Happy Saturday Everyone,

I am struggling so bad with this ultram. Ellnsync, I don't know how with your addiction history you manage to keep your ultram intake to 200mg a day. I have, as I've said before, a truly unlimited supply of it. And if that WOULD ever run out it's so easy to get and so cheap on the internet. I have chronic pain issues with my "corrected" scoliosis and all the hardware that entails. I have a new scoliosis above the correction in my neck and a degeneration of the L5-S1 disk from trying to hold the weight of this massive fusion. That causes sciatica. I exercise by walking 3 miles a day, unless it's too cold out. I help myself! by doing everything they taught me in physical therapy. But the pain is still there. I take way too much ultram. I'm up to 600mg a day. I'm definetly addicted. But it helps me so much in so many ways. The anti-depressive qualities are definetly part of the problem and it also knocks the socks off the pain. I would never cross over to any other narcotic. I'm so worried at this high does about seizures. I have 3 kids who I drive around all the time to their respective activities..what if I had a seizure while driving? They could get killed! All over the ultram. But yet I keep taking it. So stupid! If I could even taper to the allowed dose of 400 mg I would feel better. And then I would start taking the small dose of Pamelor again that I'm suppose to be on at bedtime. I read that tricylclic anti-depressants, which Pamelor is, increases the chances of seizures so I stopped taking it. Now my sleep is messed up without it and that increases the pain. I've simply got to do something about all this...

BW

Happy Saturday Everyone,

I am struggling so bad with this ultram. Ellnsync, I don't know how with your addiction history you manage to keep your ultram intake to 200mg a day. I have, as I've said before, a truly unlimited supply of it. And if that WOULD ever run out it's so easy to get and so cheap on the internet. I have chronic pain issues with my "corrected" scoliosis and all the hardware that entails. I have a new scoliosis above the correction in my neck and a degeneration of the L5-S1 disk from trying to hold the weight of this massive fusion. That causes sciatica. I exercise by walking 3 miles a day, unless it's too cold out. I help myself! by doing everything they taught me in physical therapy. But the pain is still there. I take way too much ultram. I'm up to 600mg a day. I'm definetly addicted. But it helps me so much in so many ways. The anti-depressive qualities are definetly part of the problem and it also knocks the socks off the pain. I would never cross over to any other narcotic. I'm so worried at this high does about seizures. I have 3 kids who I drive around all the time to their respective activities..what if I had a seizure while driving? They could get killed! All over the ultram. But yet I keep taking it. So stupid! If I could even taper to the allowed dose of 400 mg I would feel better. And then I would start taking the small dose of Pamelor again that I'm suppose to be on at bedtime. I read that tricylclic anti-depressants, which Pamelor is, increases the chances of seizures so I stopped taking it. Now my sleep is messed up without it and that increases the pain. I've simply got to do something about all this...

BW


WOW you have a huge addiction and need to go to a DR> ASAP

That is the very LAST thing I plan to do, bluejulie.

BW

I know how you feel, I used to be hooked on 15-20 ultram a day even while I was doing other drugs I had to have my Ultram. I think the W/ds from ultram are among the weirdest and the worst. I actually was even still taking ultram when i started my suboxone maintenance a lil over a month ago but found out I didnt need it no more. There has been many times when I was clean for a long period of time and thought I could start taking ultrams again and it got me started back on everything else and worse off then before. Another thing I find odd is when I was strung out on the 15-20 ultram a day, when I ran out and became sick hardly any drug could help besides morphine and methadone. Oxy would help for about 4 hrs than Id be sick again. Even the meth and morphine only helped a lil while. I would have horrible headaches, tremors and all kinds of uncomfort things happen when I W/D from them. I think that has to say something about the drug how it takes heavy narcotics to replace them. Hydrocodone is out of the question for helping withdrawls from ultram, doesnt help hardly any. I think there is a lot that the medical community doesnt know about tramadol but they are starting to find out. Anyway, just sharing my past experience with this drug and how hard of a time I had with it. Good Luck !

You can try changing to the ultracet. They are less addictive and less likely to cause seizures. I have done that before and you will be slightly sick for a day or two then 2 of them 3 times a day will help you fine if you can discipline yourself to take as directed. I have no discipline but when I went to jail one time I had already ate all my ultrams and I had my grandmother pick up a script of the ultracet from the pharmacy and bring them to the jail. I believe after about a week I was used to the ultracet and they helped me. But, when I got out I went back to the ultram lol. Just a suggestion man, I know what you are going through

HI

Sorry you don't like my suggestion. But when a person says things like:

"I'm so worried at this high does about seizures. I have 3 kids who I drive around all the time to their respective activities..what if I had a seizure while driving? They could get killed! All over the ultram. But yet I keep taking it."

AND:
I've simply got to do something about all this...

The first thing that popped into my head was, maybe this person should
seek some medical attention.
Was not trying to be critical, or even rude.
Just a suggestion.
I have had a horrible addiction to Lortabs and I ended up having to
go to a MD to get on methadone.

Whatever you choose to do, I wish you the BEST.

Oh geez, bluejulie, I can see that my answer came across wrong. I can't go to my doctor because he just wouldn't take it well! There are many more reasons but I won't go into it all right now. Suffice to say that won't work. If you search under my name I posted a letter when I first found this board with more details about why I feel like I can't share this with anyone. I have considered going to a suboxone doctor in a town near ours.

When I look at the part of the post you referenced I realize I'm probably overstating the severity of my problem. The allowed max for ultram is 400mg and I do some days reach 600mg, but that would be during the night if I'm having pain. During the day when I'm with my family I probably don't exceed 300-400mg. I don't have side effects from ultram other than sleepiness, but that can be solved with a diet coke or coffee. Ultram IS really addictive contrary to what the literature says, but one thing about it is it doesn't hold the side effects that some narcotics do. If I could take a regular NSAID, I would! I have an ulcer from too many of those for too many years.

Ever since I read that ultram can cause seizures I worry about that. I read though that the lowest documented dose that induced the seizures was 800mg so it's probably not a realistic fear. It's just a really scary thought.

Thanks Jon and bluejulie for the responses. Jon, did you really take 15-20 of these? That would be like 1000mg...now that would worry me!

BW

Oh geez, bluejulie, I can see that my answer came across wrong. I can't go to my doctor because he just wouldn't take it well! There are many more reasons but I won't go into it all right now. Suffice to say that won't work. If you search under my name I posted a letter when I first found this board with more details about why I feel like I can't share this with anyone. I have considered going to a suboxone doctor in a town near ours.

When I look at the part of the post you referenced I realize I'm probably overstating the severity of my problem. The allowed max for ultram is 400mg and I do some days reach 600mg, but that would be during the night if I'm having pain. During the day when I'm with my family I probably don't exceed 300-400mg. I don't have side effects from ultram other than sleepiness, but that can be solved with a diet coke or coffee. Ultram IS really addictive contrary to what the literature says, but one thing about it is it doesn't hold the side effects that some narcotics do. If I could take a regular NSAID, I would! I have an ulcer from too many of those for too many years.

Ever since I read that ultram can cause seizures I worry about that. I read though that the lowest documented dose that induced the seizures was 800mg so it's probably not a realistic fear. It's just a really scary thought.

Thanks Jon and bluejulie for the responses. Jon, did you really take 15-20 of these? That would be like 1000mg...now that would worry me!

BW


Oh, okay, sorry if I took it wrong; I don't know all of your details because I have not read your previous posts.

If you can't go to your regular dr. maybe you could find a different one?

Sorry, I know I am no help.

I wish you luck though, and I hope all goes well for you!

Keep us posted please!!!!!!! :angel:

Yeah I used to get 2 seperate scripts of 180 at different pharmacies and then I would buy them off the street when I ran out. I was pretty bad on them. Actually I went into w/d from them it felt like a seizure was coming. That is a huge dose but it did take me 5 yrs to get there. But, I would have to say I only required about 13-15 of the name brand. The kind I usually got was the generic. Suboxone is the only drug in my opinion that will satisfyingly replace the ultram. Now but in reality that is a much stronger medicine and it is more expensive and harder to come off of. True, ultram w/ds can be uncomfortable,but they are short-lived and usually only take about 3 days to totally get over. With the dose you are taking they wouldnt be bad at all especially if you tapered down and/or used ultracets. I think suboxone is a great drug for people who has been using heavy opiates and IV drugs for a long time. Ya see, I was also on IV morphine and Oxy along with the ultrams so I had a pretty hefty addiction. I dont think suboxone is right for you, especially maintenance because you will only take on a stronger addiction then. And like I said before, it is expensive, even with insurance. If I was you I would switch to the ultracets and taper yourself down if you wanna totally come off them. If you still need something everyday, 6 ultracets a day would be a safe and minmaly addicting dose. Anyway, just offering some suggestions. Very few have had experience with ultram but I have been on and off them for a long time. But keep in mind, this post is only my opinion and I am not saying anything for a fact so make up your own mind.

Hey BW!
It's funny you should be talking about these blasted pills today! My dosage was not 200mg, but 100mg. (2-50's a day). Until recently, I should add. I have recently completed major dental work, and rather than take the narcotics that he prescribed (I did need to a few times during the worst of it), but for the most part just opted to take an extra Ultram here and there, since my doc were always narcotics. Well, the dental work was completed on Thursday and I am finding it so hard to go back to the 2 per day (100mg). My body is screaming for that 3rd one! So today, so far I have taken 2 1/2. Now, I have detoxed from some heavy duty drugs in my time, (including methadone, zanax, opiates) but find there is something about these little "non addicting" pills ~ like they wrap themselves around the opiate and seritonin receptors extra firmly, making it SO uncomfortable even to taper by 1/2 tab! Since learning of it's addictive properties, I have tried a couple of times to take a little less,taper by 1/2 or so and for me it's almost impossible. For me, it's the depression that is the worst. I suffer from clinical life long depression anyway. Fortunately my level of pain is low enough that 100 mg per day does the trick, but there was once a time, when I only took 50mg. So tolerance is at work here.

