I saw an addiction specialist for my ultram problem.... - Page 2 - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

sweetie-tweety · 09-26-2005, 10:28 PM

I ran across your site when I started researching Ultram. I've been addicted to narcotics for about 15 years. About 4 months ago I finally got serious about quitting and checked myself into an outpatient rehab program. I'm coming up on my 5 month anniversary of not using and now I find out you can become addicted to Ultram. I switched doctors when I decided to get clean because my doctor was handing out norco like candy. My new doctor knows all about my addiction. I went to him to talk about ways to control my pain for bad disks in my neck. I reminded him I was an addicted and needed something nonnarcotic. He gave me Ultram. Now I haven't abused this drug (yet) but now that I know it's addictive I'm afraid my "stinkin-thinkin" will kick back in and I'll start popping them. I am BEYOND angry. What is it w/ doctors? Should I go back to see him and discuss my concerns? Or should I try and find another doctor that'll listen to me? Any suggestions would be welcome. I'm finally getting my life back together and don't want to fall back into that old, using life.

ashley80 · 09-28-2005, 09:49 AM

Hey, I'm an opiate addict, too (my DOC was norco also) but I've never used ultram. I just wanted to jump in here and say that I have heard of lots of doctors who don't know it's addictive. I think many of them believe the propaganda that the drug companies hand out.

I know several people who have used and abused (and got addicted to) ultram.

Congrats on your clean time!!! I know how hard it is. Can you talk to your sponsor (if you have one) about this? That's what I would do...get it out in the open. If you don't do NA or AA, maybe you could talk to a family member or friend, and have them go to the doctor with you to discuss your concerns?

Ashley

michski · 09-28-2005, 10:13 AM

WOW! Quite a discussion about Ultram. I began taking it just about a year ago. I am an alcoholic and an addict. I have had problems with pain killers and been treated for Vicodin addiction. I am clean/sober for 3 and half years.
I am 55 years old and nearly every vertebrae in my back is fused. I could easily get any pain killer I want. I love Ultram.. it works really well and because I never take more than 3 a day I never get high from it.. I have been in a good mood for quite a long time so if it is an antidepressant I surely have benefitted from it.

I'm not gonna abuse Ultram.... I made a contract with myself that I don't need to do that stuff anymore.... EVER.

Just because you're in recovery doesn't mean you have to be in pain. But if you've got addiction issues you must have your medication either handled by someone else or monitored. That's just the way the flip flops!

jes154 · 09-30-2005, 03:52 PM

I was never on Ultram but I was addicted to percocet and hydro 10's for 3 1/2 years. I went through withdraws at home on my own with the help of extra strength tylenol for the pain. The withdraws lasted about 3 1/2 days. I then got depressed and was unhappy with everything so I went to a psychitrist and he put me on welbutrin xl. This is the first sucessful attempt to be clean I've had and I plan staying that way. My point is that it is possiable to quit. Yes your going to experiance withdraws that's a part of being addicted. I did it and you can to, but you have to really want to. Good luck to you

theNAway · 10-03-2005, 12:44 AM

sweetie-tweetie,

I am an addict as well. My drug of choice at my end was opiates and benzo's.
That's a hard predicament.
For ME, I am unable to take anything responsibly. Not to mention a opiod derivative. I am not a pharmacist, although they joke about it in my home group. But I have done extensive research, when I went back to college, on Ultram, Ultracet and the like. The bottom line is Tramadol HCI binds to the same receptors. The scary thing about it for me though was learning about the psychological addition to the "benign" pleasant feelings that it produces that goes beyond a "simple" anti-depressant. I know of MANY Tramaddicts that said one of the hardest parts was to get beyond the pleasant feelings that it gave them while on it, and the withdrawal on it.
First off, I am in my early 30's. I slipped a disc in my back when I was 19. I now have extensive degenerative disc disease, 2 severely herniated discs, and 2 cracked vertabrae(from my withdrawal from the benzo's a year ago).
I am CLEAN though. Yes I still have pain, numbness, and sometimes wish I could take something stronger. But I know the hell I had to pay to get here. At my peak I was taking 480-720mgs oxycodone, and 12-16mgs benzos(which is wayyyy off the charts - first started due to the w/ds from the opiates when I would get low) ALL RXed by the same doctor.
NOW I take a indocin (NSAID), cataflam (NSAID type), and xtra-tylenol(2 at a time of course, I am still an addict-1 NEVER works

