katlin09
04-09-2008, 09:48 PM
Brian,
I read on another thread that you're going to stop using Ultram (Tramadol) this Friday. I am very interested to know how you do with that, how bad the WD's are ect. I've been on Ultram for 7 years and have considered stopping it, but know it will consider some serious WD's. Good luck!
I read on another thread that you're going to stop using Ultram (Tramadol) this Friday. I am very interested to know how you do with that, how bad the WD's are ect. I've been on Ultram for 7 years and have considered stopping it, but know it will consider some serious WD's. Good luck!
Sponsor
brianpain33
04-09-2008, 10:19 PM
Yes I am curious and scared at the same time especially since I tried to do it a couple of months ago when I was on 100mg/day. I thought well it's only 2 pills I can handle the WD with stopping. I did good for 2 days and then the dizzyness, lightheadedness hit and I couldn't make it to work for the next 3 days until I went back on it and the blood levels got back up to a working condition. I also experienced severe depression and was crying constantly for no reason. I was having suicidal thoughts like crazy and it was definitely the WD's. I went back on, the depression lifted, the lightheaded/dizzy feeling left and then when I went on Percocet a month ago the doc said OK I want you off the Ultram now. I said wait let me titrate it down. I have been cutting 1/2 a pill/week, yes that's per week. I am now on week 4 and ready. I hope that I am ready and I could really use all of your strength on this board. I will definitely keep all of you posted. Of course I have read all of the HORROR stories concerning Ultram WD and stopping so I know too much. However, I have been able to stop Cymbalta and Effexor in the last 8 months or so.
brian
brian
Fabrashamx
04-10-2008, 01:16 AM
Hi, Kmit, welcome to the pain boards, Brian has given you some good advice, I would like to share with you both what I went through when I went off Tramadol after 15 years of daily use.
As I said, I took it everyday for 15 years, 400 mgs per day. My old doctor had retired and my new doctor liked his CP patients to be on methadone. I had wanted to try a LA med for some time, and was looking forward to it, but I was scared to death to stop the ultram, I had over the years run out while out of town and had similar things come up, so I knew the withdrawals were horrible, the dizziness and depression, ect.
My new doctor wanted me to go straight off the ultram onto the methadone, But I was scared to go off such a high dose and wanted to titrate down first, and then make the switch.
The doctor wasnt willing to do that, so my only option was to titrate the ultram on my own, with no replacement, and then switch to the methadone at the end of that month when my refills were due.
It was awful. I dont think I slept more that an hour or two for the first week to 10 days. I dropped a dose about every 4-5 days. By the time I was down to 2 a day, I couldnt take it anymore, I made an appointment and begged him to put me on the methadone right then, and he did. Once I was on the methadone, I was fine, all the pain that had come back was gone, and the withdrawal symptoms stopped.
My depression was still pretty bad, so I did have him adjust my prozac, that helped a lot.
In retrospect, I think I would have done better to go off the high dose of ultram cold turkey and switch to the methadone, but I do think it was easier to make the switch from 100 mgs per day to the methadone, but by then I had already gone through hell, lol.
Good luck to you whatever you decide to do, please let me know if you have any questions or if there is anymore I can do for you. I hope you keep posting, and welcome again!
Your Friend, Fabby :wave:
As I said, I took it everyday for 15 years, 400 mgs per day. My old doctor had retired and my new doctor liked his CP patients to be on methadone. I had wanted to try a LA med for some time, and was looking forward to it, but I was scared to death to stop the ultram, I had over the years run out while out of town and had similar things come up, so I knew the withdrawals were horrible, the dizziness and depression, ect.
My new doctor wanted me to go straight off the ultram onto the methadone, But I was scared to go off such a high dose and wanted to titrate down first, and then make the switch.
The doctor wasnt willing to do that, so my only option was to titrate the ultram on my own, with no replacement, and then switch to the methadone at the end of that month when my refills were due.
