Tramadol

[Thenextthing1]

I've been on this for around 5 years. Taking between 300 to 400mg a day. I never knew how damaging and addictive this stuff was. I have tried tapering 3 times and failed miserably i just cant do it. I have a demanding job and im always scared durong the tapering down that I'm losing productivity due to withdrawals.

I've now booked a week's annual leave, during this time I'll be going cold turkey. Ive told my GP that this is a last resort. There's no point trying to taper as when it gets bad I can get more from friends. I just need to stop. DH is onboard and supportive. I've no DC at home. All grown up so no issues with caring responsibility.

Has anyone ever done this? I can't believe I'm in this situation being so dependant. Clock watching to take my next hit so to speak. I'm awaiting my leave to be approved. I'll be stopping the tramadol 2 days before it starts so I have a full 7 days in bed trying to get passed this. I eoll update this thread in the hope it helps soleone iny position one day. I feel like it's my last chance to get off this awful drug. I wish I had the finances to go into rehab.

How long do you taper off when you've tried?

I've gone cold turkey, I was horrendous, I still remember how awful it was, I wanted to crawl out of my skin and the sickness and diarrhea was vile too. I lasted a few hours then did it properly over a month and was fine .

Ive tried over a 4mth and 5mth period. It just doesn't work for me. I seem to be all or nothing. I've been prescribed mitrazopine to stop the horrendous itchy/irritated legs at night when i do stop. They also help mood dips. Also booked onto some NA meetings which I'll keep up for at least 12mths. It's the most awful drug

Oh that's sounds awful,I do feel for you.

I was only on it for 5 weeks after an accident and I was completely hooked. The GP advised tapering off and it took a month with no issues at all .

Seroxat on the other hand took 6 months and the last 2mls were hell.

Good luck, I hope you find some way that works .

This sounds awful for you. Speak to your community drugs team. They will help. They may even be able to refer you for inpatient on the NHS, but if not they can help you with a community detox.
You sound very determined, which is a really good starting point.

You sound really determined, however I wonder if planning on doing it cold turkey is setting yourself up for failure.
You will feel horrendous. Your own body and brain will be crying out to feel better.
If you crack and you have an 'all or nothing' mindset you will feel worse than you do now, probably hopeless and despairing and hating yourself, when really there's little role for willpower when you have a raging physical addiction.
Could you take all your determination and apply it to a really well thought out plan that involves support and options you can take depending on how it goes.
Cold turkey is complete success or complete failure, and I personally think those options are too limiting for you as we have far more going on in these situations than will power/our own desire.
If it was as simple as that no one would ever make any choice that wasn't good for them, no one would ever be an addict, or fall off a diet, or risk any bad outcome.
Yes at some point it is as simple as making a choice, and then just repeating that same decision, again and again and again, however at this stage it's walking a tightrope over an abyss, when you could be walking ok a nice wife bridge with a much smaller drop.
Good luck though with whatever you do.

Walking on a nice wide bridge*

Very best of luck to you, OP. I had some Tramadol for a while and could see how incredibly addictive they could be. There but for the grace of God etc. Hope you get the support you need.

I appreciate the viewpoint of tapering but it hasn't worked. I'm in a demandng job and cannot afford to feel ill off tapering over a prolonged period of time.

I feel this is my only option to get off them for good. I'll join the NA meetings online which I can fit around working hours. I'm not in a position to drop down in role or take lots of time out unfortunately.

Also, I have spoken to the community drug team. They wanted me to attend clinic. I explained that due to my role, the town we live in being small, I couldn't do that incase I was recognised. The clinic is in the middle of our town, you would struggle being discreet. The next one is in the town across. Same issues apply.

I know some people may thing I should just go and not worry about being seen but it isn't as simple as that 😔

Imodium for Opiate Withdrawal to help with diarrhea. You can do it! All the best.

Thank you I'll will get some in. I'm also looking at some vitamins to try and keep my mood up such as turmeric and B complex

I went cold turkey. Nobody warned me when I was put on tramadol after surgery. I had no idea what it was.

