My father has been on tramadol for a week - 2 50 mg pills - three times a day. He's 75 years old and is being treated for back pain. He discontinued the pills since he was feeling better. However, he called me crying yesterday and saying he was really depressed. This is not his normal personality. I read the pharmacy sheet and told him to take two pills and that we'll have to wean him off of them. Now, the question is how to do that. Should I cut up the pills and have him go from 2 to 1 1/2 to 1... each day at a rate of three times a day? Your help is much appreciated.
Thank you kindly.

honestly,i would call his doc or his pharmacy for the very best info for HIM.since other medical issues can play a part in the best way for an individual to really taper off any med in the best possible way with the least amount of side effects.depending upon his overall health,and considering his age,his doc really should be the one to dictate any taper schedule.this IS a part of any docs job to taper a patient off of any med they place them on.age can also have a very big effect upon just how a person actually metabolizes certain drugs.its just safer doing it this way.this particular med also has an SSRI type quality(anti depressant)to its ingrediants.i do wish him luck with this,but i would definitely call his doc for the best possible plan for him.please let us know how he is doing.marcia