Looking for support on quitting tramadol

[kawaii33]

I've finally admitted to myself that I have a serious Tramadol addiction. I started with a prescription from a Doctor after I hurt my back after I finished the bottle I was fine until about a year ago. I was given more Tramadol for another injury and have not looked back since. What was one 50mg pill twice a day has escalated to 6 1/2 50mg pills in the morning. another 6 1/2 around 5:00 then another 61/2 at night around 11 or 12. There was one day where I did not take them and it was hell I began throwing up felt all pins and needles I didn' t know why but after looking online I realized they are addictive and I must have been going through withdrawl. I do not have anyone to help me through this. I just moved across the country and am going through a divorce. I do not know anyone the only person I have talked to more then once is the checker at the grocery store and I really don't think he'd be interested in helping me. I used to be an outgoing happy active person. Now I am addicted to the energy Tramadol gives me yet I don't seem to do much after I take them but lay around. I feel I need it to get me through the day and yet everytime I take it I say I will cut back next time. Of course I don't. I need a group that can help me get through this. People who understand and won't laugh or look down on me If I say I only took 15 today instead of 18. I do not have the strength to quit cold turkey but I'm hoping by tapering down I can not spend the day over the toilet puking.
I appreciate any suggestions. If anyone knows if there is a support group for this. Any suggestions on how much I should taper down at a time. Just anything. I have to get my life back I need to remember how to feel things again I will do this and in return I will do my best to help others so they will not have to go through this struggle. Please help me.

[kawaii33]

Pill I am thinking good thoughts for you the pain is like no other and to think  we did this to ourselves. I feel so stupid sometimes I can't believe I let this happen to me. Always thinking I'm not addicted I can stop at anytime then finally realizing the drugs have affected me physically as well as mentally. It is a real eye opener.
Learning- I'd be intrested to know about nutrition and w/d I eat pretty well if I eat at all but what do they say more organic, or fruits and vegetables?
Thank you everyone for your posts you are really helping me. For once I do not feel alone and I can not tell you how amazing that feels. It gives me strength to keep on fighting this demon.

[LearningToCope]

Wow it is so difficult. How does someone taper off these meds without medical supervision? It's so dangerous I think. I've also heard that nutrition can play a role in alleviating the withdrawal symptoms and help with future cravings.

[pilljam]

Wow!!!!!! I now know what you all meant by not being able to sleep.......I'm coming off methadone by tapering with norco......Not working like doc said.....I couldnt sleep....I've had broken bones,back ribs,leg and nothing like this feeling.....It felt like I was in bed for a month and had a severe restless feeling... I cant even describe it!!!!!! Wow!!!! My heart goes out to all who are feeling or who have felt these things....Many had it worse and over came...So I'm staying hopefull that I can do it too.....I cant think too well right now but I'm glad there is a place like this where I can vent to people that understand and can help....
Thank you

[PillsOnMyBack]

I am so impressed with anyone who can self-regulate a taper!!!

I've tried that before with family members helping me- they'd lock the pills in one of those safes you can buy at a department store for like 40$ or so, and lo and behold I learned how to pick the lock pretty darn fast....

No matter what, do what I've learned to do from people on here- Make the mental connection that "Trauma"dol = POISON!!!!!

I was so afraid that coming off it I wouldn't be able to enjoy any of the things I did "high",  but I've found myself again.  I can still enjoy my favorite music, tv programs etc.  Right now my real problem is insomnia and anxiety attacks!

I really couldn't have done it without the clonidine, so I think that stuff is a god-send... just mah personal opinion.

Keep up the good work and don't kick yourself too hard if you relapse- each hour is another chance to get right back on it and try to rid yourself of it again.  That's something that keeps me going!

Cheers.

[rredsongz]

well done! you are doing so well. I found that if I am taking, say, twenty a day, it helps to cutdown to 19, then try keep at that level for at least a week, then cut to 18, and so on. unfortunately, I found that when I managed to get down to about 2 a day, I would binge on them and feel great, as my system had go used to so few that having 12 or so made me feel fab. I used to think that as it was a one off, which of course is never the case, I could goo back to tapering them he next day. No chance! I have been going round in circles for so long now, that I dont want to do it any more. Managed to only take 7 today, which for me is good, but my teeth hurt, as do my joints. It doesnt help that I have an awful cold too! I know I can do this, I just have to have the will, which so far I have been lacking. It is so good to know I have yr support kawaii, and will try to keep you motivated as it so easy when you havin a bad day to think oh well, a couple more wont hurt, but they will. Dont give up, feel sure it will get easier with time if we only stick with it.

[kawaii33]

Everyone has been so great with there support. I posted this on the other addiction forum as well and the response has been amazing. From what people have been saying it must be tapered. Cold Turkey is just not going to be possible. So all i need to figure out is how much you can taper at a time without going crazy. I was down 2 pills yesterday woo hoo! and also pushed my a.m dose back by 2 hours. Small feat but I will take it. I'm still cutting out a pill on my a.m and afternoon dose then i am really going to try to not take my 12:00p.m dose. I have some tylenol p.m and I am going to try to just fall asleep and wake up early and hit the pool. That is my goal today.