The withdrawal headache was really bad and it went on for weeks. However I was determined to ride it out and I'm glad I did.

Tramadol is filthy stuff and I cannot believe that people are prescribed it with no warning or explanation of what it is.

OP I would say get onto as many NA meetings / other support groups while you're doing this. If you PM me I can add you to some ladies only wattsapp groups with links and support.

For me personally I couldn't do cold turkey - I got onto a substitute medication (subutex) and then tapered off thar slowly. I appreciate though that you may not want or be able to do that so here's some practical tips.

Firstly, it won't kill you. You might feel like it will, but it won't. With support you can do this. You really really can.

Try not to stop in bed if you can help it. Try and get up, even if it means you sit on the sofa watching tv. Get dressed, even if it means trackies and a top. When I'm in bed all day it just makes the day seem endless and does nothing good for my mental health.
Make allowances for being ill but still try and do life. By that I mean get up, get dressed, watch TV or Potter, basically try not to be in a si t uation where all you are doing is wallowing I'm bed because it will help

Showers help, or a hot bath if you have one. Get an alternative bedroom routine as if you're like me the pills have been it for the last however long! Shower, fresh jarmas, cuppa or hot milk, read book, bed. I find if I can't sleep putting on a bedtime meditation helps. Or watching old porridge reruns sends me off. Its normal to struggle to sleep but with that said, maybe go to the chemist and get some kalm or similar if needed. Also remember no one died of lack of sleep naturally - you might feel shit but it'll pass.

Be kind to yourself. Immodium for the bathroom problems, use wetwipes rather than loo roll for soreness, paracetamol and ibuprofen for pain relief. Remember you'll only have to do this the once. Also remember mentally your brain is going to go into overdrive. Cold turkey can work for some - for others it can send them back to using. I used to have fears about going to drugs services for similar work related reasons, and a hefty dose of shame, but work were absolutely amazing. I hope you can get through it - but if not there is no shame in going to community drug and alcohol support. Work can't just fire you because of it. They truly can't. I do understand that fear though.

Mentally you may well struggle. Connect, connect, connect. Keep busy, for me I had to keep busy and active doing something as if I thought too long I couldn't handle it. Music, walks, colouring, TV, baking, anything.

I'm sending you love and thoughts OP. Reach out if you need to. I remember being in a similar situation and I am 8months clean on August 1st. There is hope x

This is amazing to read!! I've got 3 NA meetings this week and will continue with them atwr I've withdrawn.

Thank you so much for this. I'm going to keep reading it when it gets bad x

Currently going through the exact same as you with tramadol. Two days off it feel like I can't do anything. The way it makes you feel not taking it is so strange. No energy is the worse for me. Keep circling back to it.

How you doing?

I've not been on it for 5 years though, nearly one year I have.
It's so difficult and not easy.

Try 5HTP as a supplement to help you. I know addicts use it

You get it in H&B

Does that help the physical side of withdrawal?

I've not started it yet. Just waiting or my time off to be approved then I'll be doing it. Dreading it but I'm determined. The lack of energy is why I'm doing it on my holiday dates. PM me if you need any support.

@someadvice20 I'm not sure why they use it, I just know they do as I know a addict and I remember him telling me when trying to come off heroine. He mentioned he needed to get some as it helped. I'm not sure what or why it helped though sorry.

I use it for my son who has adhd, it helps him sleep and works very well.

This is correct about 5htp. It's used to replace serotonin that's lost when withdrawing. You cannot take 5htp and any other anti depressant or tramadol. This can cause an overdose of serotonin that can be fatal

Yup, serotonin syndrome.
SSRIs and tramadol are a bad mix.
Still wishing you strength and relief OP.

What a great post.

Good luck OP. I've been off it for nearly two years, after 10 years taking 100mg per day. I tapered over three months, but I take my hat off if you're going cold turkey.

Horrible insidious stuff, especially as it was so effective in the early days. It kept me mobile, stopped my drinking, gave me more executive function. Then it took my brain away.