I withdrew from Tramadol about a year ago...and it was HORRIBLE. I know different people have different experiences, so I hope it is better for you (and it very well could be!)

I know that the best thing to do is to cut down gradually. I found lots of posts on message boards with various schedules, and I did try to follow them, but in the end, just ended up kind of going cold turkey, and throwing all of the tramadol I had left down the garbage disposal.

I ended up going on an antidepressant (Wellbutrin) about 4 days after quitting the tramadol. I think I was using the tramadol to self-medicate for depression, looking back (it acts like an SSRI), and when I withdrew, I was just crushed by exhaustion and depression. I don't know if that is a "normal" withdrawal symptom, or if it was a result of my using the Tramadol to not feel depressed. I do know that once I started the Wellbutrin, the withdrawal went away completely.

Good luck to you, and GOOD FOR YOU. Please come back and let us know how it's going.