This is a journal to help manage my emotions as I go through the process of beating my addiction to tramadol. Hopefully this will go as a warning to others as well.Like most people iv read about online I started on them to manage pain after an accident. After a few weeks I stopped taking them fairly easily. So I really didn't think they were that addictive.
Anyway about four months ago I decided to stop drinking alcohol, the process was very hard and I stupidity I remembered how tramadol stopped me feeling bad emotions and so I started taking them thinking it was only a temporary thing. I felt great and had more energy than I could ever recall. The first week I hardley slept I just got things done and wanted to do things I thought I was a knew person and tramadol was my magic cure. Somehow one night turned into one week and one week turned into one month. I was now taking 10 a day.
After three months tramadolI seemed to do very little for me. thought since I had quit once I could quit again so after three months I stopped. after 18hours Iater I became really sick. I knew something was wrong. I read about how you could die going cold turkey and took some tramadol at once. At this point I knew I had to cut down and easy off them so I started trying. Only thing was I was feeling sick in the morning and by night time felt ok and repeated this process again and again.
For the last four days I was on 3 to 4 a day and I was really feeling the withdrawal symptoms. Sickness, hot flushes and anger bouts. Yesterday I exploded and started shouting at someone and ended up with a fractured thumb. The only way I can go now is cold turkey.
I took three tramadol yesterday and its now been 19 hours since I last had one. I can now tell you I hate them. I think unless your dying or critically ill they should be banned. I will beat this addiction and all the sickness it throws at me. I dont know why but I feel bettor outside in the rain. I am going for a walk and after I sleep tonight I expect the worst to be over.
How are you getting on Richie?
Damn this shows how severe the withdrawals are for high dose, and Richie was only only on them for 3 months!
When I stopped taking them after months of 50mg daily and a week of re-dosing at around 100-150mg daily (that seems to nothing to some i know), the symptoms I felt of stopping cold turkey were like a minor heroin withdrawal. Just feeling utterly restless, legs restless and twitching, unable to sleep, feeling hot and cold, scratching arms, curling up on bed, and feeling weird mood swings, anger and frustration.. then lethargy and numbness emotionally, and down/depressed as time went on.. I found taking low doses eased it, like 25mg, 10mg.. 5mg..
Hello richy i too im addicted to tramadol it was prescribe to me for my spinal arthritist i wish i could turn back time and never had taken it.. its been about 10 yrs at first it made me happier and gave me so much energy and blocked my pain. I was never told they were addictive i found out the hard way one day i ran out of tramadol i didnt worried about it i told myself I'll just take motrin. Well my body started feeling funny i had a runny nose i couldnt stop coughing i had sweats direah i couldnt sleep restless legs and couldnt get out of bed i felt like all my energy was sucked out of me. ok to tell all how bad tramadol is i tried suicide i was hospitalize in a mental hospital but their they still kept giving me tramadol for my spine pain but way less then what i took at home. Well i use to take up to 5 50mg pills at a time 3 times a day i was decided to go detox but God gave me the strength and with alot of prayers i started weining myself off it slowly today i tell u i only take one 50mg pill a day and some sleeping pills at night to be able to sleep and not feel the withdraws. i like you willl beat this addiction in a few weeks i would stop taken that one tramadol in the morning i hope to be drug free from this horrible pill soon. Good luck(
Oh boy! I'm on my 19th day from withdrawal from Tramadol and it's hell! I have spent most of this in bed as I'm too ill to do anything else. I've had ALL the withdrawal symptoms, and it's the same symptons as coming off any strong opiates. The first part is the worst and this can last up to 6 weeks! Then you have the post withdrawal to go through aka P.A.W.S and this can take up to 2 years! I've looked into this and can understand the damage these mind altering drugs can do over long term use! The Big Parma Industry know this and as long as they are getting their money they couldn't careless what damage these evil pills do long term! My road is a long one and I too am seeking help with prayer as there is not much out there that I have found to help apart from NA and I also spoke to FRANK. But as I see myself as dependent rather than addicted I don't fell the need to go to a NA meeting. I just need the support from the horrendous withdrawal symptons that the doctors have NO training or understanding off! I'm warning anyone reading this, please do research for the long term use of this drug, you will only know how it feels if you have been on these long term and are trying to stop! I wish you all well.
Much love x
Tramadol is so underestimated in regard to it's addiction potential. I've been on it for just over a year, and currently take between 800 and 1200mg a day. The times I tried to cold turkey it were unlike any withdrawal I'ver experienced, much worse than IV heroin withdrawal. The suicidal deppression and anxiety and darkness and panic and tears hit you very fast, I can handle opiate withdrawals but not rolled together with an SSRI withdrawal like that.
How are you doing JJ? Are you trying to get off? I hope you're ok and that you're able to manage your dose. It's always best to ask for help from local addiction specialists or doctors so that you can ease off of it and get a lot of support from friends and family. It's too much to do on your own.
as a ex methadone addict ( clean 4 months ) i can 100% understand were your coming from
tramadol works in a different way to normal opioids ... it mimics the way opioids work but does this by changing certain chemicals in the brain .. but this is what makes tramadol so addictive
it binds the opiate receptors in the brain but it also works in a similar manner as some antidepressant medications by inhibiting the reuptake of certain brain chemicals (serotonin and norepinephrine). These are two of several chemicals used to send messages from one nerve cell to another.
however messing around with serotonin and norepinephrine is a receipe for disaster ... serotonin is what keeps your mood stable and norepinephrine is the flight and fight chemical ( what keeps you alive for example when you have a trauma )
when some doctors say its only in your mind well their right,however chemical changes in your brain affect all your body
the only safe way to come of tramadol is a drawn out reduction program ... 100mg per 2 weeks .. however if you can get a 50mg tablet then this would be even better
i wish you well
How are you doing? I see your post was some time ago but I'm new to this. Any friendly advice? I'm in hell right now
My advice is to make sure you eat right, get enough sleep (by taking something if you have to), and control your blood pressure.
This will require a doctor's help most likely.
If your doctor refuses to help, find another one.
Just my opionion, but I went through hell because my doctor refused to help. I'm now permanently disabled. I'm not joking.