It was awful. I dont think I slept more that an hour or two for the first week to 10 days. I dropped a dose about every 4-5 days. By the time I was down to 2 a day, I couldnt take it anymore, I made an appointment and begged him to put me on the methadone right then, and he did. Once I was on the methadone, I was fine, all the pain that had come back was gone, and the withdrawal symptoms stopped.
My depression was still pretty bad, so I did have him adjust my prozac, that helped a lot.
In retrospect, I think I would have done better to go off the high dose of ultram cold turkey and switch to the methadone, but I do think it was easier to make the switch from 100 mgs per day to the methadone, but by then I had already gone through hell, lol.
Good luck to you whatever you decide to do, please let me know if you have any questions or if there is anymore I can do for you. I hope you keep posting, and welcome again!
Your Friend, Fabby :wave:
Arthr Itis
04-10-2008, 10:59 AM
With a huge amount of help from the Lord , I was able to get off Ultram last fall/winter. I did the titrate thing for a couple of weeks then quit. Some depression and other wd's. But now I'm off them and won't go back on. Then I tried to get rid of Cymbalta. That was BAD!!!! I don't recall wanting to kill myself but my dog and the neighbors were in real danger. Just kidding I wouldn't kill my dog.[lol].
You will make it!
Fred
You will make it!
Fred
Fabrashamx
04-10-2008, 02:00 PM
I don't recall wanting to kill myself but my dog and the neighbors were in real danger.
ROFL! This made my day, Thanks for the smile!:)
ROFL! This made my day, Thanks for the smile!:)
123dietdrpepper
04-10-2008, 02:21 PM
Yes the cymbalta is rough !!
katlin09
04-10-2008, 03:05 PM
I hang out mostly on the Bi Polar boards as I'm Bi Polar with Severe Bi Polar Depression. Trying suicide and having suicidal thoughts is nothing new to me unfortunately. But I also have severe CP issues dating back 17 years. I'm on Fentanyl patch 50 mcg/48 hrs. and use Ultram for mild BT pain, percocet and norco for more severe BT pain. I have kidney problems so I have to watch my tylenol intake very carefully. My docs haven't mentioned me getting off the ultram it's just something I'm considering. Right now I know that I'm "dependent on roughly 7 different drugs, between pain meds and psych meds, and frankly I'm tired of it. I know that there will be WD's with the Ultram, becasue when I have to take stronger pain meds for BT and forget to take the Ultram for even 1 day they start....so for now I'm just collecting data, on what the smartest way to do it would be. I've had 9 knee surgeries in the last 17 yrs (both knees) and 8 abdominal surgeries in the last 9 years. My knee condition is degenertive and only get worse, right now I'm at either a scrape/clean and knee cap fracture every 1 1/2 years, or total knee replacements, which at 38 I'd probably be looking at, at least 2 in my lifetime...they're not know for their lengthability. So for now I'm just playing the "how long can I handle the pain" game. Fortunately I have excellent doctors, ortho surgeon, PM/GP, pdoc, urologist, and tdoc who all work as a team for my care, not to mention being located between UNC and Duke...pretty much the MECA of excellent health care. Sorry I'm rambling...the BP in me does that...Brian I will keep you in my thougths and prayers for your strength in this journey.
Fabrashamx
04-10-2008, 05:54 PM
Hey Kmit,
welcome to the pain boards, My hubby is Bi-polar and I have had CP for over 15 years, a lot of my life revolves around dealing with both issues, If there is ever anything I can do to help, or if you just need someone to listen, I will be here for you, Just holler.
Your Friend, Fabby :cool:
welcome to the pain boards, My hubby is Bi-polar and I have had CP for over 15 years, a lot of my life revolves around dealing with both issues, If there is ever anything I can do to help, or if you just need someone to listen, I will be here for you, Just holler.