.
I have been able to make it with this course.
What works for me may not for you. But this is what I HAD to do to stay CLEAN, and that meant more to me than ANYTHING else in the world and still does. If I have to take narcotics (OR narcotic derivatives) I will deal with it when it comes. Although Just for Today I know I can get through with what I am doing.
I also see an acupuncturist/chiropractor (minimal chiro work with the broke back) and do stretching and exercises daily.
I worked REAL hard while I was taking pills to continue to do so. I NOW put that into my RECOVERY. In both taking care of myself physically as well as mentally.
I only post my personal experiences to try and help you or someone else in a similar boat because I don't wish to see anyone even get near where I was in my addiction.
I hope you will find your way and do what is right for you and your recovery.

Sincerely,
Chad H.
PS I am now the PI Chair for my Area, as well as run my local group. We can survive in Recovery.
I just take it~~~~~~~

candlestick · 10-04-2005, 10:55 PM

You gave me some hope here. Thanks! I had been taking tramadol 20-25 a day! I'm new to this whole sight but don't know who to talk to. Reading info like yours does help. I did finally ask for help. This past Thursday night I was watching T.V and woke up in the hospital I experienced a seizer with the tramadol and that was a sign that enough is enough. I saw my Dr and she started tapering me off them. I was always able to stop hydro and percs but not tramadol.. I suffer from migraines and this was what helped overall. Taking ultram stopped my drinking problem as well as depressions but I abused it because it always gave me a "good feeling" and lasted hours. Thanks for you honesty.. How are you doing now?

thatguyDbo · 12-31-2006, 10:10 AM

Hey how are you doing? i was addicted to a similar pain medication called loracet, or loratab. which is very addictive because after you take it for so long it gets your body immuned to it. i was taking up to 8 to 10 aday at one time. i used to be a very active person, and athletic. which i havent played sports in about 4 years since i had gotten addicted to them. but i knew i had to quit them or they was going to take me over and i would be able to get my dreams accomplished. and i am a very ambitous person before i had started taking them. but after i got off of them im active once again and love it. what i did was slowed my dosage down and started going to the gym everyday. started getting back into shape. when you work out and exercise your body feels better. it took me a couple months to completely get off of them but once i got back into the rhythm of working out and going to the gym, eating healthy i started feeling better withhout the pills. i know the pills make you feel much better and in a better mood. at first when i had completely quit i went through a couple weeks where i hurt bad and didnt feel up to par if you know what i mean. i was just like lazy and all.....but after 2-3 weeks you start feeling a looooot better believe me. its all a mind thing and thats the truth. your body hurts because you think you need them. but if you really do have pain, such as chronic pain then that could be a different story, i didnt have chronic pain...just liked the feeling of the pain medication. just get back in touchn with me, we could talk about it. i know how to help you though believe me i went through the same thing....and i dont even know if ultram is as strong as loracet. never taking that medication. thanks, hope i could help you. get back in touch..have a great day

thatguyDbo · 12-31-2006, 10:12 AM

i dont know how much ultram cost off the street, or you might even get them from the pharmacy. but i know loracets wasnt cheap, my habit was costing me about 40 to 60 dollars a day. i was working for my habit. it got old quick, and i had to change my outlook on things and get my priorities straight

