Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
6744073 tn?1384771150

how to get through Tramadol (plus other) withdrawel in one piece, step by step

hi,
actually found this forum by mere chance of desperation
whilst googling I came cross "Emily Post's Journal" somewhere here on the forum
this could be the linky

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/16030/Day-18-Cold-Turkey-Withdrawal-from-Tramadol

sent a distress call and Rosy and Heather directed me to here
please find below said destress call and maybe you could furnish me with some help
will also read more through this file etc

head is moodled/moddled up, hope the below makes sense

what is actually my question?
how to get through Tramadol (plus other) withdrawel in one piece, step by step

one thing is for sure: in this battle I will come out as the winner and Tramodol as the big looser

destress call
hi,

I am another one glad to have found you
thanks for keeping the thread going
am a few years back to you and slowly reading my way up but thought of jumping on here to let you know of how thankful I am to you all

am all over the place, vomiting, shaking, emotional, angry you name it

not quite sure if I am on day 2 or 5

but I started now to detox and I will get through it! I am stubborn! and this thread will help me through!!!

am/was on a combo of venlafanine, quetiapine, paracetamol, tramadol, quinine and zopiclone
for depression, chronic pain/fibroyalgia, ME, mscle spasms, insomnia etc

my (clever - not) idea was to come off the venla (plus quetiapine) because after years of taking them, they don't make a difference anymore and
"why "inhabit" a reuptake of serotonin when I can take something to increase it (5htp)?" was the thought and wondered why my GP (I think that is what he said at the time) said there is no such thing ...

successfully reduced more and more, no probs until reached a certain dose and than stayed on it for some time now

anyway, far to shakie etc  now

thought I reduce and will stop the venla etc and slowly start taking 5HTP
thought was good until .... I couldn't say what it was that hit me first

anyway, getting the shakes and sweats and vomiting etc I thought it might be to much serotine floating around and treading very carefully around the 5HTP now, actually only took 3 in about a week and stop now, no need to mess me around even more

didn't know that Tramadol has anti-d in it too and am shocked at what I read so far

stopped Tramadol now too, hence no idea which day I am but am rubbish therefore must stil be in days 1 to 4 ish
sorry, concentration on low and dexterity of fingers on keyboard a hit and miss ...
anyway
will continue to read and will get through
went through other withdrawels before but nothing close to this

because of the non sleeping I tried to ease myself of to sleep with  zopiclone last night but even after 3 (!) I was wide awake and I am very sensible in taking zopi and can go without for weeks etc without a problem

regardless of that my GP gives zopi to me very reluctantly ( because of withdrawel - not) but dishes out the Tramadol like sweets the brain zaps etc

my brain is all over the place and reminder of head frequently vomiting over the bucket

drinking sips of water to keep the vomiting experience of "wrenching out my guts" to a minimum
can rely on the "am I dying, or what? and when hopefully soon" - thought train
can't wait for it to be over

any ad hoc tips welcome

lots of love
Lulu

38 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
6744073 tn?1384771150
hi
the sweats are mostly gone, too have not much of an appetite
the constant headache throws me for 10 and makes me feel sick, not vomiting - no surprise I am not hungry
lost some weight - fit into my old clothes again - one advantage
Helpful - 0
2107676 tn?1388973859
I'm glad to hear you're feeling a little bit better.  I know the hell you are going through.  
I am doing okay.  I wasn't on Tramadol that long but I am wondering if that is why I still am having so many symptoms or if it's side effects from the pregabalin  I am back on now.  Still having sweats and not much of an appetite as well.  I'm going to give it another week and then talk to my doctor AGAIN. lol,
Helpful - 0
6744073 tn?1384771150
thank you

not much of an appetite but eat small amounts and it stays down
still prefere easy food like rice cakes and soup
agree: it is not worth trying to rush through and feeling absolutely rubbish
will see how it goes over the next week or so - might rather adjust to slower tapering than having to go through that again
lost some weight over the last few weeks - will fit into some loved clothes again - yeah
the exessive sweating has stopped

how are you?
Helpful - 0
2107676 tn?1388973859
How are you feeling now?  Are you able to eat and keep food down?
The slower you can go on the venlafaxine taper the better.  My doctor tapered me off too fast and I was in complete misery for weeks.  
You have been through enough so please don't rush it.  
Helpful - 0
6744073 tn?1384771150
hi Pat
thank you
it was all a bit mixed up and the withdrawal symptoms for both of them,  tramadol and venla, are the same

