I've been on tramadol for 4 years. I discontinued the drug roughly 10 days ago. I still have pins and needles, chills, flushed feeling, etc. Worst of all I become incapable of thinking clearly for long periods of the day, what some refer to as "brain fog". For those of you have discontinued this drug are these symptoms consistent with your withdrawal? The inability to think clearly for long periods of the day concerns me the most (e.g. lack of focus, confusion, lightheadedness, etc.). I was put on the drug for different illnesses I was diagnosed with, I typically wouldn't take more than two 37.5mg tablets a day, but I was on it a long time. I'm starting to think that the way I'm feeling is related to some other underlying health issue and not my tramadol useage. I hope I'm wrong.
Hi popctrl just read your text. I've been on Tramadol longer than you, but I take them every other day. I do however take 4x50cm twice that day, which is much more than you. I actually didn't know you could get them in 37.5mg size. When I have tried to go 2 days without, I suffered restless legs and couldn't keep still. I was very agitated. I didn't suffer what you describe. I honestly think you should tell your doctor about this, as the dose you've been on doesn't sound that high at all. You may have had some other feedbacks, which would have hopefully reassured you more than I have. Good luck.
Hi. Earlier this year I was prescribed tram adolescents for gall bladder pain. I only took 1 50mg every other day for about 3 week. Noticed a change in myself after this short time and stopped taking them. Suffered everything you've described. Insomnia. Restless legs. Brain fog. Irritability. Lasted for about 10 days to a fortnight than gradually I got back to normal.
OH MY GOODNESS ME I HEAR ALARM BELLS RINGING.
To cut the long story short I am in a lot of pain at the moment with a large kildney stone. A few weeks ago I was given Tramadol to take as and when I needed it.
Did not particularly like it or find it effective so went onto Oramorph.
However, was in a lot of pain last night so a doctor came to see me.
Unfortunately he saw the old box of Tramadol and immediately said he thought I ought to be back on it.
There is so much you read about these drugs but what or who do you believe?
Fortunately I have an appointment with a GP on Thursday so I will ask him about this.
We are very fortunate here to have an excellent chemist. Your local chemist might be able to help you.
I really hope you continue to be able to keep off this drug.
Remember you are not on your own, there is help out there.
Take care and keep in touch
Sarah x
Hi Pam. There were acute periods, where I was recovering from surgery or dealt with severe pain, where I took more but for the most part I never exceeded what I thought was a very minimal dose. I never even came close to what was prescribed for me. I'm seeing the doctor about all this in a few hours and plan to lay everything out, I hope I get some answers.
Well Victoria if I knew I would get back to normal that would be good enough for me right now. It's the agony of suffering from this and not knowing what the cause is. I suspect it's tramadol but now I'm having doubts. I'm at around day 11 now cold turkey but it feels like it's been so much longer. It's hard.
It's quite interesting how Tramadol affects people differently. It is a very good pain reliever and that's obviously why so many people take it. My sister who is in a lot of pain can't take it, it makes her sick. A few years ago doctors thought this drug was a huge break through, wasn't addictive and an excellent pain relief. How wrong they were. If I'd had any idea (along with many sufferers) I would never have taken it. I think that now we are far more enlightened about the negatives of this drug, it should only be used very sparingly. Doctors shouldn't be so keen to prescribe it now. But by what I read on here, it seems the doctors still dish it out like sweets! I guess most if not all analgesics when taken for long periods are addictive. I need pain relief so I'm sticking to Tramadol. I take it every other day and don't take as much as some. Although I would never have started taking it had I known it would end up ruling my life.....
There is no way I'll restart the drug Sarah. As far as I'm concerned I'm allergic to it. When I was on the drug I was dealing with all sorts of other symptoms. I would get mood swings depending on when I took the drug. I didn't appreciate it at the time, it took me losing a woman I cared for to even recognize the problem. I have a chronic immune disease and needed tramadol to function. The doctors I had spoken never recognized the potential for tramadol to cause problems, at the same time I, as the patient, didn't articulate my reaction to it...because I thought it was normal and the relief it provided at the time was significant. Like I said I don't know what's causing my problems but if this purely a dependency issue it will have flipped my world views upside down. I never drink or smoke and would never had thought this could happen to me. It happens gradually over a long period of time, it grabs a hold of you without you even being aware. If that woman had never entered my life I would still be taking tramadol now, I'm certain.
Good for you popctrl, I hope the doc helps you. You take the drug cos your in pain, you definitely don't need all these other awful symptoms. Good luck once again. Let me know how you get on.