All I can say to you is to give a small taper a try. Your maintenence dose is higher than mine, so the % of a decrease would be less. Try taking 1/2 tab a day less, till you get to 400mg, and supplement with Advil or tylenol while you do this. See what happens. That's my plan. I'm gonna try to get back to 2, though I know it's not fun. something I learned in rehab, when I went back 10 years ago to give up smoking (yes, smoking) was that to kick an addiction, bottom line is HAVING THE WILLINGNESS TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE. And even for myself getting back to 2, I'll have to have that willingness.

You know, left to my addictive nature, I could easily pop these pills a few times a day. My doctor prescribes more than I take. I definitely would feel an emotional lift (I do, even on 2-3 per day). I think being a long standing member of AA, (16 years clean and sober) is what keeps me honest and reminds me daily what could happen if I opened up the gates of H**l and started popping pills for the sake of an emotional high~even ultram. Scares me so! I think my fear of re-addiction is what keeps me honest and working hard to maintain this low level dose. EVEN though the addict in me will always wants MORE!

Btw, I did speak with an addictionologist once about sub for Ultram w/d, but it just seems like an overkill FOR ME, to trade one addicting drug for another very addicting drug, which will be just as difficult for this addict to get off.

Wishing you the best, and still wishing you would get some outside help. Not many of us can battle this beast alone!
El

OK, so what I think I'm hearing from you all is that suboxone is not a good way to deal with ultram. So that wouldn't be a good option for this. I guess I was thinking that if I ever really just wanted OFF all at once that it may be the way to go. This is really a hairy problem(as they all are)..if I get off the ultram what will I do about pain? I don't know what to do...I guess the best thing is to taper back down within the allowed limits which is 400mg, knowing I might feel some "blues" as a result, but at least that would eliminate the worry about the seizures. Ellen, you said it really well...ultram just screams at you to take more..it practically eliminates depressive feelings..and of course that's not why I'm taking it. It also helps a great deal with pain. But now that I've been taking it so long I get those depressive feelings if I don't take it. And I never even suffered with depression prior to this. Maybe a little bit of blues here and there but not all out depression. And I do find myself reaching for it too often when it's not time etc.....

Thank you for your help! Ellen, you sound like you really have a great grip on things and I know you'll continue to have the willpower to get that ultram dose where you want it.

BW

BW, Ellen, et al

What is really scaring me about all I've read on Ultram over the past year is realizing just how many posters on this Board have been prescribed it as a NON-addictive drug. I have some friends here, who no longer post very often, who were prescribed it INSTEAD of opiates. Listening to you, Ellen...and BW...it just reinforces how dangerous Ultram actually is.

For me, too, depression has always been a factor in my pill taking....and is, I know, in many, many others.................. I realize how lucky I am that I was never prescribed Utram for my back pain, etc. At least I KNEW the opiate drugs were damaging. But if I had been prescribed a drug I was told was non-addictive...and then discovered that it alleviated my depression...I would have leapt at the chance to take it. And I just know this has now happened to so many others. Why in the world is it taking the PATIENTS to inform their doctors that the drug is addicting...and not vice versa!!

At least with the Subutex I am taking, I have been told in advance by my addictionologist that, although it is allowing my brain to heal from drugs, I will still have to wean off it very slowly to get it off my receptors. But, in this time I am taking it...my brain IS healing from drugs. Unlike Ultram, which appears to have the exact same problems as opiates in the way it sticks to those receptors. (Ellen, you HAD to take something to help you thru your dental pain...so please don't be hard on yourself for overstepping the Ultram with that extra amount. You are doing so much to keep your dosage down. And I think you are so strong to be able to do that!)

BW, I will go back and check out your first post, so I can read more about you. But I do want you to know that there are so many posts in the archives here from totally unsuspecting Ultram users, like yourself. (Try the Search feature here. Just type in "Ultram"--the Search button is between New Posts and Quick Links, on the top of this page.) As I mentioned, some of my special friends on the board here, were taking Ultram...thinking they'd "beaten" their drug addiction!!!

Good luck to you and please keep posting. I'll check back. :-) Lynn

PS Ellen--totally off the the subject...what do you think of The Gates? I'm afraid that other than from a lovely, curving, aerial view (which I can get from my office, overlooking the southwest end of Central Park), they seem a bit severe, when walking thru them....and rather make me think of hospital curtain dividers! LOLOL!! On the other hand....the orange (pardon me...I mean the "sapphron"!) looks lovely against a stormy sky. :-)

I have had a ***** of a time getting off of these. I was taking up to 30 50mg pills a day! I loved the energy it gave me and I felt on top of the world! I was able to get sooo much done. I am now down to 1 50mg tab a day and starting tomorrow that goes as well. This is the closest I have come in a long long time. I as well have been in WD's from some serious heavy duty opiates and methadone. These are no picnick! I have had real bad WD symptoms! I find them to be much worse than alot of the narcotic pills. It can be done with a taper though. I mean, if I could get from a 30 day a habit down to nothing, You should have no problem. You just have to stick to it no matter what!!! good luck!

Blurayne,

MY HAT IS OFF TO YOU!!! Good job getting off these. To go from up to 30 a day to just 1 and now soon NONE is just amazing. You must really have wanted to do it and I am so glad to here you were able to follow through.

I am really not sure I have the strength you have. I know how bad and addictive this medicine is but I also have unlimited access to it..I have a huge stash of it due to a computer glitch with my mail order last year. They just kept sending it and sending it...360 at a time. The bottle said 99 refill left. I guess that would be a dream for some but for me it gave me the extra burden of having too many and no "I'm running out..I'd better do something" type incentive. I also have another script for this whole year I haven't even filled and that script is for another 360 plus 3 refills. And we all know you can buy this all over the internet for very little.

I find myself taking them for any little reason. Yes, I have legit pain issues but I've really crossed the line with it. I started out like so many using them correctly and for me I didn't even know for quite some time that I was addicted. After a year or so of that I slowly realized that I was at the point that I needed to take them just to feel normal in the morning. Oh..I could go on!!!

Nothing REALLLY bad that I can see is coming of my use of these other than the guilt. I'm not acting recklessly, I'm getting them through legit avenues, I'm not in anyway shirking any of my responsibilities as a full time mom and I have a part time business I run(I actually feel like I'm better at those things than I was), I'm not overspending on them since my insurance picked most of it up, they've taken away about 80% of my pain and I'm not depressed or moody anymore. I have no painful incentives to stop as so many who get addicted to things have. Other than the guilt and the fear that someone may find out I'm abusing a drug. But even that chance is pretty slim. I do fear, and probably rightly so, that I've messed up my brain chemistry. If I finally do stop I may have one heck of a time getting back to normal, if I can at all.

TwinLynn..You are so right about Ultram. I had no idea this would happen. I was told this was a great alternative for people with chronic pain issues that can't for whatever reason take NSAID's. You know, with the negative publicity that the NSAID's are getting right now, I'd bet money that more people are going to fall into the ultram trap. It really should be scheduled as narcotics are. I had a pharmacist online tell me that according to the FDA it has a low addiction potential in comparison to other narcotics and therefore it won't be scheduled any time soon. That was last week. That is why it can be sold as it is online without consequence.

Sorry to be rambling..my confusion is evident to all of you here! You all are so strong and so wise. I've read some truly inspirational and gut wrenching stories here and I keep up with each and everyone of you even though I'm not posting a lot. I don't feel I have much knowledge to share. I'll keep reading here and try to make sense of this. Thanks for all your replies!

BW

Hi, my computer has been down and just getting it back up and running. Just wanted to say real quick to be really, really careful getting off the tramadol. The more I am learning and remembering, I really think that my grand mal seizure in December was not so much caused by taking the ultram, but caused more from withdrawal from the ultram. There is no scientific evidence to back this up, but let me tell you that everything that I know that I feel that is not backed up by the literature eventually does appear in the literature. E.g., when Paxil first came out, I said it gave me w/d, doctors said no, it does not, and now Paxil w/d symptoms are well-documented. When I took Neurontin in detox, it completely wigged me out, doctors and nurses said oh, no, it could not be doing that, and 2 months later I read about the lawsuits by patients for whom the side effects never went away. Many other things too. They know so little about ultram. I do have to say that physically it is harder to get off the ultram, because it takes a good 2-3 days before you will feel the effects of a reduced dose. So when I wrote in November saying that I had only taken 2 the night before and was doing fine, this was irrelevant, because I had taken 6 the day before that. Psychologically, though, it was easier for me to get off of it, although it made me tired, because I did not have a real euphoria from it like the hydros had given me.

Be careful!! I need to download some more drivers and stuff, but if I have time, I'll check in later.

