How do I Treat Tramadol Withdrawal?

Everyone's story is different but all wind up the same.

I am a former Marine combat veteran of Vietnam with two Purple Hearts (age 60) and have been limping around on a horribly wrecked knee for 40 years. About 10 or so years ago I had arthroscopic surgery and after a few weeks on hydro/oxycodone my orthopedist told me I had to stop taking it and that he would put me on a new drug (Ultram) that was safe, non-addictive, etc. Most of that was true in 2000.

In 2003 I had a heart attack and my cardiologist said it was fine to continue my Tramadol regimen because it was also keeping my depression and anxiety down and thus helping slow my heart rate a bit. It is a pretty good heart drug (not proven, just my assumption).

I have never binged on the drug. I take one 50mg pill 4 times a day (200mg, half of the max 400mg dosage). I have tried two or three at a time and was not comfortable with it, so I've only done that once or twice (honest). I stuck with my 4x1 day regimen and it was nice, took the edge off the knee pain (I have no ACL). But that has been for nearly 10 years.

And now, here is the kicker: tomorrow I am having a total left knee replacement and will be on Coumadin blood thinner for three weeks, as well as oxycodone (two 5mg every four hours) for about two weeks. My orthopedist told me to quit taking Tramadol while I was taking the Coumadin because they didn't work well together and really would not help the intense pain of recovery and rehab.

My last Tramadol was at 11 a.m. yesterday -- some 36 hours ago. By midday today the anxiety and depression had already set in. By the evening I needed/wanted a tab. Instead, I took a half of a 7.5mg hydrocodone pill to carry me over. It helped a bit, but I know what is going to happen about 4-6 hours from now.

Tomorrow morning after I undergo the knife, saw, chisel and drill I will wake up to numbness, then morphine and then oxycodone. I have been upfront with my orthopedist about the Tramadol and my fear of a high opiate threshold. I am hoping the stronger opiates will carry me through the time the Tramadol leaves my system. I think the docs can deal better with you coming off the stronger stuff than they can the insidious Tramadol.

I should be relatively pain free in four weeks, and will have two more full weeks to fully detox/withdraw from all the pain medicine before I return to work. (I am a newspaper editor and need to have a clear, sharp mind.)

This is going to be quite an adventure beginning tomorrow -- trying to sort the effects of the surgery from the effects of the Tramadol withdrawal. I will ask for a muscle relaxant for the muscle cramps which have already begun.

By the way, my ortho is one of the best in the South and was the team ortho doctor for a major SEC football team. He knows his stuff. And wouldn't you know it? He told me that after I got off the Coumadin, I could resume my Tramadol regimen. Go figure.

Me and my ortho doc and my cardiologist are going to have to have some heart-to-heart discussions about resuming Tramadol. Maybe the other drugs under hospital supervision will help me along. I'm sure going to let them know what I've been taking and for how long so when I start banging off the walls with flu-like symptoms, they'll know.

I'll try to post again next week. --BAR

I've been taking Tramadol for back pain for about a year now. I was also prescribed co-codamol 30mg/500, at the same time.

I weaned myself of the co-codamol, and now have decided to go cold turkey with the tramadol. I have only been taking 100mg/200mg a day, so I'm hoping the withdrawal, won't be any worse than that. They say codeine withdrawal is worse, and that was bad, similar symptoms, to what people are describing.

I just feel that I can't function, without tramadol, and I don't want to be dependent any more. So here goes. This site is very beneficial, and people's comments are inspiring.

O.K. I will post how to's for those struggling with tramadol withdrawal.

First, if you are able to get a hold of vicodin or any narcotic sleeping pills, use them! They help with withdrawals tremendously. Always keep in mind that the other narcotic meds you are taking are only temporary and shouldn't be habit forming. Nor should guilt or "why does it take other narcotics to get off another" plague you.

Second, for the vast majority of people in the world who are unable to obtain other meds to help come off the tramadols this is for you:

Invest in a water heater! Take frequent hot baths, get an electric blanket, buy or borrow warm clothes (robes, thick socks, sweats, sweaters, sweatshirts, long johns.) Whatever it takes to get you warm for those horrid chills that will inevitably come. However, dress in layers, because hot flashes come too.

When hot flashes come, only remove enough clothes to cool you down, because if you strip down your body is not able to compensate, therefore sending you into another batch of cold chills.

RLS (restless legs syndrome.) the feeling that your legs want to walk when you want to sleep. Wrap your legs in tight-as-you-can-stand-it ace wraps. This applies pressure to legs sending your brain signals that your leg muscles are in use and not resting. Thereby reducing or deleting the RLS. I still do this two years post use.

Lack of sleep can be combated by getting the drug Melatonin (at your local pharmacy, over-the-counter) usually 3mg does the job, however it is safe to take 6mg at one time. This provides the brain with sleep signals and allows the body to slow down.

Lack of energy can be combated by getting the vitamin B-12. One tab daily, but down side it takes approximately two weeks to get into your system and you feel the effects. However, worth it, and good for you. This drug speeds the metabolism rate, helps burn excess calories that otherwise build up and cause the body to feel sluggish.

A hell of a lot of water! And when you think you are the first cousin to the fish species, drink more! Gatorade is even better. Stay off the cokes, Mt. Dews, or carbonated beverages. Yes, even Sprite or 7-up. The fastest way to get rid of the toxins is to flush them out. Gatorade will provide the electrolytes your body needs and will give flavor. Tea is also not a good idea. It's only temporary again.

Irritability. Be up front and honest to loved ones so they don't think you just joined up with the b-word society! If you can't tell people your withdrawing (like I couldn't) then hibernate.

If that funny little thing called a job won't allow for such luxuries, then remember one thing at a time, slow and steady is the pace, and when you want to bite someone's head off because they sneezed, for instance, take about 10 deep slow and relaxing breaths and think about what you're going to do. It is too easy to drive away people in this stage of the game, and for all intent and purpose you probably will still be working with them, or living with family members when you get better.

Brain zaps. Your brain is dizzy, your vision gets blurry for a second. Stop whatever your doing (safely), get your bearings again, and slowly resume activities. I found that this was the shortest side effects in the withdrawal stage.

Appetite (or lack thereof). Follow the pyramid food diagram. Less of the sweets, more of the breads and pasta. Try to keep a healthy balance. Minimal three meals a day. (even if you want to yak at the site of food). Fruits high in citrus are excellent for the stomach. Fibers are great for helping to eliminate the toxins out of your body. Dairy: not such a great idea for the first week of withdrawal, but a must when your feeling better. Basically, you're teaching your body to function again.

I found these things helped. For some they will; for others, it will take inventions and creative ideas to struggle past this terrible drug.

Good luck, God bless, and remember stay focused.

I had a slipped disc in my jaw which went undiagnosed for four years (very painful!). I found no help and was told it was stress, so I bought all manner of drugs off the internet to find some peace of mind from this constant pain and eventually I came across Tramadol, which worked wonders and also subsided my anxiety.

My pain ruined me and now I'm feeling this drug is. I had an operation on my jaw and soon after the pain was gone but I found tramadol use as an anti-anxiety drug very effective. The max I would take would be 8 tabs 50mg just to numb the anxiety and the rest of the time I would stick to 4 50mg just to function.

I've tried half heartedly to in the past to come off this drug but found depression set in badly. Recently, I've reduced my dose to two 50mg tabs and I'm a week in and the depression has lifted slightly and I'm feeling a little like my old self but the worst withdrawal I'm finding are the hot and cold flushes and worse still waking up in the night pouring with sweat.

I have these tabs prescribed on an ongoing basis and have about 500 50 mg in my cupboard where I've reduced down so much. I don't know why I'm still getting repeats.

Anyway, that's my story but I would be grateful if anyone had any ideas how to stop the night sweats and freezing chills in the morning.

I am not an addict, I never abused Tramadol. I am a normal 36 year old mother and wife. I suffer from a back injury I sustained due to a car accident 10 years ago. In the past two years I have been prescribed Percocet for my pain since traditional off the shelf meds like Ibuprofen did not help with the pain. After being on Percs on and off for two years, I hated the way they made me feel when I was not on them, and I hated myself more for having to be on them. I actually started to like how they made me feel and would take them whether or not I had pain.

Because of this I decided I was done with them and hated the cycle. The cold turkey detox of that med lasted 3 days at most with sweats and other types of detox symptoms you read about. My doctor ended up prescribing Tramadol to me as a “safe” alternative with no side effects and easy to come off of. Hello?

I was on Tramadol for five months at four doses of 100mg/day. This is far from abuse as this is the recommended use. Recently, I would start waking up sluggish and finding it hard to get going in the morning. I am someone who has always been athletic, working out every day. I am married to a chiro who is also very active.

So, after five months on them, I honestly didn't feel like they improved my pain level at all. Honestly, I don't see how people get addicted to them, because I felt nothing on them. The only thing I felt was a lack of appetite. I lost 20 lbs in four months just from the lack of wanting to eat a lot. I knew that even though these pills do nothing for me, that I was going to face a battle coming off them after reading this site.

I can tell you this: If you are not a strong person, do not quit cold turkey. I just didn't want to waste my time weaning off. After sleeping all day on day one because I was so tired from being on this drug, I woke up mid day thinking, screw it, I'm coming off cold turkey. On eight pills a day for five months I can tell you that by night time, I was cursing all hell!

I had restlessness, insomnia, twitching. sweats. It was bad! Compared to narcotics like the percs I was on, this was way worse! I am now in the evening of day four. Day one was bad. Day two was pretty bad but a little better. Days three and four have been better but I have zero energy! I cannot walk, bathe, or even leave the house! I have been bedridden for four days! I am hoping that due to my history of only 4.5 months on it at 400mg, that I will be OK by day seven.

I couldn't even type this until now. I finally got sleep last night because my husband brought home a sleeping pill, but I can tell you, I am done with meds! I'm not even going to take anymore sleeping pills. I just wanted one good night of rest after not sleeping for 70 hours straight.

Two things that I found very very helpful. Lots of water! You will flush the crap out of your system faster, and if you can make it into the shower, a hot bath. That bath last night felt like a miracle.

I am now challenging myself to take my life back! It belongs to me and not these devil pills! The pharmaceutical companies and doctors don't tell you this! I want my life back organically. I want to be a good mom and a wonderful wife again. I truly feel sorry for the people on here who are willing to suffer seizures just to be on this drug? I look at my seven year old son, and even though it never did anything for me personally, there is no high or drug worth leaving my seven year old son without a mother.

I pray that you all find your way out and reclaim your life. I personally will never ever visit this detox hell ever again!

I found this site helpful, so figured I would add my experience to help others. If this drug does not physically kill you, it will slowly seep your soul.

Good luck to you all. Here's to having made it to day four. Looking forward to day seven and beyond! And, if you are going to quit cold turkey, get yourself a good support system! If it wasn't for my mother staying with me this week and my wonderful husband, I don't know how my son would have ever been tended to.

I'm not a religious person by any stretch of the imagination, but whoever or whatever your 'God' is, may he be with you.

For number 48, i can tell you from past seizures i have had from tramadol it is very scary. I've had four grand-mal seizures in the years I've been using tramadol. The seizures have left me with headaches and little jolts and muscle twitching on my face and body since the last seizure 2 1/2 years ago and that stopped me from taking tramadol for a couple months. The effects are still with me now in 2011.

I can tell you a lot. I've taken 62 tramadol pills in one day an did on average 35-52 pills a day for a few years. I've been clean for over a year an feel like a new person, but it took me 12 years of abuse and my son being born to clean up. It was horrible for 10 days, and then let up a little until i hit a month clean. I'm serious bout what I'm telling you.

I can tell you what i did for the withdrawals: lots of water, gatorade, vitamins and long walks until i was so sick, and 12 vicodin and 8 valiums broken up and used during near death times, it seemed. That horrible sick an tired feeling an all other withdrawal symptoms do go away. Just get there at your pace. If i can do it, everyone can do it.

I took my last Tramadol pill in February, 2009, so next month i will be celebrating two years of being clean off Tramadol. I am now in the process of losing weight. I gained 40 pounds over the 10-year period that i was on Tramadol.

I still have those moments from time to time where i want to go back on Tramadol, and I sometimes tell myself that if i only take one maybe once a month that i can't get addicted. But i already know that once a month would turn into every two weeks, every week, one a day etc. And i definitely don't want to ruin two years' sobriety.

I have recently been having migraines and i think to myself, should i go buy aspirins but i haven't yet. I really don't want to start another pill habit even though aspirins are way better compared to Tramadol. I think i'm going to just wait it out, and you would think after almost two years of being off Tramadol my insomnia would have ceased but it hasn't.

I'm going to accept the fact that things like back pain, migraines, and common muscle aches are going to happen anyway, but i no longer have to run and take a pill every time that they do.

I have posted on this site before, somewhere, so long story short: did cold turkey from tramadol eight years ago and it was hell, hell, hell.

This time, after being prescribed it for pain I knew I should wean myself off of it slowly. I asked my doc to swap my 50mg capsules for 50mg dissolvable tablets so I could titrate.

I take 100mg per day so I brake the pills into 25mg 4 x day. I dissolve the 25mg pill in 25ml of water which I measure out with a syringe that any chemist will give you. When I want to cut a dose I simply draw off 2ml of water, meaning I have cut 2mg of tramadol. This way has been approved by every chemist I have spoken to.

I have no withdrawal symptoms by doing it this way which means I can enjoy my life and function properly. I don't care if it takes me months to be free; it's better than suffering the withdrawal symptoms. I have also used this way to withdraw from benzodiazepines and it worked. Slow is the way to go if you can. Good luck to you all.

i feel like i am wasting space with my post, but i was taking 150 mgs at a time every day for nine months and the feeling was warm and welcomed. Withdrawal symptoms were a living hell when the five refills ran out. Every symptom described on other post were similar or worst. But after about eight days of coming off these, life is back. Please anyone coming off those little white pills, hang in there. you've got to fight it. it will pass.

no one has answered my question but it seems most of you are taking way more than I ever have.

I have been taking tramadol every day for 180 days, one 50mg a day in the morning. It helped me with lower back pain and anxiety. I never had to increase the dosage for effectiveness, but my new doctor will not prescribe this drug because she says they just don't know enough about how it works yet for her to feel good about it.

I am now 26 hours past my last dose and I feel OK except for the old back pain and anxiety seems elevated. Has anyone ever had withdrawal symptoms from 50mg per day for 180 days?

I survived my third seizure this past Tuesday due to a Tramadol overdose. I was up to at least 30 a day and have been on them for about six years now. I'm a 38 year old single mom of two girls. My girls saw my second seizure and I told myself, “I'm done. No more!” But it took my third one to realize I have to do this!

My mom point blank told me “I'm taking your girls if you don't get help” and my boyfriend who was with me during it told me he would leave me if i ever go back on it! Yeah I admit, I feel "lost" and I miss my "crutch," but knowing I can't go back is what's keeping me from doing it!

I love reading other stories because it makes me realize I am not alone! It's funny. You tell people what you're hooked on and it seems like they just don't get it, but now I realize I'm not alone! This is my second day sober. It stinks not running around here like superwoman, but I know it's for the best!

(Julius-23):anon139439 (day three): I'm telling you it gets a lot better as each day goes buy. Days one and two were the toughest, but it's friday and i can't wait until next week gets here.

Hang in there you guys, because it can be done and i won't go back to this nasty junk. I'm going cold turkey because i want to remember these withdrawals.

I love and care about all of you who are going through this, so please hang in there because it does get better. Drink plenty of water to flush it out all day and take hot baths, and if you can, try to do a good 10 to 15 minute workout each day to sweat it out like how I'm doing. I'll be posting again on monday and i can't wait! God bless.

Good luck to everyone. I am a 23 year old mother of a three year old girl. I started taking tramadol after receiving breast implants ( I wanted something light, and non addicting). My doctor put me on 50 mg of Trams.

I started off taking a few a day, but soon realized the pain was still there. As I upped my dosage, I started feeling great! I had energy, was talkative -- was basically superwoman!

I've been taking them for a little over a year now. Well, three days ago, I found out I was pregnant, so I quit cold turkey.

I am a very strong-minded person, and let me tell you: This is hell! I have never felt worse than I do now! I really hope I get over this quickly! good luck to all of you who have taken this step. I know it isn't easy. I haven't slept in three days, and can't get comfortable to save my life. Hot baths help a little!

@Anon49702: Read your post. I came here to find the answers, too. Read through the posts. A lot of them were very helpful for me with my decision to get on board and get off this crap.

It's been eight days that I have been weaning myself off the tramadol. I have gone from 20+ pills a day down to six pills (50 mg tabs).

The weaning off has been a struggle but nothing compared to the feeling of going cold turkey. I envy those who have done this an just went cold turkey.

I am actually rather "excited" to end this journey of pill popping everyday to feel good. I am getting back into the groove of "life" again - working out and feeling like my old self again.

I still have a ways to go. I will periodically post my recovery status and let you all know how it's going. If it weren't for some of the posts I read I would not have thought to just go about this and wean myself off the trams, so thanks to those who posted some good advice. It's been very helpful. I do pop in on occasion to follow other people's stories so please continue to post. Best of luck to those of you who are traveling the same road I am/was.

Wow. I'm a 47 year old guy married with three grandkids and I found out I had cancer of the esophagus in April, 2009. I was on Chemo, radiation and had major surgery to remove the tumor and was given a 2 percent to 5 percent chance I would live, but thank God I was healed. I'm going on my third year completely cancer free but I was on lots of meds during the nine months I spent in Pittsburgh UPMC recovering and I was fairly addicted to pain killers for a while and sleeping meds.

Well I weaned myself off of them, but still had pain due to having most of my stomach removed and all the other things that I'm not quite sure they did but I'm glad to be alive and still kicking. Anyway, my family physician prescribed Tramadol to me and told me it wasn't addictive. He knew what I went through and that I had a history of drug abuse. I was in rehab three times for cocaine and narcotics and was an alcoholic for most of my life and know what addiction can do to people but wow, I didn't see this coming.

I was taking Tramadol for 1.5 years and took them as prescribed. A few times I took more than I should but never more than one or two in a month and even stopped a few times in between prescriptions and every time I would feel like crap.

I had headaches, diarrhea, stomach pains, dizziness and just feeling crappy, but I thought it was due to the whole cancer thing. But after reading this blog, I'm having second thoughts. I'm on my second day without my meds and I feel like I have the flu. My head is pounding, I've got diarrhea, dizziness, nausea and now I know why.

I think I'm going to call my doctor Monday and let him know I want to talk to him about this drug and he needs to know that this drug is messed up. I don't think he knew it was this addictive. We had a discussion before he prescribed it for me and that's why he put me on it.

I've been through so much in the last three years that I'm not going to let this get in the way of life, but I'm glad I read this and now I have the tools to get through another day. Thank God.

P.S.: My wife might feel better I've been a real jerk lately and I think I know why.

Hey its me...(Julius-23):anon125434...(Day-one) today i began my withdrawal from tramadol and i can't wait until saturday because i know it will be a lot better.

I'm so glad i found this website because i know it will encourage everyone to beat this devil drug.

I know day one tomorrow is going to suck but i can beat it. i will beat it and I'm not going back to it no more and everyone else it can be done and it shall be done in the name of god! (No pain no gain)!

I am setting here at my computer absolutely in shock at what I am reading. I am 64 years old and retired. I have never been addicted to anything except fun.

I have had an arthritic hip for 25 years from a horse accident (I am a horse trainer). I got by for 24 years with tylenol/aspirin pretty good but one year ago I had a colt run over me and really messed up the old bad hip.

My GP suggested Tramadol and I specifically asked/told him I didn't want anything addictive.

He assured me Tramadol was not addictive! I later went to an orthopedist who told me the exact same thing.

So now I have been on 100 mg daily for about 12 months. It did help some, but not great and seemed to be losing its effectiveness, but I being hard headed (thankfully) refused to up the dosage and in fact decided bleep it and just stopped taking it about five days ago.

I quickly started to experience the symptoms described on this site but I was too dumb to even realize what was going on. The symptoms were better already last night and after reading this I hope they will continue to get better.

Of course, my hip hurts like hell, but maybe I can do something else about that. Anyway, I am grateful for this site and again I was shocked to find out what was really going on with me.

