Tramadol Hydrochloride

[digital_monkey]

I took Tramadol Hydrochloride for 6 months due to joint pain from my work.  It worked wonders.  I had energy, no pain, and happiness.  But I began to notice that I had to take almost 8 pills a day to feel good.  So I tried to stop.  I cut dosage down little by little.  I felt like ****.  My body had this 'rushing' sensation of anxiety and aches.  So now I have to take at least 1 pill a day just to feel normal.  I stopped for 2 weeks altogether, but everyday I felt terrible, more so than I did before I started taking the meds.  The only way to feel 'normal' was to take at least 1 pill every 18-24 hours.  At least i don't have to take 8 anymore.  I just wanted everyone to know that even though the medical industry denies the addiction possibility, it is really there.  I'm afraid I will have to take one pill a day forever.  Anyways, just wanted to share my feelings with ya.  And my question is, why?  How can I get off this stuff?  2 weeks doesn't even do it.  

[StephieBee]

I just wanted to say im sorry.

The drug companies remind me so much of the tobacco companies that its sick.  

[Jaybay]

You need to talk to the prescribing doc about this problem.  One pill a day is fine if you are taking it for the pain.  If you want to get off the tramadol altogether, you need some help with the withdrawal symptoms.  Your doctor can help with that.

[embla_2010]

I agree with JayBay, it might be an idea to get some help with this stuff.

I have heard that Tramadol W/ds can last quite a while, but I dont know it throuugh my own experience.  

What I do know is that I was in my doctors office a while ago and a drug rep was there.  This was in Canada and she was talking about Drs in the U.S. often wanting to prescribe tramadol because it was suppose to be less addictive. (this is exactly what happened to me by the way when I went to my doc in Indy and thats why he prescribed Tramadol).


The drug rep went on to say that it was basically B.S. and that only applied when the medication is used for short periods of time, otherwise it is just as addictive as the others.  The thing is I read up on it a bit and sure enough it said "is meant to be used for short periods of time or may lead to yadda".  The funny thing was that the Dr. that prescribed it to me under the *less addictive clause* KNEW I would need it on an on going basis.  

So in the end the drug rep, basically said that those Dr's had fallen into that puddle of thinking it was better, when in fact, when it's used for extended periods of time it can be just as bad (PLS note that I am saying EXTENDED periods of time).

My next question to you is this. Since you are down to 1 pill a day.  How bad do the W/d's get ?  Can you explain exactly how bad ?  Do you get the full on vomiting/ bone-aches/fever-chills/diar/can't sleep/legs that wont stay still/basically the full on withdrawals...... OR....... some clammy ness head ache and dont feel so hot ?

There is a reason I am asking this, and that is, if the w/ds are fairly mild then you just may not have held out long enough for them to go away totally...... It will take a while

[digital_monkey]

Thank you guys for your responses. Hey Embla_2010, to your question about bad withdrawls even if I stop taking one pill are like this:  nausea, super-achy skin, some mild chills, anti-social, and most definately restless legs.  BIG time on the aches and restless legs which makes it really hard to sleep.  And I notice the bad effects again about 18-24 hours after I take one.  Then I take one and the "normalness" comes back, and almost makes my eyes water to feel calm again.  I guess one a day isn't too bad, but i'd still like to get off totally, since it's not good for long-term use.  I'll definately talk to my doctor.  Thanks again for your support.

[casablancas]

My mum had the same problem she basically went cold turkey and felt ill for 2 months, now she is totally off them but she still has the pain in her legs from CFS/ME which is why she got them in the first place.
They are highly addictive opiates and your tolerance quickly grows to them so you end up taking more and more just like a heroin addict. The Doctor was aware how bad they were but apart from morphine there is nothing else which kills her pain so now she just has to live with it.

[pkcom]

I had the same problem and was up to 600 plus mg per day.

I developed appendcittis in Jan and while in the hospital they
stopped my Tramadol and I had insomnia every night there for a week.

After coming home the insomnia persisted plus old chronic pain was pretty intense
because I wasn't getting the hospital pain meds.

My doctor switched me to Utram ER 50 mg twice a day which took the edge off the pain and I was finally able to sleep.

I've since stopped the Ultram ER and the withdrawal wasn't as bad and am now trying Nerve Block Injections and wearing a rib belt as that's where the old pain is.

If you want to continue Tramadol I would you suggest try Ultram ER instead and the manufacturer provides a discount coupon for your first three fillings ($25 off)
Do a Google searh for the manufacturer.

Good luck and I hope you feel better.

