Coming off Tramadol
Posted , 127 users are following.
Hello all,
I am after some friendly advice. 12 Jan I had a riding accident, hurt my shoulder. It was previously injured (dislocation/fracture of humerus) and it's been weak ever since. Doc put me on cocodamol as of 14th, and then on the 17th I was back at docs because they were making me sick. He put me on tramadol. 2x 50mg tablets three times a day.
I wasn't warned about any possible side effects, other than they may cause drowsiness.
11 weeks later, I can't kick it. I no longer require the tramadol for pain. They tried a weaning programme. I was given Tramadol SR tablets. I cut from 300mg a day to 200mg. One tablet morning, one tablet evening for a week. The week after I was cut down to 100mg tablet in the morning, then nothing.
I lasted a day before I used some left over regular tramadol.
The effects were horrific when I initially changed the dosage, but I thought it would be okay with cutting down and then coming off completely. I was ready for some side effects, but not what happened in reality.
Headaches, nosebleeds, sickness, sweats, freezing cold, aggressiveness, exhaustion, tearful, restless, insomnia.
I had some very very dark thoughts that I haven't had in years. I took the tramadol and felt ten times better.
I have a doctor's appointment today, but they tend to be as much use as a chocolate teapot. Any recommendations or information you think will be helpful to take with me is greatfully appreciated.
A nurse over the phone expressed she thought that the time frame for coming off them was too short, and the leap from 100mg to none was too much.
Please help.
I know I have a problem, but I'm scared to come off them and become the horrid, nasty person I was at the weekend. My rational thoughts tell me once I stop for good I'll be back to normal, but I don't have those rational thoughts when I try and come off them. I need them to cope with the most simple of tasks.
18 likes, 387 replies
Esserene fizzysoap
Posted
I have a great deal of experience with Tramadol and agree it is the worst narcotic I've had to break. I see plenty of horror stories so instead I'll focus on helping with the withdrawal.
If you can get Xanax, do so. If not, by far the worst part for me was a lack of sleep. I did finally come up with a process that sounds strange but worked for me.
First get Sominex not anything like benadryl. Next, purchase a homemedic or similar hand held ADJUSTABLE SPEED massage machine. I've had mine for years and paid 40.00 for it originally.
Tape the handle of the massager to a kitchen chair using gorilla tape or other strong flexible tape. Tape it in a location to where the massage head will land on the corner of your bed. Turn it on the lowest setting and put in earplugs.
Lay down to sleep and then VERY slowly move the vibration rate up. Eventually, in my case I hit a spot where 90% of the muscle spasms are litterely pulled from your body. I can't explain why it works but in my case I can sleep through the night.
Don't skip the earplugs as I may have suffered hearing loss from using this for a week straight, nightly.
Hope this helps everyone!
davidjk22 fizzysoap
Posted
I have been taking tramadol for about 2 years , I don't have any problem , only take them for pain , 50mg sometimes 2 capsules 4 times a day . In times when I have no pain I do not take it , and don't have any side effects at all .
nicole6990 fizzysoap
Posted
tim45167 fizzysoap
Posted
I have been taking the tramodol and codiene 'super-addititive' or synergistic combination since early 2005, nearly 12 years, for chronic pain issues.
From time to time I have 'reset' myself by actually coming-off them 100% just long enough so that re-starting on just one 50mg cap and one 30mg codiene tab once per day gives the same result as 3 or 4 times that much of each per day normally does.
?At those 'as per script instruction' levels WD symptoms are pretty non-existent really . . (the script stated 2 of each up to 3 times per day)
?But ...BUT ...if you fall into the trap of ramping up the dosage to try to get a 'better' result ..and you wind up taking a whole card of ten 50mg caps and 10 30mg codiene tabs along with them ...and then you bang that up again by say 150% again to say 15 or 16 of each per day...........