In fact, as I left the gym this morning, I had pretty much decided to just start taking the Tramadol again for the hip pain but I am so glad I decided to look on the internet to see if it could possibly be withdrawn since two doctors assured me it couldn't be. ha ha ha.

I have been taking tramadol for about a year for pain and anxiety. I take 50 mg in the morning and only on a very few occasions have a taken another 50mg in the afternoon. It has worked wonderfully for me and I have never needed a dosage increase, however, I am stopping the med in three days as I want to treat my pain and anxiety naturally now. Will I have withdrawal? All these posts have me really scared.

I've been taking tramadol for about four or five years. My prescription was for gout pain but the high i get from them made me feel so good and that is really why i take them.

I'm a very non-social person and taking tramadols puts me in such a good mood and makes me feel great every day. The only side effect I have is getting tired after they wear off. In all the time I've taken them, I have never run out of them. Well it finally happened. I ran out two days ago and I am on day three of having none. I am going to have to wait another few days to get more.

I had no idea I would feel this bad without them. Total flu symptoms, the chills stink so bad! Couldn't get out of bed yesterday, I was so cold! I'm having all of the symptoms everyone is talking about having here. It stinks so bad! I took night-time nyquil last night and that helped me sleep for a few hours. I also take Trazodone to sleep normally and I took a whole one and the nyquil and slept a few hours and then took another Trazodone at 6 a.m. and was able to sleep until around 10:30 a.m.

It would be nice to find the real amount of time it takes for the withdraw to stop. Today my chills aren't nearly as bad today and I was able to get up and get some things done. So for me in three days my chills are a lot better if that helps anyone else. I still feel like crap but I'm trying to hang in there.

I was lucky and was able to get some Vicodin and took two of those a hour ago. I am feeling somewhat better already. It's the only way I could have written this. For me I'm trying to find things that put me to sleep and make the days go by as fast as I can. Best of luck to everyone having this same problem.

When my withdrawals are over, I'll write back and let you know how long it took.

I wanted to post my story in hopes that it will encourage others to follow me to freedom.

I am a member of an Army Special Operations unit and have spent much of the last seven years deployed. I have a wonderful wife, two healthy children, no debt, great house, nice vehicles, great job satisfaction, etc. I realize now what a perfect life I have and how I came so close to throwing it all away.

Two deployments ago we got the word we would be going out on another mission after recently returning from one. I made a comment to my buddy that I would be struggling to stay awake. He offered me a "great" pill that would help me focus and actually make me feel kind of good. Of course, I took it. For the rest of that deployment, I would take one or two only when I "needed" it. At one point, I felt they helped me do my job and I got hold of about 40 pills. When these ran out after a week or so, I experienced my first withdrawals. They weren't horrible and only lasted a day or so. I attributed it to simply taking too many and that I was just experiencing a sort of hangover.

Anyway, after returning home I again would take a couple here and there for certain events which I felt I would need that extra kick. Again, at one point I got hold of about 50 pills and went through the same withdrawals again, lasting about one or two days and not anything too bad.

An interlude: I have always been a person who held physical fitness and activity in high regard and always had the itch to go on a long run, hit the gym, play basketball, etc. I loved to work up a sweat and stay in great physical shape. My body craved it and for almost my entire life; that was my drug and my high.

This last summer I deployed again. I was injured my ankle on a mission and my medics advised I take tramadol to help with the pain. This is when my true, prolonged addiction set in. I was given between two and four pills every day and I could feel I was beginning to need them. I forced myself to stop taking them about a week out from going home because I did not want to be miserable when I returned to my family. These withdrawals were different. I couldn't sleep, had stomach pains, etc. Luckily I was so busy and the frequent adrenaline rushes of my job helped curb a lot of it.

About two weeks after returning home I couldn't shake a feeling of depression. As I described my life earlier, I knew there was no reason for me to be depressed. I had no idea that I was still going through withdrawals. I made the worst decision of my life and ordered a bottle from the internet.

Well, fast forward two and half bottles (about 400 100mg pills) and two months later. I had to sleep 10 - 12 hours to feel rested, I had zero desire to work out, and I felt like I was sleepwalking through life. I knew that the withdrawals were going to be horrible, due to the amount I had taken in such a short period of time, but I knew I had to be rid of this new life. I emptied my remaining 100 or so pills down the sink and got set for hell.

The first night was horrible. I couldn't sleep and when I tried to my legs thrashed constantly. I had that awful "antsy" feeling all over my body and I had to literally shake myself to get rid of the feeling. I was horribly depressed, my stomach was in severe pain. I came to this website on that first night and I have been reading every post over and over to help me through the pain. As bad as I felt physically and emotionally, every day I felt better about my decision. I realized how horrible this drug is and how badly I wanted to return to my previous lifestyle.

I am on day seven now and I feel great. I don't feel 100 percent and I know I won't for a while. I want everyone who is reading this and is suffering through those first few days to have hope. It will end. I promise you it will end and you will wake up every day and feel better. I look forward to every morning now, instead of dreading the time it takes for my morning dose to set in.

Some tips to help: Exercise. I'm not talking about walking around the block. I mean push your body to exhaustion. Sweating is one of the best processes your body can go through for anything, especially something like this. Pepto works great for the stomach pains. Everything else you simply have to fight through with strong will.

Good luck to all of you in those first stages and I can't wait for you to be where I am now and I can't wait for where I am going to be a month from now.

Hang in there, everyone! I've been addicted to opiates for about eight years ago. I've done every opiate imaginable, even heroin. I've been through tramadol withdrawal (and beaten it) about five times, and, yes, I can tell you that it is not easy. Is it worse than heroin withdrawal? No, but heroin withdrawal is typically shorter. What surprised me about tramadol withdrawal was how long it lasted (takes about four or five days to turn the corner and finally start feeling normal). In addition to flu-like symptoms (feeling hot and cold, suffering from muscle aches, dealing with a running nose) there's anxiety and depression on top of it.

The first time I went through tramadol withdrawal, I was so naive that I didn't know what it was. I didn't understand why my head felt like it was full of cobwebs. I didn't understand why I would start crying (and I'm a guy). I thought to myself, "Gee, maybe I'm so depressed that I need to be put on antidepressants." Only after the fact did I realize – and it seemed clear as day then – that it was the withdrawal effects. Recently, I got off heroin and all other drugs (I would use tramadol as an "innocent" drug to use while not using H), and I was nearly three months clean, completely clean. Wisely, I have not been tempted to use H again (I'm scared bleepless to do so). But foolishly I thought that it was okay to use tramadol again. Always, I'm tempted to use it because when I'm clean, I feel tired and unmotivated. Tramadol (all opiates, in fact) tend to energize me.

I told myself that I would start using tramadol intelligently. Nope. I've gone on a two-week binge where I went through 180 pills. Now I've run out. Luckily, the withdrawal isn't too bad yet (I'm at the twenty-hour mark). This might be due to the short binge period (two weeks), or it might be because I've been forced to taper somewhat these final days (yesterday, I made it twenty-two hours without dosing before taking my final 100 mg). I have to learn that I am an addict and that I feel tremendously guilty when I take even tramadol (I am just fooling myself when I tell myself that it's better to be on tramadol than heroin; that might be true, but after being clean for three months, it's better to be on nothing than tramadol). We'll see how things go.

Like many others who have posted here, I was sort of forced into withdrawal because my prescription did not arrive in the mail on time. I am trying to stay positive and tell myself that this is a blessing in disguise. I am secretly hoping that my prescription does not show up tomorrow because, if it doesn't, then I'll have to survive the weekend without it, which should get the tramadol out of my system. If it does arrive tomorrow, will I have the willpower not to touch it? I don't know. Best of luck to everyone! I feel your pain, and, more importantly, I understand it!

Re-read through some posts and decided to follow a "weaning" off schedule I posted. I am modifying it a bit: yesterday was day one and last night was pure hell. Wish me luck; I am going to need it.

I have read through all the posts and there's no need for me to get into my story/history about tramadol - it's all here in black and white through everyone's posts.

I logged on here hoping to find some sort of "remedy" to help me through the withdrawal process. I am starting the weaning process but need help. Can anyone recommend anything to help me with the withdrawal symptoms other than keeping hydrated, exercising, taking a multiple vitamin and some tylenol p.m. at night?

Sorry, but that's not going to work for me - been there and done all that. Once the hard signs of withdrawal kick in, I know I will up my dose of trams. Is there anything someone can recommend for withdrawal?

Unfortunately, I have done a lot of research online and I am not finding anything to assist me with the withdrawal process. Anyone here ever heard of or used kratom? Just curious. I read up on it and that's a possibility I suppose.

Anyone's thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for listening.

St. Johns Wort + Cannabis Sativa = Withdrawal Remedy.

Never take St. J with Tramadol! See "serotonin syndrome."

Cannabis, regardless of where you stand on it, will free you of much of the unnecessary mental stress of quitting! And it's not trading one drug for another. It's using an herbal remedy to temporarily ease the suffering caused by a real drug.

The biggest obstacle standing in the way of successfully quitting is the fixation on the mental/emotional pain of withdrawal which cannabis completely and rapidly dissolves. Seriously. Be open to trying it. I know the suffering and want you to be free once more because of the love I have for you for suffering similarly as I.

That being said: Tramadol is the greatest of deceivers. It introduces itself to you by relieving the pain, only to then delight you more in its ability to induce states of ecstasy previously unknown.

It convinces you that it has made you more confident, your life better, happier, and more meaningful until one evening, you begin realizing that you are completely and suddenly separated from all of those very feelings you associate with the drug.

The guilt of addiction gradually sets in, hollowing you out month after month. You try ignoring the fact that you're falling asleep at night fearing the onset of schizophrenia from perpetually fighting the secret war in the back of your mind questioning every decision you made to chew up a "tab" earlier that day and whether or not the choice was made with the expectation of functioning better, or to simply take from you of the emotional attachment associated with functioning in general, making it easier for you to have gotten through "anxiety" of the day.

For the sake of being in a "good" mood, you choose the pill. And you resent yourself for it, quietly. You look back and think how strong you once were, glamorizing in your head the person you saw yourself as until the forging of your fateful relationship with the drug.

You can't talk to anyone because there's no relating, no serotonin left in your brain to compel the desire to socialize with others. If only that rush, that sweet release of confidence could flow once more. How you could actually move forward. But you are stuck, nowhere. Not moving forward. Not moving backward.

The people around you continue spinning, experiencing their lives and the ups, downs, and happiness associated with engaging in the human experience. And how you wish that they could know the emptiness your life has become so you could half-heartedly cry out for help to them from your dull, repetitive void. How could one be so content and productive without that "lift?"

You grow impatient in the checkout line, lose emotional attachment to your hurtful words, lose interest in her and most notably, her feelings.

Sex brings no joy -- just the relief of finally being able to fall asleep and drop out of this state of perpetual blankness. The "hop" in your step is gone and it has been for some time. Slogging forward, trudging through the offices, then traffic, then the next month of your life.

Refill day is soon near. How exciting it will be to binge -- loathsomeness -- the only feeling available aside from bitterness and anguish. Daydreaming of a return to innocence, of peace. Of bliss!

The hardest part: Finally recognizing/accepting that all your positive associations with the drug are fabricated lies. The drug is destroying your life. It never has nor will make your life better/happier. It has hurt you more than anything ever should have been able to.

You are stronger than you currently realize, being in the wounded state you are in. It has stolen your happiness, confidence, vitality, and peace. It is the death of you. It is the end and not merely just the "means."

You will heal and come to love life more than you ever thought you could!

Being off Tramadol is bliss! It is being freed from prison, no longer a slave to emptiness and destruction! Happiness begins flowing back into your life and it is all the more sweeter than you could ever recall.

Every emotion is seemingly euphoric in that you get to experience it, to feel it! The nihilism dissipates, leaving the profound love behind the universe to once more connect with and sustain you.

I found this site while looking up information on tramadol withdrawals, and just decided to start reading all that others have posted. I have been suffering from severe depression for a decade now and am sad to say that I started self medicating myself with tramadol. And now, two years later, with thousands of dollars down the drain and dosages of 20 pills a day, I decided to stop taking it.

This is the end of the fourth day off those little round pills, and I'm not letting myself get anymore. I have tried to stop before but as soon as the withdrawal symptoms started, I'd just get more.

I want to thank everyone for talking about their struggles with this drug. Reading others' situations and knowing that you are not alone is a very powerful thing.

Just like so many others, I am struggling with so many of the same things and just want it to stop. I have called every pharmacist in my area asking about withdrawals and how long they might last, and was told that there really wasn't much for side effects and that they should slip away in just a couple days. These are the words of eight different pharmacists. How can so many be so wrong?

At this point, all I can do is wait for some sort of normalcy, and pray that it comes sooner rather than later.

I guess I'll leave on this note. Because of all I've read, because of all the honesty and openness, I'll continue to get up when knocked down by coming off this drug. It's all I can do.

Thank you all for your stories. They mean more than you know.

This is my second day of no tramadol and like many of you, i was told this drug was no big deal. The only reason i am not taking them is because i ran out and did not realize I had no refills left.

This drug has been extremely helpful to me since i started taking it nine months ago so i don't know if i want to stop taking it. How ever I do know that I don't ever want to feel like this again. I was up all night long last night.

I am sweating even though there is snow on the ground here and my mind is racing a hundred miles a minute. Really not sure what to do here. I have lived in pain for so long that i started to become depressed, not wanting to even get out of bed and tramadol saved me from that.

Just wondering if it's worth the price when it's time to stop taking it. My doctor is back in his office tomorrow and I will call him and discuss all this with him, but i'm not sure i trust his judgment any more.

It's currently almost 4 in the morning and I'm completely exhausted. Mentally and physically. I've been on tramadol for a little over two years now, for severe abdominal pain due to crohn's disease.

As I'm prone to addiction (due to my biological mother using heroin/cocaine/etc while pregnant with me) my adopted mom made sure to tell the doctor to not give me anything addictive. Like the rest of your doctors, he said this was absolutely not addictive.

I'm 19 now, still living at home because money is tight, so the junior college was my only option until I could get a good scholarship. My grades since I was diagnosed my senior year of high school have been terrible.

Yesterday, my mom decided she was taking them away because they were the reason I was doing so horribly. I don't know if she's right--because I go to my classes, study, and do my homework, usually, lol, but I've known for months now that I'm addicted to them.

I would sit there, pills in my hand, and know I shouldn't take them. The pain from my stomach wasn't unbearable, but the psychological pain was. So I would take them, every time.

It got to the point where I was taking anywhere between 15 and 20 a day, just because I felt so much as a discomfort in my stomach coming on, or because I was going to eat soon and I always have pain after eating. That justified it.

I've tried stopping before, if it can be called that. I wouldn't last the day. The anxiety hit like a mac truck, sort of like it's doing now, only this feels ten times worse.

I keep having to backspace because my fingers can barely type, the way they keep jumping around and twitching. I've only felt this way once, and that was the last time my mom took them away. That lasted almost two days and she gave them back to me after I swore up, down, and sideways that I would behave myself, and take them only under her supervision. Hah. That lasted a whole two days.

God, this stinks. It's almost 4:30 now. Just spent some quality time with my bathroom. I'm talking to my best friend about this. She had a brother who died of a heroin overdose, and she watched him go through trying to stop and everything else, and she just keeps telling me "You'll be fine. Heroin only took three days to get out of the system, it'll be over by tomorrow for you," and I just want to snap at her and tell her I'm not going to be fine and it's not going to be over that soon.

I know she thinks she's helping and I'm overreacting completely, but I still can't help being irritated with her.

Anyway, I'm at the point where I just want to curl up in a ball and scream, or cry, or hit someone. I'm not sure which. Probably all three. My mind is so on edge I'm not sure what to do with myself, and I'm trying to avoid taking my xanax.

One thing I have to say is that this place has been a godsend tonight. I was honestly ashamed that I let this happen to me. I was always the good child, the one who got great grades, had loads of friends, and wouldn't have ever thought of abusing drugs of any kind.

And now here I am, with my grades in the gutter somehow and my friends gone because I prefer being at home in the comfort of my bed just in case I start getting the stomach pains.

At first, it was a legit reason, but it's been nothing more than an excuse for months or more now. It just feels good to know I'm not the only one this has happened to, and that the road looks a lot better after this is over. I think I can get through this, knowing it won't last forever. -- Emily

HI everyone. I've been taking tramadol for about two years for lower back pain. Not only has it helped the aching, but it also works like an antidepressant. It has been a miracle for me. I have absolutely abused this med though. I

have used up to over 1600mg a day at one point. Ridiculous. The first time I went through the withdrawal it was hell served up on a platter. Seriously, and my own fault. The anxiety and restless legs are the worst.

Now I'm getting ready for the second time of going through this. Nights are long when you're going through tram withdrawal. There are people who have posted here that have used tram as directed by their doctors. I'm so sorry for your suffering. The rest of us are self medicating, but really this is the only thing that has helped me function through some rough times.

Like I said, I'll be four days without it until my next refill and not looking forward to this at all. I have to say that for me it's worth the benefit it has brought me(we'll see if I still think that on monday). Those of you who feel alone and miserable, your not alone. Please be strong. This is only temporary. Take care of yourselves. Drink a lot of water to keep hydrated. There is a light at the end of this miserable tunnel!

i have read all the posts on here now and it doesn't surprise me at all that most people seem to be having a hard time withdrawing from tramadol. i am also withdrawing from this evil drug, not for the first time though.

eight years ago i was put on tramadol for frozen shoulders. for the first two weeks it was great, i felt completely stoned but pain free. then i started being sick and the pain had come back. i suffered this for eight months until i was told to stop them. i did so and the next day i was thrown into hell.

i was suicidal, hallucinated, extreme agitation that i was pacing all the time and couldn't sit still for two minutes. i asked my dad to kill me as i couldn't stand the anxiety, insomnia and in the end i actually did try to kill myself by overdosing on my insulin.

i was admitted to a psychiatric ward where i spent about eight weeks trying to over come the symptoms. i swore i wouldn't take another tramadol.

well here i am now as i said in the middle of another tramadol withdrawal. i went on this stuff again thinking i knew how to handle the drug. how wrong i have been.

since having my hand operated on and being in extreme pain, i decided to take tramadol again. my doc agreed and even though in the ten weeks of taking it i have never taken the full dose i am having a hard time withdrawing.

i am doing a gradual taper and am currently taking one 50mg pill every 16 hours. however after about twelve hours i start to feel withdrawal symptoms. anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts etc. however when i take the pill for my next dose after two hours i feel completely normal again.

i can't believe this drug can make you feel suicidal one minute but completely normal the next. i know this is all pretty normal stuff for a tramadol withdrawal but i just can't believe it!

i have also done a benzodiazepine withdrawal and that is just as horrendous. It took me five years to get off that junk. however i was given 'one off' doses of olanzapine when things got rough with benzo withdrawal and it really helped. my doc has also given me a few olanzapine pills to take when this tramadol withdrawal gets too bad.

olanzapine is an anti-psychotic but in small doses its used for anxiety. they are starting to use this in psych hospitals instead of the benzo tranquillisers, which are addictive.

i have not taken any olanzapine yet but maybe when i am on nothing i might need it lol.

good luck to everyone who is doing or thinking of doing a tramadol withdrawal. be strong. it's beatable.

I have been on Tramadol for five years 400mg a day. One doctor suggested i cut down by taking one less every other dose 100mg morning 40mg lunch 100mg dinner 50mg bedtime. But another doctor at the surgery decided to stop it straight away.

I am now suffering from withdrawals. shaking cold cannot eat cannot sleep. anxiety high. I suffer from fibromyalgia very painful I was told that this tramadol would help. But now they want me to to Amitriptyline starting with 10mg up to 25mg by the third week. Frightened scared partner had enough walking out on me every day on my own a lot.

Good luck and God bless you 192. We've all been there and come out the other end. This too shall pass. I was told by our pharmacist that it won't be long before this drug is recognized for what it does and more restraints will be put in getting it.

People need to be very pro-active these days about personal medical care. This will be a good thing after you get through it; lesson learned and strength gained.

We need courage and strength not only for ourselves these days, but also for our kids. Your boys will gain by this too. They need to be prepared for their own futures.

