Coming off Tramadol after 2 years

Treatment and medication
1

Hi! I'm new here. I was on another forum but I don't seem to get many replies, except for 1 person a few times. Anyway, I had a

botched knee surgery that led to several other knee surgeries, that led to a total knee replacement at the age of 42. I was put on Tramadol & was told that it was not addictive, nor were there any consequences coming off this evil med. I was taking 200-300mg/day & decided to do a super taper down to 75mg/day. This was just over 3 weeks ago. The 1st week 1/2 was completely miserable. I had constant anxiety, jittery, Hot & cold & bad sweats, belly aches/diarrhea, constant sneezing & coughing. I went to my primary care doc to discuss this with him & ask for help. He put me back on Lyrica & gave me Xanax. I try not to take that everyday. The past few days I finally felt great & then today I felt like the w/d's were starting all over again. The anxiety hit pretty hard again today. I'm so frustrated with the set back. I was even thinking of tapering down 25mg (1 pill) this coming Fri. Now I'm afraid to do so. I just want off this horrible medications.

2

I've been on Tramadol for years now. I have Post Herpetic Neuralgia, nerve pain, and it can hurt pretty bad at times. I started at about 400mg a day and tapered down to 50mg to 100mg depending on pain levels. when I dropped doses at first I got all kinda of nasties so I decided to do a slow tapering . Its very addictive.

Each drop was 50mg done like this.... day 1. new dose, 6days old dose. 1 day new dose, 5 days old dose...until 1day new dose 1 day old dose, then 2days new dose, 1  day old dose, 3 days new dose 1 day old....and so on.

It worked for me but unfortunately I still need pain relief so I put up with it during the day when I can do other things but if I'm in pain at night I take 50 or 100 mg depending an pain levels.

3

Hi, Steve! So sorry to hear about the pain you have to deal with daily. I wrote for the 1st time on this forum yesterday when I was feeling much worse. Today was a great day, except tonight my knee is really bothering me. I contemplated even taking a Tramadol this evening but I'm glad I decided not to. Instead I took an epsom salt bath & put my TENS unit on my knee. I was having a little bit of anxiety this evening but nothing compared to what it's been. But still, it's an annoying feeling. With all that being said, I'm sticking with the 75mg until I feel comfortable enough to taper down. My main goal is to get off & stay off for a while, then take 1 only when I absolutely need it. At this time, I have no desire to take any more of my allotted amount. I certainly don't ever want to go through this again. I know I will also need pain relief sometimes. I'm actually finding that I don't really need around the clock pain meds. I hope & pray you get relief for your pain one day soon. Have you ever considered Lyrica? I'm also on that for knee pain. It's primarily for nerve pain so it couldn't hurt looking into.

4

I have been on tramadol for over 10 years and I am on the slow train to get off them I was taken 8 a day then went down to 4 a day then two now none but I have got pains all over my body I feel I have got,a,flu it's bad but I need to come off them to get a life free from tables 

5

Hi, Tony! That's a long time & I honestly didn't even know they have been out that long. It's not an easy drug to come off of but it's possible. Slow & steady. You may be going too fast.  I'm towards the end of week 3 at the same "super taper" I started at & it's just getting easier. I can still feel the effects of coming down off of them in the morning when I wake up, sometimes the anxiety starts about 3am but I push through it. I'm going to stay at the 75mg until the end of the month then taper down another 1/2 pill, which will put me at 1 pill/day. I've just decided to deal with the pain rather than to depend on a pull around the clock. Please stay in touch & let me know how you're doing..

6

Hi Tony

i have been taking tramacet or tramadol for 10 years after my foot was knocked by a car 12 years ago.

I feel like i have flu, insomnia, anxiety and worried about how i will cope but i am constantly telling myself i have to do this as i am sick to death of worrying every few weeks that my stash is running low and i need a prescription. It honestly takes over your life.

i am a normal woman with a Degree in Social Care , i dont drink or take hard drugs but i am a Tramadol Addict and i will be a recovered one.

I wish you and everyone else going through this hell right now all the very best in getting off these tablets

 

7

Hi, Julie! Coming off Tramadol has been one of the hardest things I've ever done, mentally & physically. I just weaned myself down to 1 pill (50mg) a day. I'm still feeling the effects of the w/d's but not half as bad as the beginning. It's a very slow process. Good luck to you. Keep in touch if you want/need support.