Then, it is a different story altogether
?Yes, I have done this too ! Why? obviously because they were becoming less and less effective as to being virtually useless.... taking 10 or 15 of each was no 'better' that 3 or 4 (or 5) each per day back in the good old days of super effectiveness when the dosage was being taken correctly. The lower the maintained dose taken ONCE per 24 hour period was the ONLY way NOT to get hooked on them, and yet still have a darned good ongoing pain relief (and the co-incidental bonus psych boost)
?Right now I am doing a CT from 200mgs and zero codiene except for a daily correct dose of tylenol with 16mgs codiene per quarterly daily dose (to get a 100% reset) and I am not enjoying it at all because I had ramped waaay up my doses over the last 2 to 3 months.... so there is a considerable bit of misery to go through ....not sleeping ....sore stomach ....sniffling ...sneezing ....no appetite ....horrid thoughts ...restless legs ...sweating ...chills etc and this never happened before when I was responsible with the medication, only since I ramped way up to stupid doses...silly me
?I just hope suffering the CT to the end (this is day two going on day three) will give me the 'reset' back to a fresh start with them that I am looking for, cos I still have the pain to cope with . .
Once before with worsened pain a year ago when my tibial nerve went into full compression I semi-ramped out of desperation and had to 'reset' with some CT.
?Luckily, back then I had some out of date Mirtazipine (SSRT inhibitors) and taking a month's supply in a week and a half during the whole CT that saved me from the horrid symptoms I am now seeing for myself. Also, I took some other-acting pain relievers that time too, and they helped in that regard.
So, basically this is my first BIG CT . .
?I will let you know how much longer it goes on for.. if there any tramadol or codiene meds in my house i would be taking them right now ! ! lol
(
?Next Wednesday is my next scheduled resupply date (5 days to go)
oh boy . . miserable
john12107 fizzysoap
Posted
Coming off tramadol
what worked for me
book 2 weeks off work or phone employer to say you have flu which is what the withdrawal symptoms are really like so your not strictly telling a white lie.
Mix 1 whole lemon in every 1 litre of water,drink twice the amount of water you would normally drink as this will flush your system (approx 2 litres a day)
Each dark chocolate or honey sweets or similar as this releases serotonin to ease the symptoms (you may put on a couple of pounds over 3 weeks but at least you'll be off the tramadol)
Use nightnurse for the insomnia (green bottle version not orange bottle version) or valerian root extract.
i was taking 2 x 50mg in morning and 2 x 50mg at night so I set my mobile phone alarm for every 8 hours so I was taking one exactly every 8 hours (3 x 50mg a day which is 25% reduction, 3 a day instead of 4)
do this for full week (7 days)
next 7 days set your phone alarm every twelve hours and take one tablet every twelve hours. 2 x 50mg a day = 50% reduction.
third week then 1 x 50mg a Day the symptoms should be very manageable by then.
week 4: 1 x 50 mg every 2 days then stop
very important you do the alarm thing so you build a pattern for your body to get used to,...no random taking of dose
good luck
john the builder
robert26046 john12107
Posted
Huge difference between a 200mg a day habit & a 1500-2000mg a day habit. I also kicked Tramadol after an 8 year habit at the above dosage range. My method for breaking free however certainly wouldn't be for everbody/advisable however I was willing to do anything to get off that poison. Withdrawals are brutal/unrelenting for some that are on high doses. You get to withdraw from u drug that attaches to the opioid receptors as well as one that acts as an extremely potent SSRI, so it's the double whammy. There are videos out there (online) of "severe" Tramadol withdrawal that are horrible to watch. The flu? By day 2, the flu would be a blessing and a welcome reprieve in place of the Tramadol withdrawal. Have withdrawn from Heroin years ago in my 20's and that by no means compares to the despair and anguish of Tramadol withdrawal. To all those trying to obtain freedom from this drug, and all drugs for that matter, you have my prayers you can and will do it
john12107 robert26046
Posted
WOW 2000mg, I once took 4 x 50 mg at once and it made me feel weird even though I'd been taking them for 5 years, I also spent most of my twenties taking huge amounts of cocaine,speed,MDMA,and weed so I'm no drug virgin! 2000mg to me that's crazy, how did you get the prescriptions? Here in the U.K. You can't legally get drugs without a prescription/certificate, if I went to ask the doctor for 60,000 mg a month he would think I'm crazy.
