Off Ultram and feeling worse - what now - Fibromyalgia Message Board

sunny47 · 05-06-2007, 12:14 PM

The rheumatologist put me on Ultram / Tramadol last December ( he said 1 50mg tab every six hours). I have been taking 1/2 to 1 at bedtime as I decided the other was to much. He also had me on Trazadone / Desyrel at beditime. Had to stop that after a few days due to decreased kidney function - gianed 10 pounds of fluid in 5 days.

Anyway I started retaining fluids again ( not badly but did not want a repeat of before) last week and was not sure I liked the addictive properties of the Ultram after doing much research on the internet. I decided to go off the Ultram. Even after the low does and short time on it I had some withdrawl symptoms - why don't the docs tell you this rather then just writing out prescriptions. Any way I now feel worse then ever with the achying, tiredness and just generally not feeling well. I don't know if it is better to take something that is addicting or feel like ****.

Is it normal to feel worse after stopping meds ?- actually feel worse then before I started it in December.

Any advise is welcome as I have to go to work again in the morning and the way I have felt yesterday and today is not going to be easy.

kirstee · 05-06-2007, 06:01 PM

Hi Sunny:

I take tramadol from time to time, but not the dosage the physician suggested. I would have been a zombie-like creature had I done so. I take a half tablet only when really necessary. If I take the tablet only now and then, I don't seem to have any problems with withdrawal. Are you experiencing rebound headaches or ???? when you stop taking the Ultram?

Blessings,
Kirstee

sunny47 · 05-06-2007, 06:59 PM

Thanks for the response Kristee.

No headache. Have restlessness of arms and legs and can not sleep at night. Have RLS anyway and this just went over the top. Also the general aching tiredness and weakness the past 2 mornings has been real bad. Took a little nap each morning around 11AM - have never done that in my life. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. I have never been a good sleeper and now is really bad. At least with the Ultram I was doing OK in the mornings with less pain and stiffness and sleeping fair most of the time.

From now on I plan do do like you said - only when really needed. Such a shame that it works but can be bad at the same time.

sunny

Fancyface102 · 05-30-2007, 03:11 PM

Hi my answer to this post is BE STRONG AND BE PATIENT !

I am new to this site, I was browsing mainly to see who else out there is in recovery or still in active withdrawal from Ultram/Tramadol? I will tell you my story. I have been on Ultram for 3 years going strong over a skiing accident where I hurt my back. I fell in love with the little devils and never thought ( admitted) I had a problem until not too long ago I caught myself popping about 8 at a time to relieve my aches, and this was about mid day, so about 14-16 for me so far. I would wake up ocassionaly early morning just covered in sweat , my tank would be ringing wet, my body hurt so bad , I would scurry to my purse to get my trams, 30 minutes later ' oh good to go, lah di dah...got lots ta' do, kids, school, work, no time to worry about this today now right?

WRONG ! For those who abuse, it only gets worse. The longer you deny yourself the problem and justify it with any means you can think up the longer you're denying yourself "your life". I have read all kinds of posts about trams and how not to come off of them and how this and how that..the truth is, IF YOU WANT IT BAD ENOUGH YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH IT! God won't give us more than we can handle, truly believe that. Your mind is more powerful than any regime ever thought up.

I feel for myself that I have experienced for the first time in my life and un proudly to say " hell on earth" is the first 3 days off of Ultram ( cold turkey) it's all the same isn't it?. ) but it passed and I'm still here.....each day is getting better. For the same amount of time it took you to get out of control with it, you have to probably equal that amount of time that it's going to take for you to feel some what "back to normal." So be fair about it, again no excuses.

If you have had an injury like me or something of similiar of nature , the aches and pains will always be there i'm sure, stick to Advil and get your life back. It's no fun when every minute of your day is spent counting pills and worrying about what to do "between gaps." (For those who know what that term means, this is for you") For those thinking about Ultram or not in to deep with it yet, I only hope you do your research, I think the best advice ( truthful , real in the flesh advice) is that of these message forums on health topics, drugs etc; visit as many as you can and read, read...( ie; A knowledgable Dr, will never prescribe Tram for a long period of time, nor tell you they are non-addicting.)

Only those in my shoes (addiction, opiate withdrawal etc) knows how it feels, how much we want others to understand how bad it feels, in hope that we can save at least "one person."

I am here for any ones support , if there's anyone out there in need to talk to someone......

Good Luck and God Bless to everyone out there in and beyond the dark tunnel. & Keep Smiling

Thanks - Fancy. R. ( NY)

jam338 · 05-30-2007, 05:25 PM

Sunny, sorry you are going through a difficult time with the Tramadol WDs(withdrawls). I have been there, and know the hardship of what you are experiencing is ugly. Rest assured that what you are feeling is "normal". The following is my own personal experience, and what I learned researching online to help me. Hope the information helps.

Being on any painkillers long term causes the body to build a natural tolerance dependency, which is VERY different than addiction. Addiction Specialists distinguish the difference between dependency and addiction as one's ability to self-manage prescriptions at dosing levels as prescribed; and those with addiction issues will cross that line and start seeking additional resource supplies, such as doctor shopping or ordering "extra"s from online resources. Unfortunately, er, both involve WDs. You can find some WD coping tips on this healthboard on the Addiction Board.

Tramadol and opiate painkillers work similarly by acting on the body's own opiate receptors.The first 4 days of stopping any such medication is pure hell. It does get better, but it takes time. The first week is really the worst. I went through the experience 3 times; Vicodin, Tramadol, Xanax. All caused by doctors who either didn't know or didn't care, and certainly never told me about any warnings. I learned the hard way I guess. The Xanax was the worst---it is a benzodiazepine and all of them have horrible WDs. For me, and others, Tramadol WDs were actually worse than Vicodin WDs. The Tramadol seems to have a neurological path impact that doesn't seem to happen with Vicodin.

For me, what I try to do now to disrupt the tolerance building cycle is two things:

1) about every 2 weeks I stop for 1-3 days to allow my body to reacclimate itself---preferrably at least for 2 days so that I can evaluate how my body is reacting. If I start to get very anxious and develop fllu-like symptoms with very increased pain all over (beyond areas of pain that caused me to first start the drug in the first place) then I know I really need to self-detox my system and come off of all pain meds for 1-2 weeks. If the body is not allowed to reacclimate itself, a worse problem builds up. It is the hardship of managing a painkiller regimine.

2) not stay on the same drug for too long; rotate about every couple of months or so.