I have been weaning off of this medication for some time now.
Tramadol is a Non-narcotic pain medicine that acts on the u-opioid receptors in the brain. The literature suggests that is also has a small affinity for both Serotonin and Norepi reuptake.
I was only take 50mg 3 x / day for body aches/pains. Now the pains are gone except when I Rife for a few days, so I've been weaning the drug very slowly over the past few months as I have read horror stories coming off of this drug.
Well I was at 12.5mg at night and 12.5mg in the morning.
The pills are so small, I can't cut them much smaller, so I cut out the pm dose two nights ago, didn't feel too good yesterday and today was shaking all over the place. I took a little more to get back to like 20mg this morning.
I think this is what is causing my Vertigo and some of the other CNS problems that have been exacerbating, i.e. Shaking, Tremors, increased anxiety, etc.
I know the answer to my question and that is to use a razor blade and just go slower or suck up the last bit here and go cold turkey off this last little bit.
I just wanted to post this here to warn others of the potential addiction of this drug and how hard it is to get off of.
It's like going through Narcotic and SSRI withdrawal at the same time.
Hope everyone is having a good weekend.
LT
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Hey LT,
Try dissolving it in water.....lowering the dose that way. You can get down to crumbs. I have never taken the med you are speaking of.
I do take klonopin and have read that dissolving portions of the med in water and drinking is a easier way to get off meds without problems.
Google water benzo withdrawl
Posted by lymewreck36 (Member # 4395) on :
I was told ultram was not addictive if you keep it below 400 mg. daily, but I did become dependant.
WAs miserable getting off of it. Sweating, shaking, anxiety, dizziness.....
The water thing mentioned by feelfit is a great idea. I didn't think of that when I was coming off. Sure wish I had.
Mary
Posted by lymetwister (Member # 19590) on :
I'm off of it completely now after doing 6.25mg 2 x day for 5 days.
I've been off for 24 hours now and my Vertigo is now gone.
Hope it stays this way. Anxiety is also way down. Just kind of fatigued from the whole thing.
Now, I just take Klonopin and a small dose Beta Blocker and thats it. Hope to be off the Klonopin soon as I think I'm getting co-infections under control Finally !
LT
Posted by Need Lots of Help (Member # 18603) on :
I don't know about other people but, I have trouble starting and stopping any meds. First, they either make me too shaky or too tired.
I was on Effexor one time and Pamelor another time to help with migraines and "depression".
The Effexor almost killed me. It was a week of hell, and I didn't even know not to quit cold turkey. I thought I had the flu, fever, sweating shanking, I couldn't get out of bed, seriously, and I am not bedridden yet (thank goodness).
So, with other meds I have known to slow down. The Pamelor, I was to the smallest dose as well, the doctor said there wasn't a lower dose and I couldn't cut it in half......I wasn't as bad that time, but I did have dizzines, shakes, and really bad headaches.
I think that all medicines have some kind of addictive qualities. When I quit taking anti-depressants, I have all of the above qualities along with being so mad at everything.
I just started this Ultram, I am now a little nervous. I was having joint pain all day and night long. I couldn't sleep, so they gave me this. It is only my second day and I my joints feel better.
It sucks to know you need a med and then when you are ok and want to stop it is HE!! My mom said if you have cut the dose down as low as you can, then you go to taking that lowest dose on one day, off the next day, for a week or two so you can slowly decrease your blood level of the med. She worked in a pharmacy for about 15 years.
Good luck to you, and so sorry you are so ill from this.
Shalome
Posted by Jill E. (Member # 9121) on :
Thank you for the warning. Two of my doctors have recommended Ultram for me, but I'm always nervous about new medications because I am so sensitive.
Jill
Posted by lymetwister (Member # 19590) on :
If you google "Terrible Tramadol Withdrawal" you will see tons and tons of Horror stories with this drug.
I think because it works in 3 different ways (Mu Opiod receptors, Serotonin, and Norepi).
The drug was great at first. It did help with my aches and pains, and even gave me slight euphoria at just 50mg, but like most drugs, that goes away and then you need more.
