Tramadol withdrawal - Tips for getting through?

[kerry88]

It has been a little while since I last posted, I am now almost 5 weeks post op from my microdiscectomy. My doctors recommended that I come off tramadol when I ran out for a day and ended up feeling lousy. So they prescribed me another 30 capsules to wean off slowly. That was last week. As of tuesday night I had managed to cut down to just two doses but by cutting down one tablet I still felt ill, so I decided that I might as well go cold turkey and get it over with quicker.....I am regretting that decision now!! My withdrawal symptoms seem to be a general unwell feeling, lack of appetite, thirsty alot, raised temperature from the skin (not fever though) but inside I feel so cold, and to add to it now, I have just gone through the entire night without even a minutes sleep (and it isn't through lack of trying!!) and of course, pain....my pain in my back and down my leg has appeared, but i guess thats what the tramadol has been treating. I don't know what to do! I feel so ill and tired, I don't have the energy to be doing my full physio at the moment, and I feel tired but now don't want to let myself nap because I will just end up in the same cycle tonight not sleeping, and that will make me feel worse!

I don't want to give in and take a tramadol, but at the minute I feel like crying! I don't feel strong enough to do this! I have been feeling really depressed these past few days, nothing keeps my interest. I havent really seen or spoke to anyone much as my parents have gone on holiday so I am home alone, my friends havent really been in touch alot since my op, and I can't stop thinking that this time last year I was in South Africa, and so happy, and now I feel like I don't have a life, that I just exist, at 22, with no job/career options with my degree because my back ruined all of those. I am stuck at home. But I guess thats a whole other post!

I just need some help! Any tips you may have that helped you get through. Home remedies etc. I have seen in other posts online that people have used alcohol, and as much as I would love to use that method, I am still taking meds so don't want to mix!

[johnnythemoose]

Hi I feel for all you above I am on day 9 cold turkey. Bleeding nightmare. I had a lower disc opp in 2004 and used tramadol ever since. Good news I started running again  playing football and  packed up drinking because off the side effects off the pill  but never came off the tablets I found them the only way to start and end the day. Recently it got to the point where I would rather stay in and  pop  more and more pills instead of socialising. Then last week my mate pointed out I looked like **** and was I ok. I looked in the mirror and noticed just no colour in my face and a withdrawn look. I thought bollox to this its now or never and went cold turkey on the 6th. Usual problems overheating insomnia sneezing cold sweats 6 visits for a slash each night nausea feeling mentally low. To try and combat this if I could not sleep I would not fight it and get up and watch tele use the pc have a nibble drink loads of water then usually by 5am I sodded off to bed. When I awoke about 4 hours later I would either go for a run or walk but made sure I did something other wise the urge for the tablet tended to kick in. Heres a tip another good side effect of coming off the t word is sex is much more appealing now  and don't laugh apparently even cracking one off helps as it produces endorphins which stimulates the brain. Also lack off the endorphins causes the insomnia but good news sleeping patterns will return to normal but may take up to a month or so after coming off the tablet as the body reproduces them. So day 9 I have a much clearer head and the cold sweats are only now and then. The insomnia is still apparent but will subside in time. I have no urge for the tablet at all now and only have minor aches but now can manage a great stiffy which has been road tested on the wife so not all bad. I honestly feel for all try keeping busy even if you feel like **** keep drinking water confide in a friend and get the pills out of the house. If you feel itchy hot etc have a walk or go for a shower  keep  reading posts and pick the best tips to suit your situation.  good luck to all..

[jooooooolz]

Hi Everyone. I am lying here WIDE awake due to Tramadol, reading all these old posts. I really wish I had known about this before I took my first Tramadol, which was 7 months ago due to very bad pain from Gall stones. I was doing fine and had got down to one 50mg Tramadol a day, at night. Then the insomnia started. And it hasn't gone away. I have been to the doctor and been told I was "addicted" (the shame of it). I said I didn't see it as addiction but bad side effects, which I think is fair. Anyway, I am on a tapering off plan now. I hope it works, because I need sleep badly as I care for my elderly father. Anyway, it would be good to hear from some of the older postees to see how their lives are post Tramadol, or to hear from anyone else going through the same Tramadol nightmare as myself. I hope you are all still out there, and much better. I know I will certainly never trust Tramadol again, but it is hard as I cannot use codeine or ibuprofen for pain releif. Hope to hear from you. Thanks.