luv, rosie

It is very very hard to do, but can be done. I have been playing with these for years! Had a few different doctors and never worried about the doctor shopping thing because it is not a scheduled drug, so I figured if I do get caught, no big deal, what are they really going to do?? However, It has put a huge huge burden on my marraige, my being a parent, and my health. I have had many many seizures on this and convinced my doctor to put me on valume to over ride the seizures and do more!! I did get euphoria on them and they gave me so much energy I could work, cook, clean, and anything else you want to do. Without them, however, I could do nothing!! So what I thought was just giving me a little "pep" was starting to control me. It got to the point where I could do nothing without them. I am so glad my husband works with mail because i never had the balls to order them through the mail. He knew of my addiction and watched me waist away. I loved that I hardly ever had to eat and was thin. I felt perfect. Little did I know I was hurting myself and everyone around me. That pill became my God and trying to get off of them was hell!! As I said, I have come off of many hard opiates and methadone and this has been a *****!! Now I lost my job because I couldn't function without my pills, I have lived in pj's, I have fatigue so bad, can't hardly function. I am eating everything in site and have gained weight, legs I would like to chop off because they feel like bad toothaches. But when my husband looks at me and says he doesn't care what I look like, doesn't care if I cook or clean (he has done everything) doesn't care if I lay in bed all day long, just wants me to get back to being "ME". He says he didn't marry a pill and that is what I was becomming. I have an oppertunity to get off of this crap because I am home, Even though we don't have very much money at all, he wants me to take as much time as I can to get better and if I were working I would still be taking them. I can't pass up this oppertunity!! Other people see what we can't sometimes. Even though we might think we are so much better on the pills, it's not us. Sometimes it's like were robots, able to function, but no emotion, no passion, just numb. For me it was that way, Do I miss them, hell yah!!! And I am not 1/2 as strong as you think. I am a whimp and have been bitching crying and complaining throughout this whole ordeal. I just don't know if I will ever have another chance to do this. To stay home and make our financial situation suffer and watch him do everything, then turn around and slap him in the face by sitting around taking these pills after he has been so good to me, I just can't face myself if I did that. I don't have a choice. I started out like you. It was no big deal but eventually, even if it's not a reason you see now, it will come. It gets worse. The best thing I would suggest with such a large supply, is taper taper taper, you can go as slow as you want to and at least feel good that you are working toward something positive. I have got off of these before for a few months and remember one day waking up and thinking "WOW" I feel good and don't have to reach for a pill. I'm not there now, I mean today is my first day without any. From 1 to none and yea I feel WD's still and it's hard. Real hard. This is the closest I have come in so long and I refuse to give in after comming this far, even when I feel like I will NEVER feel good again. I am struggling, believe me, I feel like I'm gonna break! I know I can't. I have come so far. I know I will feel better in time, but right now it doesn't seem like it's true. I'm tellin ya, this crap is living hell!! Get off if you can. Even if you don't think there is a reason, just look at what it does, how it takes over your life. You may feel in control, but you will find that it will soon control you!! Just hope I will soon be able to function normal. This is terrible! I need to feel well enough to get dressed and go to a meeting. Right now taking a shower, feels like hail is comming out of it. Sorry to go on and I hope I didn't discourage anyone, I'm just struggling so badly myself and hoping to make a point that this stuff ruins lives!! hope everyone is well (sorry about the venting) thanks, Kim

There are so many replies to this thread, that I'm not even sure who I'm replying to. LOL. But here are some answers to some questions throughout the thread. I'm not a doctor, but pharmocology is a deep passion of mine, and I hope to be a pharmacist someday.

The main reason why Ultram (tramadol hcl) alleviates depression is because of it's action on serotonin. Not just because of the euphoria it gives. It is believed that euphoria receieved from Ultram might be due to both the weak opioid attachment and serotonin/norepinphrine replacement.

Ultram (tramadol hcl) has been shown to cause seizures even in recommended doses (50, 75, 100mg) in some patients. Most of them had a history of seizures or seizure disorders.

Ultram has been prescribed for pain relief and Restless Leg Syndrome.

I've been on Ultram since June 2003 because of pain. I cannot take NSAIDS because of my stomach. Even a GI specialist told me not to take NSAIDS. Ultram became a problem for a while, but I'm doing a lot better and my use the drug has dropped. I still use it for pain relief, but havn't really abused it. But I do enjoy the euphoric properties and the relief from depression it brings. I find it a lot easier to be around public and just have a positive outlook with tramadol. For awhile (early 2004) I thought I was the only person to have a problem with tramadol because everyone else here seemed to have addictions to oxycodone or hydrocodone. But it seems like tramadol addiction is growing in our soceity. BUT STILL - the chemical make-up of tramadol keeps it from being scheduled.

Blurayne~Wow, thank you for your brutal honesty and sharing your struggle with us. I so admire the strength, courage and willingness you are diemonstrating in your fight to be free again. Your husband sounds very special ...So just try to hang in there! K? I posted above about my struggle just trying to maintain my low dose of 100 mg., which really helps my post radiation burn pain, and tendinitis. Even taking just 2-50's a day, I definitely notice when that dose is decreased. Eeeek! The depression and fatigue and something else I can't quite put my finger on makes it feel even darker than alot of those other w.d.'s! Like Herbal says, it's probably the seritonen connection. Your post has given me the motivation to stay on track, and keep my dose as minimal as possible. Thank you!

Hiya Lynn~So ashamed to say, I haven't visited the park to see the Gates yet! I am hoping to get there before I leave for LA on Friday. Such a New Yorker huh? Almost oblivious to the extrodinary events that bring tourists here from all over the world! I feel a little ashamed. Last week I was distracted with my 3 dental appts., and this week I am busy getting everything together before I leave on Fri. Not to mention how I really want to just stay in my nest. I use to LOVE traveling, but like you and others "aboard" here, I so prefer the my creature comforts of home! I'm hoping I will calm down once I'm on the plane. (I truly doubt it-lol!) Though I've never been diagnosed, painful "touches" of OCD, seem to rear it's ugly head when I have to pack! My adorable, #1 step son, age 37 is expecting his first child! His girlfriend's due date is smack in the middle of our visit, so if nature cooperates, we will be there to support and help them in any way we can. I have 3 stepchildren, who, btw, lived with us for over 10 years. I also have 3 darling granddaughters already (from my stepdaughter Kelly and her hubby!) Anyway, hope I will get to see the Gates before I go. It's suppose to be especially beautiful with the snow as a backdrop.

I will so miss everyone here, and I don't know if I will get to check in or not. Being away from home will make it a little more difficult getting back/staying on track with the Ultram ~I know, but I was really "touched" by Blurayne's post! wow!

Also, Lynn and Alice, in case I don't get back to the other "movie star" thread, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind, kind words and gentle support. That you felt so strongly and really heard my struggle means so much! Just a tad more drama if you can handle it? lol! I forgot to add that I was dx with breast cancer 2 weeks following my mom's death. I had to postone my biopsy in order to bury her and sit shiver. This was 2 years ago, Feb 7th. I really DO know how I stayed clean and sober through it, it was from the support of the people and friends that I've met in AA. They truly "carried me". Like Sara has said, they are just like here ~ Unbelievably wonderful and souls with only unconditional love and support to offer. We learn in AA(NA) that helping others is what allows us to help ourselves and stay clean. Ya know, "you can't keep it, unless you give it away" theory. So everyone is always wanting to be helpful! lol! It's part of how it works!

"That Girl" huh? Of course I remember! I loved that show! I also once saw Marlo Thomas in Bergdorf Goodman's Donna Karan's dept. She must love to shop! She's adorable, do you both look like her? Are you Identicle twins? I use to to see Diane Keaton all the time when I lived on 72nd St. at my Health Club about 25 years ago. I'm not allowed to tell you about all the celebrity's I see and meet at my AA meetings ... But as you can just imagine, here in NYC! (I'll get you to come to a meeting yet!) Truly, it just isn't cool breaking others anonymity.

Anyway, love to all. I'll try to write again before I go. If I'm not OCDing myself to death-Lol!
Ell

Blurayne,

Thank you so much for sharing your very difficult story. It has helped me more than you know. Prior to December I was using ultram within the guidelines and it wasn't that big of an issue, although I was aware in the recesses of my brain that I was starting to "need" it vs. "use it properly". And the dose was sneaking up..at first it was 1-2 a day and before my injury in December it was at 5-6 a day. Then I injured some ribs coughing and my doc said to use it rather than giving me something else for the pain. I had two fractures. I started taking WAY more and once the pain was gone and the ribs healed I found myself at this high dose (600mg a day). So I've only been at this dose for about 2 months. Your story has driven home the TRUTH that although I'm not injuring anyone I am headed down a terrible road. I'll burn and crash eventually.

I will send prayers and "good karma" your way every day..I can't imagine the struggle you are going through. I can't function at all in the morning until I get a good dose of ultram in me. To cover this fact I put a dose beside my bed and wake a little early to take it. Then I lay there for another 15 min or so and when I do get up I'm ready to get my kids off to school and be the mom I want to be. This is pitiful!

Hang in there and I'm glad your husband is there for you. I have no one but all you guys on this board to confess to. My husband knows I take pain meds but he's really clueless about anything medical and he's mostly in his own world anyway. So like I said, he wouldn't be any help whatsoever. Plus he doesn't know how to keep a secret. Sorry to say. Other thant those problems we are fine together. I just know that I can't really share anything deep with him and expect the response I need.

Please update us today and let us know how it's going. I'm going to try and take a few less today and see how it goes. I am so in awe of your strengty..I know you said you don't feel very strong right now but your too close to it..your letter exudes strength whether you are "feeling" it or not. Don't allow negative thoughts to obscure the truth!

Thanks Herbal, too, for your support and Ellen, Enjoy our trip!

BW

I will tell you ultram is dangerous. Some of you may have read some of my post about Ultracet and palpitations. I have been off Ultracet(ultram) for 2 months and still have extreme panic attacks and heart palpitations. Everyone keeps telling me that its anxiety. I am telling everyone that the anxiety I have experience since quitting ultracet is not natural. I have a panic attack like every 20 minutes. I have palpitations every minute. I have started to take a beta-blocker which has helped but it is only masking a syptom of a obvious physiological problem that I am having. I only took it for 6 weeks at 4-6 pills a day. Doctors do not believe me but there is no doubt in my mind that this medcine has done something to me that I can only hope goes away with time. If not my life is ruined.

