Is Tramadol withdrawal hard?

I have been taking my suggested dosage from my physician for almost 3yrs. Which is 300 mg or 6 50 mg tablets a day. In the beginning the drug was a god sent for my chronic back pain as my Doctor said it was none narcotic and non-habit forming. Now I find myself sitting here at 6 am in the morning 48 hours with not tramadol and sick as a Dog. After the first year the drug began to make me a introvert which is not in my nature. I have always been a outgoing person. So be careful when you use the prescribed dosage line i have been seeing so often in so many post. It can get you in trouble and very sick if you try and take your life back. GL to all those out there fighting with this problem.

You guys go to the ER! Or a clinic if they are open at night. Be honest with them! My wife threatened to call an ambulance because i kept pleading with her because she has Tramadol and MY Hydrocodone 10mg which I'm only allowed 1 per day given by her and she would not budge for anything! Not sure the Hydro would help anyway. So Primary care person is out of town...and it's 3 AM So i go to the ER and tell them basically "shakes and aches" LOL the admitting guy reported this to the nurse initially. I told her flat out i was going to be honest and she said "we can probably help you with some" It really made me feel better. The Dr. said I'll probably give you 10 was honest with her also. So that's that! To be honest the withdrawls weren't quite as bad as last time but still was starting to get the shakes and stuff and feeling suicidal even. Have successfully barely withdrew from Percocet and Ambien ...the Percs are like legal heroin pretty much and they lasted about 2-3 days. Having been on Tramadol for real pain about 7 yrs or so .. was concerned. When you're having "brain shocks" that my friend is seizure like - and a medical issue. So they gave me an info sheet on my discharge and it this is a medical condition commonly known as PAWS- Post Accute withdrawl syndrome and severity is different for everyone, withdrawing is a sign of trying to get off them and it's tough especially if you're really using them for pain control. So they gave me one while there and get home to see she gave me #15 .. was like i may have faith in the human race again and maybe the healthcare system. Ya'll get help its out there and try to get off this stuff by tapering off and don't listen to those who say this is not an Emergency or ER worth trip because if you are thinking of suicide to escape the pain it's definitely worth it to everyone. If possible bring a friend or family member/ advocate from being a nurse know patients generally get better care when family or whatnot is around and they can lobby the Dr. if necessary. If they don''t want to prescribe the med ask if they can give you anything to help. You don't have to or should not suffer. God bless you all and Good luck!

I was taking up to 1000mg of Tramadol and 600mg of Codiene a day and had a very bad habit. I'd had enough of how my life was being controlled by taking them. I decided to come off them and the only way for me to do it was go 'Cold Turkey'. I stopped taking my tablets about midday on a sunday and by the next saturday (6 days later) I felt so much better. The first few days arn't easy but the hardest part for me was the lack of sleep. Only getting 10 minutes here, 20 minutes there really gets to you. I had cold sweats, on the loo a lot, very emotional, few aches and pains but the pay off is so worth it.

If your planning to go 'Cold Turkey', then set yourself a routine. Buy food in that is easy to make. Stock up on fluids, tea, coffee etc. Prepare to be watching TV and Movies through the night and don't force yourself to sleep as you won't and you'll get frustrated. Your body will ease you back into a sleeping pattern. I found writing a big help, it focussed my mind on something other than my withdrawl.

I also placed 1000mg of Tramadol, in a jar, next to my TV. It was sat there the whole time I was detoxing/withdrawing and made me more determined to not touch them.

My timeline going 'Cold Turkey':

Sunday: Last took tablets at midday. Felt fine and slept that night.

Monday: Felt fine most of day until evening when I was getting the 'angst' of wanting to take some. Slept on and off that night.

Tuesday: The 'angst' was still there and now I was getting a few aches and visiting toilet a lot as body starting to detox and kick out all the rubbish. Set myself a routine of having a hot drink every 2 hours. Watching a movie from start to finish without leaving sofa. Writing. Very little sleep over night, so watched movies, TV, surfed net, more writing.

Wednesday: The 'angst' had past and now I hated those bloody tablets. Kept to routine which now included trying to eat in between my hot drinks, watching movies and writing. Very tired and would get the odd 20 minutes here and there whilst on sofa.

Thursday: Still going to toilet and still having a few aches. The hardest part of all this now is lack of sleep. But I kept to routine and would drop of to sleep on sofa, every now and again. Continued to watch movies and write. I'd always go to bed every evening and hope to go to sleep. A massive part of not sleeping was getting restless arm syndrome or restless leg syndrome. I never once tried to fight it, so i'd get up, go downstairs, out a film on and be back in my own routine.

Friday: Feeling much better within myself. My emotions were running wild and I was turned on as hell...this was because they had been supressed by the years of taking those horrid pills. Continued with my routine, movies, writing....you get my drift. SLEPT for 3 hours, didn't force myself to try and get back to sleep. Was awake for a few hours then SLEPT again for another few hours.

Saturday: I knew now that I had kicked it. Still kept to my routine, but was eating more, visiting the toilet less, was feeling great and was managing to have a few hours sleep here and there during the day. That night I slept for 3 hours again, got up for a short while then went back to bed and slept for a further 3 hours.