[Craigrs]

Tradol is pure evil and should be classified as a narcotic !!! I have had my L4-L5 fused 13 years ago. After my surgery , The first two years were hell for me.. I'm a very active person, i push myself more so then most ! after the first two years ive had really tolerable pain up until about 3 years ago... I have worked construction as a heavy equipment operator for 20 years. When I had my back surgery they said no more ... Yeah right !! Something I love and the only thing I know ! I kept with what I love tolerating minimal pain and trying many different pain meds , not liking the side effects , hangovers etc...
My sister too had a back surgery and was taking tramadol. She knew I was having issues so she gave me a few of her tramadol to try..
I found what I thought was a miracle pill !!! I could move , had no side effects, hangovers etc..  
Miracle pill my *** !!!! That was the worse thing I could have ever done!
Starting out 50mg , now taking up to 600mg at times .. i have been on them for about 2 1/2 years now, tried to stop many time with many methods..... By far the hardest thing I have ever Tried to do!!!
im a great big guy , 260lbs 6'3" tall athletic build a big tough guy until it comes to this issue !! I'm nothing but a big weak baby !!!
I have experienced all your pain, sicknesses , lack of sleep etc.. One thing that makes it worse for me is my wife is a RNBSN(nurse) I have talked to her about it as we'll as my Dr...
I have medical professionals I have been to and they basically tell me to slowly tapper.. I have tried many times !!! Then they basically tell me its all in my head!!! I'm lost !
I'm about to Check myself to a rehab as I can't get away from tramadol ! It ***** and I wish you all the best !!!! When you find the best way let me know !!!

[kerry88]

thankyou for your post, it has now been 3 weeks since i stopped taking tramadol, it really has been a difficult time but things have definately improved. I am now taking diclofenac and co-codamol to manage my post-op pain, which seems to not have improved much, but i think it might be because i am trying to do more as time goes on, and so aggravating the pains somewhat. As for the withdrawal, I think I am mostly clear....the only things I am still suffering with is the insomnia (my doctor prescribed zopiclone which works but i can't take more than 2-3 nights a week without risking addiction to them! so the rest of the time I struggle with my sleep.) and also, although I don't know if this is the withdrawal, but when i get up and throughout the day I feel really exhausted and my body is craving sugar constantly, and when i do eat somehting sweet it makes me feel better for a little while.....I am not pregnant and don't have any iron or blood problems that would explain this lack of energy or cravings so I think I have to put it down to the tramadol withdrawal!

also....as a random thing that made me laugh tonight whilst watching tv, there is a new show that Frankie Boyle (scottish comedian) is showing on tv at the end of the month called 'Frankie Boyles Tramadol Nightmares'.....I hope this may bring people's awareness to the evils of tramadol! It is a comedy show though, but maybe I will appreciate the humor more having experienced it....I suppose it is ok to look back and laugh about the misery now it is over....!

[rad221]

You said that the first 7-10 were awful? What kind of side effects did you continue to have after that?

[Lisaclark2]

I just went through this as well.  I went from over 400 MG a day to 0.  I suffered from Serotonin Syndrome and had to stop all meds with no step down.  It was hell and my Gp didn't warn me about any withdrawal.

I talked to the head pharmacist at the Hospital after the worst was over and was told that it takes about 4 to 6 weeks after you completely stop for the body to get back to normal, for your system to reset.  Every day will get a bit better and you need to focus on the improvements no matter how small.

I found that hot showers and crawling into bed under covers (even though I felt like I was 100 Degrees) allowed me to sleep a few hours at a time.  The first 7 to 10 days were hell, the anxiety from the Serotonin Syndrome with the withdrawal kept me inside my house.  I had panic attacks just at the thought of leaving even to go to the hospital.

It's been 2 months now and almost all the symptoms are gone.  They are now starting me on a new med but it affects the Serotonin levels so they are taking things very slow.  I won't get any relief for about 3 months based on the current step up schedule.  I would take the pain over the withdrawal.