Oh my gosh, I started taking Tramadol after a neck injury. I've never been addicted to anything (thanks to watching my parents go through crap) I was very specific when I told my GP that I didn't want anything I could become addicted to. I too, was assured this wouldn't happen.

When I told my husband what I was taking-he warned me, but I trusted my doctor, not the person who loved me. Here I am about 1.5 years later. I am 30 years old with two very active boys two and nine years old. I tried to refill my script on friday and was told it was too soon, that I'd have to wait six more days. who would have thought I would feel like this? I'm now on day two.

Yesterday I tried to lie to my husband and tell him I must be coming down with the flu- you know cold sweats, mood swings, aches, sneezing and runny nose, but about midday, I knew I needed help, be it emotional or physical (my babies were making me nuts, OK, I was going nuts and I was so alone, it wasn't their fault and I knew that). I tried to call my dad, and when he didn't answer I lost it, broke down and told my husband. I just knew a big I told you so was coming. To my surprise he didn't. He held me, and told me all was going to be fine. I cried and cried.

Once I accepted what was really going on, I felt better. OK, just a little. at least I wasn't alone anymore. Sleep was a big no go last night. I was able to snuggle my two year old and console his restlessness -- almost as if he knew something was going on with mama. (or maybe my tossing, stretching, and sweating was making him uncomfortable) Who knows.

This morning I do feel better. I will take the advice posted on here and get out with the boys and be active. Although I do notice my neck pain is returning today. My husband bought advil for me (before i told him what was going on. Hmm. Did he just act like he didn't know, because he really knew I was too stubborn to listen to him and had to find out on my own?)

So I will start with that now, I guess my point is (after my rant and life story) I know anything is possible, put your mind to it, and remember these horrible feelings are just temp and it all will get better, right? I just have to stay strong, not stop be the pharmacy tues. Thanks to everyone here. I know now, I'm not going crazy, don't believe all that the doctors say, they are only human and prob never had the chronic pain they are prescribing for. i was taking 800mg a day. Good luck!

Wow. after reading everyone's comments, I am not looking forward to this adventure. I have been using Tramadol to help the affects of withdrawing off oxycontin and perfect I've using them for five years. i have a feeling this is going to be the worst ever. Since the new laws went into effect in S. Fla., things went to crap.

I failed a mandatory piss test due to the fact that I smoked some pot weeks ago. I was cut off my meds that day. I was offered Suboxone Sp? and I said no thanks just another bad bad drug that no one knows much about. Thank you all for your honest feedback at least now I know what to expect. Bummer, big bummer. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. I'm sick of learning lessons the hard way. lol Good luck to everyone.

After a motorcycle accident that resulted in 6 broken ribs, I was prescribed Tramadol and I took six caps a day. Two days ago, after six weeks of taking it the drug ran out and my chest pain has subsided. But I now cannot sleep, my legs feel weird, I'm like a cat on a hot tin roof: hot and cold, diarrhea, mild hallucinations and a general feeling of uneasiness. Heck. No one told me. This was a necessary evil to allow my lung to inflate, but it certainly is an evil.

I'm really grateful for the candor in these comments. I feel so alone, anxious, ashamed. but today i start tapering off.

At the very least i can look forward to orgasm again. It's been months. Courage.

Kerry in London I have put you on my prayer list. Hang in there honey - nothing is impossible for God and He can not only deal with your addiction but heal your mental illness also. I was on tramadol also for a few months after surgery and know well how you are feeling right now. Just know that someone in Michigan USA is praying for you every day. I have a 27 year old daughter too.

i ended up being prescribed tramadol a few months after the birth of my third son due to severe back problems and hip problems.

i have a addictive personality and have misused drugs an alcohol terribly in my teens. I've been on them three years and at first they made me feel incredible, as i suffer manic depression. not only did it take my pain, it also lifted my mood. i was able to run after my three kids under three and clean till all hours without feeling tired.

However, after two years i began to feel blank and exhausted just taking them, so i didn't go into withdrawal. i also started taking codeine up to 15 30mg a day and 12 tramadol. it has destroyed my life and my ability as a mother has gone out the window. my husband is now my carer and has had to give up work as my bipolar has got worse as well.

I've decided enough is enough and am doing cold turkey. it's been hell. i tried to jump out my bedroom window -- it got that bad the other day. my husband had to lock me in the house. as i said, i was leaving to live on streets like my dad did until he died this year. I've lost it and my beautiful sons are suffering. my doctor doesn't care these tablets are sheer evil.

please, please don't ever take these, especially if you have a severe mental health problem. good luck to you all. be strong. kerry, age 27, london.

I used to take four a day. Decided I wanted to stop. Made it through a very unpleasant week of feeling pretty sick. But I made it. Then I ran out of my other pain meds. So I took two tramadol over the course of 48 hours so I could sleep. Now I am sicker than a dog. Maybe it is the flu.

To anon130247: wait until you try to come off of it.

Officially Day five. Message 172, anon 449.

Well, I am off of tramadols as of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I went to the ER for nausea. I think it was a symptom of my withdrawal. Still I was determined to use the weekend to get off them after weaning down to 1.5/day for a little bit.

Goofed up and only did one tab. Tues and half a tab. Weds. and then that was it. After the ER, I slept till 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving. Friday was Hell. Total leg nervosa. So glad I have had four work-free days. Considering bailing work early today, but I've missed so much time at work due to medical, I must make an appearance, lest let everyone in my family and circle of friends down.

I'm supposed to leave for work in less than an hour. Seems like two or three weeks is an average withdrawal period.

Today's hell. I am not sleeping well. Used to be able to sleep at the drop of a hat. No more. Now five or six hours and if I wake up, don't snooze as I am used to doing. My legs are still shaky, too, and I have to figure out what to eat. I am thankful there's Ensure-type drinks out there.

Wish I never heard of Tramadol!

Why would you ever take more than three or four 50 mg tabs a day? that is why you are having a problem detoxing. you take that much of anything you will have a big problem. your doctors should be shot for telling people to take that much. I have been taking tramadol for eight years now and have never had to increase my dosage. It has been a life saver for me.

I'm so glad I found this site! I'm in hell! 48 hours into withdrawals. Can't stop crying, can't eat, sleep or function in any way. I'm a strong person and that's what's pissing me off the most. I have an appointment soon and I going to lay into my doctor for giving me this crap! thank you to all the people who have posted it has helped more than you'll ever know. Will update as things progress.

i just started withdrawal three days ago, dividing and minimizing the doses from the first day. and yesterday i took the last containing 50 mg and i hope to fight to the last 48 hours.

tramadol is the worst. i have taken countless other kinds of painkiller medication for my back but my doc put me on tramadol because he didn't want me getting addicted to anything else, as if!

i found the effectiveness of tramadol on my pain was not as great with a lesser dose for as long, so i had to increase my mgs rapidly to get any relief. whereas one oxycodone pill would last me a day and a half, i was taking five or six tramadols a day, every day.

my health insurance was cut off recently and i couldn't get it anymore. i could not sleep, i had constant anxiety and sweating, and everything was just bad. this page helps. thanks everyone i know i am not alone!

Hang in there anon128685. This too shall pass and you'll feel better before too long. Unfortunately, you were given the drug when you were already emotionally compromised with arthritis (if you do have it) and a new baby - double whammy. Fortunately, you've only been on the stuff for three months. Some of us have been on much longer and have taken much larger doses.

We all make it off, though, so hang in there. Read farther and pick up some good tips given by others. Keep checking in and giving us updates.

I started taking tramadol after i gave birth to my son. i started having signs of arthritis and my ortho gave my them. i have been on other pain killers before for periods of time and came off them with no trouble at all.

my doc took me off them because he wants me to see a specialist that can better treat me. So, I had been taking the drug for three months, 8-10 50mg a day. This is my fourth day and i feel like hell, and to top it off, i have a three month old son to take care of. i was worried about being put on this drug due to my child and he said it is a non-narcotic and i will be fine.

I really would like to sue my doctor right now. I called him with my symptoms last night and he told me to go to the emergency room, i did and they gave me anti-anxiety pills, which i took and decided i will never take those again, they were horrible. i was only on these for three months, it amazes me that i am going through this.

i hope this stops soon. it is hell and i think this drug should be taken of the market and i think people that were told this drug was fine and safe to take should sue their doctors.

Thanks anon128142. That's been the best advice ever. Submit to the withdrawal and know that it will eventually be over. Take the good advice from anon128141 and throw in some prayers too. At some point this medication will be hard to get as it's becoming more known how very addictive it is. Hang in there - put one day in front of another - and keep on keeping on.

I was on this terrible drug from a surgery and it is highly addictive, and as with all others i was told it was non addictive so i continued this drug for about a year then my doctor was saying, oh you're taking too much so he stopped me, but i want to tell everyone who wants to get off or is trying to that there is a tunnel out of the fog!

This is my fifth day and I'm already feeling like a new person and i want to encourage others that there is an end to the withdrawals. making it through the first 72 hours is the worst of the hardcore withdrawals, so don't worry about anything -- no cleaning, just drink water and to most even this is so hard to do as it was me.

I tried to slow down on the pills first. It's hard but tell yourself it will all be over soon. Day one and two is the worst, i lay around and cried not wanting to even live; it was horrible. i was just drinking pepto and so sick with a bad headache. i wanted to go to the hospital but i didn't want to be looked at like i was a druggie even though my doctor put me on it, so i stuck it out without help.

Plus with help, you will notice that it isn't so hard getting off it. doing it at home is a lot worse but once you're through the worst, you will see you will never want to do it again and even on day five i will never touch or take it. if the doctor gives it to me I'll flush that nasty crap lol.

After that third day your going to wake up and body will shake with a headache still but its like so weird like you forgot how you were with them for so long. even now I'm still sweating a lot and get shaky at times but i have so much energy i smile more now it really is like coming through a fog you can see so much more clearly. i know for those you take a lot more then they should may take more time and more strength but its so worth it.

i keep going to the mall and walking around since it's too cold for being outside. i also went to the store and got a super cheap detox. for a week's worth of time it helps push it out. eat a lot of fruits. just force them in your mouth. it will be hard but you need these. For the women, take prenatal vitamins. it will strengthen you. i did too, and the gummy ones aren't so harsh. Take a lot of B vitamins too.

find an activity to do: play games, color, watch action movies (not sad or scary because you won't be able to control emotions for a few days) and talk to your family. i talked to all of them and even cried when i did but it felt so good just crying to my mom and my boyfriend. He pushed me. i couldn't have done it without him. Pets are great with pain management so call your doctor and see if they can write up your pet as a pain management and health care pet then you can take them anywhere but i couldn't do that but you can to those who have pets.

just relax and think that it will only be a few days then make plans for the days after your 72 hour make to go bowling or skating be out and around people and play your music non stop. Get music and make friends with it. it helps with many withdrawals and tell your doctor how messed up they are for not reading into what they were giving you.

Thank you all for reading this long message. And it will be over soon. I'm witness to that. You're not alone!

One year and two months on Tramadol. Eight to 10 pills a day. Stopped cold turkey, not by choice- Doc cut me off!

Hope everyone feels better. Time will heal. Best to all.

A lot of good information here. I've been on 500mg a day for about five years. It's been the one constant in my last half decade though I've dealt with addiction other times in my life, never like this. I'm now weaned down 5 50mg pills a day. Two before breakfast, two at lunch and one before dinner. Anybody who is weaning, take the pills right before a meal. The food will break the medicine down faster and give you a bigger boost off it. When you are weaning it is important to try to get the same feeling off less pills. Make your days tolerable and then take some melatonin at night to sleep.

Cold turkey is not a good idea for anybody! I actually used a vicodin to help me out on my first day of cutting down to five pills. Anything you can use to help is okay in small doses if you change it up, lest you find a new addiction. I also used buprenorphine at the beginning to get down to six a day. They use these for heroin withdrawal and they work wonders and are non habit forming.

If you know enough junkies like I did you can get them real easy. For anyone who is looking they are usually orange circles that you place under your tongue to dissolve. Taste like crap but very helpful. Eat lots of candy and sugar. They will give you instant energy to combat the tremors chills and fatigue. Also coffee. This might all seem anti intuitive but withdrawal is a different beast. It's all about what works, not what's good for you. Good luck to everybody.

I was using Tramadol for a slipped disc, and also, had no idea what was coming when I quit taking them till it hit me. Horrible nights thrashing about in bed, anxiety attacks, sweating, shaking, and a general bad feeling.

I fought the symptoms with a herbal sedative that is available over the counter as a pill, or as a tea. It's called baldrian in germany (where I reside) and in the the english speaking world its called Valerian. It really worked for me. Never again tramadol.

I was given "ultram" this summer because of back pain. The dr. never said I could get addicted. I know that I am. Tried to go cold turkey today and go to work. Impossible!

I'm crying because I am so upset my dr. never warned me about this, and I never considered myself a 'druggie.' My back problem is still there so of course my doctor is willing to refill the stuff and my insurance is such that I get it for free.

Having no leave from work (I don't work, I don't get paid), I am going to try and wean off over Thanksgiving, two weeks away.

I have a refill request in to the dr. now, as I am down to six tabs. Maybe I am lucky. Reading some of the other ones, that I can survive on 100mg - 150 mg a day.

I am embarrassed there's even a 'range' there that I take. I will make the doctor help me come off this. It's not the person I am, nor the person I want to be.

From (Julius-23): i will began my detox from tramadol next tuesday and by reading the detox stories of @(mark - day I'm free) i can't wait to get started. No pain, no gain! I know the first week is going to be hard especially working 12 hours a day but after this, i will feel happy that i did this. It can be done and it will be done, by the grace of god.

Everybody out there buckle up your seat belts. it's going to be a bumpy ride, but on the other side is peace and the feeling of your own natural self! God bless all of us. God bless america and everyone who is going through this!

I've been taking 200mg of tramadol for 2-3 years and I'm trying to stop. Although it isn't as much as some other stories I think the withdrawals are just as bad. I cut down to 50mg a day for the last week and today I decided not to take any. Unfortunately I just gave up and took one because the restless legs and sleeplessness is driving me mad. I can't stop uncontrollable thrashing my legs all over the place. I also have cold symptoms for three days now. This is definitely an evil drug and I won't give up in getting it out of my life. The worst is not being able to sleep because my mind is working overtime and the legs are out of control.

Tomorrow I am going to the doctor to get some sleeping pills. I think those will help because I can tolerate the daytime. I just hope this all ends soon.

Good luck to everyone who is going through this hell.

This is my second day off of Tramadol. I find these posts encouraging. I feel very sick today, but I know in a few days I will feel better. I just have a headache and I do get the restless legs. Yesterday, I felt a lot worse. I know my symptoms now are just temporary and are better than a life of addiction.

I have been struggling with drug addiction for years. i was given Tramadol for back pain because it was not supposed to be addicting. That is a lie! It is worse than Vicodin and harder to get off of.

I've been taking 100mg Tramadol three times a day for about eight years now. This Friday I ran out and called for a refill but couldn't get a hold of my doctor. Last night, I didn't get an ounce of sleep, my limbs couldn't settle down and when I woke up this morning I had diarrhea.

I asked my wife to pray with me, so I am believing that the Lord will help me through this.

I went out and bought some vitamins, and a high intake of acidic drinks to assist in cleaning thus garbage out of my system. My heart goes out to all of you going through this.

Tramadol is extremely physically addictive- it's finally been written in stone, at least in Wikipedia.

Tramadol addiction is hell. The restless legs and electric-shock feelings are called myoclonic jerks.

It's 4:30 a.m., and I'm hot, I'm cold, I'm shaking, I'm restless, depressed and exhausted. I'm on day 12 of tramadol withdrawal and still in hell. I was taking about 750mg per day. It was a $450/month addiction for six years. I'm in hell. Ambien and muscle relaxers do nothing for the myoclonus. I hope no one else must suffer like I am currently.

I am a 42 year old male who suffers daily from a bulging disc and arthritis in my lower back. I was prescribed Tramadol from a doctor slightly over a year ago and it was the perfect pill to relieve my pain and provide me energy to get through the day.

The doctor's suggestion of eight a day soon became insufficient to ease my back pain so I increased my dosage on my own (very stupid) and began taking up to twenty pills a day and stayed at that dosage for several months.

It all came crashing down on me when I ran out once and suffered severe withdrawals (cold sweats, pain in joints, unable to think clearly, etc.) but I was soon able to get more via the internet.

Over time I realized that I had become addicted and needed professional help. That was last week and I entered a hospital to be detoxed. I am back home now but still suffering some withdrawals but no where near as to what I suffered when I ran out of Tramadol the first time. The doctor tells me it will take awhile for it to get completely out of my system and he suggested I drink plenty of water, exercise, and take a multi-vitamin daily.

I am hoping and praying that this hell on earth ends soon. If I can persuade anyone to not take this deceptive drug it will at least save someone the agony that I have endured.

Take courage all you tramadol former and not-so-former users. I was posting way back when I was withdrawing - and here I am all cleaned up. It took a few week to notice complete freedom but there is life after tramadol, and I was using 400 mg a day for a few months after surgery. At some point this medication will be addressed as being addictive; let it not be because we are the victims. Just keep on keeping on and your bodies will adjust.

I believe that our bodies stopped producing melatonin when tramadol was introduced and we have to make that adjustment again; start producing this hormone again. It's going to hurt for awhile! Toughen up and deal with each day as it comes.

Eventually you will notice a very good difference.

I wish I knew all of this before I began taking tramadol. I have been taking 8/10 a day for only a few months, a few days ago I ran out, and can't get a repeat prescription until a few days time. I haven't slept in two days and feel like crap. Only came online to look for ways of beating insomnia, and when I googled it tramadol came up everywhere. Don't think I will be wanting that repeat prescription anymore!

I failed to mention in my previous post what i did to help myself with the withdrawals once i weaned myself off the tramadol.

Of course i kept busy, but the main thing i did was i started buying wine coolers. I would buy a 4 pack of Bartles and Jaymes and i would drink one a day around the evening time after dinner. I also took B vitamins, Complete Omega- 3.6.9 fish oil, and i also kept a few of those vitamin waters handy by Glaceau.

Sometimes i would buy Emergen-C vitamin drink mix and i will pour one of the powder packets over in one of the vitamin waters. These remedies would keep my metabolism going to help flush out all that Tramadol, and the wine coolers would relax me of course.

It was an eight month battle, and a few times i even thought i was going crazy. Now here i am over a year and seven months later still not 100 percent but I'm much better than before.

I'm still lost. I was put on Tramadol after coming out of rehab for a broken back and shattered pelvis. In rehab, they had me on Hydrocodone and Oxycodone and after I was released the doc took me off the Oxy and kept the Hydracodone for a month and then he put me on Tramadol. He said it wasn't dope. That was May 2008. I have never thought about it one way or the other.

I take gabapentin 1200mg and Baclofen 20mg and Tramadol 100mg a day. I just keep them in my dispenser and take them when I get up and then again when I get home. Friday I looked and realized I was out and thought it was about time to stop taking all this crap anyhow, so I just shrugged it off.

Saturday I was in a funk, didn't seem to care about anything, didn't watch TV, read or play sudoku which is strange for me. Sunday morning I had the squirts and felt ill but I shook it off, but later at church I was sweating and shaking and didn't want to talk to anyone, didn't want to even be there.

I even went to the truck to leave when I saw my extra bottle that had a morning dose of meds sitting in the console. So I took it and went back inside, and by the time the service was over I was fine, went to eat with some folks and felt normal.

That has me in a panic. I will not be in this situation. Now, after reading all the other posts I'm confused. Surely two pills a day shouldn't affect me this way. This is crazy. How can I cut back from two a day? I'm going to change to morning only for a week and see from there, but this is nuts. But this is the second time I've had this happen and I don't believe in chance.

I have been addicted to tramadol for two years now. i take 25 pills a day of 50mg. i don't know why but I started taking them for pain. i have acute leukemia and every time i take the pill i feel good and motivated, I like to talk and do stuff but if i don't take the pills i get depressed.

I have been trying to get off the pill for some months now but with no luck. i was getting my refills at walgreens, but since i have been refilling every week, i guess they put a note in my account or something that they always says that they don't have the medication, so now i buy them in other pharmacies and it is now really getting expensive.

