not sure where to post

[monkeybutt11]

I need questions answered or ideas or whatever with my particular situation. I'm new and not 100 % sure where to post .
Here's my stich. I was addicted to pain pills. Lorecet/tab for about 8 years. I got clean and sober and stayed that way for four years. I got a new job that requires me to be on my feet for hours on end. I saw my dr and he gave me tramadol. He told me tramadol was safe, non addicting. I wasn't until it was to late that I learned other wise. Now, in the past few days I have been taking hydrocodone for tramadol withdrwals. I'm only taking one or two a day. I do not want to get hooked on pain pills again
I'm scared to death of withdrawls. I mean so terrified. I need advice, now!
I tried searching old posts, no good. I'm not sure if I should post in OD or the other forum for addiction.

 

[pasha]

Don't worry about it

I've reported this thread to bring it to the attention of the senior moderators. They'll move it to the appropriate forum. Most likely our Sober Living section, or The Dark Side.

In the future, if you don't know where to post, start your thread in our Homeless Threads section and a moderator will move it to the appropriate forum.

_________________________________________

Tramadol withdrawals can be a bother, and probably worst than some opioids with moderate potency. This is because tramadol is an atypical opioid, and has strong antidepressant properties such as activation of the norepinephrine and serotonin receptors. Once in withdrawal, these receptors will be somewhat down-regulated, and the withdrawal will be a combination of SNRI and opioid withdrawal, which makes it especially uncomfortable.

Things which can help:

- Clonidine (catapres)
- Loperamide (immodium)
- Tizanadine (zanaflex)
- Pregabalin/gabapentin <---- [this will erase almost 50-75% of the withdrawal symptoms]

The odd skin sensations, depression, and anxiety will linger for a while, depending on the duration of your habit. The acute withdrawal symptoms are definitely uncomfortable but they're manageable since they have a somewhat underlined time frame.

The real challenge however is to overcome the post-acute-withdrawals, which can last for months, and years. The best way to tackle them is with an appropriate diet, exercise, and to address any possible underlying symptoms that drive you to use opioids.

 

[Tommyboy]

If you are looking for a plan to taper off of the drugs then I will move this to Other Drugs. If you are looking for moral support in getting off of them then I will move it to Sober Living forum.

Actually, since this is a minor habit that shouldn't be hard to quit in terms of withdrawals, I'm going to move this to Sober Living since it's mostly going to be mental cravings that you will need help dealing with.

You are going to have to provide us with dosage information so we can help more, but if two hydrocodone pills are able to keep you from withdrawing then there isn't much less you can take since you are already on a low enough dose that most people would just stop at. I suggest just taking some loperamide [immodium] starting at 10mg a day, and then decreasing by 2mg a day until you are done. If you can get clonidine then taking 0.2mg at night will help with RLS and insomnia. If you can't get that then I recommend the nighttime cough medicine that has DXM and doxylamine to help you sleep.

Support --> Sober Living

 

[neversickanymore]

I love Chromophobia"s advice.. except skipp the amiodium/lopi it could just hook you on that.. and man what a worthless addiction, unless we love opiate constipation for no benefit then to prolong the inevitable.. come to grips with your fear.. withdraws surprisingly are many times a product of how bad you think they will be.. jump, keep yourself busy as sitting around and thinking about using and feeling sorry for yourself will leave you sitting around thinking about using and feeling sorry for yourself.. congratulations on getting of the tramadol.. awful drug IMO. n you can do this, you are just a little but of discomfort away.. remeber it gets better, and there is no way to avoid it

Edit: how did you stay clean for four years? thats amazing, what worked once has a good chance of working again.

 

[monkeybutt11]

Yes I agree with the tramadol being a pain b/c the depression and anxeity was extremely bad. I am still feeling a lot of that. I cravings are worse then I care to remember. I was on the tramadol for six months. I took 100 mg or two 50mg twice a day, so a total of 200mg daily just to feel normal. Of course I'm an addict and I would often take more. My dr suddenlly cut me off. I asked about wds and she said she doesn't handle that kind of thing. Whatever. . . She refused to help me. Anyways I did pick up some st johns wort yesterday. You guys are absolutly right. This is mostly mental. Thank you for the advice. I really appreciate it. Sometimes you just need to hear it from someone else. Now I move on to my next problem. Dealing with the pain, and my job is fludded with drugs and pills. I'm not sure if I can say no.
I got sober for my little boy. I didn't use during pregnancy. He is enough to keep me level headed. I want another baby since my little boy isn't little anymore but my man seems to think that's a bad idea. Lol
Thanks again.

 

[monkeybutt11]

Maybe I will pick up some kratom for after work. Help ease my pain. There's no way I could get addicted to something that tastes so horrible. Lol

 

[Mehm]

You are going to have to withdraw eventually. Just take a weekend, press some fresh juice, and go for it!

 

[Tommyboy]

Maybe I will pick up some kratom for after work. Help ease my pain. There's no way I could get addicted to something that tastes so horrible. Lol

Well be careful because that might just be your addiction talking. Poppy tea tastes horrible to most people yet there are tons of people that have been addicted to that. The problem with kratom (and poppy tea, particularly a few years back) is the ease of accessibility which makes it easy to get hooked on. If the only thing between you and the drug is the click of the mouse then the horrible taste may suddenly not seem so bad.

There is no need to complicate things by taking more drugs/substances to help with the withdrawals when they are already going to be minor. A lot of times it's the duration that you are on the substances for that plays a role in the withdrawals more than the dosage does (although very high doses are a different story) since you body and mind keep getting more and more used to functioning with these drugs in your system the longer you are on them, making it more difficult to function during the transition [withdrawal] stage when you discontinue use.

That's why stopping cold turkey is sometimes easier than weaning down. The tapering process may make you more used to functioning with drugs in your system even though you are lowering the dose, but if you stop right now that will be less time that your body has been functioning with these drugs in it, making it easier to stop now at your current dose than it will be a few weeks later at a lower dose.

 

[monkeybutt11]

That makes perfect sense.
I went two days without any drugs. Its not the wds, they are very minor. Just extremely tired and cranky. My head feels fuzzy. I ended up getting some kratom, not b/c of any wds, but b/c I was in to much pain. You are right, that is probably the addict in me talking.
kratom is way to easy to get .. I ended up taking some hydros last night. I couldnt say no. They are just as easily accessible. My job is flooded with them. I don't know what I'm going to do. For now, I'm going to just keep fighting the cravings and urge.
Any advice on how to say no when they are in my face? I need to remove myself from that situation, but in the mean time, I can't. My husband doesn't understand. He is adamant about me keeping my job.