[Bsta1382]

I am a mid-aged American male whom has been taking Tramadol Hydrochloride for about 2 years.

[wanna1450]

From a middle aged woman's perspective:  Your story sounds so like mine.  I have "stopped" for months at a time with all the w/d symptoms named in the thread.  Depression, night sweats and chills being my worst.  I have "stopped" by using low doses of the anti-depressant Effexor (37.5) morning and night, then morning only, then Efffexor every other day for a period of 2 weeks or so.  Effexor has its own w/d demons, but its the only way I've been at all able to "stop" the tramadol.

Its still not fun, but it reduces the symptoms some.  Now the trick is to figure out how to stay "stopped".  I have returned to the tramadol even after 2 month breaks, convincing myself it won't get out of control and I can stay in a therapeutic range of no more than 8 per day.  I have never taken more than 10 per day, but I take it every single day that I have it in the house.  Otherwise, well you know the drill...

So, if you can get some Effexor and let yourself run completely out of tramadol then start Effexor the next day maybe you can stay "stopped".  If you can taper off, that would be even better but I just can't.  If tramadol is  around I take it all!

You wondered about long term effects, I have heard that if you use tramadol in an abuse long term manner as I have (and will again no doubt) it can cause fybromyalgia which would be an additional burdon.  I got that info from a site called "crazymeds".

[Bsta1382]

Thank you wanna1450,

I am going to look into Effexor, but not exactly excited about trading off one drug for another.

[krazykatie]

I have beem taking tramadol for 13 months, and im scared of the effect it has been having on my body. Has any heard if it effects your menstral cycle? i havent had a period for 10 months now. I have also been experiency stomach spasms and hot flashes, this is while im taking them, so god only knows what will happen when i stop

[Jaybay]

FYI - tramadol and ultram are the same med.  One is brand, one is generic, but the same active ingredient.

Quinine can help with the restless legs part of withdrawal.  It's Hylands Leg Cramps and is available over the counter at most pharmacies.  Do NOT take it with benadryl and better yet, check with your pharmacist to make sure it's not contraindicated with any of your other meds.  I am currently tapering off the fentanyl patch, and found the quinine to be very helpful.  Also, liquid sublingual b-complex helps as well.

You might take a look at the addiction forum here at MH.  Lots of good info on dealing with withdrawal symptoms.

[mr.lucky66]

i feel bad that people are having such a hard time getting off this tramadol. I got a RX once because some P.A. in an ER didn't want to give me a real pain script and I got nothing and felt nothing from it.It effects brain chemicals which is why it seems to be so hard to get off as folks seem to become depressed and lethargic when withdrawling. I think it's better to take a real narcotic if you really need pain relief and it may be easier to withdrawl from. all the best

[Ms. Shingles]

There is a book called "Worst Pills Best Pills." I only have a copy from 1999, but in that book it says NOT TO TAKE TRAMADOL. It recommends that the FDA withdraw the drug from the market. It recommends that in its place, you take ibuprofen or combination painkillers containing a narcotic with acetaminophen. mr.lucy66 is in agreement with the book. If I knew then what I know now...

[keys chick]

So I seem to be in the same boat...Moving from Vicodin to taking tramadol for at least the last year. I was taking 2 50mg pills 3 x's a day, so 300mg a day. My dr. wanted me to try 300 mg of Ultram XR which I was glad to try, but got no benefit from. I wonder why. I even took 2 which doubled the amount I was taking before and still didn't get relief from the pain. Was I having withdrawals? I felt worse than before. I saw the thread about taking Effexor to get off the Tramadol, but what do I do for the pain that I have? Is there another solution?

[Edeme]

Every body i know that takes tramadol (alot of people) tell me it does not work , I was prescribed  Tramadol HCL 50 MG Tab 2 tabsx3 daily, guess what, they do not work for me. Seams that all the Drs. are pushing this med., are the drug companys giving them perks for doing this. I noticed that the big push has came about within the past year. I understand they are habit forming and they don't do s*** for me , give me back my loratabs, etc. at least they help with the pain, and yes I rather be addited and pain free than in constant pain.

