Is Tramadol withdrawal hard?

I've been taking tramadol for the past 3 years no more than 8 50 mg a day but slowly decreasing as time goes on.  Today I have taken 3 and I am determined to be off this stuff for good.  I started taking it for back pain which I started suffering from weight lifting 10 years ago.  As I've gotten in my mid 30's it seems the aches and pains are only increasing.  I find myself not being able to function without this drug and though it doesn't necessarily get you "high" it does make me feel dependent on it.  I stopped drinking alcohol about 4 years ago and I don't use any other drugs since my college years.  But no matter what I've done in the past I feel so worthless on this stuff.  I'm embarrassed to admit to any of my family, friends or fiance that I'm addicted to this drug.  It's embarrassing and I have a job where I can't afford to let anyone know about this.  I can't emphasize enough how low life this makes me feel being dependent on anything but I have decided I'm going to beat this and I will live my life drug and alcohol free.  I know the next few weeks are going to be the worst thing I have ever experienced but I truly feel in the long run it is what I want for myself.

Hi people. I was on tramadol for 6years only 2 a day one in a morning one at night.Got told before Xmas I didn't need tramadol and co codamol.In the past I'v given up other meds instead as I had heard how hard it was to come of tramadol. In this case the co codamol works better for pain. Newyears day I just stopped taking them. ( do not do this) I lasted bout half a hour and popped one. The day after I just chopped a tablet in to little bits and took a little bit morning and night. Was ok first couple of days but come Saturday the 5th   i got a weird back and chest pain and heart burn and Sunday morning I felt rough my chest was killing and it was making me a bit scared as I live alone. This is when I was still taking bits Monday and Tuesday I had flu symptoms and felt bad. Was running to toilet all the time and sneezing. My nose wouldn't stop running. Did not sleep much as leg cramps keeping me up. I stopped taking any tramadol on Monday and feeling better today. Still got headache and leg cramps but flu symptoms have eased. If I can give any help it would be get stocked up on cold and flu tablets and diarrhoea tablets, vitamins ,deep heat rub for legs at night.I cake it on. If your working it would be wise if possible to at least get mornings off as you need to be near a toilet. you can do this. Oh and I got some herbal tablets to help me sleep. Any thing you want to know just ask. 

If you have the ability to slowly take less and less, then that's good. A slow plane crash may be better than hitting the ground at 500 mph. I wouldn't worry about the embarassment stuff, it's more important to get yourself well.

You will go through a rough period, but what's on the other side is much better. I think you can learn alot by what people say on this site, with their experiemces, remedies and advice.

I'm on day 4 of this...day 2 of none at all.  I took 5 per day (50mg each) for, gosh, the last decade on and off.  This last time, it has been 5 per day since July 2011.  It really helps with my pain but, I guess I just knew I was "addicted" and taking it for more than the pain, otherwise, the 3 prescribed would have been enough.  I started with that...then worked my way up to 5 per day.  I rarely took more than that...maybe 6 on a day I had a LOT going on.  This "stuff" gave me energy and I felt on top of the world!  But, a part of me knew I was just kidding myself.  I ordered online every few months so I could supplement my script (that was 3 per day).  I've decided I just want to be DONE with it.  So, since I was running out of my script last week, I decided to taper (and not order online).  Saturday the 5th I took 5, Sunday 4, Monday 3, Tuesday 2, none yesterday, none today.  Monday and Tuesday I felt crappy.  Yesterday I felt really crappy.  I couldn't sleep at all last night...more than maybe 15 minutes at a time.  I took off work yesterday and today.  I thought maybe I DID have the flu going around the office...the symptoms were the same as what others were describing.  But I know that's probably not it.  It's this horrible stuff tramadol! 

 

Today I don't feel AS terrible...other than being really tired.  I have ZERO energy but can't sleep...it's such an awful feeling.  I'm starting to feel depressed too. 

 

I have to go get my kids from school in a few hours...I hope I can get the energy by then.

 

This sucks so bad... 

Hi michelle keep going. Iam on day four of non at all and today my flu symptoms have gone and no running to the toliet thank god.Iam feeling a bit jumpy still. I have found myself not wanting to be alone and feeling scared,even jumping at my toast popping up and leaving a light on at night. Claire 

Thank you Claire. I'm hanging in. Went to my mom's with the kids and she helped get them fed and homework done. All I have to do when we get home is get them in bed. I'm hoping I can get some sleep tonight. Dreading going to bed actually. One day left in the work week. If I can make it through I have 2 days to relax. Fingers crossed.

