18-yr Tramadol Addict - going to quit - need support

[RogueWave18]

Hello, I am brand new here and this is the 1st time in almost 20 yrs that I've typed the words "tramadol addict". This secret has been well hidden from my husband, child, family, friends... No one has a clue. I was prescribed Ultram in the late 90s and have successfully maintained a steady monthly supply from the same doctor to this day. I see her inc a year, she simply renews my Rx for 240 37.5mg ("take 2 every 4-6 hrs for pain") so I take 8 every single day. I only quit when I was pregnant C/T but was subscribed hydrocodone after a painful labor. In no time I was addicted and abusing those. When my pharmacy caught on that I was trying to refill the hydros before my Rx would allow they notified my dr and she prescribed Ultracets as an alternative. I can't remember a day that I haven't taken these evil ******* pills since then. Long sob story short- I have a career and a family that I must not jeopardize and like I said, no one knows I live this way. I am a 100% pill-addicted person with all the burden that entails, but I cannot bring myself to let anyone know. Now that tramadol is a controlled substance as of Aug this year, my monthly auto-refill has been denied. This morning I took a huge step and called my doctor, leaving a message that I was concerned about continuing tramadol given this new classification. That's total ******** but I'm weary of continuing this despair and see this disruption in my ability to keep getting the pills as a sign that I need to quit thinking about quitting and just DO IT.
I'm so scared of withdrawal. I know I'm not unique in this fear. Do any long-term users of tramadol have advice for me? 8, sometimes up to 10 37.5 pills every single day for 18 years - that's the habit I need to break free of.

[Ben727]

The OP and the other posters should check out this page here on the site:

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/1205433/Tramadol--Ultram-Recovery-Room-62

There is a user called Emilypost who was addicted to Tramadol and who has kept a discussion going with other users ever since.

[cctailor]

Im glad somebody corrected that info. I have been taking Ultram for 17yrs. Started at 25mg 2_3 times a day within 2 yrs I was at 300mg a day which is where I have been ever since. I have spent the last 1o yrs in and out of hospitals to try and figure out what was wrong with me. I was told I was bipolar clinically depressed and even schizophrenic. I now see psychopharmacologist who has told me I am living in a constant state of withdrawal. (Tolerance withdrawal) I wanted to stop them immediately.  Dr told me I nned to taper. Iam down to half of my original dose. I can not wait to come off.  I have lived with this withdrawal **** long enough. Iv experienced it all...psychosis brain zaps endless hours in the toilet the feeling of my organs wanting to jump out of my body and dont get me started on the rls..I fel like im in a nightmare.  How does this happen...

[vicki595]

Hi Hon-  First of all, the pharmacy should have helped you this. Tramadol can STILL be ordered over the phone so it would have taken one, simple phone call to your doctor to get this fixed.  Also, the doctor can order up to 5 refills at a time.

I'm not suggesting you continue into the future but you would definitely be more comfortable if you tapered off slowly. It won't be so bad. You only take 200 mg a day and, not that I'm trying to diminish that, it's not a huge dose. One big problem is the amount of Tylenol you're taking in...

Call the doctor's office again and make an appt to discuss all of this with him. You can do this; just go slowly with a taper. Keep in touch so we know how you're doing!

[againnot]

Hi....I have to chime in on this one.  My daughter was abusing tramadol terribly.  While she was still on her high dose, she started having seizures.  Even had a car accident while having a seizure.
I think she went ct cause the dr quit Rx ing them.  The wd was pretty bad.
So, please work with your dr on a taper plan.  This is a very evil drug.  People have known for years that it was addictive .  That's why I just don't understand why some doctors even argued that they weren't .
I guess it goes back to being your own advocate and research what you're prescribed. Not implying at ALL that this is your fault!
I wish you only the best.  Be kind to your body.

