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Want to quit, should I cold turkey or try and taper what I do have?

S

Sweetlew

Greenlighter
Joined
Jul 16, 2009
Messages
24
Been taking 400mg of Tramadol a day for about 2 years. I have chronic back pain. I take 10/325 vicodin off and on. About 3-6 months I've been taking the tramadol to feel normal, I get no relief or high from it anymore.

My doctor of 1 year cut me off everything due to policy changes at my clinic. I have no insurance for a few weeks, so I am pretty much out of options at the moment. I have been off vicodin and Soma for a couple months and had mostly no issues, but I didn't abuse them as much.

Anyways. I have 25 Tramadol left. Should I burn them out in 3 days, or taper to 2 a day for 12 days?

I quit once before and that sucked, but it was only about a week of hell until I got a new supply lol.

My main concerns are, I have a legitimate problem, and That sucks enough as it is. I tried getting into a new doctor but it just isn't happening. I also work, and if I could stay home and detox I'd be fine with that, but, I work 5 days a week doing physical labor. Just hoping to get some suggestions. Stocked up on immodium and nyquil, trying to find some vicodin but looks like im burnt till the 5th.

Anyways, it's been a long time coming, I guess I'm ready to start over and search for new options. My ex thinks it's all in my head, maybe it is. Any suggestions will be immensely appreciated. I'm sure I'll be back to update in a few days with a bit of hating my life once again. Maybe itll do someone else some good though to read through my story as it unfolds.
 
Tramadol is binds to Mu, serotonin, and noreperniphrine receptors. It is a weak opiate and anti depressant. With that said, I strongly suggest tapering your dose down. Your body is use to the medication and you could develope some wicked withdrawals. I would try taking 2 aday for a while and see how that works. Then decrease it to one a day and then every other day.
 
Yeah I wasn't sure where it belonged, figured it could go either way hah.

I thought the taper would be a good idea, just wasn't sure if such a short time would make a difference, worth a shit though!
 
I am actually going to try this in Other Drugs as they have more experience with taper plans and opioid withdrawal - sorry to keep bouncing it! We can always send if back if it doesn't get the answers you are after there :)

BDD > OD

(Feel free to start a new thread in TDS too f you would like some support, rather than technical details about tapering etc :))
 
Tapering down by far, you will get some very very horrible withdrawals if you were to come off of it right away. Taper like you said and stock up on the neccessary things for tapering / whithdrawing. Goodluck mate, it might get a little rough as your working as well but im sure you can make it :)
 
I also suggest tapering, anything else is madness after 2 years of daily dosing.

Large doses of loperamide (immodium), 20mg and upwards, offer tremendous relief from the opiate like WD symptoms, so be sure to really stock up. Keep the long onset and halflife of lope in mind though, it really kicks in only after 2 or 3 hours and should last a whole day.

I cannot recommend it enough, the other WD effects of tramadol suck hard, and large enough doses of loperamide eliminate almost all physical symptoms, hell, for me it got rid of the WDs from a healthy H habit, and it's also very easy to taper down from once you've switched completely.
 
It doesn't seem right that due to "policy changes" a doctor can take you off a drug cold turkey you're physically dependent on.

Also, RX Ondasetron (brand name Zofran) has shown to help opiate W/D.
 
Normally I would say cold turkey, but Tramadol is hardly a typical opiate. It'd like a mild opiate + Effexor, and because of that, you're REALLY going to want to taper.
 
Thanks for the info guys.

I was switched 300 mg a day, then 200 mg a day then back to 400+ 4x 350 soma+ 2x 5mg hydrocodone, then cut back to ultram, then cut off completely lol, it's been a lot of bullshit

Anyways, today is day 2 (3:30 pm) succeeding in sticking to 100 mg a day + small dose of lope.

Also kicking a lot of sugar/all red meat (adding other protein) pretty much cutting any depressants out.

Feeling well, discomfort sucks, biggest complaint is no energy lol.


I have quit before, never off this much/long though.

I think in 4 days I'll drop to 50 mg a day, then off completely 12 days later.

I might fall into some more along the way and will adjust from there.
 
Your plan seems too quick. Seriously, SNRI withdrawals (oops... I mean "discontinuation syndrome") can be crazy. Brain zaps SUCK. Take it slow.

In fact, the IDEAL solution would be to switch to a pure opiate and Effexor. Get off the opiate quickly first, and then start a slow taper off the Effexor. But obviously, that may be impossible for you to sling, short of scoring off the street.
.
 
Yeah I've exhausted my options at the moment. Like I said, no insurance, haven't found anything on the street yet. Wish I'd known my rx was getting cut off I'd be in a much better boat.

That's why I posted originally, wasn't sure if a short taper would even do much.

Still feeling ok (11pm) starting to get some RLS. Mood is surprisingly good.

Still searching for better solutions, will update as things change. Appreciate everyone's input =D
 
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