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
kenoz fizzysoap
Posted
stephanie89035 kenoz
Posted
Still he's the Dr. Maybe he knows something we don't. My GP told me to use paracetamol for breakthrough pain too but only 500mg 4hrly. Thankfully I didn't need it very often.
Be well
S
thebird55 stephanie89035
Posted
kenoz stephanie89035
Posted
ann03972 fizzysoap
Posted
thought no more than two every four hours in one day
ann
stephanie89035 ann03972
Posted
ps ive been totally drug, and I mean nothing at all,for 2 days now. Woohoo!!!! 😊😁
stephanie89035 ann03972
Posted
thebird55 ann03972
Posted
ann03972 fizzysoap
Posted
feeling more like your old self. I know I did I'm still doing as I said
so hopefully in a few weeks I will be joining you
stay strong
ann
stephanie89035 ann03972
Posted
Be well x
ann03972 stephanie89035
Posted
better. The not sleeping and rls are the hardest I think
just keep strong that's where I failed with the pain and not
sleeping my dr put me back on DH I think coming off DH and
tramadol are very similar. At the moment I. Just take two a day
but I still have a few symptoms runny nose hot flushes sweating
when I don't take during the day but I'm sleeping ok after one in the
evening I hope I can do just one at night soon
stay strong Ann x
jennifer1111 ann03972
Posted
Just come across this feed after starting to withdraw from Tramadol last week. I was just wondering, have either of you also cut out alcohol whilst withdrawing?
I’m coming down by 50mg a week. I’m down to 1 x 50mg morning and 1 x 50mg evening, which is half what I’ve been taking for 3 years now. I’m doing OK so far and have suffered minor RLS and am getting 5 hours sleep a night (when I’ve tried cold turkey I get RLS so bad it is unbearable) but I find that my RLS in the past always got worse with alcohol and I ended up taking much more tramadol to control it. I’m worried that by introducing alcohol into my life again that it will make this a lot harder.
I’d love to know your experiences with alcohol and tramadol. I’m not a big drinker, I’m a normal 24 year old who goes out every few weeks and gets drunk. So it can easily be cut out for a while, but for my whole life would be a drastic change.
I hope you are both doing well though, and it is comforting (although saddening) to know that I’m not alone in this.
Jen xox
ann03972 jennifer1111
Posted
Am trying to stop taking DH which is very similar to Tramadol
withdrawal I to have tried cold turkey and found rls and not sleeping
very hard so like you I just take 30mg DH twice a day. While taking
these meds they don't recommend any alcohol at all I though do
sometimes have a couple of glasses of wine and not take my evenig
tablet. Once you have stopped taking these meds you should be able
drink ok. Hope this helps but really everyone is different Ann x
stephanie89035 jennifer1111
Posted
I must admit I did cut out alcohol whilst on trammadol. But that was mostly because alcohol slows healing and I wanted my hip to heal as fast as poss. It's ok to have a glass of wine or two every now and then but remember trammadol is an opiate and you really shouldn't drink whilst taking it. I would avoid it if you have RLS cos it will make it so very much worse. Having said all that sometimes withdrawal can be very frustrating and depressing and maybe a glass of vino might raise your spirits so to speak. Just don't overdo and get drunk. Opiates suppress the respiratory system and alcohol on top of that is not a good combo.
Im completely off everything now but I still get the odd post acute withdrawal symptom and a glass of vino does help a bit, but it makes the old RLS start off again.
I agree with Ann omit your night dose and then drink sensibly is the best option if you must partake.
Sorry to rabbit on,
Be well
S x
sailaway88 fizzysoap
Posted
Also I live on Gold Coast, Queensland, Australi
for me, in December 2012, I had a bike accident also. Broke my right humerus