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A personal account of tramadol addiction

Aug 15, 2008 09:30PM - 3 comments

Found this article and found it may be useful:

Hi All,
Just wanted to say that all messages posted have been great and inspirational to learn that we all have common ground of taking the great old Rx our physicians have given us for one reason or another....and then become addicted to them w/o ever thinking it could happen as in my case.
As told before it was my first experience with a pain med and being in pain and still am when my doc wrote for Ultram (tramadol) why not when it could help me (so I thought) but we all have learned that or would not have typed on here and shared our stories. Anyways wanted to clarify that according to "The Pill Book" via Bantom Books 11th edition on page 1087 that Ultram, Ultracet generic ingredients: tramadol + acetaminophen and although not a narcotic as they do not cause interference with breathing and do not cause histamine reactions and has no effect on the heart function ulike the narcotics. After reading that and also the PDR (the Bible drug book for docs) there seems to be a change in how this drug really works and that it should, and as I type, be changed to a narcotic in the future also it is considered an opiate via pharmacy. Confused, confused....yes that is how I feel too!!! Anyways wanted to say it has been 11 days since my last tramadol and although in pain feeling more and more myself each and every day and so glad I got off when I did after reading so many others histories. I have to say if possible NEVER abruptly stop them but taper as mentioned before. My experience with the withdrawal of tramadol was a living nightmare from hell and I only used them for four months at 300 mg a day and sometimes 350 mg but nonetheless we are all different in chemistry, body wt, history, etc., and experience things diffently....but for me I had the worse insomnia ever and the sweating was unbelieveable with chills, lost 9 lbs in a week, but again I went cold turkey and can't stress the fact to another to taper NOT cold turkey it. It's sad to realize how many others are trying and feel "guilty" for something they NEVER started or intended to be hooked on because hey we go to the doctors for our health care NOT to later learn what he/she will give us will become another health and future problem.....giving us an ample supply of Ultram/tramadol just to make us feel "normal" like pre-tramadol....God bless ya' all and once again thanks for this site and listening to me ramble and may all the angels be at your side and God above while you to quit this vicious cycle off tramadol.....stay in touch, stay healthy, and never stop stopping.......:) :)


  

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by SH30, Sep 09, 2008 12:20PM
My husband was taking around 10 50 mg pills a day for five years and has over the past few weeks tapered to just 3 35 mg pills a day. He's about out. Do you think going cold turkey from that level will hurt a lot, a super lot, or more than I can imagine? Thanks.

by sailing1, Oct 01, 2008 07:47PM
For anyone reading this thread and interested in a medical journal discussion/article about tramadol withdrawal, go to this site for an interesting case study from some physicians in Italy. I found the descritption of tramadol withdrawal very accurate to my own experience.    

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/161/12/2326

by sailing1, Oct 01, 2008 08:05PM
Hi SH30,   I already posted a response to this, but evidently it was lost in cyberspace.  If your husband hasn't already gone cold-turkey on his tramadol and gotten through the worst of it, here is my opinion on your situation.  Be THERE for him and be AWARE of the potential side effects and be able to recognize them if/when they occur so that you can either provide support measures or get back with your healthcare provider to re-examine your husbands tapering schedule.

Most common side effects from what I have researched in medical journals and from forums such as this are (but not limited to...)  anxiety, depression, panicked feeling, crying jags, (and similar mood changes,) insomnia (sleeplessness and/or disturbance in sleep pattern, chills, sweats (often alternating,)  muscle spasms, twitching, tremors, and gastro-intestinal symptoms such as nausea, vommitting, lack of appetite, indigestion and the like.  Unusual and frequent yawning has also come up often.

If your husband shows these signs and you can address them without too much problem, just continue support measures, but if they become problematic, seek medical assistance and re-examine your tapering schedule with your heathcare provider.  I have been through these withdrawal symptoms myself after taking the maximum recommended dose for a little over a month and was shocked by the severity of the symptoms (and I am a nurse!)  Tramadol is an effective pain reliever, but it hides a serious dark side with withdrawal symptoms that many medical practitioners (including myself) are or were unaware of.  I wish you the best of luck and health.

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