09-26-2005, 10:28 PM	#26 (permalink)
sweetie-tweety Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: IN Posts: 1	New Here and Angry I ran across your site when I started researching Ultram. I've been addicted to narcotics for about 15 years. About 4 months ago I finally got serious about quitting and checked myself into an outpatient rehab program. I'm coming up on my 5 month anniversary of not using and now I find out you can become addicted to Ultram. I switched doctors when I decided to get clean because my doctor was handing out norco like candy. My new doctor knows all about my addiction. I went to him to talk about ways to control my pain for bad disks in my neck. I reminded him I was an addicted and needed something nonnarcotic. He gave me Ultram. Now I haven't abused this drug (yet) but now that I know it's addictive I'm afraid my "stinkin-thinkin" will kick back in and I'll start popping them. I am BEYOND angry. What is it w/ doctors? Should I go back to see him and discuss my concerns? Or should I try and find another doctor that'll listen to me? Any suggestions would be welcome. I'm finally getting my life back together and don't want to fall back into that old, using life.

10-03-2005, 12:44 AM	#30 (permalink)
theNAway Livin' the NA WAY Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lewis & Clark Area Posts: 54	sweetie-tweetie, I am an addict as well. My drug of choice at my end was opiates and benzo's. That's a hard predicament. For ME, I am unable to take anything responsibly. Not to mention a opiod derivative. I am not a pharmacist, although they joke about it in my home group. But I have done extensive research, when I went back to college, on Ultram, Ultracet and the like. The bottom line is Tramadol HCI binds to the same receptors. The scary thing about it for me though was learning about the psychological addition to the "benign" pleasant feelings that it produces that goes beyond a "simple" anti-depressant. I know of MANY Tramaddicts that said one of the hardest parts was to get beyond the pleasant feelings that it gave them while on it, and the withdrawal on it. First off, I am in my early 30's. I slipped a disc in my back when I was 19. I now have extensive degenerative disc disease, 2 severely herniated discs, and 2 cracked vertabrae(from my withdrawal from the benzo's a year ago). I am CLEAN though. Yes I still have pain, numbness, and sometimes wish I could take something stronger. But I know the hell I had to pay to get here. At my peak I was taking 480-720mgs oxycodone, and 12-16mgs benzos(which is wayyyy off the charts - first started due to the w/ds from the opiates when I would get low) ALL RXed by the same doctor. NOW I take a indocin (NSAID), cataflam (NSAID type), and xtra-tylenol(2 at a time of course, I am still an addict-1 NEVER works . I have been able to make it with this course. What works for me may not for you. But this is what I HAD to do to stay CLEAN, and that meant more to me than ANYTHING else in the world and still does. If I have to take narcotics (OR narcotic derivatives) I will deal with it when it comes. Although Just for Today I know I can get through with what I am doing. I also see an acupuncturist/chiropractor (minimal chiro work with the broke back) and do stretching and exercises daily. I worked REAL hard while I was taking pills to continue to do so. I NOW put that into my RECOVERY. In both taking care of myself physically as well as mentally. I only post my personal experiences to try and help you or someone else in a similar boat because I don't wish to see anyone even get near where I was in my addiction. I hope you will find your way and do what is right for you and your recovery. Sincerely, Chad H. PS I am now the PI Chair for my Area, as well as run my local group. We can survive in Recovery. I just take it~~~~~~~ __________________ Click image NA = Never AloneNever Again Welcome Home the War is Over! (All comments are not those of Narcotics Anonymous - just what has worked, in my recovery)

