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Coming off Tramadol

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fizzysoap
fizzysoap

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

387 Replies

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  • dan56155
    dan56155 fizzysoap

    Posted

    Hi everyone,

    I just wanted to say that Kratom really helps with the withdrawals from tramadol. I know from experience. It is not addictive, and makes you feel good somewhat like an opiate, but is much easier to quit. It is the best option to wean yourself off hard painkillers in my opinion. It comes in powders for tea or in capsule for. 

    I wish you all the best. 

  • paula01591
    paula01591 fizzysoap

    Posted

    I have been on tramodol for around 12 months now due to a car accident. I am currently on 400mg a day. They do nothing for my pain, but my go says I need to start weaning off them. This is making me very anxious. Don't know how to do this
  • alan82657
    alan82657 fizzysoap

    Posted

    Hi fizzy soap, angel man here, I start a reduction this weds 21st, I'm on 3 x 50mgs a day so morn lunchtime and evening, now my doctors a less than compassionate gp and I've been rapid reduced over Xmas from 150mgs of amyltriptyline, then straight after the following week she started reducing my mirtazapine another sedative antidepressant, I was on 45 mgs that week she took 15 mgs away, and the following week was supposed to be another 15mgs this was new years eve I wont forget it lightly as she dropped it out completely so from 30mgs to nothing, I was fuming and told bye my local pharmacist who knows me well and has been monitoring my reduction and told me that its not good general practice to leave you in that state over Xmas and new year period and that I should report her but I havnt as yet, now I havnt slept properly for weeks even sitting up wide eyed watching the dawn rise, now I saw her this weds I tol d her I feel awful and can I have a break before you start the tramadol reduction as I start an I.t. Course on Monday 19th of Jan for 3 weeks and I'm nearly managing now..!! Her reply was no I'm taking 50 mgs away this weds coming, the next week another 50 mgs, and the following week the last 50mgs, I'm not happy about this, and pray ive got the strength to get through this as its rapid suicidal style, I call her Dr death, I asked if tramadol comes in 25 mgs of since joining patient.info only 3 hours ago, is that I've found out that they do come in 25 mg tabs or whatever so I feel she's lied to me and if there is it doesn't have to be that brutal, so I'm ringing Mon morning and requesting a hold on the reduction plan, untill I see her again at the next available appointment, and see what she sais, now I'm up for it don't get me wrong, I want off this crap, but the horror stories I've read today makes me think I'm gonna be in trouble, especially trying to hold course down as well, if she doesn't listen to my needs, and sais no, I'm outta that practice to find a more caring loving compassionate doctor who's gonna do it slowlyer and not so harsh and suffer unintentionally if it can be done more professionally and less suffering for gods sake, I've still got panda 🐼 eyes now and the sleep thingy still hasn't passed the body yet, so I need words with her.. I hope and pray your journey is painless and that you breeze it girl, stay safe, try be pro active, and kick it straight in the teeth, head on...please anyone reply any info on what you think..upstairs man.. Xx god bless...
    • georgia91198
      georgia91198 alan82657

      Posted

      Hi Alan, Your Gp sounds really stupid.  She doesn't understand how hard it is to come off tramodol and doesn't seem to be supporting you in the fact that you both have the same goal and want you to come off but it has to be taken very slowly.  Tramodol is harder to come off than heroin!  Can you believe it?  Is there another GP in your practice who you could see.  Say you couldn't make any of the times the death DR was working so you saw someone else.  My GP receptionist are great.  Get alongside them and just ask which GP in the practice is more interested and sensitive to dealing with paitience with long term pain issues and coming off pain meds.  The receptionists love being treated with respect and asked their opinion and will often be really helpful to you without slating the doctors. 

      Your pharmacist sounds good.  Their may be naural meds for helping you sleep they can reccomend to get you through this time.  Your GP should be guided by you and how fast your body will let you come off tramodol.  Let me know how you get on upstairs man.  All the best Georgia