[lexi468]

"give me back my loratabs, etc. at least they help with the pain, and yes I rather be addited and pain free than in constant pain. "

Sometimes, that is exactly the way I feel!!!!


lexi468

[cali54]

No one wants to become addicted to this ****.  However, what do we do.  Isn't tramadol, Ultram, if it is it's weak.  My pain management dr felt 3 Vicodin a day was too much because of the potential tylenol poisoning instead of too much hydrocodone, so he changed me to Norco 3 x's.  They both make me very anxious and I think they don't work until I wait to take any.  I take soma when I am home, in severe times I take both with 1mg lorazepam because the pain makes me shake so much, but so does the hydrocodone.  He has given me the Patch which seemed okay but when you have to drive to far to work and back and do not know when where or how you will react at any given time, it is not safe, then he gave me Methadone.  Sometimes I think drs think that for us with severe pain don't have a life we have to live.  I have not had surgery because they want me jumping the hoops of all conservative treatment for the last 4 yrs and in the mean time I get worse (degenative disk and bulging disk)  In the mean time I feel if they can not or won't do surgery soon I will have to retire which will stink!  It's hard to stay upbeat,  anyway pain is not normal and untreated, I feel can lead to worse mental issues

[tinman645]

After a car accident in 2006 I was scripted vicodin in the highest dose that is made. Two lower back surgeries later, one in 2006 and one in 2007, I finally weaned off of vicodin (what hell I went thru to do that). Still dealing with alot of lower back pain at this time I was scripted tramadol
taking 2 every 6 hours. I have decreased the dosage to 2 a day. By doing alternative methods such as Pilates,yoga,and rolfing, to build my strength in my lower back and deal with the pain. Being an avid golfer this has helped my well being and gave me strength and hope to one day be pain and drug free.

[atm1721]

"
I have beem taking tramadol for 13 months, and im scared of the effect it has been having on my body. Has any heard if it effects your menstral cycle? i havent had a period for 10 months now."

Did you ever find out the answer to your question.  If so i would love to know.  I have been taking Tramadol 50mg for the past year or so...i transitioned from hydrocodone to tramadol partly because my dr was pushing me off the meds so i figured that since "tramadol is the answer to a non-habit forming drug" that tramadol would be my answer.  It has actually helped my back pain tremendously.  My surgeon has pushed me to a pain management specialist whom has put me on Ultram Er 200 mg since i take around 7 a day of the Tramadol.  Since being on the Ultram my Menstrual Cycle has been crazy.  I missed a month and now i can't stop spotting (i know this is gross), but i didnt know if anyone could answer this question, i am concerned because i have never had this problem before. Does Ultram Er effect your menstrual cycle?  Thanks!

[mr.lucky66]

tamadol, ultram, it's all the same and bad news. A lot of these uniformed docs don't even know how bad this stuff is. I would much rather see people take real opiates than tramadol . all the best

[hubbie]

GET OFF THIS STUFF. I've posted a couple messages, here and on other boards about this addiction. My wife has had 4 seizures now b/c of this stuff. My messages on this board was asking people about the w/d syptoms and if people could just quit w/o any w/d as my wife claims to have done. Couldn't get any real answers b/c each person has different syptoms. I trusted her yet again, for the 4th or 5th time. She took more this past Sat w/o my knowledge, and had another seizure shortly after taking them. Just don't know how/why this stuff is easily purchased over the internet. The ER doc told her that approx 70% of people that take this drug experience seizures once you reach a certain point in your own system.
Just fair warning b/c people here started in on me for not trusting her and trying to control her so I eased up on serching the house for her hidden stashes, big mistake. Don't know where to go from here.
Good luck to us all.

[smittygirl]

Ultram and Tramadol are the same drug.  It did nothing to relieve my pain and the side effect I experienced was the inability to urinate, not a good thing for the kidneys.  Good luck everyone.

[AnonDH56]

There is at least one other set of posts that talk of Utram and they say it interferes with the Serotonin levels in your brain. I dont know in what way but they seemed sure of it and that might explain why Effexor worked for that one person. Antidepressants either mess wtih Serotonin, Norepeneprhine, Dopamine or one other. The Serotonin ones gives males erection problems I think and that would be Prozac. Now I didnt hear it said what dose you are on so if it is 100mg's, suggest you break them in half and see if a half a day is sufficient. If 50's try the same. Almost all drugs can be titrated off of eventually but I dont think they even know how Ultram works yet. Drugs that have unknown mechanisms should nto be sold IMHO. The only Antidepressant I can take that doesnt make me worse and feel crazy is Wellbutrin and that doesnt mess wth Serotonin.

Keep us informed.

DH

[pattir727]

Hi, The comments made from AnonDH56 on right on.

     I am allergic to Ultram (tramodol), allergic to codeine also.
    
     Serotonin effects in SSRIs/SSNRIs
     actually increase my pain and give me panic attacks.
    
     It is called an Oppositional Medication Response/Reaction.

     So sometime the medication your taking can make you feel worse than
     the pain.

pattir727