should not have tried to come off of more than one at the time

as to date
- I am completely off tramadol - yippie - for I don't know how many days
- still on venla - increased it a bit because I wasn't sure if it was tramadol which was still floating around and had a revisit or if the venla was to low in blood stream (I was impatient)

today will be the last day I will take 2 time 37.5mg/day
tomorrow I will start to take for two weeks
- day one: 2 times 37.5mg/day
- day two: 1 times 37.5mg/day
- day three: 2 times ...
- dat four: 1 times ...
until those two weeks are over
lets see how that works
should be ok and taper out that stuff further
would have prefered to be clean at the end of the year but not sure that will happen
found a box of venla in my medcine box - this one has capsules (I don't swallow apsules!) and in these capsules are 12 small tablets, will use them at the end time, each tablet contains 12.5mg
will also ask gp to prescribe me exactly them because of that

details about them:
venlablue xl 150mg, prolonged- release capsules, hard
(they also come in 75mg with 6 tabs and 37,5mg with 3 tabs) done by blufish
Helpful - 0
2107676 tn?1388973859
Hi Lulu
I just wanted to offer you some support. What symptoms are you having now?  I just want to make sure I understand.  You have cut your venlafaxine from 225mg to 112.5mg and also totally quit 200 to 300mg a day of tramadol at the same time.

I know how hard it is to come off of both of these meds.  The Venlafaxine withdrawal alone was a nightmare.
Helpful - 0
6744073 tn?1384771150
now I know what people say ...
the whole withdrawal symps are coming back
sick as a dog
anyone any enlightenment please
Helpful - 0
6744073 tn?1384771150
today's not so good
nausea, throbbing headache, pain in joints, brain zaps, sweating, light and noise sensitive etc
can't really point my finger to why
Helpful - 0
6744073 tn?1384771150
thank you 1ringmaker

FMS is one of those invisible conditions, nobody knows where they come from, nor what can cure them, even getting relieve is like a shoot in the dark

my two pence worth, what it is worth, plus conclusions of what I read plus personal experience is that:
it is genetic (in other words you can not "catch" it) and you either have it in your genetic pool or you haven't (if you haven't - lucky you); no idea if it might be dominant or recessive

lets say it is in your gen pool, you might be
a) a carrier only (pass it on to your children but will not be affected yourself)
b1) it is dormant
b2) it is "awake" can't think of the right word, might be active/activated?

whilst dormant it can be "activated" through ie trauma/stress/etc or God only knows why; could be as early as birth/pre-birth?

one might be able to handle the onset of some symptoms (of a certain strength) for many years (out of no knowledge awailable or called "growing pain"  etc) until more trauma/stress/etc  hits and than symptoms increase and so it goes on until diagrosed/break down/etc

I have not experienced a "getting better", rather a "coping better"/"dealing better" ; stress, not looking after myself, change of weather, etc make symptoms flare up (and down eventually) and overall getting worse gradually

regards of "body ... compensate for it", in my case I battled on for decades w/o pain meds etc and there was no compensation
I will not give up hope thou; maybe now coming off the tram and kicking the pain pumps into action will reveal something new

think that sums it up in a nut shell
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Fybremyagia is an autoimmune fluke. Either it was there and not recognized or is a modern condition.  That is one of those illnesses tbat you have to choose your bad days. Im in a wonder that if endured would the body eventually compensate for it. One would be hard pressed waiting for it to happen.
Lulu. Your a kick. Your logic train is pretty cool.
Helpful - 0
6744073 tn?1384771150
.. what I ment was
" on days when I am ok: rejoice and be glad"
Helpful - 0
6744073 tn?1384771150
getting lost in my one thread
and now I forgot what I wanted to update ...

yesterday
had some homous with the rice cakes, more veggie stock, more watered down soja drink and some herb tea
spent still a lot of time in bed with the electric blankett on
also (well done lu) started a bit house work
watched a bit of spooks on youtube

today so far
got lost seaching this site
my skin is itchy from the aggressiv sweat, especially my arm pits and under my breasts and my belly
light headache but at the same time brighter in head itms
frustrated yes (a bit b/c of the whole being "unwell") but depression wise not too bad
still can't look up (w or w/o tilting neck) or shooting pains run through head - but that's nothing to do with trams
sweating further reduced - but drank sage tea which suppresses sweating apparently
pain is barable but walking is difficult and painful and putting pressure on my feet is too
so one day at the time and sometimes one hour at the time
so far this whole episode taught me that patience and .......(can't find the word) maybe gratitude (?) and my handling these have to be rethought regards " it could be much worse (see this week) enjoy and make the best out of all" something like that

thank you for reading and for sticking with me and for posting
Helpful - 0
6744073 tn?1384771150
I am glad we do agree ...