Sunday: Day7/8 My body was re-setting itself....90% detoxed 80% withdrawl over.

Over the next few days my sleep clock went back to normal and I got stronger by the day. I left the jar of Tramadol next to my TV for the next month because I wanted to remain strong as going back can be easy when in recovery.

All I can say is that you do have to have a massive amount of WILLPOWER, but having a routine and knowing that your not going to sleep for up to 5 days, helped me tackle this addiction.

I've been clean for a couple of years now and will only take Paracetamol for the odd hangover headache.

I'll happily answer any questions you may have.

 

Nik

Detox for 5 days didnt work for me. Took methadone while there. Came home feeling sick and irritable with no energy. I got over to 30, 50mg tablets a day. I didn't take nearly as much out of detox, but couldn't live without it. I tried codeine from a doctor, was gone in a few days.. After taking it everyday between late 2007 to 2012.. I had to get on suboxone. Since then I've become employed fulltime, saved my marriage, no more overdoses... just overall a0 s huge difference. I used to be afraid to get treatment because I thought I'd be "red flagged" for life, but I have not been. My physician doesn't even know I see a psychiatrist who prescribes me suboxone. We barely talk.. I just receive a prescription every 3 weeks.. 60 strips. I take 3 a day. sometimes 2. I know i traded my dependence from one substance to another, but I am able to function! I wish I went on it sooner and skipped the detox and terrible outpatient meetings.

Detox for 5 days didnt work for me. Took methadone while there. Came home feeling sick and irritable with no energy. I got over to 30, 50mg tablets a day. I didn't take nearly as much out of detox, but couldn't live without it. I tried codeine from a doctor, was gone in a few days.. After taking it everyday between late 2007 to 2012.. I had to get on suboxone. Since then I've become employed fulltime, saved my marriage, no more overdoses... just overall a0 s huge difference. I used to be afraid to get treatment because I thought I'd be "red flagged" for life, but I have not been. My physician doesn't even know I see a psychiatrist who prescribes me suboxone. We barely talk.. I just receive a prescription every 3 weeks.. 60 strips. I take 3 a day. sometimes 2. I know i traded my dependence from one substance to another, but I am able to function! I wish I went on it sooner and skipped the detox and terrible outpatient meetings.

 

I got a message saying this message was originally deleted, but if it wasn't deleted sorry for the repost.  I haven't been on here in over 6 months, but feel like I can help if anyone wants to message me

been on high dose for month havent had for two days feel awful how long will I feel better

 

 

 

 

I agree about the tramadol side effects causing more pain and also that withdrawl is awful!! I stopped cold turkey because it was not working anymore and I did not want to go to a higher dosage. They are also VERY expensive!
I took them for severe arthritic pain in my joints. Then I find out that tramadol side effect can cause sore joints!
It has been a week that I have stopped and the first 3 nights I could not sleep and felt like I couldn't stand my own skin!! Horrible feeling. Finally last night I took a sleeping pill ( zopiclone) and got a decent rest. However, I have flu symptoms like I have had since I withdrew . I either have the flu or am still withdrawing. I will NEVER touch this awful thing again!!

I agree with Ativan withdrawal...it is HORRIBLE...very tough. Only taken Tramadol 5 or 6 times over the course of 6 weeks....and it is now giving me trouble not taking it! Be very careful with this drug if you are sensitive to medicine or been addicted before.

I've been taking tramadol for the past 2 yrs due to an elbow injury. The first year I found I could stop whenever I wanted without any withdrawals but then about a year and a half into it..I ran out out of pills and omg..The hot cold/sweats started about 24 hrs after my last dose. Restless, chills, sneezing insomnia and this unquenchable thirst. Crazy. For me, it seems the 1st and 2nd day is the worst and after the 2nd night I don't experience any chills and sweats which is the worst withdrawal symptom for me. Anyway, I gave in that time because I couldn't wait to feel energized again..months n months later..here I am trying again because I actually want to stop taking these pills I don't need anymore n just get over the withdraw once and for all and be done with it! I'm on day 3 now..feeling way better than I expected. .just stocked up on gaterade n water to help with the dehydration..but most importantly what I wanted to mention was that somas are amazing during this time..I took one last night and was asleep within 30 mins. Amazing.

I have been on tramadol for over 5 yrs for RA. I am a nurse and looked it up before taking it. There was nothing about physical addiction in the research I saw but boy was that wrong! I weaned down from 200mg a day to eventually half a pill twice a day and then started pushing back on the dose a few hours each time. My last dose was 48 hours ago. I have anxiety , restless leg that has my legs moving like I'm dancing in bed , insomnia, flu symptoms including enlarged lymph nodes in my throat, sinus pain with stuffy nose.  But what I didn't know to expect was that these symptoms come in waves. I will feel ok for a few hours then suddenly have all the above symptoms hit me out of nowhere. The one thing I have had continuously is a headache.  And this of course does not includ all the usual RA pain I took the tramadol for. Go slow, and may all of those trying to do this succeed!