At walgreens i get a discount with my word and get 120 for 15 bucks. Now i have to pay like 65 bucks for the same amount. This is not good. i want to get off these damn pills. even when i get quimo i need the damn pills.

I tried percocets, to alleviate but they are more addictive and was taking more than 30 a day of percocets. not good. Now they are giving me demerol via iv but that is another waste since the effect of demerol via iv lasts 30 to 45 minutes tops, and then you need more.

So if someone can help me out I'll appreciate it. sorry for my spelling and grammar. i mainly speak spanish.

I was on tramadol pills for about 10 years. I weaned myself off and have been off for about a year and a half. After 10 years of being on tramadol it took forever for it to finally leave my body or cleanse from my system.

Once tramadol enters your blood stream, it's like it stays in you for a long time. And to tell you the truth, I'm still not 100 percent yet. I still get the heart burn, night sweats, nervousness, rapid heartbeat, etc. on occasion. I'm thinking my body will be totally back to normal maybe in another year.

I don't think people realize the permanent damage tramadol can do, and the fact that i was on it for a decade will only mean it will take that much longer for me to ever be normal again.

I am on day three of withdrawal from six pills a day. I didn't really plan for this. My internet order is taking longer to get here than usual. I almost wish it wasn't coming at all because I know I will take them as soon as they get here and all of this discomfort will be for nothing.

This is going to sound weird but one thing that seems to help is masturbating. I'm finally able to have orgasms whenever I want (without planning them around my drug schedule). So I do. A lot. I also found that drinking a couple of beers at night helps the whole restless leg thing. But here I am at 4 a.m., fully awake. I'm just glad I got the three hours I did get.

I posted #21 maybe six months ago and had been taking up to 30 pills a day for over one year. Six weeks ago I decided that I couldn't afford getting Tramadol from the internet and quit. I was spending $150 every two weeks for 180 pills. I did taper a bit, but have been off the drug for six weeks now.

The hardest part is the first few days when the insomnia is so bad you think you are going crazy and I had very bad gastrointestinal problems. But I got through it and pushed myself to walk and eat healthy and drink lots of water. I quit my job so I could take the time to get off this drug. It just got to be a horrible cycle. I feel good today and would encourage others to do the same.

@Darlinny49:It will take 10 days to come out as per your dosage and the years which you are addicted or taking the medicine. this is based on my experience

Symptoms are tolerable and you have to hang on. after all you have to have the willpower to face it.

Seven days intake of tramadol will not cause an addiction status. But it all depends on your mind set. If you really don't need it, quit it now. go for an outing think positively. after two or three days you will become what you were.

I've had kidney stones for the past 10 years. Finally, two years ago, the doctor prescribed tramadol, telling me to take the recommended dose. I am currently taking one pill a day, so that would be 50mg. I am desperately trying to stop taking them and return to normal. I have been taking only one pill for the past two years. Does anyone know what the withdrawal symptoms might be and for how long?

After reading this I am terrified. Can someone get addicted to Tramadol after taking it for seven days? If so what happens if I go off of it after three days? Will soma help the withdrawal symptoms?

I started taking tramadol four years ago. I was taking about four a day when I found out I was pregnant. I quit immediately after reading you shouldn't take them while pregnant. I quit cold turkey and remember feeling really crappy but just thinking it was the pregnancy.

After having the baby I started taking them again. I was up to six or maybe eight a day. Well, I ended up finding out I had to quit.

I had 100 left or so but decided I would just taper off over three days and be done on the weekend. Knew I would have some side effects but didn't really know what was withdrawals from before and what was just being tired and sick since I was pregnant.

I tried and made it almost through day two. I hadn't slept well even with taking tylenol PM for three nights just while I was weaning myself off. I felt like I could barely walk my legs had such intense, tingling pain!

I was sick to my stomach and had the shakes from the inside out. I was anxious and helpless. I knew I could get through it because I had done it once before. I felt as though I would die and my husband and I decided it would be better for me to take myself off slowly as to not have a seizure and high blood pressure.

Anyway, I took one and ended up getting a horrific headache. Anyway, I'm down to 2 1/2 day and start two a day tomorrow for a week and then 1 1/2 etc. I am so sorry for those of you who are having to go cold turkey from 10 or 20 a day. If it were me, regardless of whether I had them prescribed or were taking them off the street, I would go to the hospital and get medical help. It's pretty dangerous to come off that many without help.

During the time I was withdrawing I said many prayers. Called out to my Father God in heaven. I believe when it gets down to when I go from 1/2 a day to 0 I will go through withdrawals. I know that since I did it once before I can do it again and I know that God will be there with me and carry me through it.

I am very sick to know that this drug is presented as a "non-addictive" drug. It seems to me it's in the same class as heroin and that's just about one of the nastiest drugs around from what I hear. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who has been through it. I hope to inform others about this drug and hope that dr. start prescribing this drug a lot less or never.

To those of you who are struggling, may God be with you. It does get better!

@anon49702: I have been taking tramadol for about 11 years. At my highest i was on 35 50mg pills per day, but mostly stayed at 25 - 28 per day. My advice to you and to anyone else is don't go cold turkey, but taper down by one pill every week.

It's been a long, hard road for me. I'm now at four per day, and this is about the fourth or fifth time trying to quit for good and for me. This simple method has worked the best. But you must have a strong mind during the tapering as it will seem like you are not progressing fast enough or you want to either stay at your current dose and then start upping it again.

Don't worry. Even if a person is aged, withdrawal is possible, but make your environment beautiful and natural, think positively, get involved in some kind of creative activities, be near to a hospital, take hot baths, steam baths, massage your body frequently, eat more fruits and vegetables, drink fruit juices a lot, drink lots of mineral water. Do light leg and arm exercises, take deep breaths regularly every 10 minutes. Take tramadol 50 mg the first four days once you decide to withdraw completely, then 25 mg per day for the next four days, then 15 mg per day for the next four days, then 10 mg on alternate days, then go for cold turkey. Thereafter take alternative pain killers for a month.

Slowly reduce that and start feeling natural wellness and good feelings of the mind and brain.

Consult a doctor for medications for purifying blood. Get enough sleep, take showers in hot water, take hot baths three to five times in a day, and live in this style for one year.

Come off the drugs completely and live with fewer problems in rest of your life.

It is really possible. I am completely out of tramadol successfully. I only took eight days to come out 100 percent.

I want to thank everyone for their input-so very helpful and illuminating. Over a two year period, I now have got down to 4 50mg a day. I tried three and became too distressed. I'm 66 - don't have the energy of some of you out there. But I'm determined to stop tramadol entirely.

I intend to get to three a day soon -- maybe in another week. I am tempted to do a cold turkey to speed it up but feel too vulnerable just yet. I have bad back pain and haven't found a substitute yet. Just think I have to have the pain and clean my system of drugs. Maybe the pain will be bearable.

Sleep is the worst withdrawal symptom for me- and the deep all consuming anxiety. One feels so horribly alone despite pleas to God and the universe. Please keep posting - it helps me greatly.

Same story: took Ultracet at minimum dosage for the past 10 years. New health issues sent me to a neurologist who was disgusted at my current prescriptions. He said he doesn't think I can quit because I have been on it so long. I never new that tramadol had such a bad rap.

I stop tomorrow. Have to work but can take a day off here and there. But I have to do this - now more than ever after hearing how this is, I'll try the benadryl, meclizine and other pain relievers like tylenol. So glad I found this site. Good luck to everyone tapering or going cold turkey.

Is 8 mg/day dangerous? I am taking 8 mg at 10 am every day. can anyone or doctors advise me that does it affect the liver, kidney or brain, if it is used for a year or so continuously?

I don't have any health problems and I was using this for the last two years.

God has given everything in your body to feel great.

Boosting the good feel by medicine is a sin.

You will feel good even after your accidents, surgery, and body will come back to old position provided you have to live the way which God wanted. Shortcuts are dangerous and end up in a mess.

@jonnson: Pills for what? alternative to Tramadol or to get relief from withdrawal symptoms? Please be clear.

If it is meant for relief from withdrawal symptoms please share.

The artificial feeling of well being is only temporary, it may cause severe problems in your old age. So don't take Tramadol for long time. You can, but only on those days when you go through a tough time in your life. it gives immense relief and energy to overcome those tough times.

Withdrawal from 30mg /day or 15mg/day which i mentioned earlier in this site is very easy and symptoms of withdrawal will be only four to five days. This is from my experience. All the best guys!

Reduce dose & do light medicated oil massages especially on leg muscles, it really gives relief when you have withdrawn Tramadol

Eat more fruits / energy drinks will also helps

If so difficult take some severe pain killers (other than Opioids category)

I was on tramadol for one year after my accident. I used to take 30g/day, then decided to withdraw from it. The first four days were uncomfortable. The symptoms were restless legs, weakness etc.. but afterwards I become 100 percent normal.

Again after one year, I started using for another year but this time only 15g/day, so withdrawing was easy even though the restless legs were disturbing. Today is the fourth day and I hope will normalise in another week's time

Experience in tramadol was amazing. I was getting extraordinary energy at work. Concentrated work, extra smartness and feeling of being 100 percent pain free.

Medicine boosts the nerves that prevent pain and weakens those nerves which cause pain. This is the magic of all opiate category medicines.

I was addicted two years ago, quit cold turkey, became suicidal, and got involuntarily put in a mental facility for a week.

I stayed off for two years. Now I'm back on, 25-30 a day. I tried quitting, but the withdrawals are horrid: restlessness, completely lethargic, sweats, chills, constant extreme uneasiness.

I've got to quit soon, i know. I'm trying to taper, but no willpower. I just chew up 15 at a time still. I've got to wait until i run out, then just suck it up. The good thing is, the withdrawals are so bad, i can quit tobacco at the same time with ease.

Calm down anon109906. Have you called on Jesus to help? Do it now and let Him give you the strength to finish this thing, the wisdom to understand and vision for your life, and that peace that goes beyond understand.

No need to get your Bible out right now and start quoting scripture - just call on Him and He will be there. Let His Spirit then work to bring you deliverance from a habit that I, myself, became enslaved to. Nothing is impossible to God. Give it a try. It works.

Tramadol has now destroyed my entire life.

Try 45 50mg tramadols in one day for 1 and 1/2 years! Yeah, I am still battling this drug and I am losing big time. In fact, I shouldn't be alive! I have passed out, fainted and almost died several times.

Everyone who has posted here and who has experienced withdrawal symptoms, you can take your worst day and multiply it by about 10, and that's how I've felt every single day for the past week. It has destroyed my young family of four (two small children and my wife and I). My wife, who is a nurse, is making me quit this habit cold turkey! I cannot explain to you the hellish feelings I have been forced to confront so far and I still know the worst is yet to come.

God, I need some real help, but I cannot allow my wife's reputation in her field of work be compromised; and due to certain crucial circumstances, I am forced to withdraw on my own and in secret.

If you are reading this and still taking the drug stop right now! And if you're reading this and thinking of taking it, do not! I honestly don't think there is a person in the world taking as much of this tramadol stuff as I am. Honestly, I should be dead! But for some reason I'm still here.

I am currently trying to overcome this habit so one day I can be a good father to my small toddlers that my wife is now raising. This is the last chance for me. Otherwise I might as well overdose next time. I won't have anything to live for soon! Don't destroy your life like I have. Please, just stop with this drug now!

After flirting with recreational Tramadol use for a couple of years, I ended up getting addicted, taking them every day for eight months. My dosage was up to an average of 15 50 mg pills a day. I had a few days without taking any during this time, but day number two was unbearably so I'd always end up getting more.

I am now on day 15 without any. I went cold turkey off the tramadol, and took an adderall for the first six days. I've now been nine days without any pills in my system. I still feel a little craving and a tiny bit of depression, but overall, not as bad as I thought.

I never thought in a million years that I would be posting on a site for drug dependence, but here I am. That just goes to show you how sneaky and subtle this drug is. Doctors need to know how bad this stuff is and be a lot more careful how they prescribe it.

I am a 49 year old mother of two, and I have a kidney disorder that causes me to make lots of kidney stones and when I'm not passing stones, I have a lot of chronic aching in my kidneys.

I also have a bulging disc in my lower back. I took Vicodin for about two years and didn't like how it was changing my personality, so my doc switched me to Tramadol. I call it "Damn-it-all" for good reason.

I started by taking the prescribed six per day for about a year then I reduced it to four and then three for the last three years. I didn't think I could possibly be hooked if I didn't take the full dose. Ha! All it took was missing a dose and I had all the symptoms that everyone else has described. Twitchy legs, deep yawning, hot and cold sweats, insomnia, no libido, diarrhea, headaches, depression etc, etc.

I am now into my fourth week of slowly weaning myself off completely. My husband says it is like I am coming back to him. Coming back to life. I felt that way for a few days in the first two weeks, but am struggling now. (I am now down to 1-50mg tablet a day. I cut them into quarters and take them every six hours or so.)

Some days are better than others. I am suffering from insomnia and really need a good, deep sleep. I am determined to get off of this terrible drug. I pray for all of you who are in similar or worse situations that I am in. Hang in there. If you are going cold turkey, be careful, and take care of yourselves. If you are considering taking this drug, think again.

I started tramadol about three months ago. I started taking up 14 pills a day. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I was getting pretty low and the larger doses didn't make a difference. I went from 12-14 pills, to eight pills a day, and then to four pills.

In some ways, I think too much information makes the matter worse. Everybody is different. Therefore, your symptoms may not be as severe as others.

If I kept busy and didn't run across the information on tramadol withdrawal, I think I would have been better off.

wow. Finding this site has really helped me. I've been on Tramadol 400mg a day for over two years for migraines. it was like living in a fog -- real scary. I totally thought I was losing it. I was determined to get off them for good, no matter how much pain I have to go through.

Over the last six weeks I have slowly weaned myself from them. It's now been six days without any, and it's still been rough, but I am determined to get my life back.

I'm a mentor for many and I'm used to being a sharp, quick thinker. This was taken from me when I started on Tramadol and I want my life back. My advice to any who are on this drug and will listen is tapering off 10 to 14 days at a time helps a lot. Cold turkey is very hard on your system. Just ask any of us who temporarily ran out or even just forgot a dose. That's hell. Lastly, my faith in God has been my greatest strength.

Recently I had nose surgery and stayed in the hospital. The doctor had prescribed me with Tramadol liquid based, after the surgery was done. I don't know if I'm allergic to it actually, since this was the first time I've taken it.

The first 20 hours after I took the tramadol is the worst I ever feel in my life. My whole body started to buzzing and I could hear the buzzing sound in my brain. I had restlessness, sweating, uncomfortable twitching muscles all over my body. I could hardly breathe and had an uncontrollable heart rate (rapid and slow. Sometimes it stopped).

Then worst of all: the horrible overwhelming sense of anxiety came! I can't sleep at all while thinking that probably I'm going to die soon. I managed to sleep on the second day three hours only.

I told my doctor about this and he has stopped me from taking Tramadol and giving other pain killers. I have to struggle for days three through five with this "bad" effect on me. thanks to my family and loved ones for the support.

I am on day six right now and the effects have decreased day after day (even I can still feel the low buzz feeling now). For me, I want to remember these withdrawal so I never take this Tramadol again.

All the best for you guys on this withdrawal.

Ultram ER, chew and bam! Feeling good and in a concentrated form. The foc put me on these for over four years now and I am done. For the nights I have been taking Theraflu and it has helped a tad. Good luck all, and be very proud of what you are about to do, or have already done.

I have some advice that might help someone out there. Get some anti-depressant medicine and some muscle relaxers. Take vitamin b12. I did it cold turkey so many times and I knew in the rehab centers they don't just make you go without anything. It's been hell still but that stuff helps control a lot of the really bad withdrawal symptoms.

i had a bad finger that needed to be amputated, but before they could do that i was in the hospital for 13 days withdrawing from these pills.

I lost my mind and can't remember four days and the days i remember were very bad. i bit the doctor who pulled out my iv's and did and said some crazy stuff. now my finger is gone and i feel no more pain but my whole body aches and i can't sleep. i can hardly sit still.

These pills are very bad for you so be careful.

I almost feel the opposite since I've been taking tramadol. it makes me very dull and lazy sometimes. The only thing it helps me with is sleeping and my back pain. I take maybe one a day for the past months but I've only taken more then one a few times and there's days I go without it. Should I stop taking it now?

i ended up addicted to tramadol for a while and i decided to stop cold turkey because I lost twenty lbs in four months I'm guessing because i was so high on them. I felt ocd like, could clean a lot, and i clean for a living so i felt fantastic (i got them by rx due to a back problem that hasn't been fixed by the several doctors I've been to).

Just long story short, my behavior changed as in addictive behavior, hiding taking them from loved ones, taking to be able to function, not just for pain, etc., but i got really, really, sick. I wanted to just sleep, because i felt like i got hit by a bus, so achy, crying, i couldn't work for two days. It took me relapsing two times in a two-month span before i finally stopped.

It's been almost a month now, and i don't feel the withdrawal symptoms, I just notice I'm less motivated about cleaning. My back still hurts, and it's hard dealing with minor pain. i want to take some kind of pain relief.

The ways I've dealt with getting off of it is definitely support from loved ones, and trying to take a few days off from work, and everything really, and what i did was (not everyone will be able to do this) but i took a sleep aid (seroquel) for a few nights (this was after my first relapse so i knew what to expect and planned ahead) and i took a different, strong pain reliever for a few weeks to try to not feel all the bad effects of tramadol. Once those ran out, yeah it stunk for a day but nothing compared to tramadol, and promethazine for the nausea.

I can say getting off tramadol has been very difficult mentally and physically for me and I'm speaking from someone who's taking hydrocodone for four months non stop, and been addicted to xanax and used to smoke marijuana.

I don't understand why the tramadols have been so hard to stop. Like i said, i still fiend for them and i haven't had one since the end of June.

I started taking tramadol a few months ago and now I find myself having sweating spells and not being able to sleep at night due to feeling restless. Does this mean I'm addicted?

Mark (Day 'I'm Free')

Well folks that's me free from Tramadol and my last post. i feel dynamite, alive and back in charge of my life.

The high keep fit regime and lots of tea in the morning and early afternoon, judo, football and gym work has worked it's combined magic. The only symptoms left are minor decreasing leg irritations, the odd runny nose and itchy cough but it's more like hay fever (which it might be). Hay fever tabs work a treat though.

All in all, it's taken me about two weeks to feel this good and there's not even a bit of me wanting to go back. For ten years I had forgotten how good feeling normal is, un-aided by any kind of drug.

My final advice, grit your teeth, take a week off work and get it done. It's really not that hard. After the first week, you're on easy street.

Today I have made the decision to get off these things. I have to work so cold turkey won't work. I have what's left, so should I just begin to wean? Any vitamins good? Help!

Mark (Day 12)

Well I'm now feeling so much better in terms of withdrawals, my moods are still dropping a bit though, especially at work around 1-3 p.m. I've also found it very hard to stay focused on going to the gym and in fact feel a little more jaded than usual, which is really a pain, as keeping fit is a big part of my life and I am struggling to get motivated.

I suppose this was to be expected. A bit of a rollercoaster ride this one, so I just need to roll with it until I have that zip back.

After nearly 10 years of tramadol and only been off it 12 days, I can't expect miracles and god certainly won't do me or you any favors either -- otherwise he would; sense the atheist?

Anyway, my legs are still irritable at night, i do feel a little depressed and worn out now and then, but watching lots of Ricky Gervais makes me laugh. Work actually helps keep my mind off it for a while as well and while I am doing any sort of sports I feel great, feel free of the whole thing.

It's clearly going to take me a few more weeks to really shake off the artificial feel good factor tramadol created in my head. My brain is missing those little highs, but it needs to be re-programmed. I need to remember what it was like to be me again, without any pills.

I've not been tempted to take any tabs to be honest. I just want to get this over and done with. Patience was never my best virtue at the best of times.

Day 12 is not bad at all, and I'm really glad I started this detox. Each day gets a little easier.

I had ruined my knee, and required pain killers. I was prescribed Tramadol by three different top orthopedic surgeons in Europe. For nearly nine months, I took about 200mg a day, (4 X 50mg) along with paracetamol, anti-inflammatory, and cartilage-building pills.

After my surgery, I still continued to take the Tramadol, for pain. None of my three doctors ever told me how highly addictive it could become, nor how difficult it would be to stop using it!