I'm not sure how i'm getting through the days. I can't hardly function and all of my muscles hurt. I feel so restless, but at the same time I have no energy. I feel like I am just misseribly existing. I lost my job so I don't work, can't do much around the house. My husband goes to work and busts his *** and comes home to a messy house, can't cook dinner, I look like hell and I am an emotional wreck. He says he doesn't care about all those things, but I do. I feel so guilty!! So so so guilty!! I suffer from self hatred and blame everything bad that happens on myself. I wasn't like that on the pills, but I have to learn to be like that without them. Right now It took everything in my power to take a shower, unload and reload the dishwasher!! I get so scared and think "what if I can't ever function without them??" That scares the hell out of me!! Sometimes I feel I can't go on, but the only thing keeping me going is I know I have to. In my head, i don't have a choice. It's just not an option to go back on them. I am comming off of neurontin (insane amounts) after being on them for 6 years. My doctor and I have a taper but it's kind of fast because my insurance is going to run out and they wern't doing anything for me anyway. They are also a ***** to get off if your on them for that long! My husband is a mailman so he is out in the cold all day. It is freezing and snowing today and when he came home, he was eating a bowl of cereal and I sat there and cried, mainly because since I am home all day, he should have at least a home cooked meal and I felt worse about myself (if that is possible, and I always find a way). To go from having all that joy, energy, being able to clean and have fun doing it, cook, smile, feel on top of the world, no pain, ect. to having it all sucked away and switched into reverse with depression, guilt, anger, pain, fatigue, incompatint, sluggish emptiness. I would so much rather be in the middle. Normal! Where I have some ups and downs but the ones everyone goes through. Where it sucks to clean, but I can do it. Where cooking a nice home cooked meal for us and watching him enjoy it gives me pleasure. Doing "wifely" things, having a career, getting my license back (another story) and being in a natural good mood. I'd rather be in the middle than this up and down rollercoaster ride. Chasing pills, keeping secrets, telling lies, feeling sick, ect. I'm just stuck in the dark tunnel and haven't seen the light yet. Just knowing this could go on for months (neurontin), I don't know if I can go on that long, I know I have to but I feel like I can't go forward, know I can't go back, and feel like I want to just die instead!! Feel like he'd be better off with a new wife, not a broken one, he so doesn't deserve this. I am on day 2 of no ultram, but I only took one a day all last week. I hope to God this is from the ultram and not the neurontin. If it's from the ultram, I know it won't be too long. If it's from the neurontin, I am so screwed because I still have a lot to get off of. If anyone prays, please pray for me. thank you, kim

Hey Kim~
Keep your eye on the prize! Your husband even senses there is a prize at the end of this. A few skipped home cooked meals is nothing compared to what is ahead ~ He will have YOU back and more importantly, YOU will have YOU back! Just be sure to let him know you will make it up to him when you are well and prepare his favorite meal! You're on your way to being able to feel and do all the things you described ... in a normal state! I will be rooting for you! And will definitely keep you in my prayers.

I forgot if you are getting some medical supervision through this. It sounds like a major drop from the amount you were taking and honestly, rather brutal. Please, please do a safe detox, have you considered taking w/d meds to help you through?

Prayers and hugs, (((((((((((((((((Kim)))))))))))))))))
El

blurayne,

your story sounds so much like mine. i had a different addiction that did it to me though. i was addicted to xanax. i lost my job 1 1/2 years ago. i was still on xanax when i lost it but my husband and i decided to let me stay home to try and detox. well, i didn't completely stop until 6 months and 1 week ago today. i still have problems getting out of bed. i stay in my pajamas all day. i have started cooking and cleaning about 3 months ago. i know exactly how you feel though. i am 24 weeks pregnant and have gained alot of weight. not the normal amount and i still have 4 months left. i have an 8 year old and did not gain like this with him. 40 lbs so far. i feel horrible and it just adds to the depression. so, if misery likes company sweetheart, i'm with ya.


love,
julz


p.s. to add to all this, i'm poor. not really poor but used to having more. i also can't get hired anywhere cause i'm obviously preg now.

Hi BH,

I do think the ultracet did all this...I'm no expert but my understanding is ultram messes with our bodies own ability to crank out endorphins(those feel good hormones we generate naturally). Without them we have anxiety and depression and all that entails. I hope time heals it for you....

BW

I just don't think my body produces those endorphins period.lol. i was better than this before i started taking xanax. now, the reasons i started taking them just tripled. i have restless leg syndrome every night. wake up at about 4 am every day but at least i can sleep some now. i keep asking my husband if he thinks i did brain damage.lol. well, at least i do know that it does get better little by little and it will for you too. i also told my mom(she's a nurse practitioner) about how ultram has effected so many people. she said it's not supposed to be addictive but is very much so. she said she only prescribes it with the same caution she would prescribe alot of the controlled subs. well, i sincerly hope you have a good day today and i'll check on here later.


luv,

julz

I will tell you ultram is dangerous. Some of you may have read some of my post about Ultracet and palpitations. I have been off Ultracet(ultram) for 2 months and still have extreme panic attacks and heart palpitations. Everyone keeps telling me that its anxiety. I am telling everyone that the anxiety I have experience since quitting ultracet is not natural. I have a panic attack like every 20 minutes. I have palpitations every minute. I have started to take a beta-blocker which has helped but it is only masking a syptom of a obvious physiological problem that I am having. I only took it for 6 weeks at 4-6 pills a day. Doctors do not believe me but there is no doubt in my mind that this medcine has done something to me that I can only hope goes away with time. If not my life is ruined.

How long did your w/d symptoms last when first going off? I have been off 8 days & still feel flu like symptoms & shakey. It seems to be getting worse, rather than better. Panic attacks are horrible, not the kind I used to get from anxiety, but these are not even controllable. thanks.

I just wanted to say thank you for understanding my pain when it comes to my mother-in-law. I'm sorry I don't have any advise about the ultram but I wish you the best! Keep us updated!

HEY LORI J,
How is your withdrawal going. R U doing any better with the panic attacks? I am going on 2 and a half months with panic attack symptoms mainly heart palpitations. I have been taking a beta blocker which has helped a little bit.

Sorry i haven't posted an update, have to get a liver biopsy and other stuff going on. I am doing soooo much better!! I got through the emotional phase for the most part and don't feel so out of control. It does get better for sure! What a difference. Worth it for sure. The emotional part was difficult, but it too passes. This is very do-able! It is just so worth it is all I can say. So happy to be finally free and it is the best freedom! I feel better about myself now and can get on with my life. Having a sponcer and going to meetings helps alot for me. Plus a supportive family. Funny, a few weeks ago i wanted to die, now life is so worth living. I feel like it's new. To everyone or anyone suffering, it gets so much better. Hang in there and keep the faith. it will get better, KIM

Hi Kim,

I am so very pleased and happy for you! :) It seems like just a few days ago you were posting about how awful you felt and you were so down. I am especially glad to hear your spirits are improving and that you are slowly regaining your joy! It's encouraging.

I honestly don't think I'll ever be where you are. :confused: Today I spent the day with my parents and my kids and husband. I cooked for them and we went to my son's band concert etc...they can't even tell I'm on the ultram. I'm so good at hiding this mess...I have such easy access...and if I quit I know I'll really struggle and I won't have anyone to talk to. I just don't see how I can do it alone like this. Sorry to seem whiny..my dose is staying pretty stable so that's a good thing. I fight the urge every day to raise it but so far I haven't.

BW

HEY LORI J,
How is your withdrawal going. R U doing any better with the panic attacks? I am going on 2 and a half months with panic attack symptoms mainly heart palpitations. I have been taking a beta blocker which has helped a little bit.

Saw my psych doc yesterday. He said all the xanax & klonopin I was popping at random while in pain, also has me in withdrawal from those!!!!!

He lowered the xanax, but put me on a regular schedule of it now & said my nerves are in a tailspin from all the meds I was on when they put me on the ultracet.

I do feel better today & in 2 weeks he's going to put me on a taper schedule from the xanax & klonpin, but says I need to stabilize out, since I was having such uncontrollable shakes from taking meds with no schedule at all.

At least I'm not panicking or shaking. He knows how against these tranqs I am, but said to quit those cold turkey along with the w/d from the ultracet would probably send me into a good seizure.

I did have the flu like symptoms from the ultracet w/d from wed thru sat, but am feeling better today.

I am going to see a psychologist tommorrow. Hopefully, I can get some insight into this mess.

Good for you BH, let us know how it goes.

BW

I went to see a psychiatrist who helped me tapper down by cutting me down every week. My scripts were written every week so no monthly pile of ultram. It helped alot. It feels good to be off, now I'm at the part of dealing with life issues sober. No pills to run to when I get real stressed. These are things I need to learn how to do though. What had me so trapped was everytime I wanted to stop and knew I'd feel like crap, something always came up that I had to do and would keep saying after this or after that. There is always something though. Then you realize you have to make sacrifices, either go do what you got to do and suck it up, or what would you do if you really came down with a bad illness? You would have to stay in bed. I love that idea when in WD. It is a long process with so many ups and downs, but worth it.The one day at a time really does work. I have to do it that way. Good luck to all, KIM

Kim,

I think I could get away with "coming down" with a bad illness and spending a few days in bed. That's really the only way I could do it...trying to run my kids through their daily routines and activities would be just awful. And of course I would have to face all the people we see on a daily basis. So what I'm saying is the actual physical withdrawal is do-able for me. I'm terrified though of the part after that. I've been reading all the horror stories on this board for awhile now and I'm convinced I'm going to fall into some dreadful depressed state afterwards and THAT is where I will trip up. I can't go asking for an antidepressant..what would I do?

BW

why not? Doctors give out antidepressants all the time. Even just for bad pms! Look up the symptoms of depression and see if you relate. Feeling out of control hopeless, helpless, ect. You just tell you doctor you think you are getting depressed and he will give you something to try. It's nothing to be ashamed of. I don't encourage people to lie to their doctors, but it takes about 3 weeks for an antiD to work. The sooner you start it and it starts to work, then you can taper and/or quit. The antiD will help alot with the emotional ups and downs. For the most part keep you more stable and you can take it with the ultram. I was prescribed both. I like lexapro because It gives you energy. You need some of that while getting off the ultram. This has really helped me. just an idea that worked for me.. KIM

Thanks Kim, I guess because I've never asked for anything like that it feels like I'm doing something wrong. By the grace of God I've never had depression or addiction issues. This is one of the things that makes this ultram addiction so confounding..I'm so integrated into these things I find myself taking them constantly. Here's a question...you are saying to start the antidepressant before I stop the ultram. Is there any risk to that? Can't you get that seritonin syndrome thing? Or am I overworrying? I take about 600-700mgs a day of ultram which is 12-14.

Last night I had a really violent twitch when I was falling asleep. I twitch terribly anyway, but this one was a duzey. I had a flash of light that I thought was lightning but it wasnt, and at the same time my legs literally flew off the bed. I was on my side and they both just pushed straight up. This alarms me as it seems like it could be an easy slide from there into a seizure.