[rredsongz]

You know what, I ran out yest, and have been keepin the withdrawal at bay with cocodomol. I live in the uk, so thnk the drugs mentioned to alleviate withdrawal poss have different generic names. Had to pick up more tramadol earlier, as am CLIMBING THE WALLS!!!!! Pillsonmyback, there no na or aa here as im i quite a rural area, n have no transport, but just discovering that there is this whole online community dedicated to this is helpin.as is knowin 4 the first time that im not alone in this.Keep me  up to speed hun.xxx

[kawaii33]

rred I wish i was glad we are both struggling with addiction but I wish we weren't. However, I am so glad that I am not alone. I really was beginning to think I had made this all up in my head. The crazy thing I know I have an addictive personality so originally my Dr. had tried to give me vicodin I said no then percs I said no so he said Tramadol is safe its a non narcotic drug. So i took it. Not once did he say watch out it can be addictive or do not take this for a long period of time. He made it seem as safe as Tylenol. I am mad and when I beat this because I will I want to make people aware of Tramadol and the effects it can have if I can save one person from this hell it will be worth it. As for now I will take it one minute at a time. I've already taken 2 less then normal today and am going to try and not take my midnight dose. It will be hard but I have not choice I can not live my life like this it's really not even living it's surviving. I would love to be your support of help each other you can talk to me anytime. I need a friend and one that knows what it feels like would be even better. You can do this too!
Pillsonmyback.....thank you for the support you have no idea what it means to me to have people in my corner it makes me cry to think I am not alone anymore that people do not think I am weak and a loser for having this addiction. Having people understand and not judge feels like I have hope and really today it helped it I feel like I am not alone and I have not felt that way in a long time. So thank you so much you have no idea what it means to me. Know that you have really helped someone and you should be proud of yourself on day 11 sober that is amazing.

[PillsOnMyBack]

You really can do it.

Since you don't really have a support system I would recommend going to any Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous or SOS meetings you can.  They can really help in those first few days.


I don't think it matters how many pills you're taking a  day- its really the mental addiction that's the worst for most of us.

I do recommend using the clonidine- it puts out a lot of the worst symptoms.

Its weird though when I first start to withdraw I don't puke, I get ravenously hungry.   I'm on day 11 and I have gained 8 lbs- but I'm hoping its just bloat and umm, all the food I've eaten that hasn't come out yet.... wink wink.

The not sleeping is the hardest for me and for most others it sounds like.

Don't bother tapering if you don't have the self control- I never could- I'd always say, hell, I'll take my normal dose and then I'll taper NEXT time....and that went on for 5 years???

Having a pain issue doesn't help either.  The pain always feels worse the first month or so off any opiates they say.  I'm taking IBU 800s and Tylenol for my hip pain and am doing ok with that.

Seriously it sounds so cliche, but ONE DAY at a TIME.  Or sometimes for me, its ONE bloody Minute at a Time!!!

Feel free to write back if you need more support or whatev.

Cheers

[rredsongz]

wow. u have no idea how gd t is to hear of someone in exactly the same boat as me.Honestly, I thought th at ii was never going to come across anyone in my position. It like readin my own story, except in my case it wa prescribed 4 headaches. My intake varies from 5 a day when I have not many, to up to and sometimes even beyond 30.Noone seem to understand how terrifying it is being a slave to these tiny pills.My doc is aware of the problem, but as I still suffer from the headaches, is reluctant to give support in weaning myself off them, I referred myself to a local drug and alchohol support team. However, in 3 weeks, I have heard nothing, and even after countless calls, have managed to only be given a drug worker. I feel that they only have time to help those who shout loudest. Perhaps this would help u, although be prepared to push. I knoww exctly how it is when you say, tomorrow I will cut down. and of course it never happens. I'm lucky, in that I have a husband who was a street drug addict many years ago, and is supportive, however, I have no friends to speak of, and this isnt the sort of thing you can bring up with the mums on the school run! I have become a virtual recluse, I only tend to leave the house if I have to, and then only if pushed by hubby. I also take them when I have argued with my husband, as it enbles me to switch off, and I feel less emtional anguish. He is on the verge of leavin as most of the time i am so out of it on the tramadol that ALL the cleaning, childcare, cooking, falls to him. I am certain that if he wasnt here my daughter would never be att school, and I would probably lose my kids altogether. To thatextent, I am vry careful about what I say, even to the doc etc, as am terrified that if peopl knew the eextent of my addiction they would think badly of me, and feel incredibly isolated. I first realsed I had a problem about a year ago, when I ran out over a weekend, and couldnt sleep. I had an awful gnawing in the pit of my stomach, and was shaking, and sweating, and felt very fluey.Finally at abot 4am, I found a 10/500 codeine tablet, aand it alleviated the symptoms within twenty mins. I also dont have the strength to go cold turkey, and am finding cutting down impossible, if they are there, I take them. It is that simple. I dont know what to do, and find that drug counselling is all geared towards street drugs. However, I dont see the difference. It is only your dealer who is differrent. I believe that withdrawal only lasts about 3weeks, but even so, given that one pill will make it all better, the temptation is too great tonot give in. anything I can help you with, let me know, as maybe we can help each other.Maye we can gelp each other through this.. You look after  YOU, and do whatever it takes. I for one, want my life back.