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tramadol - GP said quit cold turkey

Hey, I have been taking 300 mg of Tramadol daily since January and started having issues.  When the hot flashes and excess sweating started my GP said your 41 maybe it's early menopause.  Then came the nightmares and I started seeing things when I was awake, I didn't get out of bed for 3 days at a time.  My GP said it must be depression so he added "Cymbalta".  Bad idea if I don't say so myself.

My vision started to blur and I can't see anything from the tip of my fingers closer, my gp said it was age and increased my Cymbalta because I was now having anxiety attacks and was beginning to fear leaving my home.  Going to the grocery store was an ordeal.  I had disc fusion surgery at the end of April 2010 and there was no relief from the pain.  I can't go anywhere alone

2 days ago I was in my GP's office shaking and crying, My legs had started twitching and my hands were shaking.  My GP said "You have serotonin Syndrome from the Tramadol, quit taking it today".  He gave me nothing else for the pain and didn't warn me of the withdrawal.  He did say if it gets worse go to the ER but as I said I'm afraid to leave my home.

It's day 3 now, it has been hell and the only thing that has helped has been my ability to calm myself down and focus.   There is not a minute that goes by that I don't have to tell myself 'this isn't real".  

Symptoms include: hot flashes, sweating, skin so hot to the touch it leaves the sofa hot, my skin gets so red it looks like I have a sun burn, nausea, vision loss, hallucinations, nightmares, terrors, I feel like I can't breath but when I calm my self I can take a breath, strange feelings in my legs, shooting pain all over my body (like sharp pin pricks).  

I quit the 200 mg of Ralivia (tramadol slow release) completely but had been taking 1 37.5mg tramacet every 12 hours trying to hold off the worst of it but last night I chose not to take anything.  It was hell but yeah me I made it.

I was the first to say Tramadol is a great pain killer drug, no side effects like Codeine but Today I say "Hell no"  I'm fighting to keep my sanity.  I don't know how much is serotonin syndrome and how much is withdrawal as the symptoms are about the same but hopefully it comes to an end soon.

Good luck to anyone trying to quite this drug.
Best Answer
Avatar universal
Oh, it's going to get better...slowly!  Don't expect an overnight fix.  If you are still having the confusion and blurred vision tomorrow, you need to see a doctor.  Those are the two things I am concerned most about.  The anxiety is normal, although yours seems extreme right now.  Do you always have this kind of anxiety?  

The sweating, burning skin, chills..all normal.  You may get some diarrhea, nausea, head and body aches too.  Take hot baths.  That will help anxiety and the aches.

You definitely deserve some ice cream!  Maybe even a sundae!!!! : ))
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Avatar universal
Hey.... It's been a tough couple of days.  I feel like SH%#.  Tramadol is fairly new in Canada at least the Ralivia extended release and not even the Pharmacists new there could be a problem.  I asked every time I got a new Prescription.

I hope the worst is past.  My skin has taken on a strong medicine Smell, I think my body it trying anything to get it out of me.  :)  I never drink water so I have been trying to add it to my day.  I'm a die hard Coke drinker not that Pepsi junk.

I tried to go to the Hospital but couldn't get through the door even with the Ativan it was to much.  I can control the anxiety better at home and that keeps my blood pressure and my heart rate down.  :)

I've never had anxiety before but the nightmares and hallucinations have brought a lot of bad stuff from the past that I endured out again and between the mind and the anxiety it has been very rough.

I had the Headache yesterday that I swear could drive someone over the edge and the pharmacy told me to take T3.  I asked about taking Codeine during my current situation.  They said "sure I guess".  I decided to stick it out.  

Better today but still 1000 degrees.  My mind is clearer today and my humor started coming back yesterday.  :)

I have noticed tremors in my hands while typing this, first time not in an anxiety attack.  I'll keep an eye on it.

Talk again soon.  Thank's for being there.
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Avatar universal
Hey Lisa~    I'm more than concerned for you.   Seratonin syndrome is nothing to mess
with and you are exhibiting symptoms.  I'm,also,concerned about your blood pressure.

Is there anyone who can take you to an ER or urgent care facility? Can you try to get a taxi and bring youself to be checked on your own?

It's important that you get medical attention.
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Avatar universal
Right now I have hot flashes, sweating, then chills.  My vision is still blurred.  I took an Ativan about 2 hours ago so my anxiety is mild to moderate.  I opened the blinds... (Yeah me) Just the thought of going out or answering the phone starts an attack.  My skin is so hot to the touch it heats up wherever I sit but there is no fever.

As for confusion, I have to focus but it is much better. I haven't seen demons or monsters in almost 12 hours.  :)  Think that deserves Ice Cream.  I still see things in my peripheral vision but who doesn't.  Things got much better after I took the 3 pm Tramacet.  I would like to quit and be done with it but I see the need for a schedule.

I'm 40+ and a mother of 3 and never thought I would be in an addiction support group for something my GP prescribed.  Thank you again.

I hope I did the right thing by not going to the ER.  I felt I could control the anxiety better in my home.  Only time will tell.  I will get through this, I will find me again!
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Avatar universal
A schedule works best for tapering for several reasons.  The main one is that it keeps a more constant level in your system and keeps you from wigging out.  If you wait until you feel that bad to take one, it won't help nearly as much.  You also can't take more than what your plan is or it doesn't work.  That is why I could never taper!  No self control.  I was done!!!  I wanted no more of it!  Just keep doing what you are doing now.  Do you feel less anxious and confused than you did earlier?  What are your main symptoms now?
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Avatar universal
Thanks... It sounds crazy but I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way.  This site might just save my life.  :)

Thanks for listening and responding. I've been on Tramadol (Ralivia), Tramadol (Tramacet), Cyclobenapine (flexeril) and Cymbalta for months.  That's not the whole list, trust me my GP just kept writing new prescriptions for every new symptom. There is an arthritis med and a stomach med as well. It has been months since I could think clear and the original problem appeared to get worse.  I'll stick to every 12 hours for the tramacet.  I was just taking when things got real bad but I agree a schedule would work best.

I'm suppost to see my GP Tuesday, he has to fill out update paperwork for my Comp claim.  I don't know what he is going to say.  My Physio therapist says if my GP can't control the pain I have to stop therapy.  I have been to sick to go this week.
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Avatar universal
Gosh, you are in a precarious situation.  You really need to see a doctor, and I'm not sure that the one you have been talking to knows what he's talking about. (I may get killed for saying that!)  

If it were me, and I'm NOT a doctor, I would not take the flexeril.  I would take only the Ativan and then the tramadol every 12 hours.  But, in order to taper properly, you need to take it on a schedule.  Not...every 24 then every 12...then whatever.  See what I mean?  You don't want to get in the shape you got in today, ok?  It's important that you understand this  Take it on a schedule.  

Anything I can do just let me know, ok?
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Avatar universal
no one to take me anywhere today and I would feel stupid calling 911.  The anxiety is pretty bad, It's hard for me to open my front door let alone sit in a waiting room.  The hot flashes and nausea are at the forefront right now.  

I'll admit I took a tramadol 37.5 mg today at 3 pm because I was so bad I couldn't get off the floor.  Just one I had been trying to take 1 every 12 hours as a sort of taper but went 24 hours as of noon.  By 3 I was toast.  I hope I didn't let you down.

The GP that had me quit cold turkey left me on 30 mg of cybalta I'm not sure what the point was and not sure if I should take it until I can get completely off tramacet.  I called the GP's office and they said just follow the DRS orders and if it get worse go to ER.

WHat is worse than what I'm going through?  I don't think they know what they are talking about.  I will say the pain is definately coming back.  That's probably what helped me decide to take the tramacet today.  I am taking adavan but it doesn't seem to help.

I was also taking Flexril all this time and today the pharmacist said that Cyclobenzapine is another no-no to take with Tramadol.  I'm suppose to keep taking this right now but to be honest I'm a bit afraid to take anything but the adavan.
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Avatar universal
Well, it's hard to say if you are out of the woods.  Honestly, if you are having confusion, then sounds like seratonin is still too high.  I would go and get checked out.  Can someone drive you to urgent care or ER?  We can discuss the pain and other stuff later, but I would feel better if you get looked at! : )  
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Just to let people know as well.  Before my injury I was taking Cencerta for a Sleep issue.  The Dr & Pharmacy said there should be no interactions with the Tramadol or Cymbalta If I took 1 or 2 to stay awake.

Don't do it.  Concerta stimulates the Nervous system and I literaly lost my mind for 24 hours.
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hey you're online!  :)
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AD is an ANTI Depressant.  I asked at the Pharmacy too about any interactions and was told no.  I hope I'm past the worst of it. I'd go to the ER but I'm afraid to leave the house.  :)  haha sounds stupid but I can control the Anxiety in my own home.  The rest is just plain hell.  Heat actually helps, I take hot showers and then crawl under a heating blanket.  This lets me sleep for about 1 hour until I'm so hot I'm sick.

I was given Cymbalta it also effect the serotonin levels

Tramahater:  Am I out of the woods yet?  I'm still very sick and it's a fight to keep my mind straight.  The pain is back but .... this will sound funny... I would rather have the plain level of 8 over the Tramadol.  The confusion and shivers are the worst today.  When I sleep I swear I am not going to wake up.  When I wake up it takes about 5 minutes for me to decipher what is real and what was the dream.
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Avatar universal
Anti depressant
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What's an AD?
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Avatar universal
OMG.....your doctor could have killed you honey!  NEVER take an AD with tramadol.  Good grief.  No wonder he said stop CT.  He knew he had messed up big time!

As you know, it's going to be ok.  It takes about a week, and I guess I don't have to describe the symptoms you are going to have??? : )

Take hot baths, and if you can get someone to go to the store for you, I'll make you a list of things to get to help A LOT!  

I'm so glad you are alive!!!  We will help you! : ))))) Hang in there!

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