BW

Bewildered? I literally became a member of this just to reply to your post. I have some advice for you that I want you to not just think about but do. Please, please, please for the sake of your kids go to one AA meeting and ask for help. If there is one thing I can tell you for certain is you aren't going to do this on your own and your fears are very, very real.
We already know that we don't know **** about Ultram so quoting some finding that said 800mg a day causes siezures is throwing gas on a fire isn't it? It wasn't addictive either was it?
If you read your own posts you will be a little more mortified at just how many excuses you keep making for something you know you should be able to do without. You will also notice how obvious it is that you have no one to help you that you can talk to face to face. It makes a huge difference.
I can tell you would love AA. You are very open and it would give you the confidence and support you need and you would meet good people. You have a problem you need to solve and you don't want to heap it on your family and the friends you have now so, take it to a group that really has experience in dealing with smart people in exactly your situation and will be there to back you up. You need the community and you absolutely need to get the heck off of any kind of medication that you are using JUST because it makes you feel good. It could kill you and your kids.
I am currently addicted to Ultram. It is bad for me to be this dependent on anything so, I am going to get rid of it and then I am going after McNiel Pharms and suit the hell off them for lying to us and making your life hell. For myself, Ultram now helps me deal with stress. It makes me feel good but, you know what? I used to feel good without it. Not as regularly as I do with the pills but I do remember those days when I got out of work, cranked up the tunes and was damn glad just to be me. Unfortunately you can't have both.
Please, please, please just go to one AA meeting. Those people aren't losers. They are the best and most devoted people you will ever meet. They saw a problem, many of them much more serious than yours and they work hard, really hard to solve it. Just go and be as honest with them as you have with all of us. You need people that you can look at and will look back at you and know what you are trying to do. Don't try to do this yourself, please. Just go once and be honest with them before you try any of your other ideas.
It will help you to have some one with experience watch your back while you try. Please? Just one.

I was addicted to ultracet (sister drug of ulatram) due to back pain. NEVER again, I would never take that again. IT was pure hell getting off of it, my doc put me on high doses of xanax to help me thru it, and NOW I am having to withdraw from the xanax. My life has been a mess for months. I was on the ulracet for 9 weeks for pain, but never knew it was addictive & how hard it was to get off of it. I literally had to have someone with me most of the time, as I would go into horrible tremors & my back would go into spasms. If any of you find a class action lawsuit, please let me know!@!

BW- Sorry I took so long to get back to you but as you can see, even after I quit for a couple weeks, I am back on 2 a day for chronic pain. I have done it before by a slow taper as you can go! As for the antidepressents, yes, there are some that you are able to use with the ultram and the reason I think you should go on and anti (if you are choosing to do so) before getting off, or I should say while you are tapering, is it takes about 3 weeks to kick in and will help you get through the WD easier than if you wait. I take lexapro 10 mgs and this is a good one for me because it gives me energy so I'm not so fatigue, depressed, or anxious! I am going to meetings now since the weather is nice and I can walk there. I agree that will help. Neurontin helps alot too so you may want to check into that, It makes the WD a lot easier. good luck, KIM

Thank you for the info. Kim. I was really sorry to read about your new problem, but I am relieved for you that the outcome was good! You went through so much last month and I was holding my breath that you wouldn't slide back to square one. I'm going to keep praying for you, Kim. All along you've struck me as a strong person(although I remember you saying you didn't feel like one, I'll bet you do now!) and I just know you are going to make it.

BW

Heh findmealawyer,

I was pretty taken back by your post. I can see you feel really passionately about this and about helping others in this difficult situation. I need to tell you though that I don't think you read ALL my posts..and who would want to..not exactly interesting reading ha! The point here is, I have a major congenital scoliosis that was stabalized by surgery a few years ago. The surgery helped but unfortunately the scoliosis is winning..one of the rods they put in is now protruding out my back. Yes, you read that right. It's not all bad..I can hang things on it when I need to! Seriously, without some sort of pain management, I wouldn't be able to be the active mom I am. My doctor wanted me on Vicodin for it and I am the one who said no. (we have some in the closet upstairs from a surgery my daughter had, along with various narcotic cough medicines, and I am never tempted by them.) I can't take NSAID's due to an ulcer induced by them, so Ultram is what he gave me. I have nowhere to go from here..if I don't do the ultram, there's nothing left. Surgery is what they want to do but they are really vague about the outcome of this and I can't put myself in that position, literally, again. They open you up from stem to stern..I call my scar my racing stripe.

I am in the same position some of the others on this forum are..how to treat the pain and the addiction at the same time. Going to AA isn't appropriate for this situation. AND, I also mentioned previously that I am in a small town and my husband is a popular businessman here. We are high profile in this little community. How would I ever go to AA without anyone knowing me? AND, what do I tell my kids and husband while I'm at these meetings? We always know the whereabouts of each other. I have two businesses I run, I'm in a community theatre production right now with my daughters which rehearses most weeknights and of course I'm "mom-taxi" to 3 great kids. None of these are excuses for not quitting..they are just part of my life.

You wrote:
"If you read your own posts you will be a little more mortified at just how many excuses you keep making for something you know you should be able to do without."

I don't recall every making excuses. I have confessed to my inablity to control the ultram and to having a bottomless supply. I have said that reading the horror stories on this board make me afraid of withdraws, and I have stated all my fears about the "what ifs?" And I know I never said I could do without. Of course in my heart I would like to do without..my body would have a thing or two to say about that, but deep down we all want that. It's all about tradeoffs. I'm addicted, yes, but I'm also mostly painfree and I'm happy. Not about the ultram..they scare me. But overall, I'm happy.

The best outcome I can go for(and now that you know the full situation I hope you will correct me if you think I'm wrong) is a reduction in the amount. If I were taking the allowed 400mg a day, I wouldn't be scared of it anymore.

I'd be interested in hearing your story and what you are doing to kick the ultram. And I too would like the drug companies to at least fess up to this. My family doctor still thinks it's not addictive.

The best to you,
BW

I will tell you ultram is dangerous. Some of you may have read some of my post about Ultracet and palpitations. I have been off Ultracet(ultram) for 2 months and still have extreme panic attacks and heart palpitations. Everyone keeps telling me that its anxiety. I am telling everyone that the anxiety I have experience since quitting ultracet is not natural. I have a panic attack like every 20 minutes. I have palpitations every minute. I have started to take a beta-blocker which has helped but it is only masking a syptom of a obvious physiological problem that I am having. I only took it for 6 weeks at 4-6 pills a day. Doctors do not believe me but there is no doubt in my mind that this medcine has done something to me that I can only hope goes away with time. If not my life is ruined.

I have similar symptoms. Been off ultracet for 7 weeks & there are days my head feels like a waterglobe, like my brain is sloshing around in my head. Do you get anything like that?

Ultram & ultracet are horrible & I wouldn't be surprised to see them pulled off the market one day & that won't be a day too soon!!! I have days I think the ultracet did brain damage to me & YES I still have panic attacks from it!

Hey Lori. It has been over 4 months now and can say the symptoms are finally gone. It has been terrible. I would advise no one to take this crap. I did not get the sloshing feeling but I more than made up for it with all the other symptoms.

Thanks for replying BH, my sloshing feeling may be from the w/d's of xanax. All these meds sure mess with our minds & bodies. I agree with you, they are all crap!!!!

I am soooo glad I found this topic thread. I've been reading through all yalls posts for a couple of hours (yes it's 3AM now and I'm up reading internet message boards-read on). It gives me comfort to know people are goign through the same thing I am and it gives me hope that I will be able to finally put this to bed (that was a pretty clever pun, if i do say so myself).

I started taking Ultram (actually the generic: tramadol) back in August 2004 for migraine headaches. I'll spare you the detials of my migraines casue the point is that the cure has become far worse than the problem.

I started at the normal 1/day just when I had the migraines, then it became that i would take 2 when i felt one coming on and then 2 more in about 3 hours to make sure it wouldn't come back...then i startd the same thing for regular headaches...and then for being sore (i'm hardcore into sports). Then it was when I was in a bad mood...then whenever i had to do long drives (i go home from college about every other weekend and it's about a 6hr drive)...then it was just to be in a better mood when i was going out...and then it was just for fun cause i loved the extra-energy, sense of wellbeing, and how it helps me concentrate on work...and before i knew it i was up to about 15-20/day for a couple of weeks at a time. I knew that was bad and so i'd cut it down to like 8/10 but i always ended up back at the high dose.

Well one day I got really busy and didn't take any, I woke up the next morning at like 6am in a cold sweat, feeling completely weak and fatigued. That's when it hit me just how much i was addicted to this non-addictive drug. After that episode I realized i needed to get off and tapered off and was clean (i never thought i'd use that kind of druggie terminology) for about a month, then I went through a hard time (my grandfather died) and i startd back at the real lose doses and you konw where that went. So I tapered off again. Then I got into some real high-stress job and school stuff and ended back at 15/day. quit again.

Finally: Two months ago my cousin, whom i grew up with like a brother, was shot and killed. It's been the hardest thing I've ever gone through in my life (granted it's only been 22 years). And about two weeks ago i ended up taking 25 one day. So i've finally confronted it and i am resolved to make this the absolute last time. I now realize that i can not control my use of this drug, i just don't have the willpower to stay on the reccomended usage/doses so I AM DONE WITH IT!!!

My Question:
The previous two times I quit it wasn't relaly that bad. I just slowly tapered off and started exercising more. This time has been COMPLETE H***.
-cold sweats, INSOMNIA, depression, tingly feelings in my arms and legs, And also when i try to go to sleep I get this weird kind of dull pain in my neck, it goes away when i'm walking around or moving but when i settle down to sleep it's like i can't find a comfortable position and I CAN NOT SLEEP (has anyone else had that symptom???). It's Thursday 3am now and i haven't slept since sunday night when i was at like 8 (400mg), I realize now that i tapered off too quickly and i called in to get my last refill and i'm counting the very minutes till i can go pick it up this afternoon. (pathetic, just pathetic).

Question: How long do you think I should suspect these kind of withdrawl symptoms, given that I was avg about 15-20 pills a day for about 2-3 weeks?