Helpful - 0
6744073 tn?1384771150
thank you
I hear what you say and it makes sense with the pumps

where would you put the fact of fibomyalgia?
I didn' t start pain meds because of the high, therefore "occasionally" is not really the option except of course living with this pain (as I did regardless off popping the pain meds etc) letting my own body pumps do the job and only take meds occasionally
think I just went around in a full circle and convinced myself ...  and answered my own question with your answer

thank you

depending on if I am dependent or addicted
I know i.e. nicotin is a no go area for me
strange thing the brain
Helpful - 0
6744073 tn?1384771150
I know, still didn't get it
read your post again and you are right

when our bodies are send on holiday instead of producing pain relieve, no wonder then, when the artificial supply runs out, the tsunami breaks out
Helpful - 0
6744073 tn?1384771150
lol
finally this morning the penny dropped (I think)
you were saying down the line

when we go through a week of utter agony on w/d it shall be a doodle to manage pain w/o meds

thank you
wanted to reply earlier, went online and got lost on THIS site lol
so much info about so much stuff
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
So right and point well taken. I sometimes lose the line that seperates the two.
Helpful - 0
3197167 tn?1348968606
Good enough....totally agree.

It was important to make this differentiation since this is an addiction/substance abuse forum.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I will give that statement over to you because you diferentiate between physical dependence vs an addict. The statement I made was aimed at physical dependence, not abuse. If a person can use the drug as it is intended then there is no reason to live in constant pain.  If you take to much or for to long, your back to sweating a monkey
Helpful - 0
3197167 tn?1348968606
Gonna chime in here on this statement by 1ringmaker:

"Once you get a firm handle on this lulu there is no reason you have to live in constantpain. Occational meds to aalleviate pain is fine. Its the steady intake that sends the signal to your own pain pumps to shut down."

If you are an addict....and not just "dependent physically" on a narcotic pain med....I totally disagree with this statement.  Addicts can't "reverse" brain chemistry.  Not only will we pick up where we left off....our use will progress.  To tell myself "someday I can go back and take narcotic pain meds" is not a thought I ever allow myself to entertain~
Helpful - 0
6744073 tn?1384771150
that makes it clearer
wasn't able to read between the lines

hope my body starts producing  soon - my legs are on fire and kicking - took the meds for today already

rubbing my feet against my knees does distruct a bit - also the heat of the electric blankett

tired but legs keep me awake
not sure what to do about that
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You mean about what you've been experiencing?
Your body produces its own medication constantly.  When someone takes external meds (narcotics for example) the body stops production of its own. When you stop taking the external med your body has to go through the process of making it on its own again. The discomfort experienced during withdrawal is the time lapse between the external meds waring off and the body taking up the slack and making its own again.
My comment was simply that it astounds me just how much pain our body is in on a day to day basis and that a week of withdrawal shows us quite clearly what life would be like if our bodies didnt have its built in pharmacy.
Helpful - 0
6744073 tn?1384771150
forgot to mention
had a mineral bath today
it was needed
the sweat is so itchy, didn't wash hair - skull itchy still
still sweating but nothing compared with before
lost about 2 or 3 kg during the week
have now more thirst and "appetite" for liquid

1ringmaker, sorry I don't understand what you are saying in your second paragraph, please come again ...

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Not a problem at all. I think yoi have the physical park licked. The hard part is not falling back into the same trap. Once you get a firm handle on this lulu there is no reason you have to live in constantpain. Occational meds to aalleviate pain is fine. Its the steady intake that sends the signal to your own pain pumps to shut down.
What youve been experiencing is the restarting of your own pain devices.
It hard to believe that we are in that much pain all the time. But one week of withdrawal slams home that thought very clearly.
Imagine having to live like that constantly. .....
Helpful - 0
2
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community

Top Addiction Answerers
495284 tn?1333894042
City of Dominatrix, MN
Avatar universal
phoenix, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.