12-31-2006, 10:10 AM	#32 (permalink)
thatguyDbo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2	Hey How are you Hey how are you doing? i was addicted to a similar pain medication called loracet, or loratab. which is very addictive because after you take it for so long it gets your body immuned to it. i was taking up to 8 to 10 aday at one time. i used to be a very active person, and athletic. which i havent played sports in about 4 years since i had gotten addicted to them. but i knew i had to quit them or they was going to take me over and i would be able to get my dreams accomplished. and i am a very ambitous person before i had started taking them. but after i got off of them im active once again and love it. what i did was slowed my dosage down and started going to the gym everyday. started getting back into shape. when you work out and exercise your body feels better. it took me a couple months to completely get off of them but once i got back into the rhythm of working out and going to the gym, eating healthy i started feeling better withhout the pills. i know the pills make you feel much better and in a better mood. at first when i had completely quit i went through a couple weeks where i hurt bad and didnt feel up to par if you know what i mean. i was just like lazy and all.....but after 2-3 weeks you start feeling a looooot better believe me. its all a mind thing and thats the truth. your body hurts because you think you need them. but if you really do have pain, such as chronic pain then that could be a different story, i didnt have chronic pain...just liked the feeling of the pain medication. just get back in touchn with me, we could talk about it. i know how to help you though believe me i went through the same thing....and i dont even know if ultram is as strong as loracet. never taking that medication. thanks, hope i could help you. get back in touch..have a great day Last edited by thatguyDbo; 12-31-2006 at 10:10 AM. Reason: more information

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

09-28-2005, 09:49 AM	#27 (permalink)
ashley80 Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Greentree, PA Posts: 278	Hey, I'm an opiate addict, too (my DOC was norco also) but I've never used ultram. I just wanted to jump in here and say that I have heard of lots of doctors who don't know it's addictive. I think many of them believe the propaganda that the drug companies hand out. I know several people who have used and abused (and got addicted to) ultram. Congrats on your clean time!!! I know how hard it is. Can you talk to your sponsor (if you have one) about this? That's what I would do...get it out in the open. If you don't do NA or AA, maybe you could talk to a family member or friend, and have them go to the doctor with you to discuss your concerns? Ashley

09-28-2005, 10:13 AM	#28 (permalink)
michski Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: California Posts: 977	WOW! Quite a discussion about Ultram. I began taking it just about a year ago. I am an alcoholic and an addict. I have had problems with pain killers and been treated for Vicodin addiction. I am clean/sober for 3 and half years. I am 55 years old and nearly every vertebrae in my back is fused. I could easily get any pain killer I want. I love Ultram.. it works really well and because I never take more than 3 a day I never get high from it.. I have been in a good mood for quite a long time so if it is an antidepressant I surely have benefitted from it. I'm not gonna abuse Ultram.... I made a contract with myself that I don't need to do that stuff anymore.... EVER. Just because you're in recovery doesn't mean you have to be in pain. But if you've got addiction issues you must have your medication either handled by someone else or monitored. That's just the way the flip flops!

09-30-2005, 03:52 PM	#29 (permalink)
jes154 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: somewhere somewhere Posts: 7	I was never on Ultram but I was addicted to percocet and hydro 10's for 3 1/2 years. I went through withdraws at home on my own with the help of extra strength tylenol for the pain. The withdraws lasted about 3 1/2 days. I then got depressed and was unhappy with everything so I went to a psychitrist and he put me on welbutrin xl. This is the first sucessful attempt to be clean I've had and I plan staying that way. My point is that it is possiable to quit. Yes your going to experiance withdraws that's a part of being addicted. I did it and you can to, but you have to really want to. Good luck to you

10-04-2005, 10:55 PM	#31 (permalink)
candlestick Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 5	You gave me some hope here. Thanks! I had been taking tramadol 20-25 a day! I'm new to this whole sight but don't know who to talk to. Reading info like yours does help. I did finally ask for help. This past Thursday night I was watching T.V and woke up in the hospital I experienced a seizer with the tramadol and that was a sign that enough is enough. I saw my Dr and she started tapering me off them. I was always able to stop hydro and percs but not tramadol.. I suffer from migraines and this was what helped overall. Taking ultram stopped my drinking problem as well as depressions but I abused it because it always gave me a "good feeling" and lasted hours. Thanks for you honesty.. How are you doing now?

12-31-2006, 10:12 AM	#33 (permalink)
thatguyDbo Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2	i dont know how much ultram cost off the street, or you might even get them from the pharmacy. but i know loracets wasnt cheap, my habit was costing me about 40 to 60 dollars a day. i was working for my habit. it got old quick, and i had to change my outlook on things and get my priorities straight

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)