Question 2: Is there going to be any permanent physiological symptoms? I realize that there's always the pyschological: "just think, if you just take two little pills all this will go away....or wow i would feel so much better right now if i just took a couple" but i'm speaking more of physical stuff like the sweats, tingling, INSOMNIA.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP and God bless each of you as you are dealing with these terrible demons.

Upon further investigation (since i obviously haven't slept AGAIN) I think that I'm having "Restless Leg Syndrome". This is absolutely driving me crazy. I can't function on this level of sleep...

Question: How long do you think this is going to last??? I feel like i'm going out of my mind cause my body is soooo tired and yet i can't sleep.

Question: other than the "take a hot shower" suggestion, does anyone have any other supplements or non-Rx solutions??? Good lord i would pay money for help...


As I've read over these message boards, I've heard some true horror stories and I'm grateful that i'm confronting this now before it gets any worse. I just wanted to stress to the people who say "ultram isn't a narcotic", "it's not bad like hydro/oxy", "it's non-opiate so your W/D is in your head": THIS IS REAL. Take it from someone who was suckered into the "non-addictive BS" that the manufacturer stresses, it absolutely is addictive both physchologically AND YES physically. I can't imagine how the hydro/oxy people can live if they're dealing with this stuff on an even more awful level:

-the tingly, achey, dull Restless Leg/Arm/Body stuff
-diarhea
-headaches
-fatigue
-insomnia
-extreme depression
-bouts of crying for no reason

Thanks again for listening! So here we go on 0 hours of asleep AGAIN...

.. if someone maybe would e-mail with me ..

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Hi Marty,

I'm BW, the one who started this whole thread. I rarely come to this board anymore..I'm glad I saw your post. I can't answer all or most of your questions..but I can say I am confident you won't have any permanent brain damage. You are really doing the right thing by stopping these. Had you continued at that high dose you may have gotten into the seizure range...when I was reading these boards daily(earlier this year), three different people stopped in here and said they had had seizures from high doses of ultram. Also, high doses bring on panic attacks. Did I ever learn that one the hard way. I'm do community theatre and I actually had a panic attack on STAGE. It was horrendous and I don't know how I got through the scene. My thoughts were racing and I was thinking I was about to pass out. My dose is back down to the allowed 400mg a day..some days I don't even take that. My pain level is pretty high but at least I'm not a worried wreck anymore. I was always wondering when my seizures were going to start and well..I was just constantly obsessing over this whole thing. This is one of the reasons I quit reading at this site. I needed to fill mind with a healthy variety of things and that meant getting off the computer. I'm off track here...treat yourself kindly and give yourself A LOT of time. I don't think anyone here can say how much..it's different for everyone. If things don't look up soon, consider going to the doctor for an antidepressant. Did you know ultram has antidepressant properties to it? It was lifting your serotonin levels which is why you had all that energy. So until your brain kicks in and starts cranking out a good load of serotonin, you might feel lethargic and depressed.

I don't know if I'm any help to you but just know you aren't alone. I'm still addicted to it...i can't stop though due to the pain. I think if I started a different pain med I could end up even worse off.

I have a question for you now...did you twitch a lot on this med? Especially when you laid down? The twitching for me is decreased but I'm still at it.

BW

hi everyone. Im someone who will be on pain pills and muscle relaxers for the rest of my life due to fibro, degenerative discs, scoliosis, CFS, and i also has osteoporosis in my hips. Im also afraid of the damage my liver is taking from all these meds. I take lortab plus soma (muscle relaxer) 4 - 5 times a day for severe pain. I also take darvocet for breakthru pain. But i used to take ultram instead of lortab for quite a while. I had surgery and was in the hospital and in the hospitals they dish out your meds according to the schedule (exactly) and spread it out to 24 hours and not the normal 15-18 hour day that we're ususally awake. During my stay in the hospital i ended up having a seizure and i think it was cause i wasnt taking enough of the ultram or like i had been taking them myself. Twice in the morning to cut THRU the pain, then one later about 4 hours, then again about 4 hours later, amounting to taking it 5 times a day. I couldnt believe the awful feeling i was going thru, wd's. i tried telling the nurses that i didnt spread it out during my sleeping hours, but during my waking hours and she says, it says 4 - with no more than 5 within a 24 hour period. By the second day i could feel it bad an was sweating they thought it was due to the pain of surgery,, and kept giving me morphine ( IV). During the second night i swear , i was shaking and felt creepy things all over my body, tingling and numbing parts, like my legs didnt belong to me. I told them it was the tramadol, but they refused to give it to me as i was used to taking it. MY body curled up into a fetal position, then extended out with my arms and hands curled up and my toes pointing , then flexing backward and i couldnt stop it, my head also jerked back hard i felt like a pretzel. I couldnt control it and couldnt even call for help. it was awful. i told my doctor about it the next day she came to see me. She took me off ultram and placed me on lortab instead. Which im glad for, cause the lortab helps more with the pain than ultram and i havent had problems with that since. so, id rather take anything else than ultram

I am soooo glad I found this topic thread. I've been reading through all yalls posts for a couple of hours (yes it's 3AM now and I'm up reading internet message boards-read on). It gives me comfort to know people are goign through the same thing I am and it gives me hope that I will be able to finally put this to bed (that was a pretty clever pun, if i do say so myself).

I started taking Ultram (actually the generic: tramadol) back in August 2004 for migraine headaches. I'll spare you the detials of my migraines casue the point is that the cure has become far worse than the problem.

I started at the normal 1/day just when I had the migraines, then it became that i would take 2 when i felt one coming on and then 2 more in about 3 hours to make sure it wouldn't come back...then i startd the same thing for regular headaches...and then for being sore (i'm hardcore into sports). Then it was when I was in a bad mood...then whenever i had to do long drives (i go home from college about every other weekend and it's about a 6hr drive)...then it was just to be in a better mood when i was going out...and then it was just for fun cause i loved the extra-energy, sense of wellbeing, and how it helps me concentrate on work...and before i knew it i was up to about 15-20/day for a couple of weeks at a time. I knew that was bad and so i'd cut it down to like 8/10 but i always ended up back at the high dose.

Well one day I got really busy and didn't take any, I woke up the next morning at like 6am in a cold sweat, feeling completely weak and fatigued. That's when it hit me just how much i was addicted to this non-addictive drug. After that episode I realized i needed to get off and tapered off and was clean (i never thought i'd use that kind of druggie terminology) for about a month, then I went through a hard time (my grandfather died) and i startd back at the real lose doses and you konw where that went. So I tapered off again. Then I got into some real high-stress job and school stuff and ended back at 15/day. quit again.

Finally: Two months ago my cousin, whom i grew up with like a brother, was shot and killed. It's been the hardest thing I've ever gone through in my life (granted it's only been 22 years). And about two weeks ago i ended up taking 25 one day. So i've finally confronted it and i am resolved to make this the absolute last time. I now realize that i can not control my use of this drug, i just don't have the willpower to stay on the reccomended usage/doses so I AM DONE WITH IT!!!

My Question:
The previous two times I quit it wasn't relaly that bad. I just slowly tapered off and started exercising more. This time has been COMPLETE H***.
-cold sweats, INSOMNIA, depression, tingly feelings in my arms and legs, And also when i try to go to sleep I get this weird kind of dull pain in my neck, it goes away when i'm walking around or moving but when i settle down to sleep it's like i can't find a comfortable position and I CAN NOT SLEEP (has anyone else had that symptom???). It's Thursday 3am now and i haven't slept since sunday night when i was at like 8 (400mg), I realize now that i tapered off too quickly and i called in to get my last refill and i'm counting the very minutes till i can go pick it up this afternoon. (pathetic, just pathetic).

Question: How long do you think I should suspect these kind of withdrawl symptoms, given that I was avg about 15-20 pills a day for about 2-3 weeks?

Question 2: Is there going to be any permanent physiological symptoms? I realize that there's always the pyschological: "just think, if you just take two little pills all this will go away....or wow i would feel so much better right now if i just took a couple" but i'm speaking more of physical stuff like the sweats, tingling, INSOMNIA.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP and God bless each of you as you are dealing with these terrible demons.

I am sorry to hear that you got so addicted (innocently) to this drug from hell.

I was only on 2 a day for 9 weeks & had horrible withdrawals. My husband had to take a week off work & stay home with me, I tapered down, cutting the pills smaller & smaller each day. It IS a synthetic opiate, & contrary to what was previously thought by doctors, it IS HIGHLY addictive.

You should consult a doctor for a withdrawal schedule as I have read that some people have experienced seizures going off of it too quickly.

I can't say why you didnt' have the horrible withdrawals the other time, hard to say & actually I'm surprised you didn't.

Now, the large amount you were on can cause bad w/d side effects, not always the week you stop, but down the line, even months later. Not to scare you, but no one knows how these meds affect our minds..They get into our brain chemistry & I swear I am still getting some flashback w/d from mine, which I got off of totally in March!

I had tremors, my whole body would shake, I had agoraphobia, was afraid to leave the house, panic attacks & yes, could NOT sleep. I didn't eat much either, had no appetite. I had no desire to go back on them, was on them for severe back pain & they never gave me that "good feeling" in fact I think I had the adverse reaction to them from the beginning as they only made me shakey inside & a horrible wired feeling, not like energy, but like I was about to explode all the time.

Like I said, with the large amount you were on, it would pay to talk to a doctor & get a professional to help you with the w/d, you should not quit cold turkey or you may have residual symptoms for a long time.

Let us know how you are doing & please ask any questions you want. We've all been thru this nitemare. Good luck.

