[Opk]

About a year ago I began taking Tramadol (Ultram, a mild opiate painkiller) regularly for back pain. It was'self prescribed'and I bought it over the internet. I started with 50 mg a day, and gradually increased the dosage over the months until I was taking 150 or 200. I never considered myself to be a recreational user because I was doing it for a legitimate medical reason, but I can't deny that I really liked the way it made me feel. In November I had to quit taking tramadol very suddenly because it would prevent another unrelated medication I needed from working. I didn't notice any real withdrawal symptoms so I once again assumed it was never an addiction. The back pain in the week after was unbearable as I was going through hyperalgesia but I found a chiropractor who was able to help me.Now I have been tramadol free for 4 months but I keep having recurring thoughts of dosing and i keep remembering how wonderful it made me feel. Does this mean that I really was an addict?I am 19, male, and in good health and I do not do any recreational drugs.If any of you are real former drug addicts, did you still feel cravings after you got clean and for how long?

[MvL]

It's not unusual for you to have those thoughts. Some people would be quick to label you as an addict because you used pain killers without a doctor's almighty prescription (when you sometimes know your own body better, and can often make better decisions, more cheaply), and that you also admit to enjoying them. But there was nothing wrong with your usage, in my opinion. You stopped when you were out of pain, and you easily went off the stuff.You were never an addict, just an informed, empowered person that decided to make an apparently helpful medical decision on their own. Now, if you felt compelled to go back on it, and you did, for no real reason having to do with pain, then you might have to consider yourself an addict.

[o.O]

iv been drug free for 5 years, and i still get cravings, especially when im stressed my mind will wander to using, the best way i have to deal with it is to make sure that anything simliar to what i was doing is in no way accessible to methat being said, u def are addicted to it, just make sure to not use any, espically since u found a great way to deal with the pain.the longer u take somthing the harder it is to get rid of it, just dont relapse because it will be even harder to break away again

[rhonda c]

I used Valium once for about 2 months. I know what you're talking about. I felt so good for those two months. I can see how people become addicted. I wanted to do more after being taken off the med. just bc I remembered how it felt. I don't know when I quit thinking about it, I just did. I don't think that makes an addict of you, as long as you don't use it any more.

[transamtm]

I think this all depends on how you want to take it. The link below will take you through a quiz for dependance identifier. I am an addict. I did crave, daydream, etc for my drug of choice which was opiates. I still struggle with this. However, I experienced problems with my life in every aspect mentally, physically, spiritually, and financially. I, too started out on tramadol for a medical reason. Mine seems to have went further than yours. Check out the quiz and this should answer your question completely. Good luck and hang in there. Whatever you do DONT USE!