NEWBIE here!!! Trying to quit tramadol.

[bamamomma2009]

Please post any advice you may have as I begin this journey to sobriety. I need all the help I can get. I am truly terrified!!! I've lived on these things for 3 years...they are my source of energy, EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. :(

[FourJays]

I'm sorry you are feeling bad.  I don't know what could be causing the stomach upset from the aminos or Thomas Recipe.  Hopefully you will get some response on the your other thread about that.  The only thing I can think is that maybe it is related to stopping the tram?  Some people get the nausea/vomiting as a w/d symptom (in general).  Hopefully it will ease up for you soon.  Hang in there, it's temporary!  And btw - you are NOT a "bum loser" in any way - quite the opposite IMO.  Good luck :)

[bamamomma2009]

Thank you Julie! I agree that coming off of it is like coming off two different meds. I have been on and off anti-depressants since I was 16. So to find a drug that quickly helped my backpain AND seemed to give me instant anti-depressant effects (something no anti-depressants have every done for me) was like a miracle.
I don't blame my doctor either. They are just trying to help and he is FAR from the type that gives out meds for the fun of it. He's a wonderful doctor. I got on the tramadol about 6 months after having my son, and it made me supermom and has since. Just like today, I have none left and I feel like a complete bum loser. I tried a few things from the Thomas Recipe/Amino Acid Recipe and I got extremely sick to my stomach this morning.

[FourJays]

I took tramadol for about 15 years, was originally prescribed it for lower back pain.  I was told it was non-addictive and non-narcotic, and was NOT told about the anti-depressant additive.  I don't blame my Dr. though, at the time he didn't know any different.  My tolerance grew really fast and was soon taking more than prescribed and dependent on it.  It was great the first few years; helped with the pain, made me SuperMom, SuperWife, etc.  But things went bad (not even sure exactly when), and I ended up having 4 seizures from overdoses.  I knew it was the tramadol, but was fully addicted by then and just figured out how to manipulate my dosing in order to avoid another seizure (that was about 8 year ago).  

For the next several years my health deteriorated and my opiate usage increased.  I ended up having cervical spinal fusion surgery last summer; at which time I was on just about every opiate available at one time or another; always in addition to the tram - never went without that one.  In fact, for me the "heavier" meds did not even work and I believe it's because of the tolerance built over the years by the tramadol.  I was on a fentanyl patch with dilaudid IV in the hospital and I still felt EVERY single movement in my neck - it was like a living Hell.  I was a zombie for about 2 weeks after the surgery; in fact don't even really remember it.  I had no problem getting off the fentanyl or dilaudid or the oxy; BUT I was still taking the tramadol.  Finally getting off that was another story - by the time I quit I was up to 40 to 50 pills per day.  I was forced into a c/t; an online order did not ship and I was left unexpectedly w/no pills for 5 days.  My Dr. was still prescribing them, but he had no idea I was also ordering online.  So - I just did it.  I had quit a few times over the years, even made it to 40 days clean once, but always relapsed.  I knew about the Thomas Recipe and used that and anything else I figured out.  I was 5 days clean when I told my doctor everything.  He was really supportive.  Then I found this site when I was about a month clean - it has helped to save my life - seriously.  I have about 4 months clean now and am feeling great.  

My story is an extreme.  But the tramadol problem seems to be getting worse; as people are becoming dependent after just minimal use and really struggling when trying to get off it.  In my opinion, the problem is the tolerance thing (it builds so fast) plus the anti-depressant issue - when you decide to quit, it's like battling 2 different meds.  Fortunately it seems that people are starting to realize this and many states have already taken actions to make it a controlled med.  I know there has also been a lot of cracking down on the online pharmacies.

So for you, the decision to quit now is great in my opinion.  Your dose is not that high so hopefully you will not experience severe w/d.  And it IS temporary.  You will have a rough few days, but you CAN do it.  Keep posting for support and help through the process . . . .

Julie

[bamamomma2009]

I take two twice a day. I've been taking two a day for about a week. Today is my last two...so I guess cold turkey is all that's left from here.
Thanks so much for responding and welcoming me. I need all the help and support I can get. I'd love to know your experience.

[FourJays]

Hello and welcome to the forum . . . so glad you found us!  I have personal experience with the tram evil myself and I can relate 100% to the energy thing.  For awhile they are like the answer to all of our problems, but in time they become THE problem.  So happy to hear that you want to get free of them!  You have been taking them for 3 years, right?  How many do you take per day?  Are you wanting to taper down or quit cold turkey?  I would be happy to share how I did it; just would help to know where you are starting from.  In any case . . congratulations on making the decision to get clean . . best one you will ever make!!!
Julie