    • Wobbly68
      Wobbly68 alan82657

      Posted

      Hello Alan, hope you don't mind me coming in on your message but I'm on tramadol 150mg per day and  mirtazapine 45mg which I am slowly reducing carefully. Now I have a neurologically rare condition and have learnt a lot a about GP support, consultants support when reducing medication. And I have struggled tremendous with withdrawal effects. To the point of despair. Please think seriously about reporting your GP but most of all changing and getting the support and professional advice you deserve. Tramadol last year was upgraded because of how addictive it is. Withdrawal from one drug at a time is best because if you run into trouble you know which drug it is. Mirtazapine should be reduced vy slowly. I couldn't cope with going from 45mg to 30mg every other day. But i didn't suffer with the effects which were awful until three weeks in and it hit me like a brick. The shakes,  diarrhea, severe anxiety so I am now on 45mg four days a week then taking a 30mg plus 15mg chopped in half so it makes 371/2 mg Sunday and Wednesday when I can tolerate that i reduce another 45mg days to 37 1/2mg . You need a good gp but please don't rush it.  If I can help any further let me know.. All the best xx
    • alan82657
      alan82657 Wobbly68

      Posted

      hi wobbly, your welcome anytime, and i love your feedback and advice, my doctor again did not change my dosset box as planned which was to increase anti d sertraline from 50mgs to 100 mgs and take out the 50 mgs of evening tramadol, so she hasnt heard me, and besides i dropped out the 50 mgs of tramadol last saturday so i took the power back myself and made that decision, my plan is next week drop out the mid day 50 mgs tramadol, wait untill body adjusts and then get rid of the last 50mg morning one which i might half to 25mgs, just open the capsule and split it, again if not able to cope il go back to 50 for a time, as regards to doctor the pharmacist knows me well and has been monitoring the way shes been doing things and she said alan report her its disgusting the way shes reduced you from 150mgs of amyltryptyline, then straight after mirtazapine of which i was a wreck and insomniated, and now shes gung ho for the tramadol, but im over what ive come off, and as i say im just soldiering the tramadol know and then its the diazepam, then codeine phosphate, and then ill be clean and free of prescription drugs, as to reporting her i think i am going to and get out of that practice and ive already filled in forms and registering to a new practice just up the road, so appreciate your advice please do stay in touch wobbly, and enjoy the sunshine today wherever you are...god bless.. al
    • alan82657
      alan82657 georgia91198

      Posted

      great advice georgia, picked up dosset box yesterday and we agreed to increase sertraline an anti d from 50mg to 100mg and remove the 50mg evening tramadol, i stopped taking the 50mg eve tramadol 6 days ago anyway thought id get in there first, so when i picked up dosset box yesterday no change eve tramadol still in there and no increase of sertraline, im not gonna take the eve one still, and im gonna drop out another 50 mg of lunchtime tramadol nxt week and keep praying im gonna breeze it, im gonna report her although i dont normally do that kinda thing ive filled in paperwork for a new practice jut a road down and ask her if shes willing to help and support me and listen to my needs, so ill keep you updated georggia, please dont stop your opinion and advice, and ill pray for your journey still in repetative prayer, go well girl, ..upstairs man. or alan...
    • happyjoy
      happyjoy alan82657

      Posted

      If you can get iron - ferrous fumerate - 2x 210mg (start with one), that will help the restless legs. You do not need to be down in iron in your bloods to have the iron be needed. Thankfully, my doc was good at helping me come off tramadol, after 13 years - headaches developed like you. He gave me the iron. I am still on it, 6 months later. If I stop a day, the restless legs come back. If I take any caffeine, the restless legs begin, but more mildly than if I stop iron. I am now on venlafaxine for low mood and anxiety due to not having the anti-depressent effects of tramadol. Venlafaxine is the closest acting to tramadol in the brain. I have had no side-effects after the first three days of slight nausea. I was offered many other things for pain, but I refused anything that had high risk of brain fog and weight gain. Venlafaxine and iron are all I take. The pain is getting less as my brain gets used to what is actual pain and what is soreness and what is sensation. I tried to taper off tramadol. I ended up just stopping at 150mg a day. It was very hard - very hard, but I decided it was better than a long slow process of hard. For me, it was the way to go. Withdrawal is a difficult thing, and docs often do not understand that they are keeping you in withdrawal for a long time as they take you down. It may be safer from high doses, but as soon as it is safe to stop, it can be easier in the long run to go through the hard stuff in a five day stretch than in a two month stretch. Since the restless legs and the low mood are the longer term difficulties, getting through the early withdrawla is like having flu. Treating restless legs and low mood can make the withdrawal much easier. 
    • alan82657
      alan82657 georgia91198

      Posted

      gr8 first line georgia, am going to change practice nxt week, also dropped out another 50 last week and now only have to rid of needed, the last 50mgs morning one which ill start nxt week, i feel good and havnt noticed any difference in mood or physical, but if i do nxt week the ones ive kicked into touch i still have and will open capsule and divide to half i.e.25 mgs if needed...!!, how you feeling, and doing girl, have the headaches passed, and how much tram you on again, go well georgia... upstairs man.....al.
  • georgia91198
    georgia91198 fizzysoap

    Posted

    Hi, Brave person!  I have been on tramodol for 17 years.  For the last year I have had permanent daily headaches and have now been told to come off tramodol or the headaches will continue until I am at the stage of permanent migranes.  These an incentive!!  I used to be on the maximum dose of 100mg x 4 times daily.  I managed to move my times round so instead of a tablet morning, lunchtime,afternoon and then evening.  I did morning, late lunchtime 2pm ish then 7pm.  

