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Coming off Tramadol after 2 years

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sm1970
sm1970

Hi! I'm new here. I was on another forum but I don't seem to get many replies, except for 1 person a few times. Anyway, I had a

botched knee surgery that led to several other knee surgeries, that led to a total knee replacement at the age of 42. I was put on Tramadol & was told that it was not addictive, nor were there any consequences coming off this evil med. I was taking 200-300mg/day & decided to do a super taper down to 75mg/day. This was just over 3 weeks ago. The 1st week 1/2 was completely miserable. I had constant anxiety, jittery, Hot & cold & bad sweats, belly aches/diarrhea, constant sneezing & coughing. I went to my primary care doc to discuss this with him & ask for help. He put me back on Lyrica & gave me Xanax. I try not to take that everyday. The past few days I finally felt great & then today I felt like the w/d's were starting all over again. The anxiety hit pretty hard again today. I'm so frustrated with the set back. I was even thinking of tapering down 25mg (1 pill) this coming Fri. Now I'm afraid to do so. I just want off this horrible medications.

1 like, 16 replies

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  • steve_1
    steve_1 sm1970

    Posted

    I've been on Tramadol for years now. I have Post Herpetic Neuralgia, nerve pain, and it can hurt pretty bad at times. I started at about 400mg a day and tapered down to 50mg to 100mg depending on pain levels. when I dropped doses at first I got all kinda of nasties so I decided to do a slow tapering . Its very addictive.

    Each drop was 50mg done like this.... day 1. new dose, 6days old dose. 1 day new dose, 5 days old dose...until 1day new dose 1 day old dose, then 2days new dose, 1  day old dose, 3 days new dose 1 day old....and so on.

    It worked for me but unfortunately I still need pain relief so I put up with it during the day when I can do other things but if I'm in pain at night I take 50 or 100 mg depending an pain levels.

    • sm1970
      sm1970 steve_1

      Posted

      Hi, Steve! So sorry to hear about the pain you have to deal with daily. I wrote for the 1st time on this forum yesterday when I was feeling much worse. Today was a great day, except tonight my knee is really bothering me. I contemplated even taking a Tramadol this evening but I'm glad I decided not to. Instead I took an epsom salt bath & put my TENS unit on my knee. I was having a little bit of anxiety this evening but nothing compared to what it's been. But still, it's an annoying feeling. With all that being said, I'm sticking with the 75mg until I feel comfortable enough to taper down. My main goal is to get off & stay off for a while, then take 1 only when I absolutely need it. At this time, I have no desire to take any more of my allotted amount. I certainly don't ever want to go through this again. I know I will also need pain relief sometimes. I'm actually finding that I don't really need around the clock pain meds. I hope & pray you get relief for your pain one day soon. Have you ever considered Lyrica? I'm also on that for knee pain. It's primarily for nerve pain so it couldn't hurt looking into.

  • tony21526
    tony21526 sm1970

    Posted

    I have been on tramadol for over 10 years and I am on the slow train to get off them I was taken 8 a day then went down to 4 a day then two now none but I have got pains all over my body I feel I have got,a,flu it's bad but I need to come off them to get a life free from tables 

    • sm1970
      sm1970 tony21526

      Posted

      Hi, Tony! That's a long time & I honestly didn't even know they have been out that long. It's not an easy drug to come off of but it's possible. Slow & steady. You may be going too fast.  I'm towards the end of week 3 at the same "super taper" I started at & it's just getting easier. I can still feel the effects of coming down off of them in the morning when I wake up, sometimes the anxiety starts about 3am but I push through it. I'm going to stay at the 75mg until the end of the month then taper down another 1/2 pill, which will put me at 1 pill/day. I've just decided to deal with the pain rather than to depend on a pull around the clock. Please stay in touch & let me know how you're doing..

    • julie76198
      julie76198 tony21526

      Posted

      Hi Tony

      i have been taking tramacet or tramadol for 10 years after my foot was knocked by a car 12 years ago.

