tramadol withdrawal

[Birdie23]

I am in the process of getting off of tramadol. It was prescribed for me for ocassional use for mild to moderate pain like headache, muscle soreness, etc. I used it only ocassionally for several months. About 4 months ago, I became involved in a fairly intense project and was experiencing more discomfort. Without really thinking much about it, I started using tramadol every day and then increased this to 2-3 times each day. The dosage was 100mg, so I was taking 100-300mg daily (or 2-6, 50mg pills) for 3 months. After I finished the project in mid-may, I decided that I needed to stop using a drug to get through the day, so I tried to just stop taking it. WOW! Serious withdrawal symptoms including joint and muscle pain, stomch issues, fatigue, depression and a strange hollowness in my nerves ensued. I didn't feel I could just stop functioning for a week or two or whatever it would take, so I used some hydrocodone that I had to help me get my tramadol use down to 100mg per day over the course of a week. I would just take the hydro when I started feeling really bad in the afternoon to get me through the rest of the day. Then, I decided to just quit the tramadol altogether. The withdrawal was really difficult. I was worried about getting addicted to the hydro, so I got some concentrated kratom powder and was alternating use with the hydro every day or two so that neither of them was in my system daily. This got me through week 2 which was a reduced amount of muscle pain, but more fatigue, lethargy, depression. Now I am beginning my third week. I am out of hydro and I am still experiencing some muscle and joint stuff, but the big problem is the lethargy and depression. It's just kicking my butt. The kratom is very helpful in this and lifts the dark cloud that I seem to wake up with, but I'm worried about an addition to this as well. I am now taking about 1.5-2 grams in the early afternoon to get through the rest of the day. I am not using any other drugs or substances. I have never been addicted to anything before and wasn't abusing the tramadol. It didn't make me high or anything, but it did get rid of ALL of my aches and pains and let me do everything I needed to in the day. I don't have any major pain and I know I shouldn't have been so lazy about my health. Now, I am trying to be really careful without losing myself to laying on the couch all day. My questions are: How long will the tramadol withdrawal take to be completely over? and How long can I use a small amount of Kratom on a daily basis without just creating another addiction that I have to get over? Or can I just slowly reduce the kratom to avoid the withdrawal since it is a powder and very easy to measure out? Any thoughts on this would be helpful. I am reluctant to engage my physician in this too much. he knows I am having withdrawal fromt he tramadol, but I don't want to ask for any other drugs if I don't have to. I just feel like I've done something really studpid and I want to get through it without his help, if possible. Thanks!

[Anna271na]

I hate Tramadol. Amatriptiline. Doxepin. Remeron. All the old tricyclic anti-depressants that are used for sleep. They made me feel sluggish the following morning and day (to say the least), didn't HELP with sleep, caused chest rashes, acne, and  weight gain. The weight gain has something to do with how the meds affect glucose storage/conversion/insulin levels..Don't know exactly the mechanism off hand. Info is out there. So, the weight gain is independent of diet, lifestyle (exercise etc.).

Finding something to sleep is very frustrating for me. I've tried Ambien and it seems to keep me awake. I don't understand. I've had insomnia for years...since I was a kid. I have to be so dead tired from hardcore lack of sleep and heat and exercise to actually get a real night's rest/sleep. I don't know what else to do or try. And a note of caution! Do not take Seroquel for sleep. It's an antipsychotic with off label use for sleep, anxiety et al. It really messed with me physically and emotionally. HIGH risk for obesity and possibly diabetes. It took a long time to rid myself of the massive weight gain (on my small body), acne (again), and boils. It did knock me out, but not worth it, imo. Was touted by therapist as some miracle drug in 2009..to help with depression, anxiety, sleep. Again, I slept like a rock and woke up feeling decent, but the side effects made my "depression" and anxiety worse.

Perhaps those with bipolar feel the side-effects are worth what it does to level moods...but otherwise, I would steer clear. Again, my opinion. It also caused peripheral edema; swollen feet, ankles, calves. And I really do think it f'ed with my metabolism (or insulin or whatever) in general and for some time. Forever I was 5'2, 110lbs, clear skin etc. For a long period after stopping, I really struggled to lose the weight...as, again, I really think it did a number on my system. Along with trying all of the other aforementioned drugs. Also, after stopping the Seroquel, I was up for days at a time. I literally began hallucinating from lack of sleep...3, 4, 5 days. I was flinching at the walls in my bedroom which were breathing green and purple...hearing my name being called. Sleep paralysis. ::Shaking out limbs::: Just be careful. And there isn't much that one can't become dependent upon, really. Dummy me, just stopped taking offending drugs when I couldn't take it...BUT one would be replaced by another pretty seamlessly until it came to the Seroquil. That I just stopped. I felt I HAD to.  I did all the research on all of these drugs (and more) and won't ever again. I'll find something...I know I willl. I myself must wake early, I haaave to,  expend energy, meditate, soft music, supplements....  When I DO sleep well, as I'm sure many can attest to, it's a blessing. Be well. Look into prescribed meds. Don't just pop whatever "they" say. I'm sure some have had fine experiences. I dunno. I'll hafta read more. I have an interview tomm and I am WIDE awake...ACK. Best! -A