[pinkgirl73]

hi rogue,  I too am on a taper from tramadol after 10 yrs at high doses.  you are right to want to quit.  you are already way ahead of most people because you told your doctor.  if she still says it isn't addictive then print out some info from the internet regarding the psychological side affects as well as the physical side affects and take them to your doctor.  if you can come up with a taper plan with her help it will be much easier for you than trying alone.  I took 700 milligrams of tramadol per day for many years.  I am doing a slow taper on my own and I have been for about 9 weeks.  I was taking 14 ...50 mg pills, per day for years.  I am now down to 6 per day and going to drop again soon.  I had no clue how to do this when I found this sight two months ago but if you just read and read as many posts as u can about tramadol from other members and ask lots of questions you will be okay.  LULU has helped me so much.  she is very knowledgeable and so are many other people on this sight.  hang in there and keep posting!  you can do this.  <3

[Missy1231984]

Get in with your doctor right away and come up with a plan.  That will be the best way to go.  I'm going through a fast taper with tramadol right now.  It *****, but I am more then ready to be done with these pills.  I don't have a doctor that understands what I'm going through so I'm pretty much alone in this.  

[lulu747]

Hi Rogue and Welcome-

Yes, Tramadol MUST be tapered.  I do know some who have Cold Turkeyed it but it was a very painful, and long detox with intense psychological repercussions due to the anti-depressant component. It is a synthetic opiate with an a/d kicker that binds to your GABA receptors much the same way that Benzodiazepines do.  This is why it should be tapered.  Doctors do not understand much about this for the most part.  We can't give taper advice on here but I will say GO SLOW.  I am currently helping my best friend with a taper off tramadol.  She was prescribed them ten years ago after a car accident that injured her back.  She had been on other opiates previously for many years and wanted something that was not addictive.
Basically, she started at 10 a few months ago and is down to 8 now.  With each drop she experiences anxiety and insomnia.  She struggles (as I do) with some autoimmune issues and they flare up a bit.  The trick is to drop slightly and then to stabilize for awhile before dropping again.  
If you want to be successful (and you will be) then come up with a taper plan with your doctor and stick to it.  The desire to take more will be strong so if you can enlist someone (husband) to hold your pills then it will be much easier.  Make sure to keep checking in with your doctor to evaluate how the plan is going.
You are not alone in this.  There are many Tramadol addicts who had no idea they were taking an addictive substance.  There is a special forum on this website for Tramadol Warriors.  Put it into your search engine and connect with others who have successfully come off this drug.
We will all be here to support you...
Lu

[Pat1956100]

Hi Rogue
The forum seems to be very quiet today so I wanted to pipe in with what I have learned about Tramadol.  I was prescribed it but stopped taking it after reading so much about it on here.  I didn't get high off of it but many people do and abuse it.
You should work with your doctor on a taper plan.  The slower the better.
Your doctor did prescribe these to you so should take some responsibility and help you.  Be honest with him or her.
Type tramadol into the search bar here and read up on it.  Many, many people have tapered off of it and not had seizures.  Just don't ever quit it cold turkey.
Hope this helps a little and more people will chime in.

[RogueWave18]

Ultram and Ultracets are the same - both tramadol. Thx guitrlady for your support. I have taken 4 so far today and am already feeling anxious and achy. What would anyone suggest or recommend for some relief? And how many of you have actually had seizures while trying to quit?

[guitrldy]

Hi - BlueCrystal
You are not correct on this - Ultram and tramadol are the same.  Ultram is the brand name; tramadol is generic.  They ARE both addicting - Ultram was the original medicine before it became available as a less expensive generic.
And the original idea was that this drug was not an addictive, narcotic - that has turned out to not be true.  Many people have serious problems trying to stop.  And worse, there can be seizures for people taking more than eight 50mg tablets a day (400mg).  There are many posts on this site about these problems.
Rogue - You need to work with your doctor re: getting off this medicine.  You recognize it is a problem clearly.  Please get the help you realize you need.

[BluCrystal]

Hi, Rogue.  It is my belief that you are speaking of two different medications.  Tramadol is for general body aches and pain, and has no narcotic in it.  It is opiate-based, and meant for long-term control of pain.  Ultram is not the same.  It does contain a narcotic (hydrocodone), which can be highly addictive.  I have been on tramadol for over a year now.  It does not make me feel drugged or 'high'.  My doctor has suggested I take a lower dosage, and I have complied, with no after-effects.  Ultram is different in that it DOES make me feel drugged and 'high'.  This is just my own experiences with these drugs.  I hope it is helpful in some way. - Blu