ULTRAM ADDICTION

[Nicole620]

I've been addicted to Ultram for about 5 years. It was given to me for pain control w/ Fibromyalgia. It changed my life. I was able to get up in the morning without pain and go through my whole day and not hurt or feel like a lead weight was on my shoulders. It was literally a miracle. I just couldn't believe that I was pain free. But what I liked even more was the feeling that Ultram gave me. Carefree, happy, sense of well being, you know the rest. Well that was 5 years ago. I am 24 years old. I am intelligent, have a good family and many people who care for me. This is my "dark" secret. I take 35-40 ultram a day. EVERYDAY. I will go through 240 tablets (my monthly Rx) in about 7-9 days.  I order Ultram off the internet from a Canadian Pharmacy in between my doc Rx's So if you do the math I spend about 350.00 a month on those 3 weeks in between. I am going to literally poison myself to death if I don't get some help. I don't know what to do. I cannot stop, I've tried so many times that I have lost count. I literally cannot function without those pills. I CAN'T do it! My ex-husband and my current boyfriend (for lack of a better term) are the only ones that know for sure. That is, they are the only ones who have confirmed it with me after many times of seeing me reach for that stupid $%*@!$% bottle. My parents do not know, and if they do they haven't asked me. My mom is very sick w/ Multiple Sclerosis and is dependant on narcotics (high dose) to perform daily activities. There is a Hx of addiction in my family. The withdrawls that occur if I try and stop I would not wish on my worst enemy. I have been in W/D so bad that I thought I might die. Fever, chills, goosebumps, diarrea, weight loss, sweats, insomnia, tremors, crying, all of the worst things you can imagine I have been through. I want to stop more than I have ever wanted anything in my life. I would sell my soul to the devil to stop. But I've already done that in a sense, the day I started taking those stupid pills. The other day I went to the gas station to get some water w/ my boyfriend and I had grand mal seizure. I have had 6 grand mal seizures, all because of my inhabilty to stop this addiction. For anybody who questions the fact that Ultram can cause seizures, wonder no more. I beg of anyone who reads this for help. Any advise, any programs, I don't care if it's a natural remedy, I don't care what it is......help. Please. I look forward to the day when I don't have to worry about how I'm gonna get Ultram. Or how I am going to get the money to buy Ultram, or what story I will come up with to get my next refill early ( because trust me, I have come up with every story you could think of ) Any advice is more than appreciated. God Bless.

[momster]

Oh sweetie, I know where you are.  I want to tell you that I wish I was only addicted to Ultram.  I do not say this to belittle your situation or to make light because I have been addicted to those too & the w/d is just the same as with any narcotic.  I say this to you to give you hope & to let you know there are people out there addicted to substances so strong that Ultram addiction would be a welcome relief.  

I am a medical professional (not practicing at this time) & if it's OK, I'd like to give you some information on Tramadol.  You are right...it is NOT a narcotic, but it works on the brain the exact same way a narcotic does.  Tramadol (Ultram) is an analgesic just like OTC pain relievers.  This is why so many professionals thought years ago that it was a safe alternative to narcotics.  But because it binds to opiad pain receptors in the body, the body responds as though there were a narcotic on board.  It blocks the reuptake of brain chemicals (serotonin & norepinephrine) & changes the "message" it receives.  Basically, it blocks the brain from receiving messages that the body is experiencing pain & the potential for addiction is monumental.

I am so worried about you.  The fact that you are having seizures must scare you to death.  This is such a dangerous drug, because it is so misunderstood.  There are so many that believe that because it is non narcotic that it is safe & that addiction is not a concern.  I'm sure you already know this, but the maximum dosage of Tramadol is 400 mg/day.  I'm stating the obvious when I say that the faster you can get down to that dosage the better.  If medical detox is not an option, is going to your Dr. coming clean & asking for help?  I know that the fear is that you would be cut off, but any Dr. worth his beans would never do that.  They would however, start helping you wean off & could provide you with patches to help with the withdrawal symptoms.  Is this something you would feel comfortable doing?  If not another option would be to enlist the help of a trusted friend to hold your meds & help wean you off.  

I have a very close friend who destroyed her whole life with these pills.  She suffered a psychotic break while abusing  & now has to deal with manic episodes.  She basically scarred her brain permanantly by going to TJ to buy them by the thousands.  

I don't know if anything I've said has been of any help, but I hope so.  Good luck to you...
Momster  

[charliecallie]

Ultram is a very dangerous drug to go off of alone.  As an earlier poster said, you need to taper off this drug.  Right now you are on such a dangerously high amount that you will have more seizures trying to taper.  You MUST get professional help to detox off this drug.    Please heed the advice and go talk with a medical doctor.  Also, I would encourage you not to drive at this time.

