Tramadol

[jschooly]

Hi Anyone Out There,

I have been off of alcohol for more than 10 years. Last year I relapsed on Vicodin - only got up to 6 or so a day but could not stop. I switched to Tramadol to try and ween myself off the Vic. Well, that worked but now I can't get off the Tram - take about 6 a day. Finally went to drug counselor who says he will put me on Suboxone program which sounds fantastic like an answer to a prayer. I am a mom, wife, employed, go to AA all the time - basically very responsible - I am simply an addict. I have been reading the threads about Suboxone and getting a little concerned. Sounds like it is REALLY tough to get off of Sub. I surely don't want to jump from frying pan into fire but I have tried getting off Tram and it's really hard. I get super depressed, angry, irritable.

Anyone have good news about Sub? Anyone else ever get addicted to Tramadol? Any information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Tele52]

Hi Jschooly,

I have been on Tramadol (Ultam) myself many years ago. That was one really tough drug to get off of. I was also taking very high doses for a long time. I went through withdrawal many times from them. You would think I would have learned the first time, being how hard it was. It took a good month to feel totally right. About 3 weeks of feeling pretty bad. It was basically like detoxing from opiates but you also have the head zaps too, like when you come off an anti-depressant. At one point I was on Tram and vics, percs, together. My family wanted me to go to rehab and I knew I couldn't because of my job. I quit cold turkey and went to work with severe wd's. I have no idea how I did it but I guess when you have to and put your mind to it it can be done. I first started out with a Tramadol addiction before I ever got into the heavy stuff. I did the opposite of you. I went on to the heavy stuff to help get me get off of ultram (which I don't suggest) you'll be running in circles since I later wound up taking both together and the Tram didn't work anymore. It was just a quick fix to help stop the ultram wd but in the end I did a cold turkey like I mentioned.

I was clean for 2 months! This was in the middle of my 10 year addiction to opiates. When I relapsed I went on to even heavier stuff like oxy's, H and Fentanyl patches. I wound up finding a sub doc and I'm now going through what I feel is an addiction but much safer. I think the problem is that I've been on sub for two years and I'm not used to wd's anymore. I used to wd from opiates about once a week and go to work sick as hell. It was like my body got used to wd'ing and now I'm afraid of even the slighest bit of uncomfort. Plus, knowing I get prescribed a bottle of 75 8mg tabs a month doesn't help. A VERY short term and LOW dose detox with sub would probably be best. You don't want to get hooked on it like me! Don't get me wrong, it probably saved my life, it got me away from all the low lives I was hanging with at the time and let me live a "normal" life for the last two years but now I'm struggling to get off sub like you are with the Tramadol.

You can read more about what I'm going through under the thread "Suboxone Side Effects".

Tele52

[kellibear]

suboxone is 50x stronger than morphine--taking it for a tramadol habit of 6 pills a day is utterly insane. i can not encourage you enough to forget the sub!!! i was addicted to ultram too---i had 6 grand-mal seizures but i was taking 40--50 a day. taking sub for 6 ultrams is like swatting a fly with a bowling ball. it's swapping a very small habit to a huge habit that is very close to methadone and it is a 100x times harder to get off of!!! taper off the tramadol by 1 pill a week and you'll be much better off. you'll feel like crap for a week or 2 and it will be done and over with. get some clonidine from your dr. (this is an old b/p med that is great for opiate withdrawl) and get some immodium, and a few sleeping pills. sub is for people with huge heroin, methadone, oxy, habits. any dr. who would give this powerful opiate to a person taking 6 ultram a day should lose his license--period!

[emsmom]

I think the point jschooly is trying to make is that she cannot get off the tramadol. Tapering one pill a week sounds peachy, however she has tried and can't do it.

I agree with Tele - A very short term and low dose of Sub sounds like a good solution for you, jschooly. I too, have tried many times to taper and/or detox, with no success. I am entering Rehab on the 14th (July) and will finally get ahold of this addiction. I am a mom, wife, employed as well and understand how you feel about this... "I am simply an addict."

I live in Toronto and since Sub is not available in Canada yet, I can't even consider it, however I would if it were available. For you, I wouldn't take it for the long term, as you aren't at a high enough dose to justify. I would, however seriously consider it for a short term detox. I've heard it is the "wonder drug" for addicts. I have also heard (many many times) that it is very hard to get off. Some people will take it for the rest of their lives, but they are ok with that - while others do not want to take Sub forever, and find it hard to taper or stop.

Now, please don't think I am assuming your addiction is trivial - addiction is addiction, an addict is an addict - but you don't take as much as I did (or others have, who are on Sub) so just think about it, perhaps get a second opinion if you have the opportunity to see another Sub Dr. but it seems like it would help you

Whatever you decide, we're all here to help, and listen From one mother to another, we always keep our families in mind when we make a choice of this magnitude, so perhaps you can look at the side effects and see if it sounds like the right choice for you.

Take it easy, and I hope you're doing well today

Love,
emsmom

[jschooly]

Dear Kellibear,

This is what I was afraid of. I have been reading about really tough w/ds from Suboxone and I fear they may be worse than 6 Tram a day. I think you are probably right. I will have to get the discipline and help hopefully of a Higher Power to let go of the Tram little by little. I have be trying to do that but my addict has been winning. However, I am really beginning to see that my choices are limited and I do believe that Sub may be "swatting a fly with a bowling ball." I am going to give this some very serious thought.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by kellibear

suboxone is 50x stronger than morphine--taking it for a tramadol habit of 6 pills a day is utterly insane. i can not encourage you enough to forget the sub!!! i was addicted to ultram too---i had 6 grand-mal seizures but i was taking 40--50 a day. taking sub for 6 ultrams is like swatting a fly with a bowling ball. it's swapping a very small habit to a huge habit that is very close to methadone and it is a 100x times harder to get off of!!! taper off the tramadol by 1 pill a week and you'll be much better off. you'll feel like crap for a week or 2 and it will be done and over with. get some clonidine from your dr. (this is an old b/p med that is great for opiate withdrawl) and get some immodium, and a few sleeping pills. sub is for people with huge heroin, methadone, oxy, habits. any dr. who would give this powerful opiate to a person taking 6 ultram a day should lose his license--period!