Having been born in the sixties, and raised in the States as a post-Vietnam War hippie-kid, I had done my "fair share" of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. But, at the age of 50, I had finally prided myself in not being addicted to any substances whatsoever. It was a goal I had set, and accomplished, and I was very pleased. Hence, I would never have taken the Tramadol had I known of the possible effects!

Through my younger years, I had successfully conquered, cocaine addiction, alcohol abuse and last but not least cigarettes. I was running 5k a day, doing yoga regularly, and was totally substance-free, and feeling happier and more alive than I had ever imagined possible!

Then came the tramadol nightmare, due to a sports injury of the meniscus and cartilage in my knee.

So, after having it prescribed for my knee, I took the medication for about nine months regularly and totally unknowing of its effects. However, one time, I accidentally forgot my pills at home and immediately noticed these horrible side effects!! At first I thought it was some sort of blood sugar disorder, like hypoglycemia, or diabetes. The effects of the "withdrawal" were nearly seizure-like, in nature, involuntary, like a minor convulsion of sorts. I never even considered that it might be the pills!

I had restlessness, uncomfortable twitching, as though there were an electric shock going up and down my spine. Rapid heart rate, uncontrollable palpitations cold sweats, shivering, then hot flashes, and worst of all the horrible overwhelming sense of anxiety! Not knowing that it was, indeed the tramadol, I continued to take them, and the symptoms subsided. Until, yet again, upon "forgetting" the medicine, these symptoms reoccurred. I looked up different possible causes, and found this website most helpful!

After much distress, and concluding that is was, indeed the drug, I decided to immediately quit taking it, cold turkey.

I was so annoyed with myself for being so ill-informed and that I unknowingly inherited this addiction, it became personal challenge to get off the drug immediately.

The first 24 hours were a total tortuous nightmare and I did not sleep at all, feeling absolutely, positively horrible! I had totally uncontrollable, convulsive-like symptoms: extreme restlessness, flu-like symptoms, runny eyes, nose, dry coughing, fever, chills, shaking, shivering, convulsive-type twitches, frequent urination, diarrhea -- just terrible!

But, having given birth three times, I figured I could withstand it, as eventually, it would have to subside. I knew I could conquer this, so I continually drank water, thinking I would flush out the symptoms!

First night, just tossing, turning, worrying about nothing and everything. Horrible, no sleep. Second night, same symptoms, but discovered that if I lay in a scalding hot bath, intentionally increasing my heart rate, then I had more control of the symptoms, instead of vice-versa. So, every time I was too restless to lie still, I would get up, run a scalding hot bath, and lie in the water for as long as I could stand it, nearly passing out. I knew my heart could take it, as I was so physically fit, having worked out for so long, and having had the ability to get my heart rate up and withstand it, through running.

A scalding hot bath, in as hot water as I could tolerate, ended up being every other hour, but after the baths, I would lie, shivering, in the bed, and just feel how my heart rate eventually decreased. I would wait for sleep to eventually overtake me.

The second night I woke up every other hour, like clockwork! 1 am, 3 am, 5 am, and 7 am. Sigh. Exhausting, but at least I did sleep a bit, in-between!

The third day, I went swimming, rode my bike three miles, and did as much physical exercise as I could. Although I had virtually no appetite, I forced myself to eat many tiny little meals, and drink plenty of water. The third night, I continued with my scalding hot bath regime yet again, as it was definitely working well for me, and proved to be my only comfort -- hot baths -- and so it went.

My advice is, if you can stand it, go cold turkey and just get it over with, provided you feel physically and mentally strong enough to take the challenge!

It has now been exactly seven days. The symptoms are almost totally diminished. I followed these steps, and it has worked for me: Plenty of exercise daily. Frequent mini-meals, followed by flushing out your system by drinking plenty of water 'round the clock. At bedtime, hot baths for as long as you can tolerate, even if, at first it is only two or three minutes at a time. Get out of the tub, lie down, then get back in again, if restlessness persists! Basically, you need to just wear yourself out!

You will feel the side effects of tramadol decrease, slowly, but surely! It is a great feeling to overcome drug addition! You become totally empowered! Not to mention that I did drop a few pounds as well!

It is, as though I were living in a black and white world, half asleep, like in a Tramadol trance!

Now, only seven days later, it is like happiness in Technicolor! A pure, physical happiness, most times, and I can actually feel the spirit of well being, more and more frequently!

This wonderful sense of awareness totally outweighs the effects any drug can give you, and it is absolutely sensational! Particularly if/when you can achieve this yourself!

Still taking a hot bath, but now it is just once or twice an evening. Good luck! Hope this helps!

I didn't know what the hell was wrong with me. Like the post before me I was popping them like candy. I need to be mom, wife, worker, daughter, sister, and friend and I would pop them and able to stay up until 2 or 3 a.m. doing household chores and able to do my 9 to 5.

I thought my symptoms were signs of stroke or brain infections. I was told that tramadol was better the hydrocodone or the like and I wouldn't get addicted. boy were they wrong.

My second day I wanted anything with a pain reliever in it. I wanted my little white pills. There was an earlier post that suggested that by day four or five, some of the nasty withdrawal symptoms would be subsiding. Well, tomorrow is day four and I sure can't wait to wake up feeling a little better. Tramadol or dealing with a sciatic nerve -- I'd rather take the day off and get waited on by my husband and kids and not suffer the horrible withdrawal symptons. Be well, all!

I'm not sure this will help anyone, but if you have access to a medication called gabapentin (Neurontin), a lot of people say it helps the mental side-effects of opiate withdrawal. That includes tramadol.

From what I've heard, gabapentin is pretty benign, but of course many of you heard the same thing about tramadol, so be careful. And of course, don't take it illegally! See if your doctor will prescribe it to you.

It's mostly used for spasms and seizures, sometimes anxiety. Taking two diphenhydramine or dimenhydrinate (like Benadryl or Unisom) pills can relax you too, but might just knock you right out.

It won't make it completely painless, but it can get rid of the panicky, anxious, depressed feeling.

You're welcome cm0424! Glad to be of assistance! Who likes to suffer? Not me - and psychological suffering is so much worse than physical, which is why I suppose people keep taking these substances.

Believe me - I was tempted to get more. And so I want to encourage everyone out there, again, to allow yourselves to take the challenge, do the suffering, and after your body (a great little factory) deals with the absence of this wicked drug, you will be restored.

May take a day, may take a week, may take a month -- our factories are all different. Just do it and expect your sanity to return and depression to leave. God bless.

thank you anon92642, thank for your words of encouragement. Seeing your post this a.m. made me feel so such better. I have to trust in God to get through this. Thank you and God bless.

Mark (Day four)

Well, days two and three were the toughest. I don't include one because some tramadol would have still been in my system from the day prior. I stopped on Friday morning and it's now Tuesday at 6 p.m., and believe me, this is the best day yet, can't wait until tomorrow.

There are still some sneezes, irritable legs, my back's a little stiff and a small craving is there but dying each day, but nothing I can't handle.

I posted below this under - anon92389(the ex british army guy injured in bosnia) and it's just a follow up for those who might be struggling.

Please hold on until day four or five because it's much better than one through three. I took some holidays off work and planned this out. Each day when I felt bad I went for long walks, followed by a gym session, and if I was not tired after that, I'd hit the gym again about 8 p.m. in the evening to sweat this out and it's working for me.

What made is easier was telling my doctor and asking for help in getting to sleep. Lack of sleep is a real killer and puts you in a low mood, lowering your resistance. I did not want any other pills to help ease the withdrawals, only to sleep, the less medication the better. I want to remember these withdrawal so I never make this mistake again. The doctor was pleased with this attitude, she gave me seven sleeping tabs to only use when really needed.

Before I stared this I went online to get a better understanding of how tramadol works, and then I looked into the side effects and withdrawals. Once I knew what to expect I carefully planned time off work to get this done once and for all.

On Monday last week I had my last 300mg, Tue 200mg, Wed 100, Thu 50mg and Fri onwards I've had 0.

This is maybe too much for some people to do (even my doc was surprised at this quick cold turkey attempt), so please bear in mind I do a lot of keep fit to ease the burden and it's made a massive difference in my recovery and state of mind.

Now that I can get to sleep as well I can tackle this much better.

If you are on day two and feeling bad, please hang in there. Trust me: it gets better and you can do it. Try keeping yourself busy. Take the dog for a walk, go shopping or cut the grass in the garden, get out into the sunshine and things will get better sooner than later.

Good luck all. I'll post again on Friday. By then I'll be a free man -- or as good as.

You go everybody weaning off Tramadol! I was on tramadol for a couple years - again, prescribed to me as non-addictive. Well, it may be that physically but what it accomplished in my brain was another story.

I started weaning myself off it in March 2010 after a surgery and am here to tell you that it can be done!

I won't lie and tell you it wasn't difficult, and depressing, and the feelings of trepidation were sometimes severe, but if you persevere and trust God to bring you through, it will happen. Happened to me and I'm free of it and happy again. Keep on keeping on. Let your bodies adjust and just expect to suffer for awhile. There's no easy way, so take the difficult way and get rid of the junk.

Dear anon92273: I am trying to wean myself off and so far, it's not been too bad. I am moody but no severe withdrawal yet. I don't know if this is the solution, but try taking less each day. Maybe start with two less a day and just keep going. I tried cold turkey and the worse for me was at night. I have been holding off taking my last dose til I go to bed.

Good support is another thing I feel is good to have, but I really don't have any. I love my husband but he has no clue what this is like. So if you need to talk I will be here. I feel awful I let myself get this bad, I will be praying for you. take care and god bless.

anon92273: muscle relaxers seemed to help me with the leg jerks and restless legs. I also took two Tylenol p.m. before I went to bed. It's not much, but from the amount you're taking, you definitely need to get off them! Good luck to you and we're here if you have any questions.

I'm on day three of cold turkey. It's not easy, but cold turkey got me off smoking and it suits my personality; I enjoy a challenge. I prefer to see this as me against the drug and just focus on winning. Fortunately I do go to the gym, do Judo, play football and play in a band so I have lots of good, healthy distractions, and this keeps my endorphins in good order and helps alleviate withdrawal.

It's not doom and gloom folks. For me, it's a state of mind and this is one fight I am winning. I got a bad injury in the army nine years ago and was put on tramadol. Once they ran out I started using my wife's meds, but no longer will I touch the stuff because I want to be back in control of my life.

Right now, I'm getting the sweats, restless legs, back is a little stiff, wee bit panicky at times, sleeping is tough (sleeping tabs will address that) but my energy is still good, I'm still fairly fit for 39 and still have the determined attitude to win.

Basically I took five days holiday from work to detox myself. I'm detoxing by keeping fit, raising my heart rate and blood temp to sweat out this rubbish and it's working.

I drink plenty of water and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. A natural detox always works for me and gives me a better frame of mind. Knowing I am eating healthy and keeping fit gives me a better way to focus my mind and keeps me positive.

Now I did have a three-year dip and ended up with depression, stopped keeping fit and eating healthy and I felt terrible, but I pulled myself out of that and my good friends got me back into playing football, and that led to me returning to the gym, and then I was not depressed anymore. I recently started Judo and I feel fine.

All I am trying to bring here is a real positive note, that you just have to win this fight by deciding to beat this daft little pill. The side effects are uncomfortable, but for me it's not a horror story. Again, this could be down to one's state of mind.

Fortunately I still have the fitness physically to combat this, but even if I did not, my attitude would anyway because I am a winner and don't like anything controlling or beating me.

I know we all suffer in different ways, but don't rely on a god or a miracle to cure you because it won't happen. This is your life and you must grab it with both hands. Only you can do this with a positive mental attitude and a will to win.

Try some light exercise each day and eat healthy and your mind and body will get stronger, take it from someone who know. All the best in your upcoming victories.

I am so glad i found this site. I am sitting here on my third day of tramadol withdrawal. I have these really bad body shocks every time i move. How can i get through them?

I have been on tramadol for almost two years. My doctor gave them to me for back pain but that led into some trouble. I am a recovering heroin addict from eight years ago but taking tramadol for the past two years really is quite better then heroin.

I am up to taking 15 at a time, then another eight tow hours later to where i eat 35 to 40 tramadol a day. i am only 5'3 and weigh 108 lbs. how can someone so small take this much and still not overdose?

It's nothing for me to go through 120 tabs in three days. i buy them from other people. i know. once i don't have tramadol i turn to vicodin but they don't help me at all. in one day i ate 11 vicodin and 33 tramadol and was still not feeling anything off them.

i have been weaned off them before but it didn't help because i was right back on them the next day. i really want get off these and it does seem kind of hard. no one wants to feel like crap. so does anyone know of a solution that can help me?

i have a two year old i have to raise and i need help but where i live its useless. the doctor writes what you want and sends you on the way. is there something that i can take to get off these? Please help.

anon49702: I am right there with you. I am going to wean myself off well, try to. I need someone to do this with me and maybe weaning is the way to go. I have done the cold turkey thing and it's very uncomfortable at the least. I started this med cause I have a very bad back on top of kidney stones. I was told that this was non-narcotic and safe which was not true.

After reading these posts for some time, I'm sure people will think i'm stupid. I took 10 tramadol 50's after my acl knee reconstruction. i liked it so much and stopped because it scared me as a former drug and alcohol abuser. i also suffer with bad depression. I'm hoping i feel better soon. this is real bad, vivid dreams etc. How long will this take?

anon89113: Just my opinion, but if you can do without them, do it. I was on tramadol after a car accident for 1.5 yrs and it was hell. From my experience they seemed to cause me more back pain being on them. along with all the other side effects. Good luck to you!

well, I'm quite confused right now, because like all of you, i was told tramadol was a good drug.

I have been out for a week now and have been having basically the worst week of my life. Been a nervous wreck. I am due to get married in one month and I had a very bad panic attack about everything and about broke it off with my fiance.

I have been taking tramadol for over a year now for a back injury at work. I was told it's the lesser of the evils and I'm just wondering am i almost out of the woods and if i should even think about using the drug again when my rx fills on the 15th? I am not trying to get any attention and being a cry baby. I'm just looking for answers is all. i even called my doctor, who gave me some xanax to help with the panic. but he says its not withdrawals because it's only been a week.

I was searching the withdrawal symptoms of tramadol online and came across this site. just a couple of days ago i ran out and by the day after i started feeling very lethargic, unable to sleep, very very emotional. i even had a really bad anxiety attack which i haven't had in a very long time.

i started getting worried, especially this morning, when i got out of bed and had a major pain in the back of my head. i knew i wasn't going to get another prescription anytime soon, being the last time it was filled i was told i would have to be seen for the following one.

I've been reading all of these posts and agree that tramadol is addictive. i have only been on them for about a month. i take four at once which is not much compared to what some of you have taken and i can't imagine the withdrawals for someone who has been on it longer.

i have also been on anti depressants for about 12 years and i have come to terms with the fact that i just have to have them or i need to wean. but i do not want to become dependent on the tramadol the way i have these anti depressants.

my mom, my hero, came over today and called the doctor, who somehow worked miracles and got me a new prescription. i only took one and i feel a little better already. I'm hoping to stay on one as needed and discontinue the recreational use. wish me luck.

anon88145. I was advised of that myself when the doctor put me on tramadol. Which is one of many reasons I will never touch the medication again!

Latest post: ever consider you military moms that you are having seizures, one possible side effect of tramadol. Our daughter, also a military mom but no children, started taking tramadol for back problems and she developed a seizure disorder at age 24. Tramadol comes and goes now but she's on medication for seizures now. Be determined to stay off the stuff okay? It's a wicked med.

anon87471 I had these exact static shock episodes while on tramadol and also through the withdrawals. Exactly as you described it was a quick buzz in my head and then a weird sensation that shoots through your body. Whole thing lasts no more than 3-5 seconds. I think it might have to do with the fact that tramadol contains serotonin. But I'm no doctor!

anon 87141: I feel for you. I am also acting supermom and a wife of a military man. Hang in there -- it will get better. Nothing that I have heard of can help you get over the emotional part of the withdrawals. That was the worst for me too. Thought I was losing my mind.

Your body needs to get rid of that killer drug. Good luck!

I am an addict of anything that can give me the energy I need to be supermom and wife of a military man. Tramadol is the lesser of the evils and I have been off them for two days. My poor kids are dealing with she devil and I need to do this. I just want to be normal.

I have Somas and Xanax but that doesn't help me at all. How long will I feel so depressed? I can deal with the pain its the emotional part I can't take. What over the counter stuff can I take to get over this quicker?

anon59957: What are these static shock episodes you mentioned? I'm curious because when I went through the withdrawals I had this same sensation and thought maybe I had a CNS problem. is it a quick buzz in your brain that zings through your body?

Anon49702: Try to wean down instead of cold turkey. If that doesn't work tell your doctor so they can help you through it.

Did you know the maximum dose is supposed to be 300 mg a day? 20 pills a day is way too many. It's not good for your body. You would be surprised how much better you feel when you're off them and through the withdrawals.

I thought my withdrawals would kill me but I got through it. You can do it and need to do it. You'll feel so much better overall! Hang in there.

anon49702, just bite the bullet and do it. I have been up to 42. you can if I can.

this is my fourth day with out them and it still is hard. I will make it because I have done it before. I plan on hanging in there.

I have been taking tramadol for 16 years for fibromyalgia. It was prescribed to me when I was 17 years old by a GP. I have since had only two doctors and have never taken more than my prescribed dose.

Now, my doctor wants me off of it. Facing 11k in rehab and 30 days of misery, I am attempting to wean off of it by myself. I was at six a day three days ago, now at two. We'll see how it goes. It's not pleasant. Good luck to everyone out there.

I have now been off Tramadol for six months and I am still tempted to go back on them to get that buzz.

It’s hard going through withdrawal, but staying off Tramadol having withdrawn is even harder, I go by the one day at a time rule as used by AA and Narcotics Anonymous. Will the cravings ever leave me? The addiction is there waiting in the wings looking for a week moment when I am vulnerable, when I could be tempted to go back on them.

Life seems less enjoyable without Tramadol but I know on balance it’s living a lie. Funny old world.

i took tramadol for only a week and i haven't been able to sleep for four days now. maybe tonight's the night. God bless us all. Amen.

I started off taking tramadol for fun because my friend would steal them from his dad, who was a doctor and my friend gave me 300mg to take recreationally.

I had been taking them on and off for a year or so, whenever I could get them from random websites. Then, I found a website that can get me 180x50mg for 75$. So naturally, I got loads of tramadol and decided to take them on the weekends because I was starting to have painful digestive and anxiety issues (most likely from using tramadol recreationally) and wanted to at least feel nice on the weekends.

Then, they stopped working so well recreationally, so I started taking 400mg, then 500, then 600, then 700, now 800 on the weekends. I then starting taking 600 on wednesdays too, during the week. Now my stomach and anxiety issues are far far worse, and I am thinking it's because of the tramadol.

I had a few surgeries as well so I got loads of percocets and norcos which I had begun taking with tramadol as well. I took upwards of 80mg oxycodone and 500mg of tramadol on the same days. Still, I wasn't doing it every day.

I finally quit for a month because the tramadol was getting expensive. First day was nothing. I just felt foggy because I think the tramadol was still in my system. Second day is the worst, and I had seen this pattern all the time when taking it recreationally.

Basically, i was in an endless cycle of withdrawal the way I was using the drug. Remember, I wasn't taking it every day -- just absurd amounts two or three times a week.

OK, so I quit cold turkey to lose my damn tolerance so I can try to get back the euphoria. Days two through five were pretty bad.

I don't mind the not sleeping, sweating, chills and tremors. Those are nothing. I just take a load of nyquil at night to deal with that. It's the constant stomach cramping and panic attacks that are the bad part.

I can only imagine how much worse it is for you people that took it every day. Though I was probably similar, since I had the same tolerance as you guys.

Well I quit and about two weeks into it I started feeling better. Someone mentioned using pot to ease the withdrawals. That definitely doesn't work, as it just causes panic attacks. Drinking helped a bit.

Anyhow, after a month I got all excited and took 40mg hydrocodone and 300mg of tramadol. I got a decent buzz, but then repeated the next day. Weak buzz and had to take more. The third time I was back at my old dosage.

