost me a lot. I left a great job for a terrible one, a city I loved for one I don't, and cost me all kinds of money. Its long overdue for me to go for broke and just quit, I can't remember the last time I was truly happy, its been a long time.

I should also mention that my family has a history of opiate abusers and mental illness, so its a family thing. Thanks for reading this. Reading other postings has really helped me feel some hope for the future.

If anyone's interested I'll keep you updated on my recovery. Suggestions are welcome, nasty I'm better than you messages are not.

[Robert_325]

hopeandhardwork ..... of course we're interested in your recovery. If I can help you in any way I'm here for you. I mean that sincerely!

Keep us posted and if I notice anything I can advise you on I'll be more than happy to help. You found a good place to do this where you won't be judged. Just be honest about everything so our adivice is relevant.

You're in my prayers. Just do the next right thing and remember that this is a process not an event. Don't be too hard on yourself but realize the importance of being focused on getting well. God bless.

[hopeandhardwork]

Thanks for the note. I know my being hard on myself is off-putting to people, its a major personal failure to be in this situation, but on the upside life can only get better. Thank you for you prayers or thoughts. Tomorrow is new day.

[b0dy]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to put my story out their and see if anyone has some feed back, I understand the thread is about Tramadol addiction and I hear how hard it is to get off. Well I've been addicted to OxyCodone for 10yrs and 2 years ago I was prescribed Tramadol for pain and oxycodone for any break through pain, I was up to 80mg/6 times a day I was prescribed 20mg/4times day and was doing both with tramadol 300mg pill due to leg pain I've had since I was 8. When I finally confessed to my family and I got help and went to a medical detox and seemed to be off everything in 4 days, but 3 months later I was doing the 80's again, and now I'm trying to come off them using 1 20mg a day and tramadol 300. This post now has got me scared to use tramadol as a substitute, but I also know that I don't care for the tramadol well-being, I need it to stay away and functional, even after I detoxed I stuck it out for 3 months exercising eating healthy, using natural herbs, but always tired, and not the same, so I freaked 1 night and bought 10 did 5 then continued for 2 weeks but realized the pattern I was doing and basically came to today 1 20mg a day and tramadol 300mg tablet slow release. I've never taken more then 1 pill a day and don't plan too, my real deal is the Oxy, tramadol is given to me every month anyway and I don't abuse it cause its just not as hard as 80mg oxy, not even the 20mg oxy can do the trick for me I just take it not to withdrawal. I just want to put it a fact out there that Oxy, does not make me groggy, or sleepy, I feel awake and I'm better at everything,(school, social events) without looking 'high', I actually perceived as normal and look and act more cracked out when I'm off the meds due to the fact I've been on them so long. My question is this a safe route to be taking? due to my sever knee pain I have access to pain-relief or I can't sit, or function if I don't take something to suppress the pain and I am allergic to Tylenol, dilaudid, lortab and a lot of medications.

[hopeandhardwork]

Originally Posted by b0dy

Hi everyone,

I wanted to put my story out their and see if anyone has some feed back, I understand the thread is about Tramadol addiction and I hear how hard it is to get off. Well I've been addicted to OxyCodone for 10yrs and 2 years ago I was prescribed Tramadol for pain and oxycodone for any break through pain, I was up to 80mg/6 times a day I was prescribed 20mg/4times day and was doing both with tramadol 300mg pill due to leg pain I've had since I was 8. When I finally confessed to my family and I got help and went to a medical detox and seemed to be off everything in 4 days, but 3 months later I was doing the 80's again, and now I'm trying to come off them using 1 20mg a day and tramadol 300. This post now has got me scared to use tramadol as a substitute, but I also know that I don't care for the tramadol well-being, I need it to stay away and functional, even after I detoxed I stuck it out for 3 months exercising eating healthy, using natural herbs, but always tired, and not the same, so I freaked 1 night and bought 10 did 5 then continued for 2 weeks but realized the pattern I was doing and basically came to today 1 20mg a day and tramadol 300mg tablet slow release. I've never taken more then 1 pill a day and don't plan too, my real deal is the Oxy, tramadol is given to me every month anyway and I don't abuse it cause its just not as hard as 80mg oxy, not even the 20mg oxy can do the trick for me I just take it not to withdrawal. I just want to put it a fact out there that Oxy, does not make me groggy, or sleepy, I feel awake and I'm better at everything,(school, social events) without looking 'high', I actually perceived as normal and look and act more cracked out when I'm off the meds due to the fact I've been on them so long. My question is this a safe route to be taking? due to my sever knee pain I have access to pain-relief or I can't sit, or function if I don't take something to suppress the pain and I am allergic to Tylenol, dilaudid, lortab and a lot of medications.

You say that your are percieved as functioning normally on these drugs. I don't doubt you feel that way, but I would be some people would notice differences in your personality. You are now just taking them to be normal it seems, same here, it sucks. Once you go off them, you will not be yourself for a while, but when all the toxins are squeezed out of your system you will feel better than ever, more clear-headed forsure. I really believe that. And you won't feel guilty about it. If you need to continute to take opiates for pain, just follow the dr's orders, no more, maybe less if you can stand it. I hate to hear people sort of give on their opiate usage, saying I'll always need them, usually this is not the case. Could you get your knee fixed. Tell your Dr that opiates are causing you problems and you are worried about addiction, maybe he will have something for you. I don't know man, its a tough spot your in and I wish you the best and my prayers are with you.