Your Friend, Fabby :cool:
brianpain33
04-10-2008, 10:29 PM
OK everyone I know that I said tomorrow would be my last day on Ultram but I am making it today. YES TODAY IS MY LAST DAY TO TAKE ULTRAM. WISH ME LUCK IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS ;)
brian
brian
brianpain33
04-11-2008, 05:10 PM
Well everyone I am at 36 hours or so off of the Ultram and not noticing a whole lot of effects. I did have this happen the last time I tried to go off and did not notice the withdrawal effects until after 48 hours so we will see. I have plenty of Ultram left(with 1 refill) if I do need to go back on it. I guess it will be interesting to see what happens over the weekend. I have a regularly scheduled doctor appt on monday so I will have a pretty good idea about how I am doing. I did notice that I had quite a bit more pain this morning but it could be due to: it was overdue time to take my Lyrica & Percocet & there is a good size storm system coming through. So I took both of them at 10am and I am doing pretty good now. I will keep you posted./
brian
brian
Fabrashamx
04-11-2008, 08:01 PM
Hi Brian,
Glad to hear you are still hanging in there! What I noticed with the ultram withdrawal was how weird it was, instead of feeling steadily better, I would have hours where all the withdrawal symptoms would be there in force, and then a few hours later, they would almost completely stop. I would think 'Oh good, maybe that's it!' but no, it would come again and again.
Gradually the time inbetween got longer and longer, and by the time I 'jumped off' the last 100 mgs a day onto the methadone, I was feeling quite a bit better.
I think ultram has such a bad rep as a terrible drug to come off of because it takes so long for the symptoms to stop, most meds, the first 72 hours are the worst, then you know you can count on it getting better, not so with ultram, maybe its the anti-D effect, I'm not sure, but after 4 days, I was still getting worse, not better.
Is there anything you can take as a kind of 'replacement' med to get you through the withdrawal? I know you dont want to end up trading dependence on something else, but it would be much easier on you to say take percocets for a week and then go off of those.
The doctor tried (as did folks here) to tell me that as soon as I went on the methadone, I would feel better, I didnt listen and in hindsight I wish that I had, I think I would have been much more comfortable.
Good luck, keep us posted, and keep a close watch on your depression symptoms, with your bi polar, thats more of a concern than most people would have.
Hugs,
Fabby :wave:
Glad to hear you are still hanging in there! What I noticed with the ultram withdrawal was how weird it was, instead of feeling steadily better, I would have hours where all the withdrawal symptoms would be there in force, and then a few hours later, they would almost completely stop. I would think 'Oh good, maybe that's it!' but no, it would come again and again.
Gradually the time inbetween got longer and longer, and by the time I 'jumped off' the last 100 mgs a day onto the methadone, I was feeling quite a bit better.
I think ultram has such a bad rep as a terrible drug to come off of because it takes so long for the symptoms to stop, most meds, the first 72 hours are the worst, then you know you can count on it getting better, not so with ultram, maybe its the anti-D effect, I'm not sure, but after 4 days, I was still getting worse, not better.
Is there anything you can take as a kind of 'replacement' med to get you through the withdrawal? I know you dont want to end up trading dependence on something else, but it would be much easier on you to say take percocets for a week and then go off of those.
The doctor tried (as did folks here) to tell me that as soon as I went on the methadone, I would feel better, I didnt listen and in hindsight I wish that I had, I think I would have been much more comfortable.
Good luck, keep us posted, and keep a close watch on your depression symptoms, with your bi polar, thats more of a concern than most people would have.
Hugs,
Fabby :wave:
brianpain33
04-11-2008, 08:14 PM
Is there anything you can take as a kind of 'replacement' med to get you through the withdrawal? say take percocets for a week and then go off of those.
