Tapering

How long have you been taking Tram?

Don't go to fast. The dropping 50mg a month sounds right. If you have trouble after stopping talk to your doctor or a addiction Dr or psychologist or addiction psychiatrist. They can help with antidepressants,which will probably be needed since Tramadol increases serotonin an norepinephrine. So you will have mood issues. Mine got severe after stopping a 20 a day habit back in May of 2014. I had started Tramadol back in 2005 for a tibial stress fracture. Also I didn't realize I was depressed an had anxiety due to the death of our daughter in 2000. Never really got help for it. So when I started the Tramadol, it made me happy (not high)& no anxiety. So kept taking it off/on until dx with Fibromyalgia in 2011. Then started out at normal level an slowly went up. Finally decided to get off after a trip to ER with heart palpitations an dehydrated. Went to detox facility for 5 days. But the worse hadn't really hit yet! Was put on Zoloft an Klonapine (whenever necessary ) but Zoloft went toxic in my body. Only took it for 2 1/2 mnths. So by Aug wasn't on anything an started getting depression bad. Also started menopause! It got REALLY bad in Oct an Nov an Dec. Was put on Lexapro an started bio-identical hormone therapy. Lexapro didnt really do anything except make me want to sleep all time an gained 15 lbs in 3 mnths. So stopped it in April. It got pretty bad again an also ended up having gallbladder an appendix out June 26th. Just didnt feel good fr March till beginning of this month,August. I talked to my Dr about the depression an anxiety an didn't know what to do. I also had been having cognitive therapy (?) With a psychologist an going to a church" celebrate recovery " meetings. So I asked if I could get on Tramadol again for depression. Before I was getting pills of the internet so getting whenever I wanted. Now it's controlled substance an against law to do that. So only would be able to get rx fr my dr. 3 a day. I feel better mentally an have been taking 3 a day since May 21st. If I start to realize it's becoming a problem Ill tell dr. Before I wanted to stop them but couldn't detox on my own due to dose I was on. Everyone is different. But you will have Paws an no one knows how long. Get help dealing with the paws. I think it gets so bad that people go back to the drug to end the horrible mental anguish. I hope you continue slowly lowering it every mnth or you could half a 50 an go down by half a pill a mnth. That might be better withdrawal wise. Don't drop until you have no symptoms of withdrawal.

Goidluck.

Well done Ruth you are doing fantastic take it a day at a time and remember there are many people fighting the same fight..Sorry to hear that you are starting to feel the withdrawals, yet you have the right attitude by telling yourself that it will pass. I wish you well on your tramadol free life..jx

yea, don't rush it for sure took me 3 months to come off a 800  mg a day habit-do you have a mentor?

Hi Ruth! Sounds like your on the right track. Do what works for you. Regardless, do not increase. It we ill pass and your body will lov esse you. Hang in there

Hi Ruth how is the battle with this dreadful drug how are you coping..I cannot remember if I have previously mentioned my Tram issue...probably in my own thread so forgive me if I repeat myself...The tapering method that I went with as advised by a detox specialist, was to reduce no more than one 50mg tablet every two weeks. This was perfect for me as I was taking such a massive daily dose. It has taken 8mnths but now I am down to three 50mg a day...The next step is reduce by half a 50mg for the next 2 weeks and so on....If you start to feel withdrawal then slow it down...I wish you all the luck in the world jx

Ruth, hope your still handing in there! Just some advice for the PAWS part. I know youv already experienced PAWS for about a month. I had it from Sept of '14' till May of this yr. Everyone is different an responds diff from quiting a drug like Tramadol which messes with seratonin an norepi in the brain. Of coarse you will have depression an anxiety due to no seratonin an norepi being produced(or low amount) since stopped the Tram. Sometimes people need help until the worst is over. Taking a anti-depressant is sometimes neccesary. Not for everyone though. An finding the right one can be a pain. Lots of sideeffects to on some. I tried Zoloft twice, no go. Then tried Lexapro. Nothing but sleepy an fat! I got depression pretty bad to point of not doing anything an in a black hole. Pretty scary. Just please go slow withdrawing. I went to detox and was off in 5 days. Don't think my body was ready for abrupt quitting. I got my records from the detox place an saw they had me on Amitripilyne or Elavil for couple days. I did feel good second day of detox and after couple days. Has anyone tried Elavil? I know some take it for pain which I have fibromyalgia(hate it!!) an herniated disc in lumbar area. I'm in medical field but havent worked for couple yrs because I am taking care of my parents now,both 80 now, an neither drive so I do everything for them pretty much. It's gotten more an more responsibilty last two yrs. It's very stressful an depressing. My sister doesnt help. I also have two sons,one is 17 and other is 12. I'm just under alot of stress an it comes out as yelling and freaking out. I also was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder which explains alot through my life. I think Iv had it pretty much since 12. Then our daughter died in 2000 and that pretty much blew it out of water. Now I am back on Tram but this time with a real rx from a docter that was concerned with my depression. Only 3 a day. I don't want to go up from that. If I can stay at that amt I'm fine. It was May of 14 I quit a 15-20 a day habit from internet. So I'm basically taking it again to keep depression an anxiety away. Iv tried anti-depressants but not working out. So only on Tram since end of May. a little better mentally an actually doing stuff again. Sorry such a long story but just don't go to fast. You will be off them so dont rush. Just some advice. Goodluck!