Good luck and stay strong. It does get better  :)

[rad221]

I have been on Tramadol 2 tablets 2x day for about 15 months.  I was prescribed it for menstrual cramps and only took it for about 2-3 days a month.  Then I got pregnant and had no need for it.  My husband and I went on a trip and I forgot my breast pump so I had to "dry up" cold turkey.  The only thing we had with us for pain was some Tramadol from the year prior to getting prego.  So I started taking it for the mastitis and when I got home I realized it gave me energy and with a 4 month old who had colic, the energy was a godsend.  Now 15 months later I am still taking it and am attempting the process of detox.  I started 1 week ago and I am down to 1 tablet in the morning and 1 at night.  I was wondering what your doctor's next step is for your weaning process.  I feel dizzy and my head is fuzzy and have the warmness to my skin but it is manageable and I want to keep going.  I am on a vacation with my hubby and have to go home to my 18 month old and I do NOT want to start up again and I want to keep going but cannot go through major withdrawal.  I would love to see my doctor about this but she is good friends with my mom and I cannot risk her saying anything.  My mom went through having a mother with opiate addiction her entire life.  She was a functioning addict meaning most ppl did not know.  My mom is extremely against the use of narcotics and I do not want to let her down.  My son is no longer colicky and I do not need a false sense of energy to function.  I am extremely hard headed and know that I can quit this and never take this fool drug again.  I have never been addicted to anything in my life and I don't even like the was narcotics make me feel.  After my c-section I would not even take my pain meds except before bed because they made me tired and depressed.  But tramadol is the opposite.  I felt energized and happy.  Every month I would try to figure a way off and then would have a menstrual period and start the process over.  I decided to just take the Advil and toradol (not a narcotic and no euphoric side effects) for the cramps.

Sorry so long winded but I really want to do this right so please let me know the rest of your tapering regimine.

[kerry88]

Hi, not too late at all! :-) It is a relief to see someone who has felt withdrawal effects even after being on them for a month! It has been a week since my last tramadol, and I do feel alot better than I did. Still not sleeping much at all so feeling really drained and still waking up sweating when I do sleep. I am seeing the doctor tomorrow and hopefully they can find me a new balance of pain meds to just stop the pain, and help me sleep, which would hopefully help me feel a little more able to take on my exercise plans without feeling so drained and needing to take breaks so often! I accept that I am not going to be pain free, at least for a little while, and maybe not even then, but I am trying to stay positive! I just want my life back!

[kerry88]

My mum is exactly the same! The day they got back I was feeling really ill, couldn't control my temperature and hadn't slept. I was also in alot of pain as I haven't found a balance of meds to control the pain that the tramadol was controlling. And all she could do was have a go that I wasn't helping her tidy up the kitchen. It is so difficult for them to understand I suppose. Neither parent has understood that my back won't heal as quick as I had initially hoped (I was naiive!) and are arguing with me that although I am walking on the treadmill when I have the energy, I should be going out and walking, but I live on a steep hill and the weather is horrible. I don't particularly find the idea of struggling up a hill in the freezing rain that appealing whilst feeling the way I do!! I felt better when they were on holiday, I could at least wander around the house when I was having trouble sleeping....can't do that now as it would wake them up!

I have a memory foam mattress topper and memory foam pillow, it is better for supporting my spine and stopping me moving about when I do manage to get some sleep which is useful! Off to the doctors in the morning to get something to help me sleep I hope!!

[mkh9]

Hi sorry if I'm late in this post. I haven't been on this site for a while. I was on Tramadol for a month and I went down to 50mg/day and then went off. It took me 5 days to get over the withdrawal but you can do it! I had shaking (hand tremors) severe back pain (I know I have back pain but this was much higher for one day). I was sweating, well unwell, or sickly, had respiratory distress somewhat. I'm sure I had other symptoms like insomnia. I can't think of. But after 5 days that was it. So, taper to 50mg and get off. A few bad days but it will be over. It is hard for back pain as there are no really good pain relievers that are not addictive. I take Ibupropin and Tylenol 3 times a day.I take one benedryl (over the counter) to sleep lately. The Ibupropin helps some for the inflammation and so forth. Many days it is not good enough but I deal with it. I also have some stomach pain so I may switch back to Celebrex but that gives me insomnia after taking it 4 days in a row. It also doesn't work for pain as well but I can't get an ulcer.. Good luck, I know you can do it.
mkh9

[HoDoEo]

I am sorry to hear about that experience you had with your parents not being very understanding. My mother stayed with me for a couple of days during my ordeal, and I almost immediately regretted it. She was NOT understanding, and was pushy in almost every way, suggesting I "take a few minutes" to wash the dishes or vacuum or fold laundry...at times that I could barely even sit or stand or walk. I just wanted her to let me sleep and help me feel support. It turned out to be insanely stressful, and I found that as soon as she left, I felt soo much better. I hope you find some relief soon. Do you have good pillows? I find that makes such a difference. Having a clear, quiet, comfy bedroom through the withdrawals helps some I think. Good luck!