Thank you for the concern and yes I already DO take PERCOCET for the BT pain although I may have to take the max per day depending on the withdrawal effects. I am seeing my PCP on monday, psychiatrist on tuesday of next week so I will tell them how I am doing then and go from there. I was thinking of maybe going on Lexapro if I really HAD TO. I am going to keep a close eye on my depression though, which I do tend to have SEVERE DEPRESSION associated with my Bi-polar (I wish the poles were opposite) and sometimes they are. I really like those times. I think maybe that's the other reason I would use the street drugs so I could experience the manic effect instantly. I know not good but it's something I have pondered.
brian
Thank you for the concern and yes I already DO take PERCOCET for the BT pain although I may have to take the max per day depending on the withdrawal effects. I am seeing my PCP on monday, psychiatrist on tuesday of next week so I will tell them how I am doing then and go from there. I was thinking of maybe going on Lexapro if I really HAD TO. I am going to keep a close eye on my depression though, which I do tend to have SEVERE DEPRESSION associated with my Bi-polar (I wish the poles were opposite) and sometimes they are. I really like those times. I think maybe that's the other reason I would use the street drugs so I could experience the manic effect instantly. I know not good but it's something I have pondered.
brian
Fabrashamx
04-11-2008, 11:00 PM
So is the percocet keeping your pain levels at an okay place? what are your long term plans about pain meds? sorry to be so nosy!
LOL Yep my hubby tends to like the manic side better than the depression as well, Which as you know can lead to problems. (remember the guy with the lawn chair, the weather balloons, and the bb gun? I would bet my last dollar he was bi polar!)
I liked the lexipro, and my doctor told me it was better at treating anxiety along with depression, and I found that to be true. Hang in there my friend, you will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugs, Fabby :wave:
(PS~ I hope it doesnt bother you that I joke about the bi-polar, hubby and I joke around about it all the time, but I realize that it is a serious illness and if my comments bother you at all, just say so and I will stop. :) )
LOL Yep my hubby tends to like the manic side better than the depression as well, Which as you know can lead to problems. (remember the guy with the lawn chair, the weather balloons, and the bb gun? I would bet my last dollar he was bi polar!)
I liked the lexipro, and my doctor told me it was better at treating anxiety along with depression, and I found that to be true. Hang in there my friend, you will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugs, Fabby :wave:
(PS~ I hope it doesnt bother you that I joke about the bi-polar, hubby and I joke around about it all the time, but I realize that it is a serious illness and if my comments bother you at all, just say so and I will stop. :) )
brianpain33
04-11-2008, 11:14 PM
So is the percocet keeping your pain levels at an okay place? what are your long term plans about pain meds?
(PS~ I hope it doesnt bother you that I joke about the bi-polar, hubby and I joke around about it all the time, but I realize that it is a serious illness and if my comments bother you at all, just say so and I will stop. :) )
Well my long term plans, I don't want to think too far ahead. I am currently using Lyrica, Percocet(BT pain), and 50mcg fentanyl patch. It does seem to be working fairly well and I just take it day by day. If I look too far into the future I will get "completely overwhelmed" and completely freak out. I have done that in the past and even relapsed(addiction) because of it. Now I really try hard to only look at today because that is the only thing that we do have and you don't know what tomorrow holds. So enjoying or trying to enjoy today is what I have.
As far as the bi-polar jokes, I don't really mind. Heck, I am crazy and I have the paperwork to prove it.:nono::eek:
I will say that I am having a slight dizzy spell at the moment. Do you remember these when you stopped the Ultram. Also, just in case I can't quit, do they make a 25mg Ultram(tramadol). That would be even better because I could split that in half.
brian
(PS~ I hope it doesnt bother you that I joke about the bi-polar, hubby and I joke around about it all the time, but I realize that it is a serious illness and if my comments bother you at all, just say so and I will stop. :) )
Well my long term plans, I don't want to think too far ahead. I am currently using Lyrica, Percocet(BT pain), and 50mcg fentanyl patch. It does seem to be working fairly well and I just take it day by day. If I look too far into the future I will get "completely overwhelmed" and completely freak out. I have done that in the past and even relapsed(addiction) because of it. Now I really try hard to only look at today because that is the only thing that we do have and you don't know what tomorrow holds. So enjoying or trying to enjoy today is what I have.