I was only up to 50mg 2 x day and let me tell you, I went through Hell getting off of it.
They say it's worse than Oxycontin or Heroin, so be careful.
When you do that google, look under Emilyspost. Thats where you will see most of the Horror stories.
For some reason, while weaning off, I developed the terrible Vertigo. Like I said I'm 100% off of it x 24 hours and coincidentally, my Vertigo and terrible Headaches that I have had daily x the last month are mysteriously gone.
Constant Vertigo has really kept me from doing anything enjoyable. Now I have residual body aches and some chills, but I'm sure they will resolve in the days to come.
At first, I thought it was the Holly Grail, but it came back to bite me in the end. No more pills for me.
Like "Need Lots Of Help" says above, I have always had trouble with SSRI's and the like. I think those of us with Lyme are very med sensitive for whatever reason. I only say this from what I've heard from others and my own experience.
LT
Posted by j_liz (Member # 20496) on :
Oh boy, I am not looking forward to withdrawal! Especially if it's worse than oxycontin, that was a horrible experience for me. I understood then why junkies are junkies.
I am on Ultram ER and tramadol for breakthrough pain. I am still in much pain a lot of the time, so much so that it really stresses me.
But I don't want to take narcotics again, because of withdrawal.
I wonder if the Ultram and tramadol are even helping.
I remember telling my pain mgt dr. that I thought maybe the so called breakthrough pain with the oxycontin is truly the only real pain I have.
He refused to take me off! I asked twice, then a surgeon said he wanted me off to evaluate the pain. Guess what, I was right.
I am trying hypnosis now. Maybe I can use hypnosis to help when I wean off of the Ultram ER and tramadol.
Btw, can't you take something else to ease withdrawal?
liz
Posted by Need Lots of Help (Member # 18603) on :
Jill,
After this, I am worried as well. I think I am going to take it for 5 days and quit. Maybe that way I won't get so addicted to it.
I am sooo sad because today, was the first day I haven't ached like crazy is weeks. And, it isn't only my knees that ache, it is every joint in my body.
Jez, can't these big drug people make us anything that actually helps??? I think really they want people to be addicted, even though they try to police medicine. That way they get more money out of you.
I have decided, you are darned if you do, and darned if you don't.........
Shalome
Posted by pab (Member # 904) on :
My family takes Tramadol/Tylenol for pain. My kids have stopped taking it at times (per doctor request) and have not felt any withdrawal symptoms from it.
Everyone is different. My sons and I were on Zoloft. My older son and I stopped it without any problems. My younger son needed about 5 months to taper off it.
Posted by lymetwister (Member # 19590) on :
Just to Clarify, Ultram and Tramadol are the same thing j_liz.
ER means extended release, so when you take a Tramadol in between your just adding some to what your already taking.
Maybe you already know this, but the way you wrote it I just want to make sure you do.
LT
Posted by j_liz (Member # 20496) on :
Thanks, LT, I knew that. In the back of my mind I was wondering if one would be harder to wean from than the other, but I didn't ask.
liz
Posted by garunner (Member # 19474) on :
Liz, Do not split or break the Ultram ER's ...or any extended release medicine...big NO NO!! I have taken tramadol for about a year now, as needed. My max dose was 2 50 mg. pills a day and now I take 1/2 a pill if I need it, usually a few times a week.
Personally, I never had any sort of withdrawal and it has been a good pain killer for me....no side effects, except for giving me a bit more energy. Doesn't totally kill the pain, but helps take the edge off.
Posted by j_liz (Member # 20496) on :
Hi ga,
Thanks, I know not to split the ER. I am not anywhere near weaning yet. I take the ER before bed and I often take the tramadol (50mg) twice a day .
Oxycontin gave me energy. I loved that. I was told by others that it's because I wasn't in pain any longer. I don't know how true that is.
I'm with you in that it takes the edge off (most of the time), but doesn't totally relieve my pain. Well, hopefully the hypnosis will work wonders.
It's very encouraging to hear you didn't have any w/d symptoms.
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