Maybe you should call your doc and get a low dose of Valium for a few days to help get you through the hump. I've heard this about Tramadol and that's why I have always refused it. I mostly just take Tylenol #3. Since I only take it in small doses, I never have much of a problem quitting it if that happens. (Although it does cause constipation.)

Jeanette if you have informed your doctor and he made no recommendations for you to wean off this medicine I am shocked.

My only experience is a brother in law who was on it while waiting to have knee replacement. A veteran and a bit younger. One time his labs were showing some bad counts for liver as he had been put on a new anti inflammatory along with the Tramdol. He had a new doc at Veterans and the told him to stop Tramdol as well as anti inflammatory.

That is when I researched this drug and found out how addictive it is and how serious cold turkey withdrawal is. I did the research because my sister called and told me how sick he was. I encouraged her to call doctor and it turned out to be a mistake on Tramadol and the anti inflammatory was culprit on liver.

Now the addictive part. My brother in law took his med as prescribed. It was extended release two times a day. He kept trying to wean off because it scared him when he went cold turkey the power it had on him. I have to say in the end that one week before his knee surgery my sister flushed the Tramadol.

I imagine everyone reacts differently. This was not a good med for BIL. He certainly had no problem discontinuing whatever he was given for post surgical pain after knee replacement and was in fact narcotic free within three weeks of being home.

Hopefully someone can give you information on cold turkey withdrawal and how long. I would think side effects could be dangerous but I understand why you would not want to go back
after five days.

Wishing you luck and good health.

love and peace
hippy

g00d luck

Thank you for your replies. I have only been on Tramadol 3 months, Vicoden which was prescribed after the blocked artery surgery. That was on July 16. Went back on Tramadol Aug 2 to Aug 13. My hope is that I have not been on these meds that long to deal with the withdrawals symptoms. Tonight after calling my ins nurse I am taking Tylenol PM. She said that might take the edge off of these symptoms.

I was immune to Tramadol. I took it for a month and it never did anything for me. I didn't get any pain relief from it, nor did I get any adverse side effects. I also wish more doctors would tell us how bad it can be to get off of certain medications. Everyone's body works differently to different meds. You should be getting over the worst part of your withdrawals seeing as it has been five days now. The one long lasting withdrawal symptom that you might have (I had it) is insomnia. I always get two to three weeks of insomnia after I stop the Norco. I don't have any hard core withdrawals. Just insomnia. Any how, I hope the surgery holds up and that your leg remains ulcer free. No one will operate on my leg. I would love some sort of surgical intervention. I hope you're feeling better today! Hugs!

For a long time doctor's thought Tramadol was the better option rather than Norco or the like, but it turns out that it reacts just like other opiates. I have heard others say it was a horrible pain medication to withdrawal from. It will probably take between 7-30 days to feel "normal" again without this med. I was told by my Pharmacist that the best way to stop ant\y opiate drug is to go down from the original dose allotted to the smallest dose possible. But now that you have gone cold turkey, I would, if I was in your place, just keep going and be done with it. I too am shocked that your doctor did not wean you from this medication. I have learned over the years to get my questions answered by my Pharmacist as they know so much more than the doctors seem to know. Hang in there, you are doing great!! Hugs

Tramadol is one of the most addictive pain meds on the market, it's been compared to herion for its addictive qualities. One major problem with Tramadol detox is its a double edge sword, there is the normal physical, medical withdrawal which is pretty tough and there is an added psychological withdrawal. Tramadol is not just a pain med, its also an anti-depressant. So, stopping the drug cold turkey can be a pretty rough road for 1 - 3 weeks depending on the person. You've not been on it a really long time and that works in your favor, but there are things you can do to help work through those withdrawal symptoms.

I'll Private Message you a Home Detox program that can give you some safe things to use at home to lessen the WD symptoms.

take care,

I occasionally come off Tramadol and have zero problems from it except for nasal congestion and eyes watering.
If the withdrawal symptoms are too hard to handle, just take a half a pill if you want.
Also, you just went through a major life change, violation of your body by surgery. This alone can be very hard to handle psychologically no matter how reselient we perceive ourselves to be. This combined with the meds is a stressful cocktail.
Best wishes.