Quitting Tramadol
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi Everyone,
I’ve been a Tramadol junkie for over 10 years. It all started with an operation on my wrist. Like most people I was prescribed it for the pain but, despite being a sensible, mature and reasonably successful young woman at the time, I found myself hooked and unable to stop. I spent most of the last 10 years feeling guilt, shame and a sense of weakness that I’d found myself in this position. Over the years, I’ve read lots of these forums and threads with advice regarding the best way to quit, tapering, cold turkey, replacement etc.... and they’ve been a massive support to me. Firstly, they made me realise I was not alone and that this drug, whilst a necessary evil, is genuinely addictive and that helped with the shame and guilt. Secondly, the forums gave me hope that some day, I would find the same strength as others to quit for good.
So, that’s the reason I’m here. Just maybe I can give someone else the same hope and eventual success that I have been fortunate enough to have. I’m clean. I have been for the last 3 months and I feel like I’ve really done it. I’m not going to flower it up, it hasn’t been fun at times. However, I’m here, sleeping well, pain free and feeling healthier than I have in years.
I tried a few methods but I have tapered in the end. It took a long time to get to zero (14 months) but month by month, I’ve lowered the dose and I’m finally there.
In the UK, the capsules come in no lower than 50mg strength.I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve even found myself opening a capsule and removing half the powder and putting it back together when reducing by a whole cap was a step too far. It’s a tricky and fiddly thing to do but it was the saviour to get me down between 100 a day and 50 a day. I don’t know why that bit was so hard, I stuck at that point for a long time.
In the last few months, I added new healthy foods and gentle exercise to my regime and I found that this really helped with the depression.
Anyway, I’m off, it’s over and I’m thrilled. For those of you trying, please please keep going, you CAN do it and I can confirm that there is a better you on the other side. I feel like my appetite for life has returned.
Good luck and best wishes to all of you .
X
1 like, 7 replies
richieboy22 june17774
Posted
took me 6 months to taper,. To 0 mg's No, not fun, but I'm doing great 2 years later
june17774 richieboy22
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jennifer_64534 june17774
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bev94264 june17774
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bev94264 june17774
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bev94264 june17774
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will64254 june17774
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Hi June17774, I came across this post and I can really relate to it in many ways. I have had a chronic pain condition for over two years now. I was prescribed Tramadol and was on as much as 400mg per day for around a year. Over the last 6 months I have tapered down to around 35mg per day. I have the tablets mixed with paracetemol so they can be easily broken. I just cant seem to get off this final 35mg. I get muscle pains and weird sensations in my body when I try to go to sleep. I dont get cravings as such but I have become physically dependent on the drug. I'd love to get off it completely. I know this is a fairly old post but I was hoping you might have some good advice for me. Thanks.