Hi Marty,

I'm BW, the one who started this whole thread. I rarely come to this board anymore..I'm glad I saw your post. I can't answer all or most of your questions..but I can say I am confident you won't have any permanent brain damage. You are really doing the right thing by stopping these. Had you continued at that high dose you may have gotten into the seizure range...when I was reading these boards daily(earlier this year), three different people stopped in here and said they had had seizures from high doses of ultram. Also, high doses bring on panic attacks. Did I ever learn that one the hard way. I'm do community theatre and I actually had a panic attack on STAGE. It was horrendous and I don't know how I got through the scene. My thoughts were racing and I was thinking I was about to pass out. My dose is back down to the allowed 400mg a day..some days I don't even take that. My pain level is pretty high but at least I'm not a worried wreck anymore. I was always wondering when my seizures were going to start and well..I was just constantly obsessing over this whole thing. This is one of the reasons I quit reading at this site. I needed to fill mind with a healthy variety of things and that meant getting off the computer. I'm off track here...treat yourself kindly and give yourself A LOT of time. I don't think anyone here can say how much..it's different for everyone. If things don't look up soon, consider going to the doctor for an antidepressant. Did you know ultram has antidepressant properties to it? It was lifting your serotonin levels which is why you had all that energy. So until your brain kicks in and starts cranking out a good load of serotonin, you might feel lethargic and depressed.

I don't know if I'm any help to you but just know you aren't alone. I'm still addicted to it...i can't stop though due to the pain. I think if I started a different pain med I could end up even worse off.

I have a question for you now...did you twitch a lot on this med? Especially when you laid down? The twitching for me is decreased but I'm still at it.

BW

Hi BW, boy do I agree about it causing panic attacks. I still suffer some agorophobia from it & I have been off it since March & was only on it for 9 weeks.

I had panic attacks all day today, as my d-in-law was forcing me & a friend to go out tonite, I've been hiding in my house so much since all this, so I had panic all day about leaving my house. The only time I do is when my husband takes me to physical therapy for my back or to the doctor, so going out in a social setting had my panic over the top.

I do think there can be residual symptoms for a time after ridding yourself of this poison.

I was on anti-depressants for some years before all this back pain started, but now after the ultram horror, I'm determined to get off of all meds. I start seeing a psychologist next week to get some therapy, as my coping skills are gone after all this mess. I want to cope & deal with things without any of these meds. I now read everything about a med, won't be taking anything that I don't know anything about, ever again.

I was in so much pain, I was just glad that the ultram didn't upset my stomach like vicodin did, plus I was in too much pain to even think about researching the med. Never again will I do that!!

Hope you will be able to get off of it someday too. Best of Luck.

Bewildered:

Thank you so much for your reply! I appreciate you taking the time to check back on this thread.

I got my meds today and took 6 just so i could finally get some sleep (i haven't slept since Sunday when i dropped from 8 to 2 in one day). I felt guilty taking them, but I figured that the rest was needed and would help me have more healthy out look on this whole thing. I also feel guilty for getting to this point when my pain would have been manageable with much weaker med, but i bought into the "non-addictive, shuts down your pain sensors" BS. I don't know how people like you are able to cope with your EXTREME physical pain AND W/D's...whew. I mean I had a really bad migraine on Tuesday (threw up twice), but they only last 5-7 hours usually. I can't imagine having it constantly be there.

Yes I noticed little twitches when I was falling asleep, but it was nothing that really concerned me. They were very minor and usually i was so drowsy that i didn't think a second thing about it. One other thing i noticed is that i could be just about all asleep and then all of a sudden wake completely up thinking I had heard something or that someone was in my room...that was kinda weird but didn't really bother me.

However, the past few days of H*** were mostly due to twitching and that awful AWFUL Restless 'Parts' Syndrome. Did you every go through that? It is so weird and it was really freaking me completely out until i came on here and read more about it and realized it was just something that is a part of getting off and that i'm not going crazy. Mine wasnt jsut the Leg part though, It was my legs, arms, and ESPECIALLY the sides of my neck and lower neck/upper shoulders. Did you go through any of that?

As far as anti-depressants: Yes, I was only Effexor-XR 37.5mg for 2 months and then jumped up to 75mg for one month. I really didn't think that it was helping at all, so I stopped that and started taking Wellbutrin. Do you think that some of my W/D symptoms could be because of stopping Effexor? I mean i've heard that it does have W/D with it, but i figured since i immediately started the Wellbutrin that it wouldn't be a problem. However, i don't believe that Wellbutrin affects Seretonin (it does noeperpeherine and dopamine), so maybe it was? What do you think?

I really do appreciate your reply and if you could keep checking up on me (i realized i can't post my e-mail :mad: ) and keep me accountable I'd really appreciate it. I'm so embarassed to be in this situation because people would never believe that I could be here. I"m an A student on a full scholarship with spending money, I do tons of community service, i'm very religious, and have several leadership roles...so i don't really want to admit it to any of my friends. I'd rather just get it over with and get on with my life.

Thanks again Bewildered, i'm slightly less bewildered now ;)

Lori:

I just saw your reply so i wanted to say thank you also! :-D I really do NOT want to talk to a doctor about this. Nor do I want my parents to know, they would worry themselves sick. I just want to do this on my own, and I feel like I can ESPECIALLY now that i see just how dangerous and nasty this drug is. Like I said to Bewildered, maybe going off the Effexor was what made this time soooooo much worse than the other times.

Couple of quick questions for yall:

-Given that i DO NOT want to talk to a Dr., can you reccomend a taper plan? (Given that a week ago i was taking about 18-22 a day). The last time i was clean was back in Mid-February, so I guess i've been 2.5 months. However, i only got into the 20avg the past couple of weeks. During the previous times I was usally taking about 10. What do you think?

-Did you all get the Restless Syndrome in your neck or just legs? Is there anyway to beat this symptom? I took 5 Tylenol "Simply Sleep" pills last night and all it did was make my head hurt and feel more fatigued: no sleep.

-Is there some way to just completely clean out my system, like get the remaining junk and deposits that has probably been piling up? I looked at GNC but the only thing I seemed to find was like digestive stuff and anything that warns about 'explosive diarhea' and "gently cleansing your colon" is NOT what i want to do unless i'm SURE it will help. So is there some kind of Non-Rx, herbal or otherwise that will clean out the liver/kidney (where is tramadol processed in the body?) and get this out or do i just have to wait it out?

-What do you think about the Effexor thing? I haven't looked up much about its w/d's but do you think i'm getting both?

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN! I feel sooo much better now that I feel like i'm not going through it alone and that others have been here and beat it. I almost cried last night, i was so relieved. Yall are a God-send.

Hi,
This is regarding the switch from Effexor to Wellbutrin. Yes, I do think that some of your symptoms may be due to the change. You see, Effexor, like Paxil and others is an SSRI. Wellbutrin is not, it has a different mechanism. I take Effexor Xr 150 once a day and if I miss two days, I feel awful, even nauseated and very dizzy and a "sloshy head", if that makes sense. If you look up the Effexor Website, it tells you, that these are "Discontinuation Syndrome", they shy away from the word WITHDRAWAL, which it sure is. So, I would ask my doc about this. Perhaps take in some info from the internet and show him. Compare the Wellbutrin, etc. We all must be our own advocates for our health. The doctors often can not keep up with all of this. Especially when the drug representatives whom they count on, only hand out samples and don't tell them any new information.
I hope this helps.

Emily's mom ;)

Marty, about the twitches in your neck & upper back & shoulers, one of the side effects of ultram is muscle spasm. I had horrible ones in my back & shoulders while on it.

I feel like you too, the guilt, I never did an illegal drug in my life & here the good doctors put me on this addictive stuff, my life still isn't right, but I'm working on it. I have flashback effects from the w/d yet, but hoping a psychologist can help me with the panic attacks, no more meds for me after this nitemare that has gone on 8 months. I feel I've lost 8 months out of my life from this med mess!

Since your new here, we get notices in our email when someone posts to a thread we have replied to, so we will know when there is activity on this post & when you post, as the poster is listed in the emails we get, you will get them too. Good way to keep up with posts & people were replying to.

Lori:

I just saw your reply so i wanted to say thank you also! :-D I really do NOT want to talk to a doctor about this. Nor do I want my parents to know, they would worry themselves sick. I just want to do this on my own, and I feel like I can ESPECIALLY now that i see just how dangerous and nasty this drug is. Like I said to Bewildered, maybe going off the Effexor was what made this time soooooo much worse than the other times.

Couple of quick questions for yall:

-Given that i DO NOT want to talk to a Dr., can you reccomend a taper plan? (Given that a week ago i was taking about 18-22 a day). The last time i was clean was back in Mid-February, so I guess i've been 2.5 months. However, i only got into the 20avg the past couple of weeks. During the previous times I was usally taking about 10. What do you think?

-Did you all get the Restless Syndrome in your neck or just legs? Is there anyway to beat this symptom? I took 5 Tylenol "Simply Sleep" pills last night and all it did was make my head hurt and feel more fatigued: no sleep.

-Is there some way to just completely clean out my system, like get the remaining junk and deposits that has probably been piling up? I looked at GNC but the only thing I seemed to find was like digestive stuff and anything that warns about 'explosive diarhea' and "gently cleansing your colon" is NOT what i want to do unless i'm SURE it will help. So is there some kind of Non-Rx, herbal or otherwise that will clean out the liver/kidney (where is tramadol processed in the body?) and get this out or do i just have to wait it out?

-What do you think about the Effexor thing? I haven't looked up much about its w/d's but do you think i'm getting both?

THANK YOU ALL AGAIN! I feel sooo much better now that I feel like i'm not going through it alone and that others have been here and beat it. I almost cried last night, i was so relieved. Yall are a God-send.

Marty, since it's not like a benzo (valium, xanax etc) or an anti-depressant, but more of an opium drug, I can't say that I know what kind of schedule to use, but for me, at 2 a day for 9 weeks, I just kept cutting back a little at a time. DO NOT go cold turkey. You may not notice any w/d at all the first week & then it could hit you when you least expect it.

Try cutting back a little at a time, at least two weeks at each cut back, til your body adjusts to each cut back. Remember, it's in your brain chemistry & your cells of your body.

You may try looking up opium w/d in a search, not sure, but you may find a schedule for that, about everything you could want is on the internet anymore.

Like I said, don't cut it all out at once, it will come back to bite you.

Your body will crave it & you'll have worse w/d's then you can imagine.

I tried effexor for a litte over a week, it made my heart race terrible so I got off it. I'm not sure about a weaning program for that, but most ssri's have to weaned off too.

