Has anyone gone straight from Ultram to Methadone? - Pain Management Message Board

Fabrashamx · 12-07-2007, 01:30 PM

Hi All,

I have been taking Ultram (Tramadol) for about 15 years, I take 2-50 mg pills 4 times a day, I also take 7.5 hydrocodone 3 times a day.
My new doctor says I can go off what I'm on cold turkey and switch to methadone, he said he will start me off on a higher dose since I am considered opiate tolerent.

I am not afraid to drop the hydrocodone, I know methadone is close enough I will have little to no withdrawal symtoms.

But I always thought you had to go off Ultram slowly and I am scared to stop it cold. Has anyone else done this? I have in the past gone several days without ultram and it was horrible. I'm really scared, but my pain is not being managed, I need to make the switch.

Has anyone done this? how did it work for you? please let me know.

Thanks!
~Fabby

brianpain33 · 12-07-2007, 02:40 PM

Fabby,
I don't think that I would ever go cold turkey again off of Ultram. That was a very bad idea for me trying to go form 150mg/day off cold turkey and missed 3 days of work, could not drive, very sick. You have to remember that Ultram affects serotonin and norepinephrine so it is really a narcotic and an anti-depressant combined. Unless methadone has some qualities that affect those neurotransmitters as well I would not go cold turkey. Maybe he could start you out on a low dose of methdone while you gradually go off the Ultram. I am interested to hear others comments on this one.

Brian

BrittleBones · 12-07-2007, 05:22 PM

Hi Fabby - I'm really glad that you are going to go on the methadone. I think that you will really see a huge difference in the pain relief that you get. As far as stopping the Ultram cold turkey - I've done it 3 times without any severe side effects. Have you had a chance to research the guidelines for stopping the med after being on it for such a long time? I would ask the pharmacist his or her opinion on the cold turkey approach. I'm absolutely sure that you won't experience any narcotic-type withdrawal from switching to the methadone, as long as the doc starts you at a decent dosage. Please let us know how it goes for you....I'm sure you must be anxious about this switch as you've been on the same drugs for such a long time. Hang in there my dear!! Memere (Kath'Mac)

badoldback · 12-08-2007, 05:56 AM

Hey Fabby,
I have to agree with memere that you will be better off in the long run by changing from Tramadol to Opioids. I don't have personal experience with stopping that much Tramadol suddenly, but everything I have read says it should be done more slowly to prevent the possibility of seizures.

Fabrashamx · 12-08-2007, 11:32 AM

Hi Thanks for all the replies, I agree with you that I need to make the switch, but I am still at a loss as to what to do about the ultram. I think my only choice at this point is to start cutting back on the tramadol on my own, and when I get down to a few a day, make the leap.

I like my new doctor, but he's really young, he often has to stop and look stuff up or ask other doctors, which of course is preferrable to a know it all, lol, but it doesnt exactly inspire confidence.

He refuses to let me be on ultram and methadone at the same time, since ultram is considered an opiate, he says it puts people at high risk of accidental overdose because of the nature of methadone (I.E. building up in your system)

Part of me thinks, how bad can it be? and for how long? I'm pretty much miserable now because of pain, If only I wasnt jumping off from 400 mgs of ultram, I think I would be less scared.

I thank you all so much for your replies, they really helped.

Hugs, Fabby