      I feel like i have flu, insomnia, anxiety and worried about how i will cope but i am constantly telling myself i have to do this as i am sick to death of worrying every few weeks that my stash is running low and i need a prescription. It honestly takes over your life.

      i am a normal woman with a Degree in Social Care , i dont drink or take hard drugs but i am a Tramadol Addict and i will be a recovered one.

      I wish you and everyone else going through this hell right now all the very best in getting off these tablets

       

    • sm1970
      sm1970 julie76198

      Posted

      Hi, Julie! Coming off Tramadol has been one of the hardest things I've ever done, mentally & physically. I just weaned myself down to 1 pill (50mg) a day. I'm still feeling the effects of the w/d's but not half as bad as the beginning. It's a very slow process. Good luck to you. Keep in touch if you want/need support.

    • twotif68
      twotif68 julie76198

      Posted

      Hi Julie,

      I’ve been on them for 11 years. I take 400mg a day and am just about to start a slow taper. 

      I would love to talk to you more since you and I seem to be similar. I’m no drug addict either. I got tricked by this horrible medication and have been battling hard for a long time. 

      I refer to tramadol as.......”Satan’s very own drug.”

  • Ajl976
    Ajl976 sm1970

    Posted

    Gday mate a bit of advice , keep at it and give up . I have been on this poison for 11yrs   and lm loosing hope of ever stopping . I peaked at 1600mg per day and currently take 1000mg per day . Every year on this poison makes it harder to stop l can literally not function anymore without tramadol.  My memory is terrible l have lost most feeling of any emotion and l feel like my life is one continuos day due to the inability to sleep. I've tried suboxone  treatment 3 times but each time l stop l go insane because lve forgotten who lam of tramadol and I've been living in a daze for so long l get frightened  when l feel emotion . Anyway mate l can too you it will be much worse for you 2 years from now if you don't stop . Good luck 

    • sm1970
      sm1970 Ajl976

      Posted

      Hello there, Ajl976! It's been a slow process getting off of Tramadol & I am almost there. I just cut down to 1/2 pill a day without any major side effects, other than some slight anxiety. I've learned that it will take about 3-4 days to be completely comfortable with the new dosage. I'll stay here for 2 weeks then drop it all together. I'm almost there & I can't wait. I can't tell you how proud of myself I am. I still deal with the pain but I'm finding that the pain isn't nearly half as bad after cutting back sos much, but it's still there. However, I'm coping well with it. I hope that one day you can finally get the help you need. So sorry for what you're going through.

    • iggytram
      iggytram Ajl976

      Posted

      Hi,I saw your story and I know exactly what you feel like,same here but keep strong and don't loose faith to quit tram.I have done it before from 1400 mg / day down to 0 mg. I took it extremely slow it took a like 6-9 months to quit.Hade a car accident and I'm back on tram after 5-6 years.And i will try to quit exactly same way I did it before,It s a hard thing to do,but I must try when the time comes.One thing I remember was that I have to pick a right time in life to that,have a lots of energy and will to quit,and that moment Must be the right,or I will fail. So just keep the faith,everything is possible.

      Peace

  • linda12841
    linda12841 sm1970

    Posted

    I think Chris 26908 should NOT be able to peddle his drugs on here to desperate people who are trying their best to get off them!!!
  • linda12841
    linda12841 sm1970

    Posted

    Sorry sm1970 that wasn't meant for you.  Must have replied in the wrong place.

    • sm1970
      sm1970 linda12841

      Posted

      Hi, Linda! I've reported him many times already & this loser keeps coming back.

  • linda12841
    linda12841 sm1970

    Posted

    It seems strange replies can get deleted by a moderator but his isn't and should be unless he wins by sheer numbers of posts.  Oh well I guess theyre out there!!!

  • melanie1973
    melanie1973 sm1970

    Posted

    After 2 years of tapering off tramadol ..i am so glad to say am tramadol free now been 5 days since I took my last bit of tramadol I ended up taking a capsule apart and measuring the powder out ..but still feel a little shaky and bit agitated but it's bearable I came from taking 12 a day to nothing now ..all the best of luck to everyone that is getting off this drug you can all do this

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