what are the usual symptoms of tramadol withdrawl?

[packmule]

Hiya;  I am new to this group and want to know what are normal and abnormal symptoms of withdrawl from tramadol / ultracet.  My history is this.  I was having severe chronic pain.  My doctors at first did not believe me but eventually it was discovered that I had Fibro Myalgia Rheumatic (FMR).  Fine, then my rheumatologist gave me the ultracet max 8 a day.  After a couple years he cut me loose to have my PCP do the honors as it were.  My PCP nearly fainted when he saw how much I was allowed.  Note I was not taking any where near that amount!  It was more like three to four a day.  The PCP cut my dosing back to a max of 4 a day and I have been doing two to three a day for nearly eight years now.  I recently went to see a neurologist who put me onto Savella.  Fantastic!  The fog headedness of the FMR cleared, then the muscular myalgia and eventually the "all body tendonitis" (yes I know it is really ligaments there).  Now I am attempting to get off of those last two a day ultracet pills and things are not going as well as I had hoped.  The first few days were the tingling and pins and needles in the feet symptoms.  Then the extream sweating.  Last night felt like every bone in my body was broken.  The temptation to just go back to two a day is stong, but I have gone through a lot and do not want to have to repeat it all again.  Any thoughts on what to do?  thanks


This discussion is related to Tramadol side effects.

[packmule]

thanks for the support and advice!  I did not drop the tramadol cold turkey.  I just dropped one of the two doses per day.  I think though, after reading a bit on this, that what I will do is go to a half tab twice a day for a few weeks. I can then drop one half at a time to get free of it.  The problem with trying to do this through the docor is that I only see my neurologist every four or five months!  thank you once again for all the help and support.  Knowing that what you are going through is normal helps a lot strange as it may seem.  I don't mind feeling so poorly if I know that it is normal and will eventually "burn off".  It is easier to hold out if you can see that light at the end of the tunnel and know that it is not a train!

[GA Guy]

Just wait it out. If you start back, then it will only prolong the withdrawals. It takes a bit longer with Tramadol, but you should start feeling better soon.

[LeaAnn807]

Hmmm...an answer to your question:

Diarrhea
Aches and pains
Insomnia
chills and sweats
being very cold for a while
no energy
mild headache
runny nose
sneezing
yawning
watery eyes
RLS or restless arms (could be both, with muscle cramping)

I'll think of more, probably!  Try tapering.  I didn't and went cold turkey over a week ago.  It is hard but can be done!

Keep posting and let us know how you are doing!

[vicki595]

Also,you need to contact your Dr. for tapering help. I forgot to mention that...

So,welcome to the forum...  :)

V.

[vicki595]

Did you just STOP taking the tramadol?  It must be tapered. Stopping cold is dangerous.  I would try to gradually drop down by half a pill every week or two weeks.
I'm not an expert though.  Your symptoms are very common to withdrawal.  There are several on the forum who have experience with this drug.   If you stopped cold turkey,I would go back to the two a day today and begin to taper down in a few days. But,get back on it so you don't get really ill...

Keep posting
Vicki