[Flutterby111]

Very good information you guys....I'm really just so impressed with everyone here...both those reaching out and those offering help. (sorry about my misinformation...it's what my doctor said!)

[suppdawg]

I am a cronic pain suffer. I have been on and off various meds, duragesic, norco, ultracet, avinza. I went with the ultracet (tramadol) for quite a while under the myth that it was not addicting and that I would not have withdrawals if and when I chose to quit. This of course was not an accurate statement by the MD. Tramadol is very tough to quit and other than Duragesic is the toughest medication to stop. I suggest two things. First and formost you need to tell your family what is going on. You started with good intentions but pain is tough to deal with. Second you will need professional help because quitting CT is really not an option for this medication.  I actually would go to norco and work off of tramadol over the course of a week.  It wont be comfortable but easier than CT. Then you must work off of norco from there. After you have gone through 6 mos or so without anything other than OTC meds for pain you will get an idea as to what you real pain level is and if you actually need medication at all. I have been back and forth over the past 8 yrs spending about half of that time without any medications. I don't go back on them unless my pain is so bad that I cannot sleep, my activity level is reduced and I am truly miserable. I suggest you come up with a criteria today otherwise you will find an excuse to return to the meds within a few weeks of quitting. Pain sucks but the **** that comes with dependence sucks real bad.  Also you are 24 and are killing your liver with all of this medication. You will die of liver failure if you fail to take immediate action. Liver failure is a miserable way to die and I have witnessed it. Tell your family, make a commitment, talk with a MD and get a plan. You will be ok and much better off.

[worried878]

It is a synthetic narcotic....seems as though many docs do not know this...I asked for it from my pain doc and he pitched a fit a while back as he said it is a narcotic...he hates that drug and will not prescribe it....definited drug to taper off of...stay with someone while you do it in case of seizures...do not CT

[GoingToMakeIt]

You have to taper off of Ultrams. Dropping your dose every few days. You have to do this. Both the taper and getting off of them.

[Flutterby111]

I asked the Dr. for something Non-narcotic and that's what he gave me???!!!!  I'm confused then...WTF?  He had given me percs that day too, but to try to save face that I was fishing for just those I asked for something non-narc also and he gave me Tramadol....hmmmmmm......I wonder what's up with that?

[toxictome]

Tramadol IS a NARCOTIC, and IS highly ADDICTIVE!!!!

[Flutterby111]

Oh sweetie, though the drug is different, the story is so common here on the forum....started out for pain, felt great, lead to addiction.  I just went through horrid W/D's myself and felt everything you listed...I was on percocet myself, thankfully not for TOO long, but long enough to suffer.  I quit cold turkey and had I known the suffering involved with the w/ds I might have tried to taper-might being the key word.  I was so addicted, I don't know if I would've had the will power to do it...  I don't know that I have a ton of advice here, other than the words I understand.  I recently got a bottle of Trams from the Dr. as a "non-narcotic" option...but after my horrid w'ds from the good advice from a friend who's been through this, I flushed them too.  Because although I only had one bottle so far-I liked them also.  It's misleading that just because they're not narcs that they're not addicting.  You might need to ask the dr. for help.  You might need "treatment" or drug rehab.  It's crumby to admit.  I found myself at the ER one week ago yesterday because I was going out of my mind and sweating and everything else and I was so scared and helpless and depressed from the narcotics and withdrawls.  They referred me to a programs called EMACS that provides short term help to adults in crisis.  What insurance won't cover, they will.  My insurance doesn't cover any drug counseling or treatment period.  EMACS will cover that as well as pain management visits that my insurance won't cover.  I don't know where you live, or what they have to offer, but it's worth swallowing your pride and reaching out.  At least it was worth it for me....GOOD LUCK we'll be here for you....whenever.

[toxictome]

Welcome to the forum. This is a great place for help and
support. I have no experience w/ ultram..but that is a HUGE dose....
you CAN NOT go ct off these...can you go to your dr. and get help tapering?

Stay on this forum...this will bump up to  the top again...more people should be along.
keep posting...........

[confused456]

Sorry no one is on yet to answer you but I was reading through the posts and thought you may want to do the same. There are quite a few about Ultram, and much great advice!! Hope this helps a little for now until someone answers you who knows about it!! Good Luck to you!

[confused456]

I have no experience with Ultram bu thave seen many posts about it. It's early and many ppl are not on here yet. Someone will give you awesome advice soon I would think. Hang in there. I am here if you need to just talk. My DOC was Lortab, and sorry I can't offer anything on the ultram. Welcome to the forum!!