If the pain was that bad they would put you on other meds.
robert26046 john12107
Posted
That's the thing, tolerance builds over time, so in turn does you're need for the energy, motivation, and feeling of general well-being from the Tramadol. Not a high like one gets from true opoids, but a feeling of numbness, and a feeling that no matter what (and I do mean no matter what) happens, all is okay. I was initially put on them for pain yes (herniated disc causing sciatica) but long after surgery and long after the pain had subsided, I realized I wasn't getting off them anytime soon. By the last 3 years of my addiction I had starting committing prescription fraud to obtain them. The havoc they wreaked on my CNS is still felt from time to time, and sleep, well, it's gonna take awhile I guess.
Thanks for the response
diane19213 fizzysoap
Posted
Anyone out there? I been taking transform for at least five years and my Dr told me today she will not give me anymore even after I told her um addicted so she prescribed lorazapam while can't fill till Monday cuz she messed up the prescription tomoro I will have nothing and I don't know what to do 424.219.1345
diane19213 fizzysoap
Posted
Hi been on tramadol ten years just took my last four pills today my Dr told myself she will giv Mr no more I told her I need to taper off slowly and she won't even talk to me pic been reading all. The horror stories in scared o feel she is at fault because she has-been giving it to me for ten years straight I suffer from depression as it is what do I do? Will hospital give me some?
thebird55 diane19213
Posted
Unlikely, but it wouldn't hurt to try. If you are in the US, you could go to an ER and tell them exactly what's going on. Tell them you realized you were addicted, discussed it with your Dr, and then tell them about the prescription mix-up (I saw your other post). They might at least give you a benzodiazepine (like your Dr tried to do) to last until Monday. A benzo will prevent seizures (which really aren't all that likely anyway) and make withdrawal symptoms easier to deal with.
diane19213 thebird55
Posted
thebird55 diane19213
Posted
You may not know that tramadol also acts as an SSRI antidepressant, which is addictive in itself. One drug, two effects. I would think it best to try to first switch to an actual opiate (tramadol is not a true opiate, but an opioid) while your serotonin levels stabilize, then detox from the opiate. Fighting one devil at a time. This method takes planning and preparation, of which you apparantly do not have the luxury.
Other than that, benzodiazepines (lorazapam, alprazolam, etc.) are the only drugs I know of that help. They relieve some symptoms, and simply help you to simply feel better about others ("I don't care" pills).
tim45167 thebird55
Posted
I came off by CT about 3 weeks ago (daily in one dose 200mg tramadol and 120mg codiene phosphate was the last dosage reduced down to) and it was something that even after one whole week had not 'stabilized' in that I still felt miserable even though all t physical symptoms of withdrawal had subsided . .
?My next round of meds saw me back on the last reduced dose mentioned above . .
However, now, they have no effect whatsoever . .
I may as well be taking eight little sugar pills . .
?I still feel miserable (depressed?)
?So, does this mean my brain is damaged, or just that I am a confirmed addict needing higher and higher doses to get 'the effect' of feeling just 'normal'?
thebird55 tim45167
Posted
Just an educated guess, but I think your serotonin is still out of balance. That would explain the lack of emotional "well being", but does not explain why you didn't at least feel somewhat physically numb. You just may need more "clean" time.
tim45167 thebird55
Posted
Thanks . . that is helpful to me ..thank you
?The GP doesn't seem to understand that there is any problem (i do have higher levels of physical pain from dried-out joint spaces, and the dosage must be helping out with this, but the emotional wellbeing is my issue
?I do have access to a psychiatrist who was aghast that Tramadol was being used by me as an emotional prop and she put me onto Mirtazipine
?That drug seems to have no effect at all ...not psycho-active ...and it had no pain relieving effect either - but it couldn't be taken with Tramadol/codiene at the same time cos of some alleged danger from over-seritoninlevels??