Hoping we all hang in until the light at the end of this dreadful tunnel. Whoever said that vitamin water stuff helps is right. I felt less antsy after picking some up on the way to get the kids. Red Bull helped give me a little energy too. I bought one of each for work tomorrow. Can't hurt.

I am on day 10 now. I feel great! Each day gets better and I am getting more energy. I don't wake up feeling sluggish like I used to when taking the Tramadol. Occasionally I will get a bit of heart burn and irritable but if I keep myself busy it's not so bad. Keep pushing through, it is worth it in the end! I am so proud of myself atm :) 

 

I think you are near the bottom and day 4-5 or so seems to be the worse for people. Mine was almost a month long as I was a good 10 years on it. I've heard many people talk about Katrom and they says it's a miracle herb. I have no idea where you buy it or how you take it, but some people swear by it. It's almost like suboxone in a way.

Let people know your progress and stay around so that you can help others. I'm 2 1/'2 years clean now

Hi michelle how are you feeling today? I've been feeling anxious about going to bed, defo the withdrawal as I've slept with the light on as feeling un easy. I've got headache and not much energy and little heart burn but not too bad. Not easy with children as I've found myself snapping a bit at mine as you just can't be arsed coming of this stuff. Claire 

I googled tramadol withdrawal and this came up. I am a recovering alcoholic with 12 years sobriety,active in AA. Few years ago,my neck/back pain became worse,and found I had spinal stenosis/compression/4 bulgeslevels..

I started taking tramadol about 4-5 years ago, "recreationally" at first( once a week for severe pain) but in the last 2 years have taken between 50mg to 150mg a day. I had surgery for the 2 worst levels in this past aug, and the pain is far less .

 I am fortunate I did not take more and did not take it "addictively,ie to get "high", because I know better. Tramadol is the AA "pain killer of choice"because its not a narcotic, and is not quite as addictive(at least from my experience,) in terms of needing more and more and more(like cocaine..hidious addiction)   BUT the withdrawl is unlike anything I have experienced. Alcohol withdrawal was not this bad, but there is an allergic componenet there as well. 

  I agree with what other said that tapering is the best choice. Do not take more than 200 a day for any extended time if you do have to use it. 

The lack of sleep and skin crawling feeling are the worst. I tried benedryl, advil,aleve, they just barely took the edge off. I wish I could take valium or a sleeping pill, but with my history, riding this out was best.

At my level of about 100mg a day, I have been able to withdraw in less than 7 days. I am now 2 days with zero tramadol. If you took 200 mg a day, perhaps it would be at least 2 weeks of titration., and so on.  I didnt realize that these flu symptoms I have been having are from the tramadol withdrawal!! Good to know :) They have been talking about a flu epidemic, and this runny nose, sneexing is not going away! I have experienced a higher senstivity to ohysical sensations, and mental ability. NOT a bad thing so far. I actaully feel kind of smarter and more aware of whats going on .  As far as doctors advise, most do not advise patients to be careful with tramadol, and most do not explain the possible nasty withdrawal. I've never had any doctor(and I have seen manY in the last few years) warn me about the tramadol.

best of luck to everyone!!!!

I am finding doctors to be really stubborn about this. I went and saw mine to help with getting off the stuff, my normal dr wasnt in and the other one I saw treated me like a junkie. At no point did she check me over, blood pressure, heart etc. You would think that perhaps a blood test to make sure there is no damage to the liver.
Im now day 11. Yesterday I started feeling the anxiousness again and was very irritable. If I had it, I think I would have taken a Tramadol. Today is better again, except the toilet - Ive been 3 times already since ive woken up, and its only 8am.

Does anyone else feel like they are constantly hungry? I do, but I dont know what to eat - nothing seems appealing atm :(

Keep going just tell yourself every day il get better. Iam on day six with no tramadol at all. Day four the cold and flu went and running to the toilet just got a bit of chest pain and feel tired but nothing compared top first few days. I do feel very restless and jumpy. I rang my doctor on day 3 and he offered more tramadol. I said no way I am going through this again.