Now, I am out of pills and withdrawing on day two again. It's not that bad if you take motrin and xanax -- one for the pain and one for the anxiety. It just makes you really tired.

Oh well, I plan to take it this weekend but I just need to cut the dosage to reduce the effects. Good luck to you all. I am so used to it by now that I can prepare for what I know is coming.

Oh yeah, I forgot -- day one actually is bad. It just takes until 6 p.m. for the anxiety to kick in. Wish you all luck. I've never tried tapering, by the way --only cold turkey.

I have been on ultram since 02 and just recently I felt like these pills were killing me, so i quit cold turkey, which damn near killed me.

Now its been three weeks and I'm still feeling down in the dumps. My doctor, just like others, I'm sure, sold me in to thinking these pills were OK because they are non narcotic but that's crap. Ultram makes you feel like a beast when you're on them, and like crap when you're off them.

Be smarter than me and research them and know what you're getting yourself into. good luck.

I am a 25 year old guy with two young kids and a wife. Not even my closest friends know that I have been taking tramadol for over four years. I have been forced to quit a few times in the past due to my addiction getting out of control.

I started buying them off a friend who had a legit script for them. When I began taking more than nine a day, I was using more then he could supply and so I quit. Cold turkey. It was hell and a half. Trying to hide this from everyone was awful but I got through it.

Then I discovered I could buy them online and have them shipped to my door! How convenient! I started up on them again and before I knew it, I am taking 10-15 pills a day. Needless to say, this costs a lot of money and I was forced to quit again. This time, the withdrawals were much worse, but after about 100 hours of no pills, I began to feel better.

A few weeks later, a fed-ex truck dropped off a package with 180 tramadol pills that I never even ordered. How this happened, I have no idea. Needless to say, I began using them again and I got up to taking about 20 pills a day.

This has gone on for about seven months now and I am bound and determined to get off of them once and for all. It has now been five days and my withdrawals are not as bad as before, except the inability to sleep.

This time, I saw it coming so I took the last five days of using the drug to step down my dose before I quit. I am not sure if this is why I am having such an easier time.

To anyone out there who is thinking of quitting these I just want you to know this: be prepared, and do not be too hard on yourself and do your best to relax and get some sleep whenever you can. Good Luck

I am a 42 year old guy who had extensive shoulder surgery. I was prescribed 50mg Tramadol, two every six hours. After five months I wanted off of them. They have put me on a the scariest mental roller coaster that I have ever been on!

In my case the withdrawal was three days of hell! Followed by a severe headache and a couple of weeks of depression. Fun. My advice is: don't do them!

well, i too can sympathise with you all. I am coming off tramadol now with today being the third day and it's been torture! Ended up in the ER the first night, where they thought I was having an anxiety attack. Well I was. I could not sit still, had the restless legs, hot, cold sweats, muscle aches.

Then went to my regular doctor on the second day, only to be told it couldn't be withdrawals from Tramadol because it's not addictive. I wanted so bad to punch him right there. Was given Arthrotec for my osteoarthritis and right now it seems to be doing O.K., but I haven't been back to work yet.

Today is a little easier, but I am very tired, restless and have no energy at all. My husband think I should be over this by now, but its not easy. I didn't have the pills to wean myself off of them, so I am dealing with this day by day.

Hope we all can see clearer in our near future!

Good for you #88! My own daughter, age 25, was able to get off the stuff in two days. I, however, at my more advanced age, have run into difficulty. And this coming from someone who has never taken more than a couple tylenol in my life.

You need to be aware that we all respond to medications differently. As tramadol affects serotonin levels and production by our bodies, the absence of it when withdrawing may create a whole lot of havoc for a while. People who are predisposed to depression may already be producing limited levels of serotonin anyway (serotonin gives you that feeling of well-being), and tramadol gives them what they may have been missing all along. So, there you are! Congratulations on your successful experience getting off the stuff - but don't stand in judgment on those who are struggling. It has taken me several weeks to get relief from night sweats, depression, dry mouth, panicky episodes, feelings of hopelessness. Several weeks may seem like a lifetime to someone in pain.

I do believe that Tramadol should be treated like a narcotic. Keep on keeping on all you out there having problems. Your body will adjust. It's not over yet.

I'm Anon 77865. I posted maybe two weeks ago after coming across this website. I am coming off Tramadol and was about to start the process when I came across this site and wanted to share with you guys my own experience with coming off stuff like Cymbalta and Hydrocodone, and learn from you what to expect with Tramadol.

I'm well into my second week of coming off Tramadol and by the next two weeks I should be clear of it completely - here's hoping! If I have any real trouble I will let you know. However, I'm curious about something - what I had to say (I'm #85 on this list) last time I wrote, no one has yet commented on.

I mentioned that maybe coming off this stuff would 'possibly' not absolutely, be easier than many of you wrote about; maybe it was my way of trying to foster hope among you.

However, I'm beginning to think perhaps at least some of you are suffering just because you have chosen to. Now maybe I'm mistaken; God knows I've been in the past. But like I said last time, we are all different in our physiological make-up, meaning some will have a tough go of getting off this stuff, and some won't, but I just can't seem to get the idea out of my head that some of you are just complaining because it gets you the attention you want or worse, need. That's too bad.

It's going fairly easy for me to come off this stuff, no thanks to the doomsayers among you. But I came across you guys in order to gain a bit of support and hope before I started easing off Tramadol, and what I got was most of you crying 'horrors' about your experience; it scared the hell out of me, but I went ahead anyway, because that's the way I am.

So I ask: What kind of support and hope is that you've given? Once again - for those who are looking for it - I have been coming off Tramadol for two weeks now 'without' any horror stories. Yes I have been 'a bit' uncomfortable. Some of the pain I had as the reason for going on the stuff is kind of creeping back, but within my ability to handle.

In other words, I'm not suffering like some of you have stated that you are. How many out there who have tapped onto this website have had an easier go of coming off this stuff than 98 percent of you said you had?

So this doesn't sound like the next plague is on the world population! Yes the drug companies should all be first hung then laid out to dry-up and die in hell, but what about hope? We are the ones who can give that.

Come on you guys, give up some of that hope for the rest of us who are trying apparently as hard as you. Give it up!

Not all of you are dying because of this stuff. So write here about it like I have. I'm coming off Tramadol and it hasn't been a horror movie.

Good luck - or might I say God bless you anon77533. My heart is heavy for you so I'm putting you on my prayer list. I pray for all of us but for some reason you probably remind me of my kids. anon77533 is one of them now.

You're all quite amazing people; I think you're all great! I don't know how you got yourselves into the messes you've written about, but it may be that I did the same thing.

I'm going to try some of the suggestions many of you have provided about easing-off Tramadol. I sense I will achieve my goals within about a month - according to your experiences; however, what seeped back into my consciousness while I was reading your notes is that I was on Cymbalta for awhile when I read about the "horrors" of coming off of it. So I decided that instead of suffering later I would go through it sooner and be over it and on with my life.

Well, guess what? - it was no biggie: no pain, trauma or suffering. I just came off it without it bothering me one bit. So since we are all different people with different physical problems, needs, etc.

I don't know what coming off this stuff will do for me, but here goes! I'm going to start tonight by cutting down by one pill (50 mg) before bedtime.

Another thing: I am also on hydrocodone (1/2, three times a day), and so maybe being on hydrocodone may have mitigated my withdrawal from Cymbalta, and hopefully from Tramadol too.

Then all I have to look forward to is the hydrocodone - lots of luck! I'll keep you guys posted on my journey. M

Yup, same old story. Got pain in my hip and the doctor said don't worry, it's not addictive! I told him after running out of my medicine, I felt pretty crappy and he said it was probably the Soma I was taking with it.

I really thought I found a doctor who knew what he was doing but the way I feel right now, (it's only been 22 hours) If I felt I could drive, I'd visit him at home and roll around on his front lawn!

Oh, and keep god off this medical post - last time I checked religion is a narcotic for the oppressed and all I've seen lately is a lot of war, civil unrest, maniacal behavior, etc. from you religious fanatics! sign me: free at last atheist!

I am so glad (in a way) that I am not alone. Every doctor I have spoken to said that Tramadol is not addictive and it does not cause withdrawal symptoms. I actually attempted to get into a rehab but was denied because "Tramadol is a non-addictive drug." Bull!

I started taking Percocets 10mg for back pain in July 2003 due to a car accident and DDD. It got so bad that I was being prescribed 280 pills a month that I would take in two weeks.

I finally got off those by switching to Tramadol. My doctor said that he would prescribe me all the Tramadol I wanted so I wouldn't go back to the Perks.

It's been about three years now on the Tramadol and I can't quit. One day off of them and I can't sleep, I twitch and have muscle spasms all night and I get extremely dizzy. I've heard that it is easier to quit the heavy narcotics than quiting Tramadol.

I was also told, but I don't condone it, that smoking marijuana will help with all the withdrawal symptoms except for the diarrhea. I assume you have to get some really potent stuff for it to work.

What gets me though is that the doctors don't allow patients to stay on Tramadol. I've been told that I need to have surgery done on my lower back. I'm only 38 years old and do not want surgery. I'd rather take the pills.

The only reason I have attempted to quit Tramadol is because it sucks to be caught in between refills or having a doctor that stops prescribing for no reason whatsoever. Especially after he tells me he will give me all the Tramadol I want as long as I don't go back to the heavy narcotics like the perks.

I was taking four Tramadols three to four times a day. I recently ran low and forced myself to save what I had for the evening so I could sleep. I was successful. So now I know I can go all day without it and only take it at night to sleep. I can live with that.

Hopefully within time, my levels will have dropped enough to where I can sleep when I stop them for good. Lack of sleep is the big issue because I cannot function at work after a night of no sleep on top of withdrawal symptoms.

Oh yeah-- be careful not to overdose on sleeping meds. I did and ended up in the ER. Not from Tramadol over-dose but sleeping pill overdose. That was not fun!

Good luck and may God bless us and see us all through this self inflicted suffering. I wish someone would have told me not to start taking pills for pain. But what can we do?

Way to go # 80!

I am going through tramadol withdrawal right now! However, it's only day two! Before that I was on vicodin for years and then somehow I got on Tramadol instead. Genetic back disorder (only two years old and told I have the back of a 60 year old) I am so lost!

I tried the gradual way but I could talk myself into more and justified everything to myself. Now, I am at rock bottom! I have a one year old son I know I have to be there for but, this is really, really, really hard!

Anyone have similar stories that can help at all? Just really lost right now!

It occurred to me just now that Tramadol influences the production of serotonin in your body chemistry. Probably shuts it down in some - increases it in others. Serotonin is produced in your own body to deal with depression, digestion, nervous central activities, etc., and some of us have low levels of it.

I didn't and was quite happy without tramadol, but took it for pain. Anyway, I just looked online to see the connection between tramadol and serotonin - and - Whammo! There it is. You are interfering with your own production while taking it. When you wean yourself off, you need to let your body adjust.

Sometimes, after long-time use, we develop a condition called Serotonin Syndrome. However, with the appropriate help, sometimes medically, other times waiting, prognosis is always good. This is good news for us. We got the help when we needed it; now it's time to let our bodies get back to what they are prepared to do.

Pray, wait, trust God, do things to keep your mind occupied, pray, wait, don't watch the news too much, watch an inspiring movie, - give your body a help hand by controlling your thoughts.

I won't say good luck because I don't believe in luck. I'll just say - may God bless you in your endeavor.

Well that's the thing. I have read several things on here and I'm withdrawing from loritab. this is day six and i have a whole bottle of tramadol and i was going to take them but i saw where people have had problems with them so i flushed all of them.

The doctors write us this stuff then, when months go on and we need more, they don't call back or do anything about it but yet they are the ones who put us on these things.

i really just don't understand. Everyone keeps trying to quit, and they say don't do it cold turkey but i am and i was taking up to nine perks or loritabs a day and I'm making it. It's been hard but remember:you can do it! jennI

I've been reading today's posts after posting my own reaction to tramadol withdrawal yesterday, and want to offer support to all you other sufferers that you will and can get through this thing.

I've been on tramadol for several months, starting with a back problem that was compounded later by a shoulder problem. I was on hydrocodone for a while and loritab for a while (after surgery) - the tramadol filled in the gaps when the narcotics were enough.

I felt safe with tramadol because I was told it was not addictive. Well, it certainly doesn't give you the buzz that a narcotic does - but the subtle effect on you does create a problem when you try to get off it.

Side effects aren't that pleasant either (constipation, etc.) Anyway, today is my third day off and I'm feeling better already. The drug was recommended by my 26 year old daughter who was taking it for back pain also.

She told me yesterday to 1) not do cold turkey, and 2) remember that after a couple days the hellishness will be diminished or gone. For you gals out there, she said it is like PMS: "You know it will hit once a month but you know it will be over."

One more thing I notice in these postings is that of suggesting faith in God. I've always had a relationship with Christ and He has always seen me through crap. He takes our finite, earth-bound experiences and covers them with His infinite ability to solve the problems.

I encourage you to ask Him for help with a humble attitude and give it a try. It works. I promise.

I can not believe this site. I really thought I was going crazy until stumbling upon this site.

I have been taking six to eight 50mg pills for about a year now. I was on some heavy narcs after a car accident and was put on these after I quit the narcs and thought I was doing so much better. I was for a while there.

They really did help with the pain but also felt like I was living in a fog. My five and eight year old girls can not understand why mommy doesn't ever want to do anything.

I quit the pills due to running out of medication and my doctor taking a week to call me back. I had a feeling I needed to get off them, which is why I did not pursue calling and reminding them to refill my script.

The doctors that I have seen have all said the same thing "you cannot have withdrawals from these". Well, we are all living proof that you can!

I am so thankful for finding this site and now have hope that I am not going crazy. I am not alone.

I am now at day eight and want to know, can I ever expect to sleep again?

I've been taking tramadol for a few months for a bulging disk in my back and then needed it for rotator cuff surgery. I liked it better than hydrocodone or vicodin and felt safe because tramadol is supposed to be a non-narcotic.

The side effects of this drug are subtle, however, and because I've not had surgery on my shoulder, I elected to get off this drug. Today is my second day without and I had been taking six to eight 50 mg pills per day.

My biggest complaint right now is depression. Someone here mentioned sneezing - I can't imagine why - but just today I've been sneezing all day long. Go figure. I also get dry mouth often.

But - cold turkey though this is - I'm going to push through and trust the Lord with His strength to do that. I encourage all you out there in this same situation to do that also.

I haven't experienced half of what I've read here - and I can only give glory to God for helping me. Perhaps I'm not as sensitive to it as others.

Quick story: my husband was having some health issues and while having a panic attack of sorts I slipped him a tramadol. Thus begin his own need for tramadol and he was prescribed his own cache. But he is more sensitive and within a month, two a day wasn't enough.

As he didn't like the idea of taking drugs anyway, he struggled through withdrawal. After only being on it for about a month - he was hell to live with for quite some time. He'd never experienced depression before and I worried about putting him in a hospital.

Advice to you: if you're on it, get help to get off it. If you don't need it - don't start. God bless.

Well it looks likes you all are experiencing some pretty serious issues trying to kick the tramadol habit. Let's just say that I actually needed them. I have had 14 ( yes 14 ) operations on my hands and two on my feet for complications of diabetes.

I was a perfectly healthy paramedic two years ago and never had any addiction problems. I am 46 years old and live in Arizona. Heck, I did not even take aspirin for a headache.

I am heavily addicted to this medication and when I stop taking it I have chest pain and severe shortness of breath and of course the pain in my hands returns (hand pain from surgery is very real). They repaired two carpal tunnels and 10 trigger fingers which is when the tendons swell so bad you cannot make a fist or have any mobility in your hands.

It looks like a hospital stay is in my future but it's OK. If you need this medication, take it. If you are a recreational user get off it now! I have decided that the pain I suffer from the 14 operations is better then the damage a foreign substance will do over time to your body.

Stay strong because life is really worth it. Addiction is for the Birds !

Wow, thank you all so much for your comments. They confirmed what I read on another site.

I'm in my 30's and have some autoimmune diseases and was prescribed tramadol last month for severe joint pain. Same deal - doctors and pharmacists all insisted it's not addictive. I'm going to stick with the excessive Aleve, Advil, gentle exercise, not eating certain foods, etc., rather than risk this medicine for now. I've got a one month's supply and six months worth of refills(!)

I've taped up my bottle and hidden it at the bottom of a box in my house and pray I never use it. Debating a safe way to get rid of this stuff.

The real problem is not knowing the real reason for depending on tramadol or any other drug or thing is us trying to find and feel the void in our hearts of being separated from our true source of strength, joy,peace and contentment which will never be found in things but through the Lord Jesus

and Him paying the price that we (mankind owed). Glory to His name. Amen!

I am very scared. I started taking Tramadol about three years ago for end-stage arthritic knees. I was discouraged from using over-the-counter Tylenol, Advil, Aleve because of liver toxicity as I am on Methotrexate for polymyositis.

The few times I have been without it between refills, I have felt many of the withdrawal symptoms mentioned, mostly restlessness and inability to sleep longer than an hour and then only due to extreme fatigue.

I don't seem to feel the effects of them, but boy, without them I know. My rheumatologist also assured me that it is the lesser of evils as it is "non-addictive".

I am really scared. I have a full time job and after nights like I have without it, I am unfit for work the next day. I had one tramadol a few nights ago and my son stopped by at 2 a.m. to bring me two more because I could not sleep and was panic stricken.

Many people I know take Tramadol, as a benign drug and so it is always easy to round up a few between prescriptions. I am prescribed two pills two times a day, but take three two times a day.

I have tried cutting back the day time dose and I am fine without it even, but the nighttime dose is almost impossible to go without.

I am really scared.

I've read a lot of the comments and did suffer from the same but I found the real answer for complete and total contentment, peace happiness and joy and it's not in a drug. It's in the Lord Jesus and Him shedding his innocent blood for you.

You can try all the withdrawal treatments you want but the real problem is not the tramadol alone, it's being separated from the One who created you and me (whether you believe it or not it still does not change the fact that it's true) and I found that and now I have a peace that no drug can bring or money or fame or thing whatever it may be.

So to sum it up, what you, me and every other human being is missing is a relationship with our Lord and our God (and the only way to God is through His Son)!

I have been on tramadol and vicodin for four years Quit both cold turkey and it was the worst thing I have been through. When my pain returned I chose the tramadol to ease my pain. I now desire to get off of it again.

I tried the taper down method and I think I went to fast for my withdraws were worse than the vicodin and tramadol mix. So I will try again. I am going seven days with one pill in the morning and one in afternoon.

Then one in morning 1/2 in afternoon for seven days then 1/2 and 1/2 for seven days. Then 1/2 seven days.

I pray that works. I can't take the withdrawals; they tear me up. It was nice to find this site to know that other are going through the same thing.

I will pray for you all. I am a former meth, cocaine, and alcohol addict. Tramadol has been the hardest drug to come off of.

I have only been taking tramadol for about a month. Prescribed 50 mg twice a day. Most times taking just once a day. I stopped taking it, thinking nothing of it. After a week, suddenly I started feeling dizzy. The dizziness continued to worsen, came the nausea.

It's been a week and a half and I have never dealt with such dizziness in my life. The nausea is worse. The mix of the two is so awful today I decided to do research which brought me to this site.

Judging from how I feel and seeing the high doses others take and for how long, I am scared for you people when getting off. I wish I would have tapered off slowly. I urge all others to do so, the more gradual the better.

Don't dream about getting off cold turkey. The way I feel after such low doses, I hate to think about what it would be like for those of you on high doses. If I were you I would taper down just a little for an entire week at a time so in the end you can ease right out of it. Best of luck.

I can't stress how much these posts have helped! I have been a nightmare to live with the last five days.

I have never been a hard person to deal with or prone to depression, but as hard as I've tried to overcome those emotions, it is beyond my control. I cold turkey quit as well, and for the first three days, family and friends thought I had the flu or an allergic reaction to a bite or sting. Serious restless leg syndrome and twitching, extreme upset stomach, nausea and the constant battle between the cold chills and sweats. The insomnia was the worst!

I had only been taking it for two months for a torn rotator cuff tendon. After three days of the "withdrawal" I looked online to see if by chance it was from the tramadol, and found this site and a few others. The real giveaway was the sneezing fits I had.