[hopeandhardwork]

Originally Posted by hopeandhardwork

Its seems selfish to share my story as if its important, but I'd like to get it off my chest and maybe someone can give me some ideas on what to do.

My addiction to opiates started a couple of years ago after a very painful breakup with a long-time girlfriend, the girl I thought I was going to marry. It turns out she had been cheating and shortly after our breakup moved in with her ex-boyfriend (before me) and married him. She did and said some things that really hurt me and I found great comfort in opiates.

It started with Vicodins and Percocets, that lasted about a year or so, I would also take tramadol, but didn't consider them on the same level of the other harder opiates. The Dr I got my opiates from was busted, and then just moved to tramadol and poppy tea. I don't drink poppy tea anymore but still take a load of tramadol. It has really gotten out of my control I feel, i go through a couple 180 count bottles (mail order) a month. I think I take around 15 a day, but perhaps more. I take about 10 after work everyday to enjoy the day, which doesn't work anymore. So maybe I take in upwards of 20 or more a day, I just don't count anymore. I also smoke pot every night and take sleeping pill to sleep. Very few moments of the day are acting myself, mostly just being the addict and selfish person I am, which I hate and others hate.

I did try to quit about a year ago, made it 8 days, buy day 8 I just couldn't even stand being awake anymore so I started again. It was hugely disappointing and a wake up call for me realizing what it would take to quit. Since then I have quit my job and moved closer to my family and started another job. I have not been going to work lately because of the illness it has caused in my head when I'm not taking it, a lot of self hate and cutting and borderline paranoid behavior and thoughts. My new job is the worst, people don't seem to like me and my work sucks, its so unlike me.

I should mention that when I was 22 I had a major mental breakdown, clinical depression and anxiety at which point I started taking benzo's and an ssri, that solved it, but I think my tramadol use it my chemistry up and I feel out of my head and have for a long time. The problem has been that I just don't care enough, but now more than 2 years into my addiction I realize nothing good is happening in my life and its likely because I'm an addict.

I think what is going to happen is that I will get fired or more likely quit my job and move in with my parents to detox and get therapy, my family wants me to do this and support whatever I need to do to get better. I'm planning on quitting tramadol cold turkey since I don't seem to have the strength to taper, it always just comes back up. Maybe I will do a fast taper down to 6, then the next week 4 and so on until 0. I know that I will experience great physical and emotional pain, but I am currenly flat-lining in life and need to suck it up.

These drugs accompanied by my existing emotional, and mental issues has cost me a lot. I left a great job for a terrible one, a city I loved for one I don't, and cost me all kinds of money. Its long overdue for me to go for broke and just quit, I can't remember the last time I was truly happy, its been a long time.

I should also mention that my family has a history of opiate abusers and mental illness, so its a family thing. Thanks for reading this. Reading other postings has really helped me feel some hope for the future.

If anyone's interested I'll keep you updated on my recovery. Suggestions are welcome, nasty I'm better than you messages are not.

My update. Quitting my job didn't work, they would not let me quit basically, which I think is good. I came clean with them that I suffer from clinical depression and anxiety, that seemed to help them understand a little of what i was going through.

I am moving this weekend to a house my brother and I are fixing up, he is also a heavy tram user, this may create problems for me. but perhaps him and i could work something out together so we could quit together, he wants to quit i think, although I think he'd have a hard time saying he has a problem.

i'm going to start a slow taper, starting at 6 a day, that might be low since i take 15 a day, but i want to really get a good start. I'm going to lower it by a pill every week until i'm off. this is going to take so much self control, i'm not sure i have it, especially since tramadol is everywhere and hard to get. when my vicodin/perc/fent provider was busted i quit, it was horrible pain, but it had to be over. tramadol is too easy to get. i think its a really big problem in this country to be honest, people abusing drugs like tramadol, and others offered over the internet.

today is my first day back at work in over a week, its the first day of my life and i'm really going to try hard to turn over a new leaf, a leaf that gives me self-control when dealing with tramadol. to view life for all the greatness it has to offer, something you don't see when you are blindingly high on drugs. i hope this works....

prayers and best wishes to everyone else who is fighting a fight against opiates, you can win this battle!

[MaisieC]

Hi hopeandhardwork (I love your name!)

Here is a link to a taper schedule that you might want to look at:

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/725

I tell people they can use it as a model and adapt it to their own dosage. Going from 15 to 6 is a big jump, and you want to be cautious about setting yourself a goal that you can't meet. Have a look at this link and see what you think about it.

Please keep posting and let us know how you're doing!

Take care,
Maisie

[Robert_325]

Hi Maisie ..... glad to see you back. Just wanted to say hello and welcome you back. I know this last week hasn't been fun for you at all. God bless.