?So, do you suggest coming off Tramadol/codiene again but for a longer period this time, and then re-starting slowly . .
In the meantime some other pain reliever like Gabapentin could be taken i suppose
thebird55 tim45167
Posted
Mirtazapine boosts serotonergic activity (not its only action), but not by blocking serotonin uptake (like an SSRI would). So if you take it with an SSRI, you could very well end up with a serotonin overload in your synapses. Very unpleasant. Mirtazapine just might work (I'm not a Dr, or pharmacologist), but I would have tried an SSRI like Paxil or Prozac instead.
Gabapentin in not a pain reliever, but it does get a lot of "off label" prescriptions written for pain. Some physicians apparently think is is a cure-all, and write for an endless list of symptoms, non of which have been approved. I think it gets prescribed al lot when doctors just don't know what else might work.
Have you tried Glucosamine and Chondroitin for your joints?
tim45167 thebird55
Posted
Thank you again for your great comments . .
Glucosamine and Chondroitin, yes, and lots of fish/krill oil too ....
It seems too much fish oil gives me an inflammatory reaction perversely, however the silkworm enzyme 'serrapetase' is really good at combating this . .
?Do you know if Citralopram and Mirtazipine are similar acting?
?I do like the idea of raising the serotonin level that way if it doesn't lead to addiction as with the SSRI's and their psychoactive affects . .
?Eating walnuts in particular for typtophan, and almonds, cucumber, tomatoes, alfalfa's, beetroot, cocoa products, and cheese are all helpful too I am told . . also highly alkaline pure water (here in NZ we can easily get pH8.0 alpine spring water which is great for ripping out uric/lactic acidity from the bloodstream . . v.good for the aches and pains and sore joints lol
?I think blood is at pH7.4?? - just slightly alkaline over neutral - it's a great trick to lower acidity in the body to lower inflammatory aches and pains and hopefully reduce the need for stuff like Tramadol/Codiene
..and keeping away from nitrated foods and preserved meats and poisons like aspartame and MSG
thebird55 tim45167
Posted
First, a little primer on serotonin, to make sure you understand how these drugs work. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, which is what one nerve cell uses to signal the next nerve cell in the "chain". When a nerve cell recieves a signal, it releases these neurotransmitters into the synapse to pass that message on to the next nerve cell. It releases more than is used, and the leftovers should then be "taken back up" into the cell that released them. An SSRI blocks this "reuptake".
(I wrote the next paragraph first, so much of the information in the previous paragraph is chewed up and regurgitated here.)
Citalopram is an SSRI, which is different from Mirtazapine. Citalopram is considered on of the more effective SSRIs (better than the Paxil or Prozac I first mentioned). It is one I might recommend.... if you weren't taking Mirtazapine. Do not combine the two, or you will almost certainly end up with serotonin toxicity (aka, serotonin syndrome). Mirtazapine directly increases serotonin production, while Citalopram blocks any unused serotonin from being "collected" (reuptake) for later use. That leaves it out in the nerve synapses (the gaps between nerve ends) where it can build up to dangerous levels (serotonin toxicity), causing over-stimulation of the nerves.
Alwayslove476 thebird55
Posted
Hello, I've been off tramadol for 13good days now, I went cold turkey, I'm only having some feelings like my head is going to blow off and little sweeting....is there anything to take?
thebird55 Alwayslove476
Posted
Remember now, I'm not a doctor. At this point, I wouldn't even try to treat the cause of your symptoms (since I could only guess at the cause), but any benzodiazepine would probably relieve the symptoms (but not actually treat the cause of them). That would include drugs like alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), and diazepam (Valium).
Alwayslove476 thebird55
Posted
thebird55 Alwayslove476
Posted
The short answer: Probably.
I typed out a long response, but it disappeared when I tried to post it. I'll have to try to get back with you this evening.
Alwayslove476 thebird55
Posted
Thank you for respond, I'm really going through hard time with this thing with my head, don't wanna take more drugs, is paracetamol ok to take??