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In defence of Tramadol

Posted , 6 users are following.

steve_1
steve_1

I suffer with Post Herpetic Neuralgia and Poly Myalgia Rhumatica, both of which cause severe pain. The PMR is controlled with steroids and the PHN with Tramadol and Amitriptyline.

With the PHN I sometimes get what can best be described as a sort of restless leg type of feeling running down my spine and when this happens I can't keep still or do anything, it's unbearable.

Today I did a mornings work and a couple of hours sailing so when I got home it started.

I took a couple of Tramadol and within the hour I was sitting comfortably watching the cricket on television. OK, so I fell asleep and missed a lot of it but I am not in pain.

I don't see why people are so keen to get off the stuff, alright, it has its drawbacks, it may even become habit forming (like a lot of other things) but without it I couldn't control the pain so therefore I would not be able to live anything like a normal life.

I would love to find the magic formula that gives me a pain free life and has no unwanted or undesirable side effects (like sleeping a lot or sometimes lethargy) but, as it remains undiscovered to date I weigh up the pro's and con's and come to the conclusion Tramadol ain't so bad.

1 like, 30 replies

30 Replies

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  • stephanie89035
    stephanie89035 steve_1

    Posted

    I agree trammadol does work superbly well. I could not have managed my pain without it and if I had a long term chronic condition I might not worry too much about taking it to give me a normal, comfortable life. But for many like me it was a necessary short term fix and our problem was not necessarily the drugs effectiveness but the whole issue of managing withdrawal. I think each case should be assessed individually as we are all different and we each have differing expectations and needs.  I'm glad you get the relief you need from trammadol and I hope if you do decide to stop taking it when you're ready you'll find some of the comments and tips on this forum of help. 

    Be well 

    Stephanie

    • trina07398
      trina07398 stephanie89035

      Posted

      Good Day Stephanie,

      I have been off Tramadol for a week now.  Still not feeling a 100% but each day is getting better.  I continue my green smoothies and green tea daily.  The tramadol was good for my condition but the weaning process was hell, the sweating has stop still having some anitexity.  I take each day as a new day.  Keep up the good work!!!!

    • stephanie89035
      stephanie89035 trina07398

      Posted

      Hi Trina 

      i was 10-14 days before I saw any improvement. My tummy was the last thing to sort itself out. I still have some PAWS occasionally but they're not too bad. 

      Stick with it you're almost through the worst. 

      Be well 

      Stephanie x

  • peter_11860
    peter_11860 steve_1

    Posted

    fair enough with me i think and am sute it causes my day time vicious sleep pattern

    But pain can be attrocious that is for sure

    Cheers and thanks

    Peter

    • ann03972
      ann03972 peter_11860

      Posted

      Hi Steph how are you sent some emails to you

      not heard back so are you ok

      ann 

  • zoe1976
    zoe1976 steve_1

    Posted

    Hi Steve,

    I suffer from bad back and have been on and off Tramadol for a while now. I don't taking them as a: I feel very, very tired and sleep a lot (which you say happens to you too!) and b: coming off of them is a nightmare!

    I do recall one discussion about Tramadol and I can't find it now - but, it said about  a patch you can take to help come off it when the time comes. (Can anyone think what it's called again?)

    In the meantime, yes, it does help severe pain a lot. But, be careful driving.... And, don't be put off by feeling a bit "drunk" if that makes any sense.

    I have enquired to find out if there are any other medications to take without the side-effects but the only one I could find was Morphine - which, Tramadol is!

    I'm sorry I haven't been much help but I totally know where you're coming from!

    Keep us posted,

    Take care,

    Zoe

    • peter_11860
      peter_11860 zoe1976

      Posted

      YES That is what i have been having. Tons and tons of day time sleep. My own Dr said it might be nacro leepsy. i am booked into the respiratory and sleep clinic now at local big hospitall. But since i have gone cold turkey(one week) then 2 a night per DR my day time sleep almost all gone just a hour yesterday in the past have had to ;leave friends in the lounge with my wife or visitors as i fell asleep. which was all badl.have not had a date yet from the hospital and having a hip replacement as well next month

      BUt i have proved i think it was the tramdaole causing the huge day time excessive sleep. Even my DR did not really believe me

      cheers and many thanks

      Peter

    • zoe1976
      zoe1976 peter_11860

      Posted

      Hi Peter,

      Tramadol does make you incredibly (and unsociablly) tired - one major downfall of taking it! If you had narco lepsy that would have come to light before taking Tramadol.... Do you get along with your doctor? Can't believe he/she didn't believe you about the tiredness - unbelievable! Tramadol is a fancy name for Morphine so yes, it would make anybody tired!

      By the way, I found out the name of the patch that so many people are talking about (the one to help come off of Tramadol) and it's called Buprenorphine Patches. Personally, I haven't tried them yet so I can't comment....

      However, stay in touch and let me know how you get on :-)

      All the best,

      Zoe

    • peter_11860
      peter_11860 zoe1976

      Posted

      Thanks very much i have copied that down . we have two DR'S in the practice here. One i call grumpy: and the other one is there on a Wednesday , luaghs, we all try and go on that day. if we can How ever luck of the draw

      i will try that pactch if i can

      many thanks and will let you know

      cheers peter

    • stephanie89035
      stephanie89035 zoe1976

      Posted

      Hi guys. 

      I was on the buprenorphine patches 15mcg/hour, trammadol 200mgs slow release twice daily, brufen 400mgs long acting twice daily, paracetamol as needed for breakthrough pain and omeprazole 30mgs twice daily to offset the nasty effects brufen can have on your stomach.