    That went on for about 4 months then I moved to morning and 3pm.  100mg x2. Just before christmas I had the above shocking headache news and moved to morning 100mg and stopped the other tablet.  I do have pregabalin also 75mg twice daily.  The neurologist said I could up the pregabalin whilte trying to come off tramadol.  150mg in one hit was way too much and left me spaced out and disorrientated, so I am sticking with 75mg.

    My gp, like the other replies is trying to withdraw me way to fast.  My last visit she moved me straight down to 50mg in the morning for 10 days.  After that shes said to have a 50mg tablet of tramodol every other day for 5 days then stop.  Yeah thats not working!

    The night time is worse for me.  Waking frequently with nerve tingling in my legs so I just can't keep still.  Off I go to do lots of stretching in the bathroom.  Take ibroprophen to relax my muscles and that helps to get a few more hours sleep.  The lack of sleep isn't helping in the day with the pain, but just keep telling yourself you don't want permanent headaches like me or any of the other long term side effects.  You will get through this and be free of tramodol.  Go slow.  Tell your gp how your body is reacting.  Drs have to appear to know what they are doing but to be honest I think they are learning as they go along like us.  Good Luck.

    • alan82657
      alan82657 georgia91198

      Posted

      good advice georgia am doing tram dtox myself, and stopped 50 mgs on sunday eve, my own choice as doctor was going to remove 50mgs tomorrow anyway, so rang docs this morn, and left messge too remove eve 50mgs capsule, as ive already started reduction, and feel ok just odd dreams but there easy to deal with, will keep you updated on progress if ok or not...alan god bless in all you do...
    • georgia91198
      georgia91198 alan82657

      Posted

      Hi Alan, Hugely encouraging to hear you taking the brave step.  I have had headaches for a year now.  Still getting them daily due to withdrawal from tramodol.  Still baffled after 17 years of use and didn't have any side effects but now coming off it I have 10 of the listed side effects from withdrawal.  I wish my GP had warned me.  Keep going.  I keep thining in 5 months I should be off tramodol and after a month out of my system and then the headaches will be a thing of the passed.  

      God Bless Georgia

    • alan82657
      alan82657 georgia91198

      Posted

      headaches for a year, that would drive me crazy, no paracetamol working or anything? doesnt sound good georgia ill pray for you that there gonna be removed as you read this text as it doesnt sound right at all whats your gp saying and doing about it, i hate to hear people suffering,and ill pray there gonna be removed from you as i beleive god can move mountains, and i have a strong faith, no harm in banging up a few prayers for you... god bless georgia,... al
    • happyjoy
      happyjoy georgia91198

      Posted

      If you can get iron - ferrous fumerate - 2x 210mg (start with one), that will help the restless legs. You do not need to be down in iron in your bloods to have the iron be needed. Thankfully, my doc was good at helping me come off tramadol, after 13 years - headaches developed like you. He gave me the iron. I am still on it, 6 months later. If I stop a day, the restless legs come back. If I take any caffeine, the restless legs begin, but more mildly than if I stop iron. I am now on venlafaxine for low mood and anxiety due to not having the anti-depressent effects of tramadol. Venlafaxine is the closest acting to tramadol in the brain. I have had no side-effects after the first three days of slight nausea. I was offered many other things for pain, but I refused anything that had high risk of brain fog and weight gain. Venlafaxine and iron are all I take. The pain is getting less as my brain gets used to what is actual pain and what is soreness and what is sensation. 
  • gareth84698
    gareth84698 fizzysoap

