Problems with Tramadol (ultram)

[BionicBoy]

Hi Everyone,

I am about five months out from having hip and knee replacement surgery during the same week. I've been taking Tramadol for almost a year now, including pre and post op.

I've never taken more than prescribed, never abused, etc but I am having a very difficult time coming off it. When I don't take it, I get this awful tingly, electric, twingy feeling in my hips and stomach that makes it impossible to lie still, let alone fall asleep. It's terrible.

I know I'm experiencing some sort of physical withdrawl, but even with dialing back the amount I take (down to about 100-150mg/day) I cannot get off it completely. Even though I don't need it for pain anymore, I still have to take it to fall asleep.

Anyone else experience this?

Help!

 

[Lakesideview]

Yes. I have been taking this med for 2 years now and even though they told me it is not addictive I have exactly the same feelings as you when trying to get off the stuff. I am pre surgery for TKR and am hoping that afterwards I can use something else for pain. The sad thing is this med works very well for me but I do not want to be on it forever. If I knew about this before taking Tramadol I would never have started it. It is the worst feeling when you start that withdrawal. Not like anything else I have ever experianced. I, like you have only used what is perscribed. Nothing extra. Very scary.

 

[Pat29627]

I've heard Tramadol can be hard to come off. I'd just keep cutting back by 50 each week or two, then even maintain at 25 for a couple weeks. I had problems when I got off oxycodone and hydrocodone after just a few weeks. After that I started tramadol, but only 25 mg. (1/2 pill) twice a night, and now not every night. It keeps me from falling asleep, so I don't take it until I'm ready to get into bed and figure I'll be asleep when it reaches peak in a couple hours. Just take it slow and easy. Good luck.

Pat

 

[loggon]

Bionic
You can take something else for sleep. I was on tramadol and did not have a problem. You need to talk to your doctor because what works for one person does not work for another.

Your doctor needs to advise you how to get off. He may even want you to take something else. Sounds like you are having redrawal symptoms and I understand those can be pretty bad.

Tramadol makes me sleep but for others it keeps them away.

I just took one for my back pain I am having today and I am already sleepy.

 

[JudyS]

I do not have any experience with tramadol but have been on narcotics for ovefr a year. My pain management doc has been helping me get off morphine. When I just skipped a dose i was miserable the next day. What she did was prescribe a blood pressure patch that took away the miserables. They have all kinds of things up their sleeves, get some help it will make such a difference
judy

 

[moe]

Is tramadol a pain reliever? I am almost 8 months out from RTKR and stopped taking hydrocodone near the end of June when outpatient therapy ended. Somedays when I am stretching to get more ROM, I sometimes feel I could bend a little more with some pain meds!


MOE
RTKR 1/27/09

 

[Josephine]

Tramadol is an excellent analgesic but it should be remembered that it is actually a synthetic morphine so long term usage is almost inevitably going to result in some degree of dependency. It was never intended to be used over such a long period and I think your physician was remiss in letting you take it for so long. I'm intrigued he did that whilst other people are being told to stop using oxycodone and such after only one week! That really doesn't make sense to me at all.

So now you have this problem, you must have help getting off it and your physician advise even if he only refers you to another doctor. It's not an undoable situation. Just be patient and make sure you have appropriate monitoring and alternative prescribing.

 

[Motherofmany]

My OS prescribed Tramadol for the presurgical period of time I needed to stop taking Ibuprophen. It made me sleepy, but didn't allow me to sleep very long. It also cause migrain head aches. Funny that Jo said it was a synthetic version of morphine, because morphine did the same thing as Tramadol. Didn't allow me to sleep, didn't stop the pain and caused severe migrains. My OS pulled me off of the PCA pump in less than 24 hours after surgery.

I did much better with the 10 mg of Demerol which they lessoned to 7.5 of Hydrocodone when coming home. Neither of which gives me a headache and allows me to sleep very well. My husband Rick wakes me to give me the next dose, so I don't wake up stiff and in much pain. He is a wonderful caregiver! :wub:

600-800mg of ibuprophen offered better pain management for me after 4 months than the 50mg of Tramadol did. Seek your OS advice. He should be able to help you wean off this and offer something else that will help with pain and swelling.

Blessings,

 

[lissa]

Hi Everyone,

I am about five months out from having hip and knee replacement surgery during the same week. I've been taking Tramadol for almost a year now, including pre and post op.