As far as the bi-polar jokes, I don't really mind. Heck, I am crazy and I have the paperwork to prove it.:nono::eek:
I will say that I am having a slight dizzy spell at the moment. Do you remember these when you stopped the Ultram. Also, just in case I can't quit, do they make a 25mg Ultram(tramadol). That would be even better because I could split that in half.
brian
Fabrashamx
04-12-2008, 03:26 AM
Hi Again,
Yep I sure do remember the dizzy spells coming off the ultram, it lasted for weeks, at one point I wondered if I had a middle ear infection, it would get really bad, to the point where I had to stop what I was doing, and sit with my head between my knees until I stopped feeling as if I were going to fall over sideways.
The dizziness stayed with me, to lesser and lesser degrees, until the end. About an hour after I started the methadone, all my withdrawal symptoms from the ultram just stopped. I dont think they would have if I had gone off from 800 mgs per day all at once, though.
I only ever saw and/or heard about ultram-tramadol being avalible in the 50 mg dose, I know they made something called ultracet, which contained the same med, but I dont know how many milligrams those came in, should be easy to find that info though, or just call your pharmacy and ask.
HTH!
~Fabby :wave:
Yep I sure do remember the dizzy spells coming off the ultram, it lasted for weeks, at one point I wondered if I had a middle ear infection, it would get really bad, to the point where I had to stop what I was doing, and sit with my head between my knees until I stopped feeling as if I were going to fall over sideways.
The dizziness stayed with me, to lesser and lesser degrees, until the end. About an hour after I started the methadone, all my withdrawal symptoms from the ultram just stopped. I dont think they would have if I had gone off from 800 mgs per day all at once, though.
I only ever saw and/or heard about ultram-tramadol being avalible in the 50 mg dose, I know they made something called ultracet, which contained the same med, but I dont know how many milligrams those came in, should be easy to find that info though, or just call your pharmacy and ask.
HTH!
~Fabby :wave:
brianpain33
04-12-2008, 03:39 AM
thanks Fabby and guess what it was. I got home and my patch had partially came off, including the patch cover. Oh man I changed my patch and now 2 hours later I am feeling just fine. I was starting to go through WD from the patch. I don't want to do that again. I guess with the warmer weather here I have been sweating more so I might have to not use that spot again to put it. I thought I was going to have to break down and take 1/2 a pill. I am ok for now so we'll see how it goes
brian
brian
brianpain33
04-14-2008, 05:15 PM
UPDATE:
I am now on day 5 of not taking ANY Ultram(tramadol) and I am doing pretty good. I am actually thinking MORE clearly and able to concentrate better. I think that it was actually contributing to my anxiety/manic tendency. I definitely feel better about not taking it. The only problem is that I now feel more of my jaw/tooth pain that has been constant since last November so now I have to figure out what to do next there. I almost took one over the weekend but managed to get through a little bit of withdrawal so I think that I am COMPLETELY done with it after a little over 2 years. No more of that for me.
brian
I am now on day 5 of not taking ANY Ultram(tramadol) and I am doing pretty good. I am actually thinking MORE clearly and able to concentrate better. I think that it was actually contributing to my anxiety/manic tendency. I definitely feel better about not taking it. The only problem is that I now feel more of my jaw/tooth pain that has been constant since last November so now I have to figure out what to do next there. I almost took one over the weekend but managed to get through a little bit of withdrawal so I think that I am COMPLETELY done with it after a little over 2 years. No more of that for me.
brian
Arthr Itis
04-14-2008, 06:22 PM
Good job Brian! Now the next time a doctors wants to prescribe tramadol what are we going to say? Me too!
Fred
Fred
123dietdrpepper
04-14-2008, 07:21 PM
I don't know why but suddenly I developed an allergy to it.