[Lotusinspired1]

I had a spinal fusion in 2008 and was on vicodin for a short period of time post-operatively.  I eventually switched to tramadol and was taking it 2-3 times per day during the initial recovery period.  Once I got to where I was walking well and felt that I was recovered from my back surgery (if you ever really are), I was down to just one tramadol in the evening around 6 pm after being active all day.  I must say, after reading all these posts, that I don't find this drug a problem.  I have never been an "addict" and in the 60's, early 70's experimented with things that were around but never found anything worth wrecking my life over.  I feel that after reading other posts from people who have back surgeries and end up on multiple pain meds, having multiple surgeries, that this medication has kept me moving and enjoying life at just one a day.  I find no problem with this and will continue to utilize this as long as it keeps me moving.  I hike, do all my own housework, have painted the entire downstairs of our home recently and usually do all of this activity and then when I start getting stiff or a twinge of sciatica, the tramadol takes care of it.  I have been taking one a day since the fall of 2008 and don't intend to quit as long as I am able to be this active after a spinal fusion.  I am 59 years old and don't feel a bit of guilt about utilizing this medication.  As long as a person is using a medication responsibly, why should they not have access to something that truly benefits them without all the hype about addiction?  I think anti-depressives are much more abused in this country than this drug, although it does have a SSRI component to it (which I am well aware of).  Just my personal experience with this drug which I have not found to be life altering other than in a positive way.  

[delta210]

That is a shame that these Doctors are now forcing you to take Tramadol I am taking it now because I was in so much pain I could not handle it by myself and this is the only thing they are giving you now something that you have to taper off of are you will regret the day you was every on it. My husband went to the Doctor yesterday because he was having pain in his knees, I want him to go and see if the Doctor could give him a Cortizone shot in his knees for the pain. But instead the Doctor gave him Tramadol and told him to take 100mg twice a day, thank God I asked him to see what the Doctor gave him because I use the computer to learn knowledge about things like medication I am taking and other stuff. When I found out that this Doctor gave him Tramadol I asked my husband did you take this yet and thank God he did not. My husband is on anti depressant and you can not take this drug if you are taking anti depressant because it is to much Serotonin and can cause Serotonin syndrome which is a potentially life threatening drug reaction that causes the body to have too much serotonin, a chemical produced by nerve cells. I will be calling his Doctor myself on Tuesday because Monday is a Holiday but he will hear from me on this one, my husband said he did not tell him about the anti depressant but still it is in his file and that is the first thing a Doctor should look at is the medication that you are on and are presently taking. If I would not have caught this this could have kill my husband you know I am not a happy camper right now.

So If anyone is out there that is taking this drug please do not take this if your are on any of these drugs you can develop this syndrome if you take Tramadol with any of these medication  

migraine medicines called triptans together with antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selective serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs). Popular SSRI's include Celexa, Zoloft, Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, and Lexapro. SNRI's include Cymbalta and Effexor. Brand names of triptans include Imitrex, Zomig, Frova, Maxalt, Axert, Amerge, and Relpax. these drugs

[delta210]

If you are on Tramadol you are going to have to taper yourself off of this drug just like if you were on a anti depressant, because that is what you are actually dealing with a anti depressant a drug that it is dealing with receptors in the brain not just your flesh.

[delta210]

Doctors are pushing this Tramadol now like crazy what is up with this! Is this because all these actor/actress like Whitney Houston are over dosing or something. I have used pain pills off and on for different things I have went through concerning pain and was never hooked on pain medications. These Doctors can not handle everyone like if they are drugs addicts this is crazy I am not crazy about downers anyway I barely have energy now, but if I am in pain I am in pain and do not need to be on anti depressant to control my pain.  Than they put you on Tramadol and do not tell people that this is a form of anti depressant it blocks the receptors that deal with pain but it is still messing with your brain just like ant depressant would do. Anyone that ever had been on anti depressant knows that you cannot just stop them because the withdrawls are horrible. I was taking effexor 37.5 mg the smallest amount you can take and I stop this drug and I thought a was going to die. I had brain zaps I still cry alot and I have been off them for over 7 months. I have problems remembering things now. But now I had frozen shoulder and the doctor gave me Tramadol because they do not believe in giving norcotic, well what do they think this Tramadol is watch and see if this does not make it on the schedule drug sheet soon because from what I understand this is very addictive or causes a dependency but really what is the difference it means you are addicted regardless of how they flavor it.

[delta210]

You should not be taking Tramadol if you are on any type of anti-depressant, Tramadol has a anti- depressant in it this is why you have to taper yourself off of the Tramadol. But if you are taking Tramadol and anti- depressant it is very dangerious and can cause seizure an can also be fatal. Always tell your doctors if you are on anti- depressant do take it for granted that he will look at your meds because sometimes they don't.