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Tramadol withdrawal

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Posted 12/9/2015 9:22 AM (GMT 0)
Ive been on 100mg 2x daily for a while now, I think close to two to three years. I've always been at the same dose, sometimes it gets less effective so I try taking 50 mg or skipping doses for a while. Then it seems to balance out again.

I always am curious as to how effective it is in general, and constantly ponder trying to quit it. Pretty much every time I need a refill the pharmacy takes about three days to fill, and even though I should know this I always forget and every three months or so I go through a three day withdrawal. I get restless leg really bad (probably my least favorite symptom) insomnia, fatigue, and feels like I have a flu.

So as of now I am finishing day 2 of no meds, pharmacy should have my Tramadol tomorrow. Even as miserable as I am right now, I really think I should be done with it all together. I read that I should taper but I am already 2 days in. I don't think I'd want to keep taking it if I could just quit.

Anyone else have any insight as to how long this will last? Any opinion on cold turkey or taper at this point?

Thanks everyone. I haven't posted here in a long time as I haven't had much issue with anything. But this feeling is horrible.
Posted 12/9/2015 12:45 PM (GMT 0)
The good news is that opiate like drugs do not have the months to years potential for withdrawal like tranquilizers, antidepressants, hypnotics like Ambien and neuro drugs like gabapentin.

The bad news is the withdrawal is more than miserable. I worked in a clinic that specialized in prescription medication withdrawal and I went through my own tranquilizer withdrawal that took me over 26 months back in 1999.

Tapering over a month will reduce the symptom severity - you can also talk to your doctor about a drug like subox . Many people crave sugar during withdrawal - this is OK for the short term - also stay well hydrated.

If you do a PubMed search there are numerous journals that are finding that many drugs actually prevent the healing of conditions prescribed for - most cited are the ones I listed above.
Posted 12/9/2015 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply!

I ended up taking a Benedryl last night and got some good sleep. I feel much better today and was able to hang up our Christmas lights finally and do some light yard work.

We'll see how I feel by tonight. For the time being I have some energy.
Posted 12/10/2015 9:42 AM (GMT 0)
I take 100 mg of Tramadol once a day, and I get the restless legs if I skip a day. I got off the fentanyl patch using Clonodine and low dose Prozac. I may try that again if I decide to discontinue the Tramadol. I know meds can contribute to fatigue so pain management can be tricky. What are you using instead of the Tramadol?
Posted 12/10/2015 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
Woinarow,

What does the clonidine feel like? I have the opportunity to take it while going off of pain medications. Does it help with the withdrawals? Thanks in advance for your answer and time.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 12/10/2015 7:09 PM (GMT 0)

woinarow said...
I take 100 mg of Tramadol once a day, and I get the restless legs if I skip a day. I got off the fentanyl patch using Clonodine and low dose Prozac. I may try that again if I decide to discontinue the Tramadol. I know meds can contribute to fatigue so pain management can be tricky. What are you using instead of the Tramadol?

Not using anything in its place. I've worked on my diet pretty well over the years and that has been my greatest step in removing the pain. I am beginning to think that most of my pain now is just my body withdrawing from the Tramadol. I am now on day 4 and feeling sore from stuff I did yesterday, but the other symptoms are less than they were.

And to add to it, the pharmacy still hasn't filled my meds. They told me yesterday they hadn't heard from my doc (since Monday) and today they now say it's not even in stock. (Which they should have ordered in advance knowing its being filled) Anyway, makes the temptation to just go get it that much easier to deal with.
Posted 12/12/2015 7:14 AM (GMT 0)
Day 5 now. Still having some restless leg, but way less severe. I can't seem to sleep though, but I'll take that over the restless leg any day.

I have a full weekend serving at church, so that'll be a good test.

Also, pharmacy finally has the Tramadol filled. I am leaving it there. I worry about the future if I have some random severe pains and need something, but I hope this image of what I am going through keeps me away.
Posted 12/13/2015 9:14 AM (GMT 0)
I had to go off tramadol in summer to start a new drug. It was tough. I took baths a lot. Many one thing to be aware of is mood change. I had a few days of anger and irritability.
Posted 12/16/2015 9:39 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the support everyone. It's been over a week now. I feel like I wasted a lot of time forcing these meds on myself because of the pain, but I never gave myself a chance to see if I could go without them. It's clearer now that after a few days of pretty terrible conditions, it does get better.

After the first few days it does seem now that progress definitely slowed down, but better is better. I'll take that.
Posted 12/22/2015 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
Well I got to Day 12. I was having a terrible time trying to get to sleep every night. I was trying melatonin and tried Benadryl a couple times, but they didn't seem to really work. I was not getting sleep mainly because my body just felt completely uncomfortable, sore, and that dang restless leg was putting so much pressure on my knees.

So Day 13 I got my tramadol RX and slept like a baby that night. The last three nights it has definitely relaxed my body and allowed me to function better and get to sleep.

I have never gone more than a day or two without it in two-three years. So 12 days is an accomplishment. I really wish I'd be able to function without medication, but that doesn't seem to be in the cards for me. I AM down to 50mg though and works better than it used to. At least of anything I know what I can handle if I absolutely had to.

That withdrawal process sucks horribly.

Thanks for listening to me rant.
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