Hi Pam , I have just been given it 50m,g, I fine its great for pain but there's a but I feel sick for a while then goes off I think I will try every other day as it lasted really well I get such pain in my legs I think I have Rheumatism or slight osteoporosis I am lacking vitamin d. Have had tests done and Docter said I have to take them 1 tablet 2week for 6weeks then reduce it to a lower dose it's Stexerol D 3'25000u.625mcg)tabs Would this make me have so much pain in my legs ,,I do suffer with a bad back disc prob ,, old age haha 😂 it's nice to read bits on here it helps thanks all Linda .👍
Hi Pam again what strength Was tramadol your sister took to make her ill 😷 Thax ,Linda ,
Hi Linda, it sounds like you may have osteo arthritis like me. Mine started in the neck. Now I have it everywhere. On the days I don't take Tramadol I'm in agony, and often cry with the pain. It definitely gets worse as you get older. I still refuse to take them every day because I believe I will get too used to them and they won't work so well. Doctors have told me I'm wrong and that it's better to take medication than be in pain. But I'm still glad I haven't taken their advice on that. I am hooked on them as it is. My sister took 50mg tabs, but was so I'll and didn't feel any benefit painwise. So she's on some other strong tabs. I always feel sick when I take my first dose which lasts from 10 mins to half an hour. It also takes my appetite away. But I can handle that to be pain free for a while. Hope you get things sorted for yourself. I would never advise anyone to take them, but you gave to way up the benefits against the negatives for yourself. Best of luck Linda.
Hi popctrl, I was on 50mg Tramadol for 6 years and in the last few months ended up taking around 8 tablets a day. I came off them around 2 years ago and I had the same symptoms as you, including the brain fog. I ended up reducing my hours at work and only working every other day for the first week. I found it so hard to do the most simple tasks at first but luckily it did only last around 2 weeks until I started to feel normal again. Coming off Tramadol was one of the hardest things I had done but having a good support system around me made it so much easier. I hope you start to feel better soon.
I saw the doctor and he thought my symptoms could be a great number of things. I need to get some blood work done and he also wants me to start an elimination diet, I have Crohn's disease so he wants to rule out a sensitivity to gluten. With respect to tramadol, he said my use of it was indicative of dependency, I was using it to function and not for the original pain I had. Originally the pins and needles I experienced was thought to be because of a B12 deficiency so I didn't link it to tramadol useage. In any case I'm hopeful that things will improve. I actually feel pretty good right now even though I didn't sleep well. It really hurts knowing that I lost a woman I thought I'd marry over this, I wish I had a second chance but I don't think life works that way. When I was with her I'd be inexplicably happy and then at other times down. As crazy as it sounds I was denial at that stage that it had to do with tramadol. I thought I have all these documented health issues which I've had surgery for and tramadol was the only thing allowing me to function. I was riding a roller coaster of emotions day in and day out and it had become normal for me. I still feel like crap but I already find myself at more of a equilibrium having only been off the drug less than two weeks. I don't know how any of this happened to me, I never even came close to taking a quarter of the tramadol that was prescribed for me.
It's been really hard. I've been through my father dying as a teenager, major surgeries, and failed relationships. At this time, I honestly feel this is harder than any of those experiences, as awful as they were. It's terrible because I actually don't know whether I will persevere, whether things will return to a level of normalcy. I've relied on my mother and old friends for support. It's honestly hard to be hopefuly for my future at this stage. I was planning on doing a graduate degree at a reputable university but have had to back out given the uncertainty with my health. That disappointment, coupled with a lost relationship, has made this much harder. I don't know where I will be a year from now but I know my health needs to be my top priority because in poor health everything else suffers.
Hi Pam thanks for getting back tonight I am going to leave off as I feel so tired just takeing it last night ,,and see how I feel Pam ,I feel away with the fairys I don't much dose as it takes affect.. will let you know how I get on ,, and yes I think I have osteo. They said a few years back I had it slight so .. anyway I wish u well and good luck to u and all on here bless u . Linda ,
It's a good thing you saw your doctor. I really hope he's on the ball and can help you through this. Along with all the health issues you have and losing your dad when you were so young, I think you are also suffering from very low self esteem and confidence. This would make the strongest of individual depressed. You are obviously still young and once you get over the withdrawals perhaps you will feel ready to give uni another try. I'm so sorry you lost your girlfriend. Tramadol would have been to blame for your mood swings. There is a whole world out there popctrl, and I really hope you can build up your strength of mind and body. You could be a happily married man in a couple of years. I hope I don't sound patronising, I honestly am not intending to be. All the very best x
Hi Linda, Happy to hear you're giving up the Tramadol. If you get withdrawals, taper them off slowly. See how you go. Best of luck.
Hi am hope you are getting there myself I took it tonight as it's a great pain killer But it still makes me feel sick for about them mins .and in the day my head went so dixzzy didn't like it ,have to go out sat .so I am going to takeLyrica It. Okay for a one off now again it doesn't make me feel ill just a bit mind blowing ,will have to go back to see my Docter ,, does Tramadol. Make u dizzy it's horrible but I thought give it another go only taken4 now , but don't get moods with it just head aches as well ,, think it's the last night tonight ,thanks Pam ,good luck to you and every one on here bless them .linda .
Hi Pam not takeing it any more as it makes me feel sick and I had a very bad dizzy spelll think it makes me worste god what a life but you must try and in the end it's worth it they say hope you are okay and getting there as such Pam tc x Linda