Ultram W/D, am I helping or hurting?

[moongirrrl]

Hi,
I've been on 300mg Ultram ER for a couple of years. I recently went down to 200mg on my doc's advice.
When those were gone too early, of course, I feined horrible w/d's and the doc gave me 20 short acting
50mg tabs of tramadol. I have taken 4 50's mostly in the early part of the day for the past 3 days. More the first day, actually, but it shouldn't matter. Now, I've got just a couple left, had only one  today. Starting to feel weird.
I've been taking a quarter of a 50 mg tramadol when I start feeling bad. Is that making things worse by prolonging
the inevitable, or should it help? Guess I need a crystal ball. Knowing these things DOES help...any advice is appreciated on help with the RLS and other horrible w/d symptoms...
Thanks for reading.
Lisa

[moongirrrl]

Hi,
I guess I forgot to mention I do MJ for pain. Another reason to get off of the ultram.
I did NA and AA both, paralell, I like to say. It saved my life. I live in a small town
and the folks here reject the idea of medical MJ, as many do. It's been a lonely path
around here lately...
Making a list for the store, looks like the Thomas Recipe is made up mostly of stuff
I have...YAY!
Lisa

[LeaAnn807]

You aren't going to bug, I swear!  The potassium helps RLS and leg cramps mainly.  I like bananas, but I ate enough to turn into one and didn't get any relief.  Then I was pouring my little one some apple juice and read the label.  Come to find out it's loaded in potassium!  The mag/cal is priceless as far as I'm concerned.

It does help to talk to people who have been through it.  When you feel like it, go check out an NA meeting.  I know that you have done AA with success with the drinking.  There is a lot of help in NA, like here, from people who have been through this.  I am finding great comfort there and here on the forum!

But let's get these WDs over with for ya!!!  They will be a distant memory soon! : )

[moongirrrl]

Hi,
I'll try the mag and calc for the RLS, for sure!
What does the potassium help with?
Thanks for being there, I won't bug too much, promise:-)
It's just nice to hear from people who've been there.
I was taking 5 different kinds of pills a day and quit them too,
about 7 mos ago...lexapro, tizanidine, buspar, ultram, and can't even
remember the other ones, lol...so I'm on a roll.
I can really tell the diff just being off the psych drugs, for sure!
I recently found out all my pills intereact w/ each other, I could've
died...
Lisa

[LeaAnn807]

Trazadone is an AD.  I would not take the ultram with it!  Ultram has an AD in it.  So too much seratonin, ok?  Don't take together!

With having so few left, you might just try to take part of a pill when you get REALLY miserable.  Ideally, you should do a slow taper to avoid sickness and WD.  I did CT, and that is NOT advisable!!!  

If you have had WD before, you know what to expect?!  It's yuck for sure, but you can do it.  Ultram has a long half life, so the WD may last a little bit, but hang on ok?  Don't give up.  Get in a bath as hot as you can stand.  Put some epsom salt in it too.  Immodium will help a lot.  Gatorade is really important if you have some.  Bananas or apple juice for potassium.  I found apple juice better and easier to deal with!!!  Magnesium and calcium come together in a supplement and it helps SO much with RLS and cramps.  I still take it!!!

Let me know if you need anything!

[moongirrrl]

Hi,
I have two and 1/4 50mgs left. I am only on 10mg ritalin LA.
I do have trazadone that was prescribed to me once, for this.
I really appreciate your help!
Lisa

[LeaAnn807]

Thanks and congrats on your 9 years!  That's great!

Tramadol is just evil.  I don't know how else to describe it.  First.....stop the benadryl.  Really!  I would have jumped off my house if I had taken it during WD!  Second, I know how you feel about going thru WD long enough to get a refill.  I did it for months!  It is worth the time it takes to get off this junk.  How many do you have left, exactly?  Enough to taper?  Do you have or take any other meds besides ritalin?  Avis knows more about this than me, but I don't think you should be mixing the two.  

It's going to be ok.  You will be helped here, I promise!

TH