Taking a Pod-Break/ switching to trams...

[pinn3d]

*I didn't know where to post this...... If any mods think it should be in another forum feel free to move it....*

Ok--- This is all pertaining to SWIM:

1. Has been taking pods on a daily basis for nearly a year. (was using them 2-3 times a week before daily use for several months)

2. Got 180 x 50mg. tramadol

3. During the last two days SWIM took half of his pod dose along with 200mg. of tramadol (split into a morning and a late afternoon dose)

4. Last night SWIM took half of his nightime pod dose along with 100mg of Tramadol, but got real nauseaus and puked (hadn't done THAT in a while)

5. So SWIM thinks that he is getting used to trams, and they are working decently...... today he took 150 mg. Tramadol in the morning, and will take 150 mg. in the late afternoon (unless he needs more)

6. SWIM wants to stay on the trams for a while (maybe a couple weeks) and give the pods a break---- He's not trying to quit though, just hoping that he can get a nicer glow when he switches back to pods...

-- So have any of you had any experience switching from your DOC over to Tramadol? They seem to be working so far--- today is the first day SWIM has not eaten pod grounds in a long time... but he feels fine.... Tramadol feels kinda floaty and spacey, but SWIM is still in a good mood---- we will see how today goes....... SWIM knows that pod withdrawal really doesn't start until at least more than a day after the last dose... so we are yet to see if the tramadol will really hold him over.....I think it should work.... I will keep you guys posted how this little 'experiment' goes.....SWIM just thinks its time for a break from the pods.....

[StinkyPickle]

When I run out of pills I switch to trams. I have 200mg ER's and I take 2. If I have to take them for more than a couple days, I try to stretch out how long it is before I redose. First I'll wait 24 hours. Then AT LEAST 26 hours. I know it seems silly, but I feel better taking them if I wait as long as possible before redosing. Good luck, hope it works out for you.

[Morphus]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but.........I've been a pod user for years now, before I was a full fledged fiend I recall tramadol would give me a nice, long lasting buzz, really not bad. Fast forward a few years, got ahold of a bunch more trams and tried to substitute for pod doses.......didn't work for me, these would not hold me or do much at all, I think I may have been occasionally able to skip a pod dose or two but I can do that anyways, just takes a little willpower. Hope your experience is different, maybe if you cut your pod dosage over a longer period of time before switching you might get better results, best of luck my friend.

[Larry]

Wish you the best of luck pinned, I have never taken tramadol so I cant really offer up any really good advice, but I can imagine your gonna have a difficult time switching from pods (which are relatively strong / long acting opiate) to tramadol.

Its usually the other way around... Start fucking with tramadols and then go to Pods (Wasnt it GOR who went from tramadols to Pods?)

[jacky]

a few years ago...around 8...
I used tramadol to come off of a 200+Mg oxy a day habit.
I didnt do much weening.
I ran out...and the next morning the tramadol came in the mail.
this was when Drs were claiming it was non narcotic, non opioid.
I was under the impression is was just a muscle relaxant.
I expected to get sick.

well, the first few days I didnt feel real good...but I was able to sleep and work.
by the 4th day I was feeling good from the tramadol, and around a week I was getting euphoria.
it felt so damn good to get off of oxy.
compared to oxy ,poppy seed tea felt alot better as a maintenance substance, pods / opium were even better.

I used tramadol a few other times for weening..or as a maintenance and pain substance. but usually in combination with codeine/ seeds, or herbs.

I know its of little use for some people, but for me, tramadol is a viable alternative to hating life.

from one online supplier I could get almost a years worth of refills....but finally they needed me to get a Dr visit scheduled to keep supplying them. I decided to go on to other things.
that particular time I weened of of tramadol and did nothing but kratom for almost 3 months.

[irish]

I had the same experience as Jacky, except I was coming off Dilaudid. I felt crappy for a bit, but pretty soon I was able to taper quickly off the trams. It was a surprisingly easy kick.

[pinn3d]

Well SWIM failed today--- no biggie, as quitting was not the main intention here--- just kind of experimenting to see how it would feel.... Made it till the afternoon, then had to take a half dose of pods..... took 400mg trams today stretched into 4 doses.... Gonna stick to 1/2 dose of pods, and see how that goes, stick with the 400 mg trams, and maybe eventually ween off the pods.... we'll see.... not making any goals or deadlines or anything, just seeing how it goes....

Felt like I needed something more during the day--- was a real busy day bartending.... trams definitely worked, but SWIM just needed a minor glow, which the trams weren't doing.... I think they would be perfect if one could just sleep and lay around, smoke pot and watch movies with no obligations... i think it would be easy to ween/ quit pods if you could lay around on trams all day.......but having to work and have energy mean that a little bit of pods was necessary.....

thanks for the responses....:)

[pinn3d]

So SWIM made it all day today with no pod grounds, just 450 mg of tramadol.... Pupils are pretty wide-- and legs hurt/cramped a little at work this afternoon, but other than that felt fine.....After work SWIM was craving a big pod dose -so -Curious to see if it will worsen over time or if the tramadol can work on its own....

[clinton]

be careful, don't take too many, they can cause seizures...
Ive also read posts by Opis claiming that tramadol can actually cause w/ds instead of easing them... If it has worked for you in the past then I'm sure you will be a ok

[pinn3d]

Welll--- Had to take normal pod dose this morning....along w/ 100mg tram..... I guess those trams just don't hold up to good old morphine! SWIM may not dose pods tonight, so it could be another 1/2 pod dose day, but who knows... might wanna have some fun...;)

I think the problem is that SWIM is not really motivated to stop the pods.... no need to.... payin his bills, he's got a steady supply, no social problems/ concerns from others.....he's a functional person overall... you know how it goes... but still... i think if he was motivated to quit, the trams might come in handy..... their easy enough to obtain.....

the serotonin and norepinephrine action is still feels a bit odd though..... i could see why some would feel as if its making WD's worse...... I remember trying straterra before, which is a norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor.... and that stuff kinda made me anxious.... no one needs more anxiety when their in WD's!!

[Raz]

Good luck.....I have no faith in tramadol.....Always had too bigga habit for them fuckin fings to do anyfing for me...

[pinn3d]

Yeah I think I need more motivation for this to work..... i was just experimenting.... I think trams could come in handy if I decide to go for it.... but for now I'm too into pods to really want to stop.... what I might do is take a break every couple weeks for a couple days ---- so that I can appreciate pods more.... after that one day without them I was craving them a lot the next morning.... not really needing them, the trams would have held me over... but psychologically the craving for morphine is too hard to combat if one has no true motivation to stop....

so for now this little 'experiment' is over until further notice! :D Now to eat some pods.....