You are at a very high dosage of ultram & I doubt the short time you took effexor would be affecting you, it takes an ssri usually 4 to 6 weeks to actually start working.

You may want to start a post here at this board & ask for help with w/d from ultram. Someone may not see your post in this one.

I know I had to cut back little by little & each time I did, I went thru w/d's.. Each time I had tremors & horrible pain behind my eyes & could not sleep.

Also, try not to take anything else right now, even over the counter sleep aids, my feeling is we have enough damage from this & there is no herbal that will clean it out of your body fast. That is the thing with w/d, there is no easy way, that is why people have such a hard time getting off of them, many people can't handle the w/d & go back on them.

We're all here to help & support you. I also had to wean off of xanax, which is no picnic either. I had to go on that to help with the w/d from the ultram, only because of my back pain, without the xanax to keep me somewhat calm, my back was going into spasm & causing more damage to my back problems.

I am a medicine nitemare, trust me, you don't want to replace one med with another, just tough it out & get it out of you, slowly...

I hope to be off my anti-depressant & go med free this year!!

Marty, just went to get my glass of ice water & remembered! DUH!!!

Here are some tips:
1. Drink lots & lots of water, more than you ever did before, that helps clean out your system.

2. Avoid junk food, choclate & anything with caffein in it.

3. Eat lots of fruit & bananas

4. Someone told me, to eat like a diabetic. Several small meals a day, not big meals.

I know drinking tons of water helped me, tea & coffee are diuretics & aren't as good as water. Also, colas aren't that good, too much sugar & caffein.

Use a heating pad when you get those twitches in your upper shoulders & back & neck, it helps relax the muscles, also I put ben-gay type ointment on my neck & shoulders, as I would panic when it happened & that seemed to relax the muscles too.
Hope these tips help, if I think of anything else, I'll let you know.

Again Regarding EFFEXOR. You did take it for two months, so you would have built up enough to have a shock to your system on quitting. By switching to Wellbutrin, it was as though you quit the other. I was hospitalized once for depression and they switched me from Prozac to Effexor with no problem due to the fact that they are both SSRI. Please, at least bring it up to your doc. Why should you suffer any extra symptoms, while going off the Ultram.

again, take care,
emily's mom :angel:

Hi everyone,
I know everyone wishes and hopes that there is a "herbal" that will clean them out, but really there is no such thing. Some supplements may help with some symptoms, but nothing but time will really allow your body to get to normal.
I once went to the E.R. and told them that I had overdosed on Tylenol. Actually, I had been taking about 20 Vicodin ES a day. So that was about 15,000 mgs. of Tylenol, the allowed dosage per day is 4,000. I read this and freaked out, sure I was going to die. So, I went to the E.R. and told them and there was a drug, I don't remember the name. You had to drink it, it tasted terrible. THey woke me up around the clock to take it so I would not damage my liver. You must also ingest it within 48 hours of the tylenol or it may be too late. Well, the main symptom was terrible diaharea, It somehow binded to the Tylenol and took it out of the body. I don't know about the Hydrocodone part of the pills. All I remember is I was there for three days and had no withdrawals at all. But I would not recommend it. THey tried mixing it with Coca Cola, but I just drank it down (a few ounces) and then drank the soda after to kill the taste. I suppose you could find this drug on the internet under "Tylenol Overdose". I never told them that I had taken Vicodin. I just told them that I had taken 30 Tylenol over three days due to a headache. I did really have the headache. THey ended up giving me Darvon (no Tylenol only Aspirin in it) and the headache went away. THis may be a drug that cleans your system of any drug taken as I truly had no withdrawals and I had been taking the Vicodin ES for several weeks. Perhaps a doctor should do some research on this. I think I will tell my addictionologist, although he may think I am nuts!!
Some one asked if there was a "herbal" that could clean you out. Be very careful with herbals. Just because they are natural, does not mean they are safe. Vitamins and Minerals are fine but there are all kinds of things out there now called "dietary supplements" which would NOT be approved by the FDA if they were call drugs or medicines although they claim to "cure" all kinds of things. Just be careful, don't make things worse. Find a Dr. you can trust. He or She will not want you to suffer. The first sentence in the Hippocratic oath is "First do no harm" and that is exactly what a good doctor will do.

Lori,
I didn't have any negative symptoms while on the Tramadol (generic ultram). Never had any muscle spasms. These that I was/am experiencing now aren't really a spasm at all. It's more like a dull constant irration that gets worse as I lie still. It doesn't really 'hurt' persay but it's like a tingley half-asleep feeling that irritates the h*** out of me and completely keeps me from sleeping/sitting still. :-( THis has by far been the worst symptom of all this. By the way, I got my new prescription and I'm gonna wean myself off much more slowly this time. Last time I had gone from my high dose of like 25, then 15, 12, 8, 4, 2....and quit 75mg Effexor cold turkey...my body flipped the F out. :-(

**Has anyone tried L-Tyrosine or Gluthathione??? I heard that it really helps people who are trying to go off narcotics like Vicodin/oxycontin/hydrocodone/ect. Do you think it might be helpful for those of us addicted to ultram?

**I read somewhere that if you put soap in the bed that it cured Restless Leg Sydrome. I know that sounds completely ridiculous, but people swear by it. Anyone heard of such a thing???

Hope you are all doing well. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I wanted to say thank you again for your posts, advice, and kind words. It's the hope and support that I really needed! *HUGS*

Sincerely,
Marty

PS: do you think i should keep replying to this topic or start a new one to keep in touch with yall?

Hi Marty, the w/d symptoms can vary from person to person. I had that same tingly feeling in my thighs, so it may be that you are just experiencing it in your neck & shoulders rather than other parts of your body.

I never had the restless leg syndrome but have read of many that have & it seems to be a common symptom. Heck, I had enough others, guess I was spared that one.

Not much consolation.

There are natural Gaba products on the market, I am taking one now. If you do a search of natural gaba, you'll find many places to order it.

The neurotransmitters in our brains has to reset after being on a med like this, I'm also fighting the xanax w/d which also affects the brain, and the doc told me it can take up to months for those neuros to reset, but I think the gaba stuff is supposed to help. I've only been on it for a few days so far, so can't tell.

A lot of it is just time & like I posted before, lots & lots of water to flush our systems.

You could start a new topic, this one is getting pretty long. Possibly just about w/d's from the ultram/ultracet. That may draw more people who are in the same boat as you & trying to w/d.

Hope you're feeling better, I have good & bad days, some worse than others, this is no fast thing, it's hard some days trying to ride it out, but I keep reading that it will get better.

It's cold & gloomy here today, not much help for the mood in the weather.

Take care, going to go shopping, that always helps my seratonin level! LOL

Bewildered:

Thank you so much for your reply! I appreciate you taking the time to check back on this thread.

I got my meds today and took 6 just so i could finally get some sleep (i haven't slept since Sunday when i dropped from 8 to 2 in one day). I felt guilty taking them, but I figured that the rest was needed and would help me have more healthy out look on this whole thing. I also feel guilty for getting to this point when my pain would have been manageable with much weaker med, but i bought into the "non-addictive, shuts down your pain sensors" BS. I don't know how people like you are able to cope with your EXTREME physical pain AND W/D's...whew. I mean I had a really bad migraine on Tuesday (threw up twice), but they only last 5-7 hours usually. I can't imagine having it constantly be there.

Yes I noticed little twitches when I was falling asleep, but it was nothing that really concerned me. They were very minor and usually i was so drowsy that i didn't think a second thing about it. One other thing i noticed is that i could be just about all asleep and then all of a sudden wake completely up thinking I had heard something or that someone was in my room...that was kinda weird but didn't really bother me.

However, the past few days of H*** were mostly due to twitching and that awful AWFUL Restless 'Parts' Syndrome. Did you every go through that? It is so weird and it was really freaking me completely out until i came on here and read more about it and realized it was just something that is a part of getting off and that i'm not going crazy. Mine wasnt jsut the Leg part though, It was my legs, arms, and ESPECIALLY the sides of my neck and lower neck/upper shoulders. Did you go through any of that?

As far as anti-depressants: Yes, I was only Effexor-XR 37.5mg for 2 months and then jumped up to 75mg for one month. I really didn't think that it was helping at all, so I stopped that and started taking Wellbutrin. Do you think that some of my W/D symptoms could be because of stopping Effexor? I mean i've heard that it does have W/D with it, but i figured since i immediately started the Wellbutrin that it wouldn't be a problem. However, i don't believe that Wellbutrin affects Seretonin (it does noeperpeherine and dopamine), so maybe it was? What do you think?

I really do appreciate your reply and if you could keep checking up on me (i realized i can't post my e-mail ) and keep me accountable I'd really appreciate it. I'm so embarassed to be in this situation because people would never believe that I could be here. I"m an A student on a full scholarship with spending money, I do tons of community service, i'm very religious, and have several leadership roles...so i don't really want to admit it to any of my friends. I'd rather just get it over with and get on with my life.

Thanks again Bewildered, i'm slightly less bewildered now

Hi Marty,

I just stopped in again today to see how things were going with you. I know exactly how you feel when you say you can't let anyone know about this. I'm a mom with kids so I'm in a different pair of shoes than you are, but I can't let on about this either. It would just have devastating results. I hope I can answer some of your questions..I hope you are still reading this threat, too! You asked if I had the restless leg problem. When I start to withdrawal from ultram it's usually early in the morning when I'm still sleeping. I start doing this painful stretching thing..I just HAVE to stretch, but it hurts to stretch, but it hurts not to stretch..it's all through my back and legs. I usually wake up and take one to stop the symptoms, then go back to sleep. You mentioned you sometimes hear someone when you are dropping off to sleep. I have that one, too. I hear one of my kids screaming MOM at the top of their lungs, I jump a mile and then realize it was me. Twice I've felt a slight touch on my back, flipped towards the touch and in the process pulled a muscle in my already messed up back. This drug is really odd...I don't know if other opiates cause these things.

Hang in there and I hope you are doing OK with it.

BW