8

Gday mate a bit of advice , keep at it and give up . I have been on this poison for 11yrs   and lm loosing hope of ever stopping . I peaked at 1600mg per day and currently take 1000mg per day . Every year on this poison makes it harder to stop l can literally not function anymore without tramadol.  My memory is terrible l have lost most feeling of any emotion and l feel like my life is one continuos day due to the inability to sleep. I've tried suboxone  treatment 3 times but each time l stop l go insane because lve forgotten who lam of tramadol and I've been living in a daze for so long l get frightened  when l feel emotion . Anyway mate l can too you it will be much worse for you 2 years from now if you don't stop . Good luck 

9

Hello there, Ajl976! It's been a slow process getting off of Tramadol & I am almost there. I just cut down to 1/2 pill a day without any major side effects, other than some slight anxiety. I've learned that it will take about 3-4 days to be completely comfortable with the new dosage. I'll stay here for 2 weeks then drop it all together. I'm almost there & I can't wait. I can't tell you how proud of myself I am. I still deal with the pain but I'm finding that the pain isn't nearly half as bad after cutting back sos much, but it's still there. However, I'm coping well with it. I hope that one day you can finally get the help you need. So sorry for what you're going through.

10

I think Chris 26908 should NOT be able to peddle his drugs on here to desperate people who are trying their best to get off them!!!

11

Sorry sm1970 that wasn't meant for you.  Must have replied in the wrong place.

12

Hi, Linda! I've reported him many times already & this loser keeps coming back.

13

It seems strange replies can get deleted by a moderator but his isn't and should be unless he wins by sheer numbers of posts.  Oh well I guess theyre out there!!!

14

After 2 years of tapering off tramadol ..i am so glad to say am tramadol free now been 5 days since I took my last bit of tramadol I ended up taking a capsule apart and measuring the powder out ..but still feel a little shaky and bit agitated but it's bearable I came from taking 12 a day to nothing now ..all the best of luck to everyone that is getting off this drug you can all do this

15

Hi,i have used tramadol in 3years now for my neck n spine because of a car accident few years ago.Now I m on like 1000-1200mg/day.A Lot!!!

Before that like 8-9 years ago a had problem with my knee,football accident,and even then they gave me tram.I had it in two years was up in 1000 mg /day and i decided to quit,I thought that 3-4 weeks was enough to quit,do it slowly you know,but did not work 2-3 times.

Then after that I thought I must have enough tramadol for like 6-9 months to quit really slowly,because I saw what devil was in tram!

I contacted 5-6 different doctors and everyone of them gave me like 100 tabs for a month,every month and I started with 1000 mg/day.

First month I came down to 700 mg/day,no bigger problem and stayed there in one week,then I go down again to 500 mg/ day next month and stay there 2 weeks (two weeks 500mg/day)

,after that I go down like 100 mg/ every month,but every 100 mg down I stayed there in one to two weeks,after 6-7 months I was down in 50 mg and stayed there 3-4 weeks,was afraid to quit,always had a 10 tram with me like to be safe.

But it took me 9 months to quit,but you have to do it very slowly if you want to be free.

Now after 4 years had neck problem and eating tram again 1200 mg/day,and when i be better in neck I will quit just like the first time.

Remember this,just do it slowly in your own tempo and you will succeed!!! It s the only way trust me,I promise!

16

Hi Julie,

I’ve been on them for 11 years. I take 400mg a day and am just about to start a slow taper. 

I would love to talk to you more since you and I seem to be similar. I’m no drug addict either. I got tricked by this horrible medication and have been battling hard for a long time. 

I refer to tramadol as.......”Satan’s very own drug.”

17

Hi,I saw your story and I know exactly what you feel like,same here but keep strong and don't loose faith to quit tram.I have done it before from 1400 mg / day down to 0 mg. I took it extremely slow it took a like 6-9 months to quit.Hade a car accident and I'm back on tram after 5-6 years.And i will try to quit exactly same way I did it before,It s a hard thing to do,but I must try when the time comes.One thing I remember was that I have to pick a right time in life to that,have a lots of energy and will to quit,and that moment Must be the right,or I will fail. So just keep the faith,everything is possible.

Peace