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Craigy
USA
15 Posts |
 Posted - 05/30/2012 : 16:39:22
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I've been taking UltramER for roughly 7 years and now that I know TMS is the root cause of my pain, I've begun weening myself off! This was a huge goal for me! BUT, when I cut down from 200mg to 100mg I thought I was able to go cold turkey from there; wrong. Soon after I stopped the Ultram I started developing several symptoms that are much different that my "normal" TMS pain, which I've had for over 12 years. These symptoms, insomnia, anxiety, weird tickling sensation in the hips, labored breathing, irritability all show up on my Google search of withdraw symptoms for Tramadol. My TMS doctor thinks its another manifestation of TMS, but I tend to doubt his assessment, Ultram/Tramadol is an opiate and very addictive especially for someone like me who has been taking it for so long.
If there are others out there on Ultram or Tramadol, take it from me, please don't stop cold turkey and work with a "knowledgeable" physician on weening off correctly.
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drh7900
USA
194 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2012 : 09:42:21
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I can't speak to the physiology of addiction, but I do know withdrawal can be a bear. As I understand, your body (or mind?) becomes dependent on the medication and can actually create pain to make you give it that which relieves (or reduces) the pain. I had that explained to me by a friend who was addicted to oxycontin when he asked me for help coming off of it (he told me that every muscle in his body would start to ache...looking back on it, that sounds TMS-like). The only chemical item I've ever been addicted to was in cigarettes and I know how the withdrawal from the nicotine and such can feel...I imagine it can be much more of a burden for something like narcotics. I have taken narcotics, but because of my fear of addiction, never took them with any regularity for any extended period of time.
All that said, whether withdrawal is fully physical, fully psychological, or a combination of the two, ultimately my biggest concern would be "can the withdrawal actually cause me harm?" If it CAN'T, would it be better to go ahead and cut the meds as long as the symptoms are phyical? If the symptoms are psychological, of course, there's concern for self-harm or harming others...but if it's physical, is it possible to ride out the symptoms?
Don't take any of this as advice...it's just me speculating "out loud". I couldn't take tramadol because after 3 days on it I was so dizzy I couldn't function (now that I think about it...could that have been a different manifestation of TMS since it may have started to work on my pain?). I stopped taking it and it took me 3 days to stop being so dizzy...I hated it.
Hope you are able to wean off soon! Congratz on the progress so far!
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Dustin |
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Cath
116 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2012 : 04:43:24
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| I stopped taking Tramadol cold turkey a couple of years ago now. BIG mistake - I had a high fever, severe sweating, rigors (body shaking incontrollably), and couldn't eat anything for a week. Definitely taper down gradually from these opiate derivitive type drugs. I certainly learned my lesson. |
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ennio
28 Posts |
Posted - 06/01/2012 : 15:16:22
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I weened myself off of Tramadol in the summer of 2011 after devouring Sarno's, Brady's, Sopher's, and Amir's books.
For several years I was taking 200mg per day of Tramadol (4 pills every 4 hours) to deal with chronic pain, mostly back-related. Once I learned the pain was TMS, it gave me the confidence to gradually get off of the meds.
I was at the point where if my lower back was acting up during the day, I'd know I was an hour late on taking a Tramadol pill. My body had been trained to believe I needed 4 pills a day. I was very dependent.
It took me several months, going from 4 pills a day down to 3. Initially, my back was hurting more, but then it settled when I refused to take 4 pills. When that settled, I went down to 2 until eventually I stopped. There were no ill effects, no withdrawal symptoms to speak of.
I would stress to make it a gradual decline instead of going cold turkey.
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Craigy
USA
15 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2012 : 10:39:19
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Thank you for your replies.
I went to the dr and we have a good taper program. My withdrawals have subsided, getting good sleep too. I am so happy, I should be off this toxic med by the end of summer....safely! |
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art
1903 Posts |
Posted - 06/03/2012 : 12:13:52
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| 7 years is a long time. It would have been a near miracle had you not had withdrawal symptoms. Love your attitude. You're well on your way... |
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Any one else on Ultram / Tramadol?
