Tramdol withdrawl...I feel very ill

[artistsandie]

I was placed on Tramadol for pain management 5 years ago. I did not abuse my prescription, in fact took less. Now as my health has improved i decided I no longer needed it. I never felt i was addicted, was i blind! I have weaned down and today is my fist day with that drug. What more do I need to expect will happen coming off this medication. I have never been involved with drugs or drinking so this is hard. I know no who has gone through withdrawals. I cannot sleep and haves huge waves of feeling like bugs are running on all my nerves. I sit in the shower   as long as the water keeps warm and make many trips to the restroom. How long will this last?

[wransomejr]

Just remember Summer, you cannot stop Effexor. You must taper like you HAVE to taper Tramapuke. Good luck.

[summer_2010]

Tramadol is an utter nightmare to get off from.. I have gone through the hell several times myself.. Was clean for 2 weeks, then I relapsed, was clean again and so on. In August last year I told myself 'this can't be it' and flushed my entire tramadol supply in the toilet.
Horrible depressions kicked in the next day and kept worsening over the next 2 days until I started to feel this emotional pain become physical.. this kind of pain you have when you are being told your mother died, if you are being told you have only one week to live. You get the point. A most intense stabbing emotional pain.
Needless to say I ended up staying in bed all day almost yelling from emotional pain. I perceived the next day as a black hole (the one that ***** you in and devours, kills you)
Additionally there was an awful tension inside me.

I ended up in the psych ward and only because I lied to the doctor about not having acute suicidal thoughts they didn't put me into the locked ward.

I was started on Effexor and within a week I started to feel better (Effexor is very similar to Tramal minus the opiate effect) WIthin a few weeks I was on 300mg of Efexor and started to feel human again. However this awful tension would continue to last for about 3 months.

Last month I had a strong urge once again to take tramadol and in a weak moment I ordered a box on the net after having been clean for 7 months. I thought my tolerance would be far down so i started off with 150mg.. without any effect. AFter a few hours I took 300mg.. only some nausea but no euphoria. The next day I thought F*** it and took 500mg in one. Some mild euphoria but quite a bit of nausea. But besides this nothing happened. The next day I had the mother of all migraines. The day after I had some mild depression.

I believe because the Efexor is similar to the Tramadol my tolerance towards this drug is extremely high and Tramal just doesn't work for me at all. This has been an immense help not to order a second box.

The Efexor is a far lesser evil than the tram. true, it's a kind of swapped dependency.. but a very controlled one. I'm not abusing Efexor as it's an Antidepressant. Every week I am taking out one small grain from inside the pill and therefore am allowing my brain to gradually readjust by itself over the next months and years.

High dose Efexor has been my solution after a series of major relapses and an escalating addiction.

I wish everybody out there a good recovery. It is doable!!! And remember.. A relapse for a day or two after many months doesn't f*** up your brain as much as the long addition did.. so don't worry if you ever relapse.

[wransomejr]

Sandie...My biggest fear is I have already fallen off the wagon, relapsed, whatever you want to call it within a couple of months of getting clean the first time. Staying sober is my real fear. Committing to a 12 step or counseling program...Grrr...but SOMETHING will have to be done, otherwise I will be right back at square one again. Thanks for that candle. I love the "light" imagery. Like the star that guided the Magi. Cool!

[artistsandie]

RANDY, will be here and keeping the candle burning. I am still haveing my challanges as well, yet am keeping the faith all will be over and under control in time. Of course not as fast as I would like, lesson in patience perhaps. Nothing in life is in greater need then yourself, this is the time for you to make your move for your better health, my hat is off to your courage and strength.  I am here and can not wait to see you make your day 1.
Blessings, strenthand mosy of al hope.
Sandie

[wransomejr]

Bless you. I told my mother when I woke up at 6 a.m. with my knees wanting to come out of their sockets Sunday would be the last of any tapering. Monday will be day 1. I am not going to worry about missing two post-Easter choir rehearsals and let that keep me postponing what I know I have to do. I am so thankful for wise advise, tough love, and acceptance. -Randy

[artistsandie]

Randy, you will find an outlet for your music. You are still young and have lots of licks to put down.  Well this tramadol was my first encounter with a drug dependency.  I did not really know I had it till I decided I wanted it gone. I know while I was starting the cut-back process I would find myself looking for reasons not to do it, throw it from my train of life.  I was scared of how I was feeling, that illness started in at about the 350 mg mark for me.  I spent hours just waiting to take the next pills so I might find some fitful sleep.  Then for me as you know that drag it out ½ pill a day thing was just keeping it ongoing.  I know you are a strong person, you’re also very sensitive as most artists are. I hope you do not feel 50 is over the hill, it is the start of something very grand.  Our bodies may be burdened with more than we had hoped for in youth, but you have now fine-tuned your mind with wisdom and enriched experiences and in your case add your music. How many you have given joy to. Now that is what you must do, get yourself healthy and stay on that path. You can quit the pills and heal your body.  I know it must be scary, I cannot even imagine if I had to face it again, but I would do it again as I need to have charge of my life.  I want to be accountable to only myself and the higher source. Believe me I sent up many requests the past few days, but the answer for me was “I am better than this drug”, “I will not let it control me at all”, “I banish it from my life”. I guess in a way it was a type of mantra I just said it over and over.  You have yours, use your force and get mad at the drugs and go into it fighting and knowing you will win. I would love to see you on your 50th, free and in control.  I do not know any right words to use here, but I will be here and you will be in my thoughts and prayers. I light a candle for you tonight Randy so like me we can both find our way out of addiction. Away from the darn pills and such, to a healthy life. I send you all the good thoughts I have.  Bless you and keep you strong and safe.
Sandie