I have been searching these forums for a couple of days now.... Just a little background of myself  (and honestly imreally doing this to simply vent since the post is so old but it might be helpful for the next person.) I spent 10 years in the military with 3 deployments to Iraq. I left the military with a painful knee injury and relied on the veterans affairs for pain management methods. At first I was given ETODOLAC 300mg which did absolutely NOTHING for me. I went back to the doc and he gave me Tramadol 50mg. I began taking it "as needed" every six hours, one tablet, soon I found myself taken two and then three tablets every six hours, the worst part was i didn't even increase the dosage due to pain i simply did it because it made me feel good. I did not think anything of it because years earlier I had a knee surgery which put me on 5mg percocets which I became extremely addictied to just for the great attitude and stress relief it gave me. It was so bad I was taking two percs every 3 hours. I knew I had to stop so I did with absolutely NO withdrawals so i figured tramadol is a non-narcotic it should not be hard to stop at all. Boy was I wrong. This has been one of the most horrible experiences I have ever had, including my deployments and seeing my friends get killed. I have taken the tramadol for about one month now and I am on day 2 cold turkey of tramadol, I know now that you shouldnt quit cold turkey and you should slowly taper down, the way I look at it is, I am already this far along cold turkey and I dont want to start over so screw it. I have been an absolute emotional mess. I have a great, loving wife and three beautiful boy ages 5, 3, and 1. I will cry at the slightest thing that happens, and sometimes when nothing happens. In fact I have been crying the entire time I have been writing this. Everyone should experience some symptoms if not all, some people are different and they may not have many withdrawal effects at all but mine are horrible. I have had an upset stomach, restlessness, jitters when I attempt to sleep (thank God for ambien) and horrible depression which is by far the worst part for me. Not to mention the feelings of what I would consider nothing less than the feelings of having a terminal illness. I do not feel like doing anything. The best thing to deal with the symtoms for me is the support and comfort of my wife. This is horrible and I wish the manufacturer of the drug would take a look at the medication again just to see what it does to many many people. With all that being said I would have to YES it is very hard to break away from, the biggest thing is to stay strong and consistent at all times with close support if you need someone to talk to. They say misery loves company so with that being said if anyone that finds this EVER needs advise about a similar situation please email me anytime for advise. I will continue this journey with great strongness and support. You HAVE to make sure you make good decision and are strong, because with this drug I would much rather deal with this pain for the rest of my life! Heres an example of strongness, I just got my new bottle of 120 tablets of tramadol in the mail (thats how the VA gets medicine to their patients) and I fulshed every single one down the drain. Stay strong and please contant me if you need to talk about it. Good luck and God speed! 

 ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** private e-mails not allowed*** Please read our Terms of Use

I have to agree, withdraw from Ultram (e.g. Tramadol) is worse than the many other narcotics mentioned. It is not regulated (but should be) because it is a synthetic opioid. The withdraw lasts much longer than the usual opioid withdraw period (usually several weeks at minimum) and is accompanied by many more side effects/symptoms. I was on it for 5 years and had to use oxy to get through the head zaps, restless leg syndrome, and skin/leg cramping. I also had to go on Klonopin for anxiety/ panic attacks and then taper off the oxy to Tylenol 3. Then taper off the Tylenol 3. Now it's been almost 6 months since the Ultram and I still get head zaps and really bad anxiety. I have gone through detox from other painkillers and none were as severe or as long lasting as this has been...

Probably ! I woulsnt doubt it ! doctors give addicting medication out now days !

I only took 25mg of tramadol, once a day for 2 weeks. Then I stopped it. Now I feell really nervous and depressed. Is that possible after only 2 weeks? I have been off for 10 days. how long will this last. What can I do to speed it up? Someone help please?

I'm going to pop some words down, one to vent and also maybe help out anyone who isn't taking Tramadol for the 'high'.... No judgment here, we all have our demons.... And those who haven't been taking it for an extended period of time. And those who are taking prescribed antidepressants. I am on pristiq, 100 mg a day. Before the Tramadol, pristiq had been working out famously for me for nigh on 2-3 years.

After 8 weeks on Tramadol for neck pain associated with spurs and disc bulges I have found/read/investigated  these two drugs should never be taken together.... Ever. Tramadol and SNRI's compete with each other trying to do the same job. And it's NOT a good thing happening inside my head/body right now and I have at least 12 more hours before I would normally take another. I was started on 100mg twice daily and then on returning to get another script from another doctor(same clinic but getting the same doctor 2 times in a row just doesn't happen) she ended up giving me Tramadol 200xr. Didn't see this till I got home did I? Meh, I'll just take the 200 once a day and she'll be apples! And so I have for two weeks, just that.

now I'm sitting in a hot bath, hoping I don't drop my ipad, trying to manage the goosebumps anxiety I'm experiencing. 7pm... Not supposed to take another for 12HOURS!

Im angry, I'm sad, miserable, angry and worried about my husband, my child, my work, the weekend visitors  and again so f*****g angry.... How did the numerous GP's I visited not know ANY of this, to warn me or give other options. The thought of returning pain is not a huge concern right now. What my body does in retaliation to only feeding it 50 mg of Tramadol tomorrow is.