Hi i am 23 and need advice I am scared to death something horrible is happening to me I got prescribed tramadol for bad pain in June 2014 I am still currently taking it and I think I am addicted I take up to 10 50mg tablets a day I waka up every morning with the intention of not taking as many but I always seem to do I just want some help in how I can come off these causing the least discumfort and withdraw as possible as I currently work have 2 children and no one knows of this except me! I am struggling of the best thing to do if anyone has any advice! Sorry if I sound like a total idiot
Lusalee - Tramadol is code for "Morphine" which is why it is a: addictive and b: a nigthmare to come off of!
Your best bet is to come clean to your Doctor as soon as you can and ask them to give you something to help with the withdrawral effects. If they're worth their salt, they will understand how this addiction has crept up on you as it is so easy to do! I do believe I took a note of something you can take - (just grab my iPhone - I put it under notes- hang on 2 mins) - Got it - Buprenorphine Patches. Your doctor must have heard of them! Failing that, they might even prescribe you a low dose of Valium for a short while to calm down the physical side effects.
I'm no doctor myself - just speaking from experience.
However, it's good you've recognised this after 6 months and not 6 years!
Good luck! X
I've been on 800 mgs of tram for close to 5 years tried to quit twice ( taper) but without something to take its place , quite touh h to resist...I wss drinking a lot for a couple years ..but I did stop that...just too destructive. Maybe medically assisted detox?
Thank you so much for your advice it means a lot I'm just too ashamed to go to my doctor I think! I wouldn't want to start taking anything else to replace it incase I became addicted to that as a replacement, I am absolutely disgusted in myself I take them and then get so angry at myself, I am also still in pain but that comes and goes I just liked the effect tramadol had on me gave me more energy I have 2 children and 2 jobs so energy is something I need but now I'm scared it's going to do me real harm! Just scared anyone wil know and be real mad at me!
Thank you for your reply it's nice to be able to talk to someone about it xx
Do you take 800mg a day? What effect has this had on you? Does it not kill you if you take it for that long! I dont want to keep taking it I'm just struggling because they are there not hard to get from the gp and the effect they have om me! But I don't want to die!
You have NOTHING to be ashamed about! Most Doctors (and, nurses too!) dish them out as sweets as it's the "in thing" for pain relief. What NONE of them do is explain how addictive they are and that's my main worry! They are a narcotic and should be treated as such. You are not to blame for this! You were in pain - sought advice - were given Tramadol. It worked. However, you don't sound as though you have an addictive personality or else you wouldn't be on here in the first place after only 6 months (I've read other posts on here where people have been on them for years - and, upping the doseage as they go along)
Your doctor shouldn't be angry with you - you should be angry with your doctor for not warning you to start off with!
Maybe, as you're still in pain and need to maintain 2 jobs and your children, they could prescribe you an alternative (non-addictive) painkiller.
Nobody should be mad at you - least of all, yourself! xxxxx
In pain? take Tramadol. No longer in pain? frightened of getting addicted? stop taking Tramadol. Oh Dear! the pain's back.
You take Tramadol to ease pain and it's very effective in most cases. if, and only if, you're sure you're no longer in pain without them then try a taper program lasting (so I've been advised) at least half as long as you've been taking them if you are a short term user. I persoally would be wary of substituting something else in their stead, even Ibuprofen is addictive, remember Mel Smith?.
I take between 6-8 per day plus amitriptyline for chronic back pain I know how you feel I asked my Gp for something else as tramadol was not strong enough for the pain all I got was tramadol again Make a appointment with your Gp again and say what you have here Patches may be the answer was or something else
I am going to try and ween myself off them first and see how that goes if I am still struggling I will go and see the doctor! I was never made aware of how they would affect me, or that any of this could happen, my doctor gives me 60 every 10 days I am still in pain but I think I would rather suffer than have the worry of what these are doing to me!
I don't know what damage I have done to my insides. I'm have never been addicted to anything before in my life.
I just want to be normal again if that's possible hehe! I hate this and what it's doing to me! I actually read somewhere today that tramadol is a class c drug I was never informed of any of this! I defo have the determination to do it just need to know how! Thank you so much 3zoe1976 your comment has helped massively and at least I know it's not something I could have controlled not knowing the addictive affects xxxx
Hi, and yes, you can stop the tramadol. It took me 3 months. I did a slow tapering proces with my doctors help. I hate to say this, but anything worth gaining will require a sacrifice. You will feel crapy at times, but the reward will be worth it. You can do it when your ready. You can do it.
