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toddl2115
Guest
Any recommendations on how to taper or wean yourself off of tramadol???
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T
toddl2115
Guest
i am in desperate need of finding a scheduling regime to safely taper off of ultram. I was injured in hockey, put on this med and have become dependent on it. I know I can quit however I have no knowledge of how to taper and limit the withdrawals. My own primary care physician denies to me that this is even an additive med and advised me to quit cold turkey. This will not work and he is oblivous to how addicting this med can be. A recommendation would be greatly appreciated.
G
granny0
Guest
Hi Todd,
Sorry you are fighting an addiction to something that some doctors don't think
is addictive. I've seen quite a few people post about trying to get off of it and their doctors had said the same thing. That's scary.
I think to start a taper you need to look at how long you've been taking it,
how many mg's a day and how many pills you have left. Fill us in on that and I'm sure someone here can come up with a good plan for your taper.
Best wishes,
JB
Sorry you are fighting an addiction to something that some doctors don't think
is addictive. I've seen quite a few people post about trying to get off of it and their doctors had said the same thing. That's scary.
I think to start a taper you need to look at how long you've been taking it,
how many mg's a day and how many pills you have left. Fill us in on that and I'm sure someone here can come up with a good plan for your taper.
Best wishes,
JB
T
toddl2115
Guest
Thanks for the response. I'm probably taking upwarRAB of 10-12/day. Someday's I can only take 7-9 however it's just become such a habit to not have those withdrawal's during working hours of the day when I'm busy and doing thing's.
G
granny0
Guest
Hey Todd,
I was hoping someone with some experience would come along.
My suggestion would be to start at the 7-9 pills, which sounRAB
like the minimum you take. Try delaying the first dose of the day
as long as you can. I'm guessing you take the pills in a few doses?
I'd do 3 pills 3 X a day for maybe 4 days. Then go down to 2 pills
3 X a day, delaying the first dose as much as possible. Once you
are stable on that - a week or so hopefully, then drop to 2 pills
2 X a day (hopefully at this point you've delayed the first dose long
enough that dropping down to 2 X a day won't be too bad)
Go with that for a week and then try 1 pill 2 X a day or just
2 pills once a day for a week. Then one pill a day for a week and
hopefully you'll be ready for none.
Even with tapering, you will still have some withdrawal symptoms,
but hopefully they will not be as bad as if you went cold turkey.
Best wishes in your recovery. I know quitting is hard to do, but you
will be so glad when it's over. Take one day at a time and keep your
eye on the prize - freedom from a devil in the form of a pill.
JB
I was hoping someone with some experience would come along.
My suggestion would be to start at the 7-9 pills, which sounRAB
like the minimum you take. Try delaying the first dose of the day
as long as you can. I'm guessing you take the pills in a few doses?
I'd do 3 pills 3 X a day for maybe 4 days. Then go down to 2 pills
3 X a day, delaying the first dose as much as possible. Once you
are stable on that - a week or so hopefully, then drop to 2 pills
2 X a day (hopefully at this point you've delayed the first dose long
enough that dropping down to 2 X a day won't be too bad)
Go with that for a week and then try 1 pill 2 X a day or just
2 pills once a day for a week. Then one pill a day for a week and
hopefully you'll be ready for none.
Even with tapering, you will still have some withdrawal symptoms,
but hopefully they will not be as bad as if you went cold turkey.
Best wishes in your recovery. I know quitting is hard to do, but you
will be so glad when it's over. Take one day at a time and keep your
eye on the prize - freedom from a devil in the form of a pill.
JB
I am not an expert of any kind, but I am addicted to pain meRAB, and Tramadol being one of my favorites due to the sense of well-being that I got from it.
You're right, most docs, because it's non-narcotic don't think that it is addictive, but I am prime example of a Tramadol addict. Tramadol is the devil, and since I am more of a binge user, rather than an everyday user, Tramadol, by far has given me the worst WRAB out of any other med. The WRAB are a nightmare, even with tapering.
I'd hate to see you use another addictive substance to counteract the WRAB, but in my experience, if you take Tylenol #3 for about 3 or 4 days after getting off the Tramadol, it has greatly reduced, if not eliminated the WRAB. Just make sure you only use the T3s for a couple of days though, so you don't get addicted to that as well.
This is what worked for me, and I have been off of it for a few weeks now and counting. I hope it helps.
You're right, most docs, because it's non-narcotic don't think that it is addictive, but I am prime example of a Tramadol addict. Tramadol is the devil, and since I am more of a binge user, rather than an everyday user, Tramadol, by far has given me the worst WRAB out of any other med. The WRAB are a nightmare, even with tapering.
I'd hate to see you use another addictive substance to counteract the WRAB, but in my experience, if you take Tylenol #3 for about 3 or 4 days after getting off the Tramadol, it has greatly reduced, if not eliminated the WRAB. Just make sure you only use the T3s for a couple of days though, so you don't get addicted to that as well.
This is what worked for me, and I have been off of it for a few weeks now and counting. I hope it helps.
T
toddl2115
Guest
I also have been taking this amount since about Deceraber of 2007
K
katlin09
Guest
Todd,
The other posters schedule for tapering sounded pretty good, but I would try to stretch it out longer perhaps over 2 - 3 months, getting down to where you take 1/2 pill a day before quitting. The thing with Ultram is there is a high risk of seizure's, so you have to be very careful when changing your dosages. Also, Ultram is an Atypical Antidepressant so you may notice more of a mental (mood) unstability while coming off this medication.
Good luck, and I wish you well.
The other posters schedule for tapering sounded pretty good, but I would try to stretch it out longer perhaps over 2 - 3 months, getting down to where you take 1/2 pill a day before quitting. The thing with Ultram is there is a high risk of seizure's, so you have to be very careful when changing your dosages. Also, Ultram is an Atypical Antidepressant so you may notice more of a mental (mood) unstability while coming off this medication.
Good luck, and I wish you well.
C
CLEANandSOBER
Guest
Todd,
I was on the tramadol route before getting on suboxone. I was up to 55-65 pills a day and am lucky I did not kill myself, but I know how you feel when you talk about the W/D's from tramadol. Can you maybe print some info from the internet of others having the same problem and show your Dr. that it is not in your head and your having real problems. I tried to taper but alas I did not have the discipline to stick to it. I wish you well and health. Good Luck
Tim
I was on the tramadol route before getting on suboxone. I was up to 55-65 pills a day and am lucky I did not kill myself, but I know how you feel when you talk about the W/D's from tramadol. Can you maybe print some info from the internet of others having the same problem and show your Dr. that it is not in your head and your having real problems. I tried to taper but alas I did not have the discipline to stick to it. I wish you well and health. Good Luck
Tim
M
mod-anon
Guest
Regular Guy, your post has been moved to a new thread:
"Should I be concerned about Tramadol?"
"Should I be concerned about Tramadol?"