Tramadol Withdrawl
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I've been on tramadol for a few months now. I take about 150mg per day. Some really bad pain days I take 200mg and on a lower pain day I only take 100mg, but it averages out to about 150mg per day.
I normally pop a 50mg pill first thing when I wake up, then a few hours later I will take another. And then usually after dinner in the evening, I will take my 3rd and final pill.
Anyway, I keep reading these nightmare stories about the withdrawl, so I decided to give myself a little test and stopped taking it for a 24 hour period.
I felt nothing. Didn't feel sick, no headaches, no restless legs. I had some sinus issues (which I heard is common with tramadol withdrawl) like a runny nose. Are some people just perhaps immune to the withdrawl? Have I not been taking it in a high enough dose for a long enough period of time to suffer any major withdrawl?
As an aside, I used to be a heavy drinker (I'm sober now and haven't touched alcohol in 4 months). I drank a 12 pack per day for over a decade. Got my liver checked out during an ultrasound for adominal pain (this is what I take the tramadol for) and my liver was healthy with only some mild fat buildup. Blood tests also came back clean. I figured I dodged a major bullet, thanked my lucky stars, and swore off alcohol right then and there!
When I quit drinking cold turkey, I suffered no withdrawl symptoms. Even my doctor was surprised. I had a very mild headache and was very irritable for a week or so, but that was it! I expected much worse.
However, I still feel the abdominal pain I am experiencing is related to my heavy drinking for many years. While my liver might be okay, I fear I have irrirated my stomach and it may take quite some time to heal. Thankfully, the tramadol helps keep this pain at bay on most days.
Just curious to what you guys think. Are some people just immune to withdrawl symptoms? I still plan to taper when my doc takes me off the tramadol though because even if I'm not feeling anything physically, I still believe it's the safest way to quit it.
0 likes, 19 replies
thebird55 Kalten
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Kalten thebird55
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tony15730 Kalten
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I disagree with the other poster saying 200mg a day is not enough to get withdrawal, it is. With tramadol the period of time you take it regularly is a better indicator than the actual amount. For example I took high doses on and off and had no problems. But when I took 200 every day for 5 months I suffered. Basically flu symptoms for several weeks and depression. But hey you might be lucky.
Kalten tony15730
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I have had the other tests though including various blood tests, ultrasound, physical exam, and h pylori. All of them came back fine so they have ruled out anything with most of my organs. Still have to have stomach checked, probably with a scope.
I'm guessing it's probably just irritation from years of drinking, but who knows?
michele28539 Kalten
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Kalten michele28539
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And I never ever mix drugs and alcohol.
steve_1 Kalten
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Over the last 50 odd years I've taken a lot of different things in varying amounts and have never had a problem stopping and this applies to Tramadol.
Every now and then I stop taking it to prove to myself that I can and it's only the return of the pain that suggests to me that I ought to "keep taking the pills"
Kalten steve_1
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I was really surprised I had no withdrawl from alcohol after drinking a 12 pack a day for over a decade. And I didn't feel anything when I stopped taking the tramadol either.
And I know what you mean about the pain. When I miss a dose, it comes back full force.
thebird55 Kalten
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Kalten thebird55
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lin06321 Kalten
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You are on a lowish dose. I had an OD tell me once that 6 50mg tabs a day is the max "safe" dose. After that the odds of siezures, etc, much worse.
If it is working for you, I would continue on for what you need. I don't know if anyone is immune to it, though I suspect for me it isn't as hard as some since I cut and return dosages often and am fine. I can take one a day from my 4 and many times I'm fine. I do think it's different for everyone.
When I stopped completely though, it was like having bad flu for over a week and it was miserable. I couldn't sleep, I had restless legs, and I could not stop thinking about killing myself on top of having the sweats and feeling like I would throw up. I do not recommend cold turkey. You should taper and by taper most say a few weeks at a time before a drop. The pills cut easy. You will know if you are going too fast.
Good luck ;-)
Stayoff lin06321
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Kalten lin06321
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I don't consider tramadol evil either. I don't abuse it or take it to get high. I just take it for pain and that's it. I don't feel "addicted" to it the same way I was with alcohol for many years.
leo39819 Kalten
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Kalten leo39819
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Kalten leo39819
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thebird55 Kalten
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