Herbs For Addiction Withdrawal
By Brian B. Carter, MS, LAc, Thu Dec 8th

Help! I'm Addicted to the Painkillers I Bought Online!

Q: Hi. I am definitely addicted to tramadol (Ultram). I havetried to stop the drug several times, but the withdrawalsymptoms are so unbearable (depression; diarrhea; lethargy;sweats; aching body much more worse than ever before taking thedrug, especially upon wakng up in the morning; irritability;increase in tremor), that I get through a day or two and then Iknow that just "one" will take the withdrawal symptoms away, soback on the drug again!!! I know I am addicted (been buying thedrug over the net from Thailand). I started taking the drug foraches and pains because it was "non-narcotic" and "non-habitforming - yeah right!!!!! (I have no medical insurance at thistime). Well, for me, it also produces a "euphoric" type offeeling, like I can get more accomplished when I take it.However, I had no problem getting things done before I ever tookthe drug!!! I noticed you have "Ultram" listed under the"Treatment" heading (first paragraph), and so now I know I amnot abnormal (I guess this must be addictive for manypeople!!!). At any rate, I really do want to quit taking thisdrug. I also have essential tremor (familial - mother had it)and am taking diazepam for the tremor (about 10 mg/day, no morethan 20 mg/day, and that's only if I am going to be in a veryuncomfortable social situation). I can even go without thediazepam. When I have tried to stop using the tramadol (Ultram),my head tremor gets worse. If I could, I would just hide at homefor a week or so and detox; I would have no problem doing that,but I have to function for work, day-to-day LIFE, etcetera (novacation time, and Monday comes around pretty quickly, hence meonly getting through two days of trying to detox).Please............Do you have any suggestions on herbs, etceterato help ease withdrawal from tramadol?.......just so I canfunction somewhat during the detox/withdrawal period. Also, doyou have any experience with other cases of withdrawal from thisdrug, and if so.........how long do the extreme symptoms last?Thank you so much for your time. T.S.

A: Right on, T.S.. It's great that you can admit you have aproblem with it.

While browsing online, I was pretty amazed by how many addictiveprescription drugs you could buy illegally. The websites

said,"comes in a discrete package," and "nobody needs to know!" Iunderstand that sometimes people are recommended drugs that areembarassing to be on… but the dangers here are misuse,addiction, and overdose.

If I can beat an old drum for a minute, drugs should beprescribed by doctors, and chinese herbs byacupuncturist/herbalists. As you know from your experience, it'sdangerous to treat yourself- even doctors shouldn't do that.

However, there are some legitimate websites that allow you tobuy your prescriptions online. They require a doctor'sprescription, as they should. The main advantage of using anonline pharmacy is much lower prices than your local drugstore.Check out Imported Drugs.com.

It's not my place to recommend what to do with meds that arealready being taken... even though it's a little different whenyou're taking self-prescribed, illegally-purchased meds. It'sbest to work with an MD and an acupuncturist/herbalist. What theliterature suggests is:

Quitting Ultram One should TAPER off the Ultram rather than justsuddenly stopping. That means reducing the dosage gradually overa number of days or weeks.

Herbs and Acupuncture for Withdrawal from Addictive Drugs NADA(the proven ear acupuncture detox protocol - more about that inmy article on Acupuncture and Addiction) could make thewithdrawal period easier. So would the formulas:

Chai Hu Long Gu Mu Li Tang (Bupleurum Dragon Bone and OysterShell) and Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum)

The first one (Chai Hu Long Gu Mu Li Tang) would be better forsomeone with a tremor disorder. Neither formula should be takenlonger than a couple of months.

Instead of Painkilling Drugs... Your prospects in the future fortreating the aches and pains and tremor would be great withacupuncture and chinese herbs. I would suggest you find anacupuncturist in your area and see them for at least a fewmonths.

Anything else you need, please let me know!

All the best, Brian

About the author:Acupuncturist, herbalist, and medical professor Brian B. Carterfounded the alternative health megasite The Pulse of OrientalMedicine (http://www.PulseMed.org/). He is the author of thebook "Powerful Body, Peaceful Mind: How to Heal Yourself withFoods, Herbs, and Acupressure" (November, 2004). Brian speaks onradio across the country, and has been quoted and interviewed byReal Simple, Glamour, and ESPN magazines.