tramadol withdrawal

[captd]

My wife is in her 4th day of tramadol withdrawal. She was taking 16 tramadol a day for 2 years. She has her first seizure in november and was still taking tramadol. She had her second seizure three days ago and was put on some type of seizure meds and quit tramadol cold turkey. She now hasnt slept for 2 and a half days in addition to her other symptoms. The Dr. prescribed her a sleeping pill tonight but she still cant sleep. I dont know what else to do. How long can she go without sleep before i take her to the er    Please help me....

[Pat1956100]

Hi and welcome to the forum
That's a pretty huge amount of tramadol your wife was on.
I am surprised they didn't suggest a taper instead of cold turkey.
Sleep is a huge problem during withdrawal from tramadol and it will come eventually.  She needs to relax and not fight it.  Watch some funny movies, anything to take her mind off of it and eventually she will get some sleep.

I know how terrible it feels and I panicked as well when I couldn't sleep for days.  I thought I was going to lose my mind.  It did come though.
Please keep posting if you have any other questions or concerns

[OpenMind24hours]

Lack of sleep goes with the territory during withdrawal. It's not really a medical emergency. I bet those sleeping pills will start to kick in pretty soon. Keep your family doctor closely on board during all of this. Please look below at the Thomas Recipe. Those are helpful items to have around right now. Your wife would also really benefit from soaking in a hot bath of Epsom Salts prior to trying for some sleep. Based on my personal experience detoxing from Vicodin,  it took about a week before the RLS let up enough for me to get 4 hours of sleep, and every night I soaked in a hot bath to calm things down. Once the detox lets up, it might be a good idea for her to look into an aftercare program because of the physical dependence. I wish you both the best of luck.

[captd]

Thank you for your concern. Her aches and pains and restlessnes have gotten better. Right now I,m concerned about her lack of no sleep. My daughter and I are taking turns getting off work to be with her. I guess its just one day at a time. I guess the Dr, cld turkied the tramadol because he put her on seizure meds and he said that what was causing her seizures. I dont care if I was dying I will never take a pain pill for anything.

[captd]

And thank you for the boost of confidence. Im sitting here right now watching her be awake for 62 hrs, I just wish she would dose off for a few hrs. I gave her her first dose of Ambien 5 hrs ago and nothing. I boosted it from the 5 and a half to 7 and a half and nothing.

[captd]

today my wife hasnt slept for over four days. I called the Dr. and he told me to put her back on Tramadol, three doses a day. I hope that works for now. Does that sound right to you.

[captd]

Thank you for your support. These past 5 days of withdrawal have been unbelievable for my wife. My daughter and i have been taking time off work so one of us can be with her at all times. My daughter is stressed to the max, i guess I,m a little stronger. Im retired from the p.d. and the army and saw a lot, but when its your own its completely different.  My wife is still employed and so far they have been understanding. Of course the main thing is her health and the heck with her job. I pray to god she gets some sleep today. I dont know how much more her body can take no sleep.

[vicki595]

You would be surprised how much sleep you can go without!  It's horrible though and I'm sure she's nearly psychotic right now...

You and your daughter are wonderful to be supporting her like this; she's very fortunate. Try helping her get as comfy as possible now: clean sheets, maybe a nice bath, cup of tea and a snack...She'll finally relax and go to sleep. I'm sure the Alteril will help it along unless you want to use the Ambien...

I know it's tough to watch all of this and I hope she never abruptly stops again. Tapering is just better all the way around although it's pretty hard for an addict to taper. That's where you come in!    Please let us know how she's doing; we're here to help.

[captd]

God bless you. It brings tears to my eyes to get support from other people who care.

[guitrldy]

So sorry to hear all you are going through.  Tramadol was originally thought to be non- addicting & many people have never been told about the risk of seizures when taking more than 400mg a day.  Is your wife's doctor educated in addiction medicine?  That is my one thought...the sleep issue is really a problem with so many of us withdrawing from opiates.  I agree that you should keep in close touch with her doctor.  What medicine is she on for the seizures by the way?  Good luck to you all.