[kerry88]

Thankyou for replying! I tried to reply on my phone earlier but it didnt appear for some reason! How is your withdrawal going now? I am still struggling to sleep, i find it harder as I am most comfortable sleeping on my front and kind of twisted, but I now have to accommodate for my back as well so I can;t get as comfy as I would like! As for finding people to talk to....my parents came home from a holiday on friday, and I was initially glad that I would have some help and company to get me through....I was wrong! My dad has been working alot, and my mum is the opposite of sympathetic. She has decided it is my fault I feel like this because I shouldn't have taken them for so long, and that I am just being lazy and should be going about day to day life as normal even though I am in pain and running on lack of sleep. I have tried to explain to her how it all feels but I guess you can;t know unless you experience it, and apparently she is useless at empathy! Nothing like making you more depressed than your own mother making out that all your failures are your own fault! haha!

Hopefully the doctors will be able to help me out! :-)

[kerry88]

Thanks for your reply. I am now a week in to this whole cold turkey thing, and although it isnt anywhere near as bad I am still not sleeping much (managed 4 hrs for two nights and then last night only managed 3!) It is so frustrating, I wake up absolutely soaked in sweat, even if i feel cold. I am still getting the same as you said with the sweating and shivering. My appetite is ok, I am craving alot of sugar which i suppose is my body trying to keep energy up on so little sleep. I have experienced hearing things, familiar sounds like the phone ringing when it hadnt etc, but nothing alarming. I have nightmares whenever I sleep which has been so difficult as it brought back memories of my nanna passing, and it was really upsetting! :-( I wish I had stuck with the weaning as i don;t think it would have been as bad as this for this long, but my tramadol are capsules so I cnt take half doses and feel that taking one now would take me back a step after all i have been through going cold turkey.

I am seeing my surgeon tomorrow evening, and then going to the doctor to extend my sick note, as there is no way I could find a job and keep it at the minute! and to get some painkillers, as ibuprofen and paracetemol don't quite cut it. As well as discussing sleeping medication options, as I am getting so desperate for a long, dreamless sleep! I know they say sleeping meds don;t provide the same quality of sleep but sureley 8 or 9hrs medicated sleep is better then 3 hrs of nightmare sleep!? What really frustrates me is that it is taking this long for the withdrawal effects to stop, but I had only been on them 5 weeks. Most people I see suffering from this are those that have been on for months and years. Does that mean something about me, like more prone to addictions or something?

I am sorry to hear about your headaches. That does sound bad, and it must get in the way of enjoying your kids at times, i mean, I have trouble looking after my nephew with a normal headache! I hope they find out what it is, I suppose it is good they havent found anything lifethreatening that they do tests for straight away, but then bad that they can't find a cause that they can treat either! Hopefully they solve it soon! :-)

I am so sorry to

[Sum5150]

I hope everyone knows what I meant when I wrote the "1 tab in the morning, 1 tab in the afternoon, 1 tab at night" thing, was that that "tablets" I'm referring to are the Tramadol.
I go back to my doctor on Friday where she will prescribe another week's work of Tramadol with an additional "step-down" weaning process like she did this week - but with less to take of course.
After next week, I am off of the Tramadol completely.  She has me scheduled for an MRI tomorrow so we can start all over and figure out these darn headaches.  I am happy to be off that medication.  :-)

[HoDoEo]

I am on day 9 of having no Tramadol, after taking it 4x a day for about a year. One thing I discovered during my withdrawal process from Tramadol that I believe is worth sharing: The worst problem I had during the first few nights was the creep crawly restless arms and legs that I just COULD NOT keep still long enough to relax and sleep. Well, after a couple of horrific nights, I discovered that when I bent my arms and legs tightly (works best with arms bent above head kind of) the creepy crawliness was minimized greatly. I guess it prob. has to do with the blood flow, not really sure. All I know is, this really helped me so I wanted to share it for others to at least try if they are going through withdrawals and suffering from this problem. Also, I found it helpful to take vitamins, drink lots of water, and especially to reach out to maybe one or two people you are very close to. Talking about your experience and the way you are feeling is one of the best things you can do to ensure success in stopping and to feel better faster. Don't commit to anything extra during this time, and if possible try to take a few days off of work and if you have young children, hire a babysitter - you will be glad you did. Withdrawals were horrible for the first 3-4 days, and every day truly gets better. I feel a lot better now and you will too. Hope this helps someone :)