Coming off Tramadol

Treatment and medication
1

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.

2

Hello there, I am so sorry to hear your problems. I've been on Tramadol for approx. 5 years and desperate to come off. I've tried before and just like you totally could not cope with the sweats, utter utter anxiety that is beyond words, insomnia, aches. So this time I've research and researched how to come off and I've only reduce by one tablet so far (was on 250mg per day now on 200mg) and with two hours of the reduction I had pins and needles and all the classic symptoms. From what I have read some people you have taper off very slowly so I agree with that nurse going from 100mg to nothing was perhaps too much. Shame the meds doesn't come in lower mg. I despair with my docs as they don't have a clue what it is like to come off meds. (I have a rare neurological condition and this is not the first time I've suffered at the mercy of withdrawal)

I'm not much help but I'm here to share if you need to.

Hope you got better than you thought at the doctors.

x

3

Hi Jakki,

Thank you for your input! At times I feel I am going crazy, but it's comforting to know other people have had the same experiences.

I am at the docs in 1 1/2 hours. I will let you know what they decide.

When people say "Just stop" I wish I could. I'm not taking the pills because I think it's funny. It's frustrating me trying to explain the intense feelings I have to them without sounding like an ammy dramatic.

I was on 50mg tablets, taking two three times a day. I may speak and see if I start the programme again that I finish off on these.

The thought of going to the docs to try and get this sorted makes me feel sick with worry and anxiety.

I hope that your journey is successful, Jakki. Please keep me updated. From everything I have read it seems that every individual person has different ways and different methods, just like it effects everyone differently

4

I have just come back from the docs. After explaining what happens a "So what do you want me to do?" near enough finished me off. I could tell by his mannerisms that he has no real experience with this sort of thing, he was thinking of ten different solutions, but for one reason or another they wouldn't work out. I am glad I took my dad with me, so he could back me up and how bat sh*t crazy I was over the weekend.

I am currently on 4 tablets a day. 100 mg morning, 100mg lunch. I don't take them in the evening as it makes it harder to sleep.

So now I take one 50mg tablet three times a day for a week, then two 50mg tablets a day for a week, then one 50mg tablet for a week. I have also been prescribed diazepam 5mg for anxiety and the restlessness/insomnia. Having had this before I know it wipes me clean out, and sleeping tablets are short acting. So when I feel like I'm going crazy and having a melt down, I take the diazepam along side it.

He is also trying to find liquid tramadol so that when I finish the 50mg dose a day, I can do a lesser dose.

I'm lucky enough I live at home or with my boyfriend. My father has said he will take the tablets and give me the dose I require as prescribed. I warned him I may turn in to a spitting snake when I cut down trying to get more as it is out of my control, but he is okay with that.

We have glourious weather at the moment, so staying warm isn't a big issue. I was having serious problems with being very, very cold. Blue lipped cold.

I will let you know how it all goes.

5

Hi there, what are doctors like sometimes I despair with them. Glad your dad went with you. My dad is supportive whom I live with. I'm on diazepam but 2mg it's another medication we need to be careful with. If you find out tramadol comes in liquid form I'll be interested to know. The withdrawal for today has been a little easier so hoping I can reduce again soon. This time last year I was on 47 tablets got that down to 17. Please feel free to private message me if you want to let rip at any time as I know it's not easy.

6

As long as you aren't on the delayed release tablets, there is really no reason that you can't break them in half and step down in 25mg increments. This could help a lot.

And I just had a stray thought. If you want the diazepam to be as short acting as possible, you should investigate them for their reactions with foods and other drugs. Cimetidine, for example, will prolong their effect. As I believe grapefruit juice will, also.

7

Hi

Do you mean half the tramadol? Mine are 50mg capsule so didn't think I could those in half?? Advice appreciated

8

Mine are 50mg tablets.

9

.....but i'm in the US.

10

Day 8 of reducing tramadol ...... Boy had a bad afternoon, but going to carry on. I cannot cut or break the tramodol in half, it is a capsule with powder inside.

11

I'm only taking tramadol on an as-needed basis for severe back and shoulder pain… and as little as possible. It comes out to 2x50mg capsules a day on a good day, to double that amount on bad one. A vicariat doctor gave me a prescription for a Time Release version of tramadol (Nobligan Retard, which includes 100mg tramadol in a slow release version) ). Then I might add one or two 50mg capsules in 24 hours.

I've been doing this for about 2 years. Do you think I will have an awful time getting off it?

12

Hi there, it varies from person to person, but you will have some withdrawal if you have been taking it continuously

. Not sure about the slow relief. Only aware of mine which are 50mg capsules and what I have read and experiencing. Sorry can't be more help.

13

Are the tablets (more like small oval caplets, actually) not available in the UK?

14

I don't know about Wobbly, but mine are capsules (gelatin), with 50mg powder inside, so not easy to divide. I am in Scandinavia. The capsules are called Tramadol or Nobligan.

15

Thanks for the reply, Wobbly. I know each person is different, but I have had problems with addiction to other medications, so I'm worried about this. However, I am still unable to function without at least 2 tramadol (50mgx2) a day for intense pain, mostly at night. I don't believe in most drugs, they treat symptoms and not causes, but I still need to function.

16

Hi there, yeah mine are capsules too and I'm in the uk. If you need them for pain relief then take them you have to function. For me I just know I need to come off them now as my pain is a lot less. What I am very cross about is that when I was put on them (and other meds) I wasn't given the full information from the healthcare professionals and so I did not make an fully informed choice and decision. I probably would of still taken the meds but that isn't my point. Never mind I need to keep positive and try and get off them in the most safest and with the least possible withdrawal effects. So far it's not been easy but all part of having a condition I suppose.

17

Tramadol was developed as a non-addictive alternative to opiates. But, in general, it turned out to be almost as dangerous. And just as bad, if not worse, for some people.

I personally believe that this drug is metabolized at VERY different rates for different people. I do not get much relief from them, but the negative side effects last 12 hours or more. This would seem to indicate that it could build up in my system, making me a candidate for addiction. The only reason I have a bottle next to me now is that I kept them around for emergencies. I generally do not take them.

18

I wish I could figure out what's causing the pain and treat that instead of just keeping the pain at a level that is (barely) tolerable. Pain is there for a reason. Making it feel better is not the solution. But I guess some people just have to accept chronic pain for the rest of their lives, at least that's what the doctors indicate. I don't buy that, but as long as I can't figure out how to treat what ails me, I have to bite the bullet (literally, I open the capsules into my moth so the pain relief will get into my blood faster). and keep swallowing it. I know what withdrawal is like and am not looking forward to it.

19

Actually, getting a large initial boost can make the psychological aspect of addiction harder to break.

20

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the replies!

I can't split my pills as they are capsules, but I will let you know if I can get liquid form.

I've been doing okay on 150mg. Tomorrow I cut down to 100mg. I'm going to space them out between morning and mid afternoon. The thought, even now, makes me feel sick to my stomach and want to cry. Daft, eh?

Had a bad morning this morning. My body is feeling super run down, and I just had a crash. It happens every five-seven days of being so hyped up, then not sleeping well, but still being hyped up. I didn't make it to work until this afternoon. My colleagues, are thankfully, awesome and wanted to send me back home. I told them this is going to get worse over the next couple of weeks, so I will work as much as I can when I'm feeling a bit better!

My specialist wants me to see a community psychiatric nurse. I'm going to book my appointment in a moment.

The 150mg cut down felt fine, and I had no worries about it.

Cutting to 100mg makes me feel anxious and sick.

The thought of 50mg sends my heart rate through the roof and panicked.

This could be fun!

I will keep you updated.