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983592 tn?1249762935

tramadol and thyroid disorder

I was on tramadol for several years as per previous posts. I'm  now down to 50/day form 750/day .  This was a failry rapid taper over 2 weeks.  

I've been on synthroid for years secondary to hypothyroidism.  Last week I still felt like **** and had a thyroid level checked.  It was extremely low.

Has anyone ever heard of tramadol affecting the metabolism  of synthroid?
4 Responses
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Avatar universal
Hi, I just had a total thyroidectomy done 7/25 and the doctor gave me Tramadol for pain. It did not help me at all, and in fact seemed to start some problems that I hadn't had before and also made pain worse, and so I disposed of them. Now I have back of neck & head migraines that are hanging onto me all day long, and Tylenol doesn't help. I've been told not to take Ibuprofen.  
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Avatar universal
Good posting Red......

I only had Tramadol (50mg) for pain when 2 shoulder reconstructions and even then, I only took them for 2-3 days as they knocked me for six!
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219241 tn?1413537765
Having come off long term heavy duty medication myself, I would say you are having a withdrawal effect. Tramadol is one of the more potent pain relievers on the market. It is a type of opiate and as such is very addictive and also very hard to give up!
Unless you have been told by a professional to drop your previous dose to the one you take now, I would go back up abit and then start again. It is imperative that it takes around 6 weeks to taper off any drug like Tramadol.
For example;
250 per day for 2 weeks
150 per day for 2 weeks
  100 per day for 2 weeks
50 per day for 2 weeks
then obviously none after that!
Use that as a guide. As I said, if you have been told to drop your dose by a doctor that much and so quickly then you need to talk to them about what is happening to you.
I had to stop cold turkey from over 375mgs a day on Effexor to zero, rather than the 6 week withdrawal and it was worse than heroine withdrawal. (not that I have ever done heroine but that;s what they told me) It was extremely difficult and the psychosis was horrendous. Just the brain wanting the drug back again. It wasn't even a valium based one!   ( I had heart issues and was told my dose was a mistake..after 8 years!!!!!!)

You may find that as you are withdrawing the medication it is affecting how your body is reacting, and this includes the thyroid. Rather than it directly affecting it, it is fighting your withdrawal to it, and performing poorly.
Personally I would go back to the doctor and discuss the whole thing. You could point out the withdrawal sessions I mentioned and  see how you go.

Cheers
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Tramadol does not affect Synthroid unless it is taken together with the thyroid med or within an hour of taking it.
I found it doesnt affect the absorbtion...it just makes you 'off ya face'.
I would say an increase in synthroid is on the cards.
Get your levels checked.
A lot of 'issues' can affect the thyroid levels including stress and illness.
Helpful - 0
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