      The first time I started weaning I cut the patches out first, it was hell trying to stop the trammadol afterwards, so my GP (who is one of those rare and precious good ones) told me to stay on the patches and stop the trammadol first. I stuck my patches back on ( remember these take a good 48hrs to get into your system) then after 2days I stopped the morning trammadol and 2days later the night one. Actually I forgot to take the night one as it was unnoticeable that I'd stopped them at all. Then came the task of getting off the buprenorphine. Trammadol and buprenorphine are both synthetic opiates and so they're both addictive. I had to very gradually over 3 weeks reduce the patches by 5mcg. They come in 10mcg and 5mcg so wk1 I wore a 10 and a 5, wk2 a 10 and wk3 just the 5mcg patch. Then I stopped the patches and had to take cocodamol which is supposed to mimic the effects of the patches but is not as addictive apparently. Anyhow I still had withdrawal symptoms but not as bad as when I tried to get off the trammadol first time. 

      The worst symptoms for me were the inability to control my temperature I had to sit in red hot baths or lay in the sun when it was hot days, aching legs ( I've had swine flu and this was worse!) and the restless leg syndrome kept me awake every single night. Those symptoms began about 2-3 days after stopping the patches. The cocodamol took the edge off but that's all. I stuck with it, rested when I could, drank gallons of energy drinks ate healthily and walked a lot (I've had a hip replacement) all in all it's been about 10-14 days to feel normal again. I now only take a couple of brufen and/or paracetamol maybe once or twice a week for minor discomfort from my wound site and that's only if I've walked too far too fast ( 7-9k per day) plus 2-3 times a day physio exercises and 3times a wk modified yoga. I still get the odd PAWS (post acute withdrawal symptom) which can continue to come and go for several months but they're manageable with brufen and paracetamol. I know to expect them so they don't scare me I'll just work through them. 

      Im so glad I'm off all the opiates and if my other hip fails (avascular necrosis) I will certainly find other ways of dealing with the pain so I don't have to go through this again. 

      So to sum up. Yes the patches helped me get off the trammadol very easily but getting off the patches isn't a walk in the park either. That may be because I had been on them for a long time I don't know but that's my story. Hope it's of help to you. 

      Be well

      Stephanie

    • peter_11860
      peter_11860 stephanie89035

      Posted

      Thanks stepahanie

      best of luck for the future i will let people know how the operation goes and the state of the pay with TRAMADOLE

      thanks all

      peter

    • trina07398
      trina07398 peter_11860

      Posted

      Peter thanks for your comments. Tramadol had a different affect on my me.  Each time I took 50mg I had so much engery after my cancer surgery.  The nurses never could figure out why wasn't I slepping.  Now I am trammadol free.  I can sleep

      Take Care 

      Trina 

       

    • peter_11860
      peter_11860 trina07398

      Posted

      Thanks for that

      i have gone back to two at night for the night time and trying ike anything to stick to that the other day i had to take a extra two and yes , back to bed for a while. during the day. i am hoping the sleep clinic will sort it out so i do not have to take sleeping pills as well.

      bad isn't

      glad you are ok so well done there

      peter

    • trina07398
      trina07398 stephanie89035

      Posted

      I am so proud of you Stephanie.  Keep up the good work your one step closer to goals.  I do agree with the PAWS I am taking it day by day and prayer.

      Take Care

      Trina 

    • stephanie89035
      stephanie89035 trina07398

      Posted

      Thanks Trina. I had a particularly bad PAWS day today, haven't had one for a week or so. I had to take 2paracetamol and 2 brufen at the same time. Unheard of in this house. Then a fast paced 3k walk and a good hours sleep in the midday sun worked very nicely 

      it's just one off those things we have to deal with. They're less frequent but the severity changes each time. Must admit I've been almost normal for the last week so I guess it's not really a surprise. 

      Tomorrow is another day and I'm still winning so take that Opiates. How do you spell the sound of a raspberry blow??? :-D xx

    • steve_1
      steve_1 stephanie89035

      Posted

      I know I'm maybe being a bit thick, but what does PAWS mean, I assume it's an acronym or does Tramadol bring out the Werewolf in us..Then again maybe we are taking the SWIM route.
    • zoe1976
      zoe1976 steve_1

      Posted

      I wondered what PAWS meant too!!!! What does SWIM mean?
    • steve_1
      steve_1 zoe1976

      Posted

      SWIM is an acronym used by druggies to avoid incriminating themselves.

      SOMEONE WHO ISN'T ME

    • stephanie89035
      stephanie89035 steve_1

      Posted

      PAWS=Post Acute Withdrawal Symptoms. Symptoms similar in nature to the acute withdrawal but these can be felt days, weeks, even months after the initial acute withdrawal has finished. I'm getting them and I've been off opiates completely for about 3 weeks. Sometimes they just leave me feeling a little bit achy but yesterday I had a bad session. I was tired, sad, achy, diarrhoea, nausea all day then suddenly around 4pm I felt great again. I guess my natural endorphins finally kicked in and boy was I high. This lat attack was the worst I've had but I hadn't had any for a week and I've been exceptionally busy for the last week so maybe my overdoing things triggered a bad one. Who knows? Any way it's gone now and I feel great again. 

      So that's what PAWS means. Hope this helps. 

      Be well 

      Stephanie x

    • zoe1976
      zoe1976 steve_1

      Posted

      Lol!

      At least Stephanie has explained now what PAWS is (that was bugging me!)

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