A tapering plan which is reported to be effective is reduce intake by 20% every 5 days if taking on a daily basis. Be very careful with using other drugs to help you get off it as you will be very vulnerable and susceptible to becoming dependant on the remedy, this can be a very slippery slope and result in a lifetime vicious circle. However, I have no idea why tramadol is so carelessly prescribed and not considered in any way dangerous or addictive. The withdrawal with this drug is excruciating, I wish anyone going through it the best of luck. 

(Today is day 12) 

I haven't posted in a few days. The depression hit like a ton of bricks and lasted about 4 days. I cried, involuntarily, most of last Thursday, then off and on for the rest of the wknd. No matter how hard I tried not to, the tears just kept coming. I felt like I was in a bubble of dispair, all alone, quite pathetic, and self obsorbed. Thankfully my husband continued to provide support, listening to my sobbing and trying to understand what I was going through. He forced me to go for walks, drink lots of healthy liquids, and eat fresh fruit. I woke up Monday feeling far less depressed but still exhausted from the continued sleeplessness. Most of the other withdrawal symptoms had subsided except the inability to sleep, and an underlying jitteriness. I had an appointment with my PCP but when I arrived he was not there due to an emergency so I was given the choice of seeing another doctor there, or rescheduling. At my wit’s end and in need of sleep, I decided to see the other doctor. The nurse took my BP when they first called me back and it was 184/130!! I have never had high blood pressure so this is something you may want to closely monitor as you go through the withdrawals. I was immediately given medication to lower my BP. While we waited for the medicine to work, I talked to the doctor about my concerns with Tramadol and everything that I had endured since I stopped taking them.  He wouldn’t give in on the fact that they are addictive and pretended that he was not aware of such extreme withdrawals, saying he had prescribed them to several patients over the years with no problems. LIAR!!! I thought.  While some light is being shed upon the problems with Tramadol, doctors are continuing to bury their heads in the sand, or maybe in the stacks of cash they receive for prescribing certain meds. Anyway, 4 hours later my BP was down to 140/100. I left with BP medication, and Ambien for the sleeplessness. I, being a sufferer of insomnia off and on over my lifetime, had successfully taken Ambien before so I was ok with that. Oddly, while this doctor had NO IDEA of side effects with Tramadol, he let it slip that I may have to take the BP meds long-term. Hmmm, how would he know that? I don’t think it was just a guess on his part. Alas, I slept through the night last night, woke up feeling like a new person but my BP is jumping back and forth from approximately 135/90 to 140/105. I took my medication when I first got up so it will probably go down more as the day goes on.

For those of you who have not read my earlier posts; I had never been addicted to anything in my life. I have been prescribed numerous different pain meds over the years for ruptured discs and other spinal issues. I was careful to never take more than the minimum needed to make my pain tolerable and I was FINE when I would take a break from meds and try other ways of pain management. A few months ago I was prescribed Tramadol because of it’s “non-addictive qualities and lack of side effects”.  My Spine Specialist ASSURED me several times that it was just a step above Tylenol and would not have any more impact on me than if I had taken a Tylenol, except that it would relieve my pain more effectively. My biggest mistake was trusting my Specialists that day and from now on I will thoroughly research any medication I am prescribed before putting it in my body.  

Most importantly, PLEASE know that you CAN do this, you can walk away from this drug straight from hell. There is no magic day when it will all go away for a specific person. Just know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. From what I have read throughout the post, most people seem to be doing quite well within two weeks. The first week being the most difficult to get through. I was taking approximately 300mg, less than what I was prescribed, when I quit taking them. I was blindsided as I had no idea what was about to happen to my world, but with the help of the people here, willing to tell their story, and my husband. I made it and so can you. Giving up is far worse and just prolongs the inevitable, so keep on going, hour by hour, day by day and you will make it!! Yesterday was better than the day before, and today is much better than yesterday.

The only thing I have really been able to eat is fresh fruits. Peaches, bananas, kiwi, grapes, and strawberries have been my main diet for days now. Last night I finally able to eat a taco was able to eat a taco and it tasted great. You mentioned that when you went to the doctor they didn't even take your vitals. Please read my last post. I posted today (15th of Jan). It's about yesterday's doctor visit and my BP was dangerously high. I have never had high blood pressure, EVER until now. Doesn't mean it will happen to everyone but it should certainly be monitored while going through these withdrawals.