I've never taken more than prescribed, never abused, etc but I am having a very difficult time coming off it. When I don't take it, I get this awful tingly, electric, twingy feeling in my hips and stomach that makes it impossible to lie still, let alone fall asleep. It's terrible.

I know I'm experiencing some sort of physical withdrawl, but even with dialing back the amount I take (down to about 100-150mg/day) I cannot get off it completely. Even though I don't need it for pain anymore, I still have to take it to fall asleep.

Anyone else experience this?

Help!

Time to get rid of tramadol, esp. if not needed for pain..you're treating yourself for wrong reasons. Try Ambien for sleep. I have 10 mg. but cut in half...I use it every night ...its not addicting and is dealing with the correct issue...not sleeping.

 

[Judles]

But be aware.....Ambien can cause you to have some weird hallucinations just proving....nothing's perfect for everyone!!! (0)

 

[Motherofmany]

What about Tylenol PM? I think they even have a new one out with Ibuprophen PM for a gentle sleep aid.

If sleep is the issue, one of these may be able to help. Check with your OS, General Dr. or even your pharmacist. All are good resources with best advice available for your particular need.

 

[pallen]

How are you doing getting off the Tramadol BionicBoy? It appears that I am in the same predicament. I have been on Tramadol Since July 14th. I don't need it any more, but when I stop taking it I can't sleep, I am so wired I feel like I am going to jump out of my skin. I am trying to slowly lower the dosage, but I am not sure how exactly to do that. I was taking 1 every 4 hours, now I am taking 1 every 6 hours. Should the next step be one every 8 hours and then 1 every 12 hours or shoud I only take it at night? If you were successful, I would appreciate knowing how you did it. I never would have taken Tramadol if I had known it was this addictive. Why didn't the Doctor or the Druggist tell me?:pnc:

 

[Judles]

I'd call your doctor and/or pharmacist and ask THEM!!! You shouldn't have to figure this out by YOURSELF!!! Good luck!!! (0)

 

[loggon]

Pallen

That is something your doctor needs to help you with. Please call him and explain what is happening.

 

[pallen]

Getting ahold of my doctor is almost impossible, but I do have an appointment with him in a couple of weeks. I am going to the drugstore tomorrow, I will ask the pharmacist. Thanks.

 

[Jamie]

Pallen, you can also take half pills as you are weaning yourself off. That allows you to reduce the amount of the drug taken, but still keep some in your system as you cut back. So....instead of taking 1 every 8 hours, you could take 1/2 pill every 4.....as an example. If the pills don't break easily, you can get a pill cutter at the drug store. The only time this would not be possible is if the drug is a capsule or the guidance says not to break them apart (this happens with some time release medications).

But talking to your pharmacist is an excellent plan no matter what! They really know the drugs....sometimes better than the doctors.

 

[Josephine]

I found this in a Google search

MedicineNet.com

SIDE EFFECTS: Tramadol is generally well tolerated, and side effects are usually transient.

Commonly reported side effects include nausea, constipation, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, and vomiting.

Less commonly reported side effects include itching, sweating, dry mouth, diarrhea, rash, visual disturbances, and vertigo. Some patients who received tramadol have reported seizures.

Abrupt withdrawal of Tramadol may result in anxiety, sweating, insomnia, rigors, pain, nausea, diarrhea, tremors, and hallucinations.



It also says this on the leaflet in the box in my cupboard.

 

[pallen]

I guess I should have read that, lol. That describes it perfectly. I noticed last night that I still had a bit of trouble getting to sleep with the reduced dosage. Even though I only had 4 hours of sleep the night before, I had a hard time closing my eyes. I would say that when that eases off, I am ready to cut the dose a little more. I am finally feeling good about my knee although my ROM is not where I would like it, and I guess this is just another bump in the road to recovery.

 

[pallen]

I spoke with the pharmacist today and she said the way to reduce my dosage is reduce by 1 tablet a day, each week until I am down to one a day. I can also cut the tablets in half if I want to. I hope that helps anyone else that is taking this medication.

 

[Josephine]

Sounds about right.

I also read the leaflet in my box of Tram and it says

"It is best to take Tramadol over a short period and then only when you need it. You can get addicted to some pain relievers. But this is unlikely to happen with Tramadol as long as you follow your doctor's instructions."