I called my doc and she too said she'd been prescribing this for 15 years and never had anyone complain of withdrawal symptoms. She told me to go back on them and taper off, so I took one and it was like a miracle, how quickly I felt better.

But I am trying now to take one every other day (down from 6 - 8 a day) and get maybe five hours of sleep tops a night. Ambien doesn't work either.

This drug is awful! Good luck to everyone and many thanks for sharing your stories. Definitely has helped me know I'm not alone.

Well, I am going to the doctor today to talk about coming off of tramadol. I have been taking tramadol for 1.5 years, between six and eight pills per day.

I admit that I quickly became dependent on the drug and when my doctor suddenly lowered my dose, I was a mess. All I thought about was how to find more tramadol. Still, all I think about is having enough just to make it through a day.

I remember when I knew nothing of the drug, and I functioned just fine, and I want to be that person again. I called to refill my prescription this week and I was told it was denied and I needed to make an appointment. So I have prepared myself to come off of the drug.

I have written down several of the methods here i.e., tapering methods and cold turkey methods. I really don't want to go cold turkey but will if I must.

I really hope the doctor I see today is open minded and understanding about the suffering of the withdrawal and will give me something (valium, clonidine) to help.

I have gone through withdrawals in the past (before my next refill) and they are not pleasant at all. I get the worst anxiety attacks and restless legs.

I don't want to take tramadol anymore, because I don't want to have to withdrawal again. Hopefully this will be the last time.

Please pray for me and cross your fingers the doctor is understanding. And, best of luck to everyone else dealing with this terrible drug. I Wish I had never been prescribed it to begin with!

i won't lie. i was taking tramadol just to be taking them. I'm not heavily into them but can relate to how they make people feel. i was only taking them to get high, but after seeing how they affect people i was easily convinced not to get addicted to them.

it feels good in the beginning but you will have a rude awakening. people, if you can, get off now! You will realize that you were better off without them. You will save a bunch of money too. Good luck to everyone. Remember, they're not worth it.

I am deeply grateful to find this site. Today I considered suicide. Have been trying to reduce tramadol for two weeks. I only take four 50mg a day, max. Yesterday I was down to one. Today none.

I lasted till the evening then took one as I seriously contemplated taking the diazepam I have hidden away. Then I found this site.

I think the worst thing is feeling so alone with the pain anxiety and hopelessness. Sleep deprivation has been bad for me too. I had not realized how addictive these tabs were. I cannot thank you all enough for sharing your pains and hopes. It makes me feel connected to humankind again.

I have a sleeper for tonight and tomorrow I will try the cold turkey again. Pray for me - just as I pray for all of you out there with your strengths and courage to be clean again. A monstrous drug is this.

I take three 50mg in the a.m., three in the afternoon around, 3 p.m. and another three when I turn in at night. I take them for severe back pain.

I am an RN and my years as a nurse have been worse on my back than anything I can imagine. I bend over and can only raise back up with severe pain. I requested tramadol for pain when my doctor wanted to give me tylox after viewing my MRI.

The tramadol wasn't even on lock down where I worked as a nursing supervisor. I read up on it and refreshed my knowledge base on the stronger narcotics. Surgery was considered too risky for me and it was either live in constant pain, risk paralysis with surgery or start at the bottom of the drug chain and slowly work my way up. That was three years ago.

I started with 50 mg twice a day. I'm now at nine a day. When I first started on them I wasn't taking enough to get the high from them -- even as a nurse I didn't know you could get a high from them. I had never heard of it, none of my co-workers had either.

When I went from 50 mg to 100mg I felt the slight buzz which concerned me but within a few days the buzz was either gone or had become part of psych but they allowed me to work, which my doctors said I could get 100 percent disability on my back.

I'm still working and I haven't felt the high since, even when I went from 100mg to 150mg. I know my next step is the harder drugs and I don't want to go there.

But recently I went on vacation and forgot my tramadol, oh, it was terrible. I ended up in the ER on my second day the pain in my back was so bad. I had all of the withdrawal symptoms you have read about here, I lived in the bathroom, either one end or another squirting in the commode, no sleep, my legs and elbows was in agony, but my back, I could barely breathe.

They did another MRI at the ER I went to and shot me up with morphine after the results came back. Two doctors told me there was no way tramadol could touch my back pain with all of the nerve involvement of scar tissue. They also told me tramadol was not addictive when I said I thought I was suffering withdrawal.

They allowed me to go on back to my hotel with the promise to help me with my ripped up spinal pain when I found the tramadol didn't work. It did work, the withdrawal stopped and I finished the last three days of my vacation in much less pain. I'm not saying tramadol stops the pain entirely, it doesn't. I use it with hot baths, heat pads, meditation, don't over exercise (mine is not muscle pain that exercise can help).

My professional advice as a nurse and my personal advice as an addict is this. Don't try this drug long term, unless like me it's a stepping stone. Pain medication is a band-aid until the problem is fixed.

If you can't be fixed I recommend it as a place to start, better than starting on a hard narcotic. If you can be fixed, don't use it for more than six weeks, and if you feel a high then back up on the dosage and use other things such as hot baths, meditation, etc. and don't rely on a pill for complete relief. Help yourself in other words.

I only have one more up before the doctor says I have to move on, and I'm praying some new treatment comes along, a surgical procedure maybe that won't be so risky that the odds will turn in my favor of being able to walk after. It would be worth going cold turkey for.

To address those trying to go cold turkey on your own, not a great idea. It can send up your blood pressure, slow down or speed up your heart rate to a dangerous point.

Go in and tell your doctor the truth. Let him/her guide you through it. Especially if you have pressure or cardiac problems or even suffer from depression as suicidal thoughts are very high in people coming off any drug. Do not try to go off of it 100 percent at once without seeing the doctor who gave them to you and if they doubt the ability of this drug to make you an addict, send them here where they can hear us.

To #62 this is #51 The reason I stopped taking it was the surgeon said it could heal itself in one to two years. My family doctor suggested going off to see if the pain was there.

Now understand, when I first went to the doctor I couldn't do anything because of the pain. The pills did work but I always worried because I knew that these pills made me feel good. Not just take away the pain but I was happy and I didn't really get in a bad mood.

I don't think I got "high" off of them (I never took more than my dose) but I was aware that it was affecting the way I felt.

I had major concerns about how much sleep I needed. I would sleep for 10 hours get up and an hour later go back to sleep. I really didn't feel like doing anything but sitting around. My husband did all the household chores. I really felt like I wasn't doing anything.

So when the doctors said to stop taking them, I was all for it. Also, I was going to the massage therapist all the time because my neck and shoulders were a mess. It felt like they were in concert.

I never had issues before and now that I have stopped taking them, it has not returned.

For me the pain went from a 10+ to a 1 sometimes a 2. I pray that my body healed itself, because I don't want to go back on those pills again.

I too have been taking Tramadol for about eight months and agree totally with all of the withdrawal symptoms that nearly everyone has posted.

My question is this: I have been taking it for a herniated thoracic disc. It has all but dissolved my pain and gave me back a quality of life I haven't known in years. My understanding of this drug is that it is a long term, moderate to severe pain reliever without the permanent damaging effects of percocet or vicodin.

What I have not seen in the posts is "Why" people are, after years of using this drug, are deciding to come off of it? Maybe I should be posting this question in another forum? Please help!

hi again its #51 (and 57) Well I am now at week five of cold turkey.

My sleep is back (been back for almost a week) Last week I really thought I was going to kill someone, my anger was so bad. It seems to have passed now.

I am still kind of miserable and I get tired easy but really I feel like the worst is over. When I get really tried I still get the restless legs but if I stretch it helps.

I just want to say thank you to all of you. This site helped me so much. Keep sharing your stories. Good luck to you all.

As i am reading all of these posts i feel a bit better about my problem.

I must be a very weak addict because i only take 1 100mg pill a day. I have been taking these pills for a little less than a year. This all started due to back pain.

The first time i took Tramadol it was for recreational purposes. I took three 100mg pills and i felt extremely euphoric. After that i only took one pill a day and it made me feel great. i work in the service industry and customers couldn't get me upset no matter what. The pain was gone and i felt great.

I was getting them from Mexico for a really great price. I have recently moved from southern california so i don't have the resources to get them anymore. They don't make my pain go away and they don't help my mood anymore either.

I have tried to go a day without them and i just haven't been able to do it. For the last week i have only been taking 50mg and tomorrow i will be only taking 25. After that i will be out of pills and facing my days of hell without the pill.

If one pill a day can affect me this much i cannot imagine what you all are going through. Wish me luck on my detox of this horrible pill.

I have been taking Tramadol for about five or six years. It helped a great deal with depression and just made me feel -- better. So I kept taking them, between 6-8 a day. A couple of times I had horrible insomnia where I could not sleep at all, and was very restless, just constant tossing and turning. The third time it happened I realized that this happened each time I had run out of Tramadol, and I was withdrawing.

Earlier last year I decided to taper off and try to quit, and was only taking 1/2 pill before bed each day and while not sleeping great, I was sleeping and otherwise was fine, just tired.

I did this for about five days, which wasn't enough, apparently, because after that for the next 10 or so days there was no sleep - not a problem falling asleep, but an actual physical impossibility to fall asleep.

Reading other people's symptoms I guess I am lucky that this is all I had to deal with but after 10 days or so with no sleep I was about to snap. I could not function, I could not think straight, I could not get anything done. It was like my mind was walking through quicksand, and each evening anticipating trying to sleep and that I would be lying awake for hours each night became a living nightmare.

It was the most miserable experience of my life, and since then have been in fear of it happening again. After the 10th day I got another bottle and sleep returned, and I have been taking them since.

I just got a 90 count bottle and I want this to be my last. I really have no other symptoms if I don't take them, so I can get by with one a day, even. Does anyone have any idea about the best way to go about tapering? Is it even possible to be able to become non-dependent through tapering or is this chronic insomnia something that is going to have to happen no matter how little I take? thanks for any advice.

I am on week three of detoxing from tramadol.I was taking eight 50mg pills a day for four years.

If I can do it, anyone can. Telling my husband helped so much. this message board helped so much too. tramadol is seriously the devil!

I am #51...It has been over 3 weeks now cold turkey..the cold sweats are gone I'm still pretty moody and I can'T sleep more than 4 hours at a time. I still have the restless legs/arms, but that happens when I'm awake too.I am very afraid to take something to sleep because I don't want to "Need" it

I can empathize with everyone here as I too am addicted to Tramadol after being prescribed it for pain as a supposedly non-addictive drug!! My GP was concerned about continuing me on dihydrocodiene as switched me to tramadol. Like the previous poster this drug seemed to me like a miracle drug as I too had depression and it was like a 2 for 1 drug - no pain and no depression + no tolerance issues like the DHC. Anyway my GP stopped my prescription and Arrgggggg the worst withdrawal ever in the end like others I went to the internet to purchase the evil drug. I am now looking to quit (again) and my only advice is that codeine withdrawal is not as unpleasant so what I am going to do is use OTC Solpadeine Max/Nurofen Plus to switch for the first week then cold turkey when the tramadol has been purged. Hopefully this will be easier than my previous cold turkey.

I have good news: you don't have to suffer. I saw my doctor today, after going cold turkey due to side effects that took me there. I'm on day ten. The worst of withdrawals had passed by day seven, but the depression and lack of enthusiasm got the better of me so yesterday i took 1 tramadol.

Today i had a setback and felt worse. It's OK to see a doctor. They are helpful and understand you are suffering. If i had gone for help on day one she said i would have been admitted to hospital for treatment, like the man on this page did and had no suffering, but in my case it's no longer needed and I was prescribed valium to calm me down and to help me sleep for short term relief while needed.

I feel good now. Feeling drowsy isn't my thing but it's far better than the pain of the withdrawals. good luck. there is help. don't feel bad -- you needed tramadol and now you don't, so get help.

Sorry you are suffering right now. I took tramadol 50mg 3x day for two years. this boxing day 09, i came out in a very itchy rash and thought it was the extreme heat we've had, so the doctors gave me prednisolone, a steroid, to heal me, but when i stopped, the rash came back and again.

The rash got worse and covered most of my body and face, and i had to go on steroids for five weeks, but it did nothing. i was house bound for two months couldn't go in the sun or get hot.

All this time it didn't occur to me it could be the tramadol after two years taking it. I looked up side effects on the net as there's no info in the tramadol pack, and sure enough, hives or a red blistering rash is a side effect. I had to stop taking them cold turkey.

I told the doctor about the tram, and she was surprised. She didn't know of the side effects and more surprised when i told her of the dreadful withdrawals. Yes i suffered all what's been said. I never abused them -- only three to four a day at most and it was still very hard cutting them off.

it's day 14 now, and all the worst was gone five days ago. I'm just left with mild depression and no enthusiasm. I have to force myself.

For me it helped withdrawals to take two panadol every four hours to take the edge of the body pain. Any discomfort you can reduce helps.

Also, don't fight against the withdrawal. Go with it. Accept and acknowledge them. You're not getting sick -- you're getting better.

I took a blanket to keep warm, sat in a comfortable chair since sitting felt better than laying down. I read a good book of interest which took my mind off the pain and craving. I took six deep breaths when anxiety came over me.

Stay calm. It will pass. Spoil yourself with chocolate, coffee, etc.-- whatever works for you, it's OK for this week. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Don't be hard on yourself, all the best to you all.

I have been taking tramadol er 100mg 1-2x daily. Second day going through withdrawals and determined to get off of this mess. I am happy I found this website. It helps to know that I am doing the right thing. I don't ever want to touch this or any other pain medicine again!

I've been taking tramadol for 2.5 years now and at first it was heaven sent. I have chronic muscular back pain from breast implants and this drug was my answer.

It seemed to melt my back pain away for almost 1.5 years and then my body got used to it. I went from taking 1 pill three times a day to two pills, three times a day and have been doing so for a year. It almost seems the pain that comes every five hours or so is my body wanting the medicine and not my back itself. I am now on day four of quitting cold turkey. The only word I can say right now is "Uncomfortable" and that's definitely how I feel.

Trouble sleeping but am getting some sleep, tired, weak, upset stomach, but I am pushing through. I hope to re-evaluate my back pain when this medicine is out of my body.

Please know that this medicine is addictive. Fortunately, I have always been able to stop something if I wanted but I know that is not the case for a lot of other people. Please be careful taking this stuff. It has somewhat overtaken my life for the last couple of years.

I have been taken Tramadol for under a year, 200mg per day (1 pill, slow release) for a bulging disk.

I have had horrible headache, neck and upper shoulder muscle stiffness since I started these pills. I decided the side effects weren't worth it. I am on day four of cold turkey. Can't sleep more than four hours at a time, chills, night sweats, restless legs and arms, coughing/sneezing and irritability.

Does anyone know how long these side effects last? Is there anything (non drug) that I can do to help get this crap out of my system?

I first started taking Tramadol for knee pain due to an old football injury. They immediately started to make me feel very alive, confident and full of the joys of spring. I was chatty and could empathize with people and had a feeling of great satisfaction to myself.

To someone who had always suffered bouts of mild depression, this was a godsend and I thought I had found the elixir of life. I came to despise myself for continuing to use this drug, though, because my wife said my personality had changed. Of course, I couldn’t see this because I was so cocooned from reality in my cozy little world.

I decided to come off them and that's when the horrors started. I thought my mind was bumping along the bottom of hell. The deep depression, morbid negative thoughts, no enthusiasm for anything, strange nightmares, insomnia, and all the other physical symptoms mentioned in these posts; I took a journey to all the places humans should not go.

It took five days for the worst to pass and that was on a fluctuating dose of 4 x 50 and 6 x 50 over five years as an abusive user buying off the internet.

The first thing that hit me when off the Tramadol was a clear head in the morning. I have also had to get to know myself again, as the emotions come thick and fast due to having to deal with them again after such a long time. I do miss the high from Tramadol and that’s why it’s such a dangerous drug. They say heroin loses its high after a while and people continue to take it just to stay normal. I did not find this with Tramadol; it always got me where I wanted to be. In the final analysis, I have to say I prefer to be drug free as we were meant to be. I still crave the high from Tramadol at times but have learned to live without it and it's nice to have an interest in women again.

I would advise anyone offered it by a GP to politely decline the offer. This advice might not suit everyone but I would also recommend going cold turkey; that way you come away with a real aversion that will make you think twice about ever going back on it.

Sorry if this post has been a bit of a rant, but Tramadol is a pet hate of mine. Steve, Lincoln. UK

I am down to three a day. I have had my prescription run out and be without for a

two days. Not good. Restless leg does not describe the movement in my legs. Insomnia, body ants, no brain, are the other symptoms.

I've got to get off these pills. I take two in the am and one at night. Next move is one pill twice a day.

If I get to one at night I will wait till vacation to lose the last pill. Good luck to you all. It really is addiction and it really is tough.

I am 24 years old and mother to three children. I live a very stressful live and although I do experience pain from an old injury, I started abusing tramadol within the past two months.

This past weekend I had my two year old daughter in the car with me and I had what we think was a seizure and I ran off a bridge. We both are thankfully okay.

Now I have to confess to my family and doctor what has been going on so I can get help. Good luck to everyone.

I took ultram (tramadol) for nine years. For seven years I was taking 12-15 per day, and the last three years I went up to about 20-24 per day. I took my last tramadol exactly 52 days ago. I quit cold turkey.

It was pretty tough for the first 72-96 hours. After day four it eased up a little. The sleep was tough the first six or seven days. I felt a little sluggish for that first week, but quite a bit better the next week. By the third week off I felt fine.

Let me tell you people that the fear of withdrawal is far worse than the reality. It is not as bad as people would have you believe. It's not fun, but it isn't that bad. All of us have had a bad flu for three to five days. It's like that. You can do it. Just be strong.

Eat well, get rest, drink water, try to sweat and exercise and by day five or six you will start feeling human again.

Believe me -- the fear is worse than the reality. I postponed stopping forever because of the crap I read on bulletin boards like this. Have faith, you can do it!

This is terrible and great news at the same time. I've been on Tramadol for about a year, 300mg CR. I too thought it was great. I lost weight, had more energy, my pain was in check, but I had no idea what I would go through when I stopped taking it.

It's been three days now, cold turkey, because my comp carrier wouldn't refill my prescription on time. At first I thought I had the flu. But after speaking with my brother he just mentioned I might want to look into the withdrawal thing and I think he's right!

This is awful! I'm cold, but sweaty, I have a terrible headache, my legs are tingling, runny nose, can't eat anything -- ugh! I'm never going to take it again. I called my doctor to see if they can help the symptoms. I hope it doesn't last too long.

I have been on pain pills for years for back pain. Truth is, I could have gotten along just fine with tylenol and ibuprofen. I love to smoke pot, but with random drug tests (I am a nurse), I couldn't risk the test.

I got my doctor to prescribe me extra strength vicodin, and to my delight he would write for six months at a time (what a pal). I knew the risks but blindly followed onward. Over the years I began to experience such a feeling of criminalization because of my vicodin use. Pharmacists would stare me down, pain docs would pee test me like I was a real druggie (hmmm! think they know something about addicts).

I wanted off of vicodin so bad, so I switched to tramadol and sure enough I didn't withdraw from vicodin, but now am addicted to tramadol. I am currently preparing to taper down and quit.

Like others, when it comes to sex, I am dead in the water, bummer! I am optimistic that the tapering off will work. I have started taking SAM-e, a supplement that supposedly works for the depression associated with withdrawal. Maybe I will post an update as I progress. Good luck to everyone wanting to get off this stuff.

My 17-year old daughter was prescribed Tramadol after back surgery. She had been taking narcotics (oxycontin, norco, valium) as well as Lyrica. She also takes antidepressants.

We were told it wasn't addictive, not a narcotic, etc. She switched to prescription-strength ibuprofen, and stopped the tramadol abruptly. She had been taking 12 x 50mg tablets/day!

She experienced severe withdrawal symptoms immediately. Miserable for five days. Returned to the doctor who said there was no way this was tramadol withdrawal since the drug isn't addictive!

He suggested she start taking it again for the pain, but she doesn't need it for pain, she just needs it. Now I'm giving her 1/2 a tablet, 3-4 times a day, just to keep the withdrawal symptoms tamed, so she can go to school. She never should have been prescribed it, especially since she takes an antidepressant, and has prescriptions for Ambien and Valium.

