Pain Management Community

I am not a trained Doctor but to my knowledge Tramadol is an NSAID just like Tylenol and such but is prescription. So what Kind of withdrawls are you having from Tramadol, and how long have you been taking it? have you been exceeding the dose the Doctor prescribed? and have you contacted your Doctor? what did S/he say? give us more information to work with.

Peace

I began taking it 9 months ago for back and fibro pain. Believe me, it does not act like an nsaid. Perhaps it may for someone who is accustomed to strong narcotics. This is the first time in my life for taking a pain med daily. I started out on 1-2 50 mgs a day and gradually built up to 6 a day, which was prescribed by my doctor. And no, I have always stayed within the prescribed amounts.

If you do a search on this med,it will surprise you. It really does act on the opiate recepters in the brain. I was surprised at the nice euphoric feeling it gave me, plus it helped alot for my pain, though did nothing for my arthritic pain.

The reason I want off it is because i have found thru trial and error that for me anything else I tried to take with it for depression, and sleep aids, I would always be thrown into serotonin syndrome. That is hell, to say the least. this is not a common thing, but it is just how my body reacted to it. The other big reason was after I had been on 300 mgs a day for awhile I developed tinnittis, really terrible ringing, and the worst buzzing in my ears. Now that I am down to 50 - 100 mgs a day, this is almost gone. I'm so thankful for this!

Now for the withdrawal symptoms... believe it or not, pain like a bad flu, cold sweats, chills, horrible depression, brain fogginess, much worse insomnia then usual,shakiness and a strong craving to get it back in my system. Mornings have been the worse, but without much of a change all day. I'm on my thrid week.

As for my doctor, well she left the state about 6 months ago, and the one who took her place, I did see, I wanted off the tramadol, well, she very reluctantly allowed me to try codeine, the nausea was too bad for me, and she refused to let me try anything stronger, she did refer me to pain mngt, but I can't get in till around April, they will not even give me the appt till some time in January. It's the way it is in this area. My new doc was not one bit concerned, and all but accused me of wanting narcotics for the high. She could not be further from the truth, all I want is enough help with the pain I have every day, and nothing more. Gee what a lousy feeling, i will not go back to her. She says it has happened too many times where people give terrible descriptions of pain, and has found out later they were lying, so I'm found guilty of the same. It is sooo unbelievable!

I really do thank you for the reply. I want to only warn anyone who may be on this drug, that it can cause terrific withdrawals! If you go to this drug here on WebMD, or other drug review sites, you can read all the stories about the hell some went thru with this. You will see what I mean.
It is a controlled substance in the UK and I believe a few other countries and I read that it is even in 3 or 4 states here.

I'm down to 1 and a half a day, and am just beginning to see a little light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks be to God.

Blessings

Debbie

Well you took the maximum daily dosage of Ultram per day, and all of these doctors are saying no to your pain issues puts you in a pickle because another "red flag" amongst Doctors is Doctor Shopping, get a "no" from doctor A so you go try doctor B and so on. I hate to say It but your best bet is to wait out the pain clinic and get in there, You will then have access to Psychiatrists Psychologists Physiatrists PT OT all under one roof generally and by seeing all these professions under one roof they can spot the needful of care and those who are just trying to get drugs. Basicly real patients will run the "gauntlet" and do the testing and try all different ways of pain control that a "drug seeker" will not waste there time doing . So either you "Doctor Shop" and get a bad reputation in your medical files that will take years to overcome or You manage your pain the best you can with whatever med's you can get from your current care team, and be first in line for telephone appointment for Pain Clinic and submit your records with your head held high and your records not containing any of those comments about maligerer drug seeker etc...

Peace

Thank you for your input, I do appreciate it. I understand what your saying though I have only seen 3 doctors for my pain all at the same health center, not by my choice either, for some reason they keep getting doctors and they do not stay long.

I am not guilty of doing anything wrong. I am 54 years old, and this is the first time in my life I have had to use pain meds. I had already decided to get by the best I can, till I can go to the pain clinic. I decided to cut way back on the tramadol, and have determined to only take it if I'm in a flare, which is an off and on thing with this wonderful fibro. All I told this particular doctor was I do not want to take a pain med which is causing me so many awful side effects, she said she would give me some type of patch that will help specific areas of pain. I declined because I have all over body pain. She was rude, mean and very cold from the get go. I will not go to her again, though I will be upfront with the center as to why.

I'm not worried about being labeled as a drug seeker because I'm not one. What you say about seeing all the different doctors under one roof, sounds like a good idea. About seeing a psychiatrist, I feel I do not need one, it's just that they treat fibro with low doses of antidepressants. Actually, I do not even want to take those, I like being and feeling normal, without feeling drugged up in any way.

Thanks for the input.

blessings

Debbie

Tramadol and tylenol are not NSAIDs, ibuprofen and naproxen are examples of NSAIDs. Tylenol is considered a miscellaneous analgesic.

Tramadol is in a class by itself right now, it is indicated for moderate to moderately severe pain. My drug handbook classifies it as a type of opioid since it acts on the opioid receptors in the nervous system.

The withdrawal syndrome is similar to that of opiates, even when taking it as prescribed.

Take care, Annette

I also have FMS. I do not take any of the antidepressants anymore due to the horrible side effects I had with them. Terrible memory loss, etc.

I have used the patches that you put over the worst places, mine are called Lidoderm patches, they are impregnated with lidocaine. I find them helpful as a part of my treatment, but they are very expensive. Perhaps there is a generic available now.

I found gabapentin to work well for me also, I take 800 mg. once a day a few hours before bedtime. Opiates for pain, and zolpidem for sleep. That combo has worked for me for years now.

I see my pcp for all me health needs including my pain management. She had me see a pain management specialist this last year just as a consult to see if we were missing anything. He was very happy with my treatment.

I know how many people feel about exercise, but I have found it is a very important part of my treatment program. If anything it causes more pain afterwards, but my doctor prescribes meds for that. Globally, I do feel a lot better when I exercise, so I do about an hour and a half a day. Not like the old days of my youth, but moderate exercise that I worked up to very slowly.

My favorite FMS site is http://www.myalgia.com for good medical and treatment information. It is not a message board, but rather a place to do research.

Take care, Annette

I was not saying you needed a psychiatrist