    Posted

    Wow were do I start like most people I started taking tramadol for an accident I had, mine was my lower back the doctor put me on them cos I was in unbelievable pain it was so bad I was close to tears a full grown man lol soon as the tramadol kicked in I thought it was a wonder drug and I also felt chilled out , that was a year ago since then ive grown more dependant on them ive got to the point were my prescription of 100 tablets lasts me a couple of days about 4 days then im buying them off people ive got 4 different people I buy them from and its just out of control I tried to get off them after I was honest with my partner about my addiction she was supportive I lasted 4 days in them 4 days I was taking countless sleep tablets just to try get through it abit easier but I failed and for about 6 month ive been lying to me partner I think she has an idea cos I twitch when ive taken alot, how do I tell her I failed ive been lying for so long I hate this drug very often I think why don't I just get a box and take the lot and have done with it. Im ashamed of myself that I let it esculate so bad I just want to be normal but its scary cos if I try cold turkey I know what to expect and that experience could send even the strongest person to suicide.

    Its the devil in a capsule

    • thebird55
      thebird55 gareth84698

      Posted

      I'm going to suggest that you be honest with your partner, for two reasons. First, for a healthy rlationship. Second, facing her should help you face yourself. That may give you the incentive to tackle this problem.

      You are going through a learning process right now. You already know that you have an addiction, and now you need learn how to face it. Get some "coaching", or even a sponser. Find a support group. It does not matter if you get with people who are recovering from alcohol, heroin, or what have you. Find someone who has made progress, and talk to them on a regular basis. They will teach you coping skills, show you that it CAN be done, and that you are not alone.   

    • thebird55
      thebird55 gareth84698

      Posted

      Now that that's out of the way...

      Look back through the previous tramadol topics, focusing on the posts that talk about the SSRI effects of the drug. Stategies for dealing with it can be found there. You may want to get on SSRI therapy before stopping tramadol. The other idea is to get yourself on opiates while the tramadol effects wear off, then deal with the opiate addiction alone. Either way, the idea is to face just one of tramadol's dual effects at a time.

    • gareth84698
      gareth84698 thebird55

      Posted

      I honestly don't think I could wean myself off the temptation is always gunna be there I would have to try cold turkey again this time be abit stronger I know what to expect and im not liking it at all. Wish I had the balls to top myself at this moment in time I hate myself seriously, I need to cum up with a plan of attack
    • thebird55
      thebird55 gareth84698

      Posted

      I'm not sure you understand what I'm saying. Tramadol has an effect on serotonin levels, just like Prozac or any other SSRI. That is a type of addiction in itself. And although it is synthetic, it also causes the same type of addiction as opiates. So what I mean is to start SSRI therapy, then stop the tramadol cold turkey. That way you only have to deal with the "opioid" addiction at first. You get that out of the way, then deal with the SSRI side of the coin.

      That's one method. The other is to take opiates inplace of the tramadol. You take the opiates long enough for serotonin levels to return to normal, then stop them.

      If you just stop the tramadol without using one of these therapies, you have to deal with two types of withdrawal at once.

    • tony15730
      tony15730 thebird55

      Posted

      I agree with Bird. Tramadol is 2 addictions in 1. It creates an ssri dependance alondside the oopiate. I would go so far as to say its the ssri part that causes the most trouble in withdrawel. So the key is to deal with the 2 addictions seperatly as bird has explained.

      I would say that due to the risk of further dependance on another opiate in my opnion switching to an ssri would be the best option. When I come of tramadol after taking it for a while (for pain) I use fluoxetine (prozac). I only need a low dose (20mg every other day) for a week or so and thats enough. The opiate withdrawel is normally no more than  3-7 days. Then I just stop the ssri and as prozac has a long halve life I can stop it outright with no taper.

    • happyjoy
      happyjoy tony15730

      Posted

      Always come off tramadol before taking an opiate or an SSRI, or SNRI. If you do the anti-depressent at the same time you can develop seratonin syndrome. This happened to me the fist time I came off tramadol.

      If you take an opiate, also take it after stopping tramadol and only take in for three to five days - the worst withdrawal days.

      Taking the opiate will help you over the physical withdrawals while you deal with the mental.

      Taking the anti-depressent will help you through the mental stuff while you suffer the physical stuff.

      Taking both is not advised. 

      I took an opiate for the first three days after stopping cold turkey from 100mg tram. I waited 6 months and realised I did need an anti-depressent. my doc put me on the closest acting one to tramadol which is venlafaxine and is an SNRI. It has given me no side effects after a little nausea. Fluoxetine was terrible. It is the best one as it works in the brain like tramadol. I feel marvelous!

    • happyjoy
      happyjoy

      Posted

      I meant that venlafaxine is the best one as it is the most like tramadol. 
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