I've made reports to the FDA and to Ortho-McNeil, the manufacturer. Everyone should, as there is now a movement underway to get this drug classified as a controlled substance.

i took tramadol long time ago while i was a child. You can't get it without a prescription but it is found on the black market. it is more expensive but available. i took a lot every day, sometimes i had 1000mg and 1500mg a day.

what i found here is a lot of asking and no one could answer how we could get rid of it.

i will tell you how from my experience through this damn drug: you have to narrow down your dose to feel less withdrawal. Make yourself reach the 50 mg a day by reducing your dose by half every day.

if you are taking ex 600mg, take the next day 400 and next day 200 and next 100 for two days and then 50 for three days after that stop for one day and then take another 50mg. You will feel it take effect and stop another one day. and take 25 mg for two days and stop a day and take 25mg and stop a day and take 25mg and then you could stop it without bad withdrawal effects.

To everyone on this forum: I have been addicted to pain medication for 4-5 years now, but not like this Tramadol. I took Tramadol, prescribed by my doctor, for 4-5 months. I have now been sober for 40 days and man do I feel great.

I started off by taking more than I was supposed to and ended up just buying of the internet and taking way more than I was supposed to (approximately 20-30) per day. I had four seizures while taking this stuff. It is no joke. Very addictive and dangerous, and readily available.

If you are currently taking this medication for recreational reasons (to get high) stop. It took me about three or four days of withdrawals to start feeling good again, but by one week I felt normal again and man did it feel good. I couldn't quit by myself though. My family and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ helped me the whole way.

I made a vow to never touch another pain pill ever (unless absolutely necessary).

Please, stop taking this stuff if you are hooked. It really is not that hard. It is more of a mental addiction than a physical (like opiates). Find something that keeps you busy. I listened to my I-pod a lot and ran. Good luck! Remember prayer and family when quitting. That is what is important.

This is day two for me off of tramadol. i feel sad, i have crying spells and have ordered more. They should be here in four days but I'm scared to death to continue to take them. My surroundings now off of them feel so different

I kind of get these bad thoughts like something bad might happen. I don't want to continue but they make me happy and give me energy. I don't know what to do. I'm so scared. any thoughts for me? thanks

Just finished reading the posts and have had my wife also read them to be aware of what potentially lies ahead. I am a 55 year old male.

I have had one experience with quitting vicodin/lortab cold turkey. Initially I had neck issues in '06 and then low back in '08. No surgery but opting for less invasive procedure. Several neck injections (good) and later back injections without very noticeable results. I have also had a fibromyalgia diagnosis since 1995 (auto accident).

I live with pills. Cymbalta for fibro and depression that accompanies, Celebrex to suppress inflammation, Tizanidine for muscle relaxer at nighttime, Clonazepam in small dose to sleep. After my experience with the opiates I was prescribed tramadol for pain.

I have been taking tramadol for about 18 months, 3-6 50 mg tabs as needed for pain whether fibro or my degenerative spine. I also developed migraines and have been taking triptans for those episodes which tend to be related to neck issues and tension h/a progression.

I had also been told tramadol was not addictive but realized fairly early that if neglected I would have hot flashes (to match my wife) and a runny nose, some nausea and h/a.

Right now, thanks to you kind people, I plan to follow basically the plan/schedule laid out by Anon 51862. I see sound logic in that post. Thanks. I am already able to live with 3-4 tabs a day so I may be ahead of the program. If you see similar RX in your own regimen, beware of the serious interactions of tramadol with meds such as mine.

I have experienced extreme fatigue midday to the point that if I sat down, I was out for hours. Not a restful sleep either. No such thing as a power nap. Also issues with possible seizures and more.

Driving while being overtaken by fatigue is perhaps the worse experience. Pulling over for a few minutes of shut eye and then waking up three hours later in a fog almost undid me. Please be careful with your meds. Seek help, counseling, family and your god. you are all in my prayers.

to number 34, I believe the cough is a part of the withdrawal. I have had the same thing happen also developed quite a runny nose for the first several days. I think it dries everything up while you are taking it and then when you stop things start to work normally again. This medication is a lot more addictive than doctors realize.

I started taking Tramadol for post strep arthritis. Been on it for two months (4 pills a day 200mg total). I had no idea how bad this medicine can be for you. Once I researched it and saw all these posts I understood why I felt like I had the flu as I was tapering off.

Funny part is my doctor actually says this med is not addictive and I have six refills on this if I wanted to use them. I called about the tapering because I lost my schedule and the nurse said the dr. said to just slowly start taking less, but I am three weeks in, and have severe headaches, nausea, restless leg pain, insomnia all day every day.

I am now down to one pill a day but the headaches just kill me. I do take ambien at night to sleep, which helps but with this restless leg feeling I wake up with at night the last three nights.

I called my doctor today to see if there is something she can give me to help get through another week *hoping* that is all it takes.

It would be so easy to just take the meds and feel better but I don't want to be on anything that makes you feel like this when you want to stop taking it. FYI: Don't drink while on this medicine. I had only a small amount of wine and champagne and felt like I couldn't breathe, heavy chest. Very scary feeling.

Good luck to all of you, be strong. The withdrawals suck, but stick to it and get off this medicine!

I have been taking tramadol for three years for feet pain. I take one or two 50mg a day only on the days I work (cashier) not on vacations or any time off work. But I noticed lately that the first day I don't take one I cough a lot. Is that withdrawals?

i have taken tramadol for seven years. i take three to four 50 mg a day. recently i decided to have cosmetic surgery, and i told the doctor what i was taking and all he said was just stop taking it a week before surgery.

i feel like the biggest jerk. i was told that tramadol was non-addictive. i should have looked into it more, but i was happy it took my pain away from fibromyalgia. i am a mess on day two cold turkey. i don't know what to do. hope i survive.

I have started the tapering off. I went from five a day to three. I have stayed here for two weeks. I know it's slow but I don't want to suffer. It took me years to get here, so what if it takes a while to quit. You all have me terrified!

I will be so much more careful about medication in the future. For now I'm taking ambien for sleep. That is my next project.

I have arthritis of the spine. Was prescribed Tramadol for nerve pain. Nurofen plus, diclofenac, nothing else worked. Tramadol did, but I became immediately hooked. Had a bad time the last year or so, and noticed how it helped with my anxiety. Never took too many, most I ever had was 6x50mg in one day usually less. Been on them for about four months.

But I suspected they were giving me a lot of rebound pain so looked it up online, (gp told me they were fine to take as needed, bless her). I just want to thank everyone who has shared their story.

I am on day two of Tramadol withdrawal and I feel awful, only typing this because I took two nurofen plus, before that I was crying and feeling panicky (emergency essence helped with that) had tremors, bone pain and restless leg, also sneezing a lot and needing my inhaler more than usual. I can't imagine trying to do this further down the road. Thank you for sparing me that.

By the way, I also found I began to feel very blank, went away and did not miss my kids, can't orgasm, final straw!

Has anyone tried nortriptyline 50 mg to deal with the restless leg syndrome type symptoms associated with withdrawal, and if so, did it help or make things worse?

This is for number 10. I'm a woman so I didn't have the exact problem, but after taking tramadol for a week after a surgery I could not have an orgasm even though it was never a problem before. I wish you luck. am awake right now at 1 a.m. because I can't think because of the leg tremors. I pray this is over soon.

My god, I don't know how anyone could take more than 5 1/2 tabs of 50mg tramadol at a time? if I took six 50mg pills I would be sitting at home talking to the EMTs after having a grand mal seizure. Wouldn't even know who I was or where I was.

I am now down to 3/4 of a 50mg pill 3x daily. So doing much better. But If I drop even a quarter of a pill I get really dizzy! It lasts for about a month like when I quit Paxil.

If I drop too fast I get all the pain and flu symptoms, restless legs, etc. I can also say that I was taking Vicodin 2 pills 4x daily and it was a breeze going cold turkey compared to Tramadol.

Day two for me.

Interesting to read I'm not alone. This devil has me hooked but my symptoms are somewhat strange.

I was on 10x50mg a day trying to cut it down or just going cold turkey I found i had nightmares, always sleepy and yes, sleeping, feeling hot/cold, depression, inability to be my usual active self,constant yawning, runny nose and wet dreams linked to my dreams at night.

I'm going to do this. Once and for all I'm going to beat this demon drug. We can do it!

I am currently on day 15 of cold turkey. I was taking up to 2000 mg per day for the last few years. The first few days were pain, sweats, restless legs sleeplessness and depression. Now I'm just stuck on depression and insomnia. I just pray for sleep.

Things that help: wrap legs with heat; apply anti inflammatory gels to legs; exercise the first few minutes (You will feel like you are going to die but you will be thankful you did it); get a massage; stretch your legs before bed; don't be alone; plan your day hour by hour.

Remember, there are people a lot worse off than you are in the world.

It is hard to get off these evil pills but I did it with only one night of suffering. I was taking 15 pills a day. I did it by reducing them by one pill every two days then one a day for about three days. You can do it!

I have been on Tramadol and the same dosage for seven years (50 mg every six hours) for herniated disk and arthritis pain.

I need a knee replacement and went to the doctor because my pain was worsening and I was needing another dose of medication. Instead, he wanted me to start cutting my dosage down before surgery to half of what I am taking and start weaning off this drug.

My arthritis doctor initially prescribed this drug and my orthopedic doctor said I need to get off it before surgery. He obviously knew something I didn't.

I am having a terrible time with the anxiety, nervous legs at night and inability to sleep. In spite of that, I have had less pain and a better sense of well-being. I was not aware that there was a type of anti-depressant in the tramadol and wondered why I have had such a low feeling since I really didn't have anything to feel depressed about. I believe that it was just my reaction to the drug.

I am cutting back the dosage slowly as I have read about, and the biggest problem is not being able to sleep. I am down to two doses a day but I think I am going to have to call the doctor about getting something to help me sleep.

I never realized how badly this drug affected me. I can't wait to be completely off of it.

I have been taking from 5 to 10 of 50mg pills for over four months. I am an addict and told my doctor I was in recovery and she went ahead and prescribed the meds for back pain.

I've only been a few days without the meds as I am now getting them through the internet!

I want to get off, but even one day and I get such a weird mental fogginess and it reminds me of when I got off of SSRIs.

Anyone have this feeling? I need help!

I am on day seven of cold turkey withdrawal. I was taking 20 50mg tabs every 4-6 hours. Will the sleepless nights and feelings of sheer exhaustion go away? Oh and my stomach is a mess! If I do eat I am in the bathroom all day. The hunger is there but the punishment for eating is brutal. Nice to know that I am not alone. Never taking this crap again!

I am so relieved to find I am not losing it!

I am not one to go looking on the web, but I was driven to it after a weekend of no sleep and the most awful, what I can only describe as, static shock episodes all over constantly, flu-like symptoms and white hot flushes followed by freezing skin alternatively. Lovely.

I have just related all this to the doctor who has given me massive doses of antibiotics for the "cold"- hence I am here hoping for intelligent info. I cut down slowly, I thought. It was only when I reached the last half 50mg doses I hit the no sleeping zone! I've had three kids in three years -- I should be able to do no sleep but this is something else! Any advice/ideas?

best thing that worked for me was weaning down a half a pill a week, until i was at a half pill. i then obtained 5 suboxone pills and quartered them for a week. i am on day four of withdrawal and it's still gnarly. high anxiety.

i have using stupid tramadol for nearly three years, and for the last four months, my dosage was 12x100mg! Yeah, it's hard to believe. i have stopped it for four days till now. i can't tell you the pain-- it's horrible, and you know what I mean.

I'm student not in my hometown. I just stopped it. i don't know whether to continue it, or follow the other remedy you guys said.

I think it's better to stop it,and warm yourself as much as you can.

My problem is i am alone,and this is my difficulty. before withdrawal it's better to be prepared for it.

but you know, it's an addiction, and we don't like for others to know about our addiction.

sorry for my language.

I have been on Tramadol for over five years after a failed attempt to surgically correct a lower back problem. My physician has written me the prescriptions all this time.

I've never abused it, but my body is completely addicted to it. It never occurred to me that I could get addicted, since my doctor specifically told me when he wrote the initial prescription that this drug was "non-narcotic, and not addictive like Vicodin and Percocet." Either he lied, or he didn't know what he was talking about.

Anyway, I've recently decided I can't live the rest of my life depending on any drug, even if it keeps me from hurting. Going cold turkey, withdrawals from Ultram are horrendous. I'm sure it's not the same for everyone, but for me, I have skin hypersensitivity (every fabric touching my skin feels like fiberglass or 100 percent wool, no matter how soft it is), horrible joint aches, muscles spasms, restless leg syndrome, insomnia, alternating clamminess and hot flashes, mental confusion, irritability, horrible stomach pain and diarrhea, anxiety, crying... it's just terrible.

I've decided to taper down my doses by a few mgs at a time instead of going cold turkey. After going two full days without the Ultram, I was seriously contemplating suicide. That was scary enough to convince me that I will come off slowly, and I will never take another drug again. I don't care how much I hurt, I won't go through this nonsense ever again.

If anyone reads this, and you've been advised to take Ultram because it is not addictive or because it's easier to come off than opiates, think again! I've gone through hydrocodone withdrawal cold turkey just after my surgery (I was taking 12 Lortab 10 every day for eight months), and that was a cakewalk compared to this.

Don't think that you won't have withdrawal symptoms if you take exactly what the doc prescribes for a real reason.

I found that the usual dose no longer helped pain, but was also getting weird feelings from my regular dose such as euphoria or deep depression cycles. I won't take more than prescribed so went off cold turkey the first time and laid in bed and cried with terrible muscle cramps and severe anxiety attack so I went back on the meds.

Next time I decreased from six daily to four daily for two weeks, then went to three for a week, then two for a week, then one daily for a few days then none. I still had some withdrawal, which would have been OK but was taken off effexor about time I was getting off tramadol. My doctor worked out a very good withdrawal but I am still having all of the symptoms of withdrawal from both.

I've been to the pain clinic for epidurals and PT for the pain.

Holy crap! I had no idea that there were others like me! I have had some problems with opioids in the past. It got pretty bad but I got off of them with the help of tramadol, lol. I thought it was odd that I got a similar high from a non narcotic drug.

I didn't abuse them as bad as I did the opioids, but I took more than I should. I have been on them for nearly a year. Now, all of a sudden, my doctor stopped writing them for me. It has been horrible.

I have found myself sneaking lortabs from my mom just to ease the withdrawals. I am not trying to get high. I am trying to ease this horrible feeling. I cannot sleep anymore and it's driving me mad!

I am deathly afraid to call my doctor or to go into treatment. I am in my senior semester of nursing school, about to do my Psych. rotation, and I work for a local hospital where I have to come in contact with this doctor.

I am about four days into my withdrawal. I am not sure what to do.

I'm in the middle of stepping down from 10 pills a day for months. I was in a car accident and got back surgery after a year. During that time I was on and off opioid pain meds without big problems.

Tramadol is 10 times worse to stop than codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone etc. With the opioids, stepping down by 50 percent every two days worked easily. the last two days were sleepless then all OK. Not with Tramadol. Step down the dose in five to seven day steps.

Example: Two pills per dose, five times a day for five days. Then, 1.5 pills per dose five times per day for five days. Then one per dose for five days, 1/2 per dose for five days, 1/4 per dose for five days, etc. and clonidine helps. Experience talking here.

I went to a new clinic, paid cash and was honest, saying I was committed to dropping tramadol and showing the doc a schedule like described above. I was lucky in that the doc working that day used to manage a pain clinic and knew about clonidine and withdrawal. As you are decreasing doses, the clonidine will help when it's time for that next dose, and you're starting to get jittery, can't be still etc. Taking the clonidine then will help very much with these symptoms.

The prescription said 1/2 to 1 pill per dose and I find that during the day a quarter of a tablet helps very much. More slows me down too much and makes me drowsy. After work and at night 1/2 to 1 clonidine works for me. I still have some sleep issues. Note I'm writing this a 2:30 a.m. and I have an 8 to 5 job. Took 1/2 clonidine and getting drowsy now. Wish me luck and good night. Drop the Tramadol and buy something useful with that money you're pissing away.

I took 120 pills (50mg) in 3 weeks for back pain. the last dose i took was 10 on friday. this is now Tuesday (four days later and my sleeping is practically non existent). One hour i got last night, two the night before that.

i have bought night nurse (which is a cough medicine that makes you drowsy and knocks you out), so i'm going to take that before bed. see if that helps. i'll post with my results. J, Scotland

from my experience, i started with 1 and i thought i had control of myself because i was always against pill taking etc. Two years went by and before i knew it i couldn't live without them. Then i soon began to take combinations with them. i never tried to stop, but by God's will i couldn't get them anymore and i was forced to stop.

It was the most awful experience i ever had in my life. It took almost a month for me to start being normal again. It just isn't worth it, and you should take no chances. Please be strong and take it seriously. No matter how many you are taking, this opens all kinds of doors you don't want to ever see.

There are medications for withdrawal i never knew about but I've heard about them. Ask about it and do it. Anything is better than to experience what i have.

i am on 10 a day. the reason i want off these is i can't get an erection. does anyone else have this problem?

I was taking 1100mg of that devil tramadol per day for almost two years and believe me: the best way to quit is to depend on yourself and withstand the horrible withdrawals. but the nice thing is that you will be back to normal at the last.

I recently stopped taking tramadol and the withdrawal symptoms are relentless.

I usually don't like to relay this information but I know it's helpful to be able to relate to others.

I was taking about 10-15 50mg tramadols a day. I know that using other drugs to mask withdrawal symptoms is not the greatest way but i found that marijuana actually helped my withdrawal symptoms a lot. This is only recommended to the people who are trying to stop taking tramadol without the help of a doctor.

If you are going to have to take about a week for withdrawal (as I have heard from many other posts.) you might as well try and do it as comfortably as possible because like i previously mentioned, the withdrawal symptoms are horrible. Well I hope this information was helpful.

I thought I had it bad. I take 3 1/2 a day for a total of 125 mgs a day. When I stop taking them, I go through terrible withdrawals and end up taking them again to stop it. I feel like a wuss now that I just heard someone takes 20 a day! Life isn't so bad after all!

First: Get down to eight. Anyone can do that no matter how many you are taking. It will be a tough day. Do that a couple days. Then down to six for another couple. Then down to four (hard), one in morning, one in afternoon, two at night. Then three and reduce night dosage to one. Stay at this dosage for awhile - then start removing the midday dose. In no event take more than three, but try for two.

When you get reliably to morning and night pills, stay at two for at least a week. Experiment with cutting out each one to see which is the next to go. Some people can't sleep without the night dosage. Some can't function without morning. It is tough, but pick one. take one a day for a week or so. Skip a day. Take one the next day. Skip two days. Take one and you're done.

Just be prepared to be miserable. If you can't formulate the will to do it, then go into treatment you pathetic weakling. Don't be a wuss. People have suffered much worse and you did this to yourself.

thanks for the comments. I thought i was going insane. i was told there was no withdrawals with this drug by doctors. I feel like i can't breathe, that i am choking in air. My sleep is terrible. i have just checked out symptoms, and ended up in casualty a few days ago. they didn't know what was wrong, and did loads of tests and kept me for overnight observation.

now i know the reason, so i can start to detox slowly.

anon49702: You can't do it alone. I took many more than you. Go to the hospital emergency room, preferably one with a detox program. You'll be there four days or so and get medication for withdrawal so you don't suffer at all. I was sent home with a Catapres patch. Lasts seven days. Contains clonidine. I am not suffering. Go. Do not hesitate. Go.

i know exactly what you are going through. i am in that position now, the only thing i am doing is reducing them daily, one day at a time, and i would advise you to tell your gp of your addiction to prevent this from happening in the future.

be strong. x

at first just tell someone who cares for you and will help you that you have developed an addiction. this is a must. otherwise you will never come out of this. forget the stigma of everyone knowing about it. Then with that person go to a senior psychiatrist and 100 percent you will beat it. Do not try to do it alone. all the best and may God be with you always.

I am very badly addicted to tramadol. i take at least 20 a day and i want to stop but have tried and can't take the withdrawals. does anyone have any suggestions? please help. thanks.