Hey, you're not an idiot, you're just one of many people being abused by tramadol. The fact you've realised your in a jam and want to stop taking the drug is a massive advantage you have over it. 500mg is a big dose and tapering it down starting as soon as you can would be a good idea. You will be able to stop it and you will be okay. Make sure you speak to your GP and get medical advice, but you've absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, in my experience they hand out these pills like sweets with no information about it's true nature and the issues of addiction and withdrawl that go with it.
Look after yourself.
Neil
There should be some kind of warning for these types of medication, or a warning before the doctor gives you the prescription! Then at least that way you know that taking them will most probably lead to addiction! If I had been told I would never have started to take them, I have already started not taking as many. I have only had 150mg today with a plan of another 100mg before I go to bed, so all being well in a few days I will try and take it down to 200mg then 150mg and so on! I am going to need to tell my doctor at some point tho as I get another prescription this week for another 130 tablets. But I'm not actually that bothered because I don't want to take them I just want to get off them as safely and quickly as possible and get back to normal and not worrying everyday that I have taken too many and the u are going to kill me! Thank you so much for understand and not just saying oh well if you want to stop then stop or telling me how stupid I am! I wasn't sure that posting on here would do any good but it has so you all need to know that by doing something so little you have helped massively! Thank you xxxxx
Hi Lusaelee,
SO happy to hear you're cutting down already - on your own! Good on you! But, as you quite rightly said, you need to tell your Dr (can't believe how many you get given - just like that!) as it really needs to be addressed. Am really proud of you :-)
Also, valid point about there being a Warning about them! Couldn't agree more!
Let us all know how you get on tonight and tomorrow.
If you struggle tonight just send us a post for support!
Zoe x
Thanks zoe very much appreciated! I just feel so sh*tty at the moment don't know if it's withdraw or just the fact that I have let myself get in this mess. I am more than ready to stop taking them.. I am sick of worrying about dying sounds silly I know but if I carry on the way I am It won't be long I don't know how people take them for years on end not worrying about the effect and damage it is doing, I totally understand why they do it tho helps get through the day but is not good for you at all! I just wish there was a quick fix then I can stop worrying about it! I want advice from my doctor about the situation I have been putting my body in but don't want to tell them if you get what I mean! I take them and then I'm constantly worrying about it! But talking to you on here has helped massively and I'm so greatful, nice to know there are still people out there that don't just judge you straight away and that take the time to talk and help!
Xxxx
I have replied but it says my comment is under review! God knows what that means I'm just a bit worried about how tight my chest is feels like someone is sat on it, I don't know what is normal and what isn't, that is what scares me! Is there anyway I can be seriously hurt by what I have been doing? I don't know if or when my other comment will be posted but I am so greatful to have someone to speak to! Thank you xxx
Call Em Doc for advice ASAP! Don't panic - but, your heart shouldn't be doing that! Or, call 101 and ask for am ambulance. It sounds really harsh, but, they'll send a paramedic first who will assess you and ONLY if they think you need to go to A&E they will personall take you!
But, keep calm too or your heart will beat even faster with stress. Does that make any sense? xxxx
I have felt like this since yesterday morning, it's just tight when I breathe I don't know what is normal and what isnt this is what worries me! Without me telling my doctor I don't know if what I feel is supposed to be happening or not! Yes what you said makes sense I would defo be more embarrassed to ring an ambulance and tell them than just go and swe my doctor! I will see how I go! I will look online and swe if I can find symptoms of withdraw or something xxxxx
It's possible that you've reduced your dose too quickly. I've never experienced a tight chest as a withdrawl symptom but we're all different. A simple way to test this would be to take a pill or two and see if that relieves the tight chest symptoms. I know you are trying to reduce your intake but this would be a simple experiment to help find out if there's a direct connection. Beyond that I think it's a good idea to taper off much more slowly over a longer period of time to reduce/remove withdrawl symptoms. (Personally I went cold turkey which was effective but very unpleasant - I'm sure tapering would be a much more gentle transition).
Sounds like anxiety. It will pass. Remember, as time passes, it will get better. I still have issues with sleeping. Don't give up. I am so glad you took the first steps kiddo. Hoooray.
I am going to have to suffer at some point so I would much rather suffer than take any more tablets thaN I absolutely have to! I will see how I am feeling later on! Thanks for the advice tho much appreciated!! X