[motye51]

It's so nice to see a family rally around someone they love!  You and your daughter are fantastic!  Your wife, her mother, needs all the help she can get right now, and maybe if your daughter see's the trauma her mothers in, it can prevent her from possibly making the same mistake!  Keep tight to your wife right now, she needs you now more than ever!  I leaned on my husband so much, I thank him every day for doing what he did for me.  You sound like good people! Good luck!

[Merri12]

I don't know she has made it so far. I woyld hate to see her start again with the tramadol. Maybe she could take a xanax or donething instead. Soynds stupid bu benadryl putse to sleep all the time. I see her being past the worst of this soon. Even 3 a day will start her all over again.  

And please say what her seizure medicine is. It may be causing some dide affects too. Dome are not the greatest on the body to take.

[captd]

Her seizure meds are Dylantin. I have a new Dr. for her. The first one said her 1st seizure was resolved and when she had her second and third one he would never call me back or push up her appt date.The first Dr put her on Gabipentin and a small dose of tramadol for the two months she was seeing him. As i said when she had a second and third seizure he would not call back or move up her appt in may. Big city Dr. i guess. Anyway when i brought her to a new Dr. he put her on Dylantin and took the tramdol away. Since she has been awake for 4 and a half days i called him today and he said to give her three tramadol today, one evry six hours, then one half tramadol three times a day starting tommorow. Shes been taking Ambien the last two days and hasnt slept a wink. I pray she sleeps tonite, if not back to the DR. tommorow. At least this Dr. answers my calls twice a day and gave me his cell phone number.

[Pat1956100]

Ugh your poor wife.  Unbelievable.  I still think that if you put her back on the trams and then reduce it by half again tomorrow that will be too much.
Vicki can really help with that.

How long ago did you give her the tram?  So far she has had just 1?  How many mgs is it?

You are amazing.

[captd]

one six hours ago and her second one just now  they are 50 g  she wont get a 3rd one today as it is 7pm here

[Pat1956100]

Did it help her at all?  Any sleep yet?

[captd]

NO BUT SHE ATE GOOD, TOOK A WARM BATH,AND IS WATCHING TV. SHE SEEMS MORE ALERT, I DONT KNOW IF THATS GOOD,   IM WAITING FOR HER TO GET SUPER TIRED AGAIN AND GIVE HER A NOTHER SLEEPING PILL  DR SAID SHE CAN ONLY GET ONE 5MG AMBIEN A DAY.

[Pat1956100]

Well it sounds like she is comfortable and that's the main thing.  I am praying she gets some sleep soon but it sounds like she is relaxed right now so don't stress about it.
Keep us posted.  I'm glad you have a doctor on board.  

[captd]

Over five days now without sleep. She dosed off and on last night about 5 times, maybe 20 minutes each time. Praying she sleeps today.

[vicki595]

The sleep will return. Her system just went into a type of shock with the abrupt withdrawal of all that Tramadol. It's not unusual.

I think keeping her on the Tramadol 3x per day as you did yesterday will help her system equilibrate.  Also, no caffeine right now...

Were the seizures explained to you as to cause?

[captd]

The Dr. did not know the cause of her seizure. She never has any problem until her first one in November. The Dr. thinks it could be from the tramadol use. She slept a few hours last night, over 6 days now. Shes getting super tired. She just laid down again. Im off to work, havent worked since sat, my daughter is with her today. The Ambien doesnt seem to work, Dr. said to give her sominex or ateril.

[vicki595]

You may want to do some reading about Tramadol. It can cause seizures in doses above the recommended 8 per day...

I've heard great feedback on Alteril.  Insomnia is very common in opiate withdrawal; are you still giving her the Tramadol 3x per day?  If not, she's gone back into withdrawal and this may go on for awhile...Hang in there-

[captd]

My wife finally slept last night for six hours. she just went to bed tonite and im praying she repeats. How long before we can start getting her off the trams.

[lizbuzz]

Hi Cap, been following your post here is a link that I hope helps its storys and support from people coming off of trams....I pray for the both of you stay strong....lizzy

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/989796/Tramadol--Ultram-Recovery-Room-61?personal_page_id=142