Addicted To Tramadol For Five Years - Ready To Withdraw, Have Questions

[dgs333]

Hello all, as the title to this post states, I am a 42 year old male and have been addicted to tramadol for five years. During that time I have actually quit twice, only to be seduced back into using. I discovered tramadol at the tail end of a bad marriage and continued using it after the divorce to help with a painful time in my life. I did not need it for pain, but the euphoria I got it from it was incredible and what I craved.

I find it hard to believe I have been through the hell of withdrawal from this drug twice, only to start using again, the psychological pull this drug has is very powerful for those who get hooked to it for that purpose. It has been about 2.5 years since I last quit, and of course over time two things have happened: one, my usage has gone way up (about 1,100 mgs a day), and two, the euphoric effects have gone way down. As a matter of fact, I don't even get high from this drug any more, it's more like a numb feeling, but far, far from the high I used to get when I first started using. I am sick of using this drug, I am tired of the thousands of dollars I have wasted and continue to waste purchasing it, and I'm tired of being numb all the time.

However, what really convinced me I need to quit is an encounter with new woman in my life. Tramadol, has done a dozy on my sex drive, ability to get an erection, and ability to maintain one. Additionally the quality of my erections are poor, and my orgasms are un-fulfilling. I know this from masturbating only, as I have not been with a woman in the five years I've been divorced. This was strictly by choice, as the opportunity presented itself to me many times, but tramadol also kills the libido. Well for the first time in five years I have finally met an amazing woman and we tried having sex this Saturday evening and it was terrible, I lost my erection during the act! It took a lot of sweet talking and apology to make her understand it had nothing to do with her. It was at that point I realized, not only do I need to quit tram for myself, but for anyone I ever hope to have in my life again as a wife/girlfriend.

So, I have been doing a lot of research and have discovered the following and would like advice from all/any who have tried any of these to get off tramadol:

1. Kratom
2. Withdrawal-Ease (http://www.withdrawal-ease.com/)
3. A combo of a strong internal cleanse, with the addition of SAM-e tablets (S-Adenosyl Methionine), and adrenal gland support (Gaia herbs makes a great product)

This will be something I do alone and am hoping for the fewest withdrawal symptoms possible with the quickest recovery time. Any suggestions and additional help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

[dgs333]

Hello tramhater, apologies for the late reply, but after posting my message, I decided to just quit the hard way, cold turkey. I spent a great deal of time thinking about whether I should taper or quit cold turkey, and I went with the latter. I really believe I made the wrong choice...

It has been 12 days now since I quit and only now am I starting to feel like myself. The hell I experienced the first time I quit was NOTHING compared to what I went through this time, as my usage went up significantly from the first time I quit as I originally stated. First time I quit I was taking maybe 9 a day, now it was between 22 and 25 a day, and let me tell you, the more you take, the harder it is to quit cold turkey.

Basically everything I experienced the first time around was amplified this time to 11 (Spinal Tap reference). Wow, non-stop diarrhea, non-stop chills/sweats (my sheet and blanket were soaked through night after night, and I was too weak to clean/change them), constant sneezing and runny nose, extreme lethargy (walking to the bathroom was an effort), spacey and foggy, and very strange emotional ups and downs (plus some of the strangest, trippiest dreams I've ever had). This drug does a number on you big time. I have to imagine what I went through the first week must be what it's like when a heroin addict quits cold turkey. Honestly it was a living hell I wish to never repeat.

I can't tell you how relieved I was to finally go to the bathroom and have a hard bowl movement, I thought I was never going to get there. Pepto Bismal did NOTHING for me. I had to force myself to eat (thank God for a microwave, I was too weak and spacey to actually cook anything) because I completely lost my appetite, and anything solid gave me the runs for about four days straight. I had to force myself to drink lots of water because I knew I was getting dangerously dehydrated from all of the sweating and diarrhea.

I am EXTREMELY lucky I'm an independent contractor and was able to afford to take this kind of time off to detox. Had I been working a normal job I would not have been able to do this. I personally believe it's only because I live an extremely healthy lifestyle outside of the tram usage (no drugs of any other kind at all, no alcohol, all natural foods, multi-vitamin and mineral supplements including: milk thistle, adrenal gland support, omega 3, Co Q-10, etc.) I have been able to recover in "only" 12 days. I'm still not 100%, and at times feel like I'm thinking in slow motion, but I can honestly see an unhealthy person taking three weeks or more to quit with the kind of usage I was at.

Lastly I just want to address two things; the first being the statement I made at the beginning of my comment. Should I ever find myself using this drug again (once an addict always an addict) and need to detox, the horrible experience I have had with the cold turkey method will be inspiration enough for me to taper. Logically thinking about it, it took many years for my body to be able to accept such a high dosage of tram, and therefore I believe it quitting should be done in a slow fashion as well. Not years obviously, but I not only is it hell to quit cold turkey, I believe it could be dangerous. I'm sure tapering is not easy, but there is no way I will believe it's nearly as painful if done correctly, as cold turkey. I pray to God I have the strength to stay clean and never need to find out.

My second comment addresses your user name. There is no reason to hate tramadol, the drug serves a useful purpose when used responsibly and for its intended purpose. I do not hate tramadol, I hate myself for believing I need a chemical stimulant to feel good. I firmly believe anyone who says they hate a drug they have become addicted to, is pointing the finger in the wrong direction, and is not taking responsibility for the addiction itself. It's not the drug, it's you (figuratively speaking).

Thank you again for taking the time to comment on my post, and all the best in your future as a tramadol addict.

[LeaAnn807]

Hi!  I detoxed from tramadol several times.  The last time was last March.  I basically felt like I was dragging concrete blocks from my feet while walking through thick mud....for about a month!  And that was after the week of pretty  bad physical stuff.  I didn't use any of the things you asked about.  I would not suggest Kratom from what I have read about it.  The WE?  Know nothing about that either.  The internal cleanse?  You're going to get that no matter what you do.  Not to sound harsh or gross but you definitely will be cleansed! : )

I went to my doctor and told the truth.  He gave me some medicine that was not habit forming in ANY way that helped me for those first few hard days, but nothing will stop it completely.  I didn't sleep well for at least a month.  I got maybe 3 hours a night....an hour at a time probably.  It was pretty miserable, but if you've done this before, you already know that!  

The best thing I can recommend is talking to your doctor.  You are on a pretty hefty dose, and you need to get off of it ASAP.  I went cold turkey from about 15 tramadol a day.  It wasn't pretty, but it was over quickly!   I think that, from what I have read, tapers are somewhat more comfortable, but you will likely be in WD the entire time of the taper.  I wasn't willing to do that!  Either way you need to speak with a doctor.  We can help with everything else here as far as support.  If you go to the health pages, you will find Thomas Recipe and Amino Acid Protocol.  Read them.  There is really good information there.

Good luck to you!  I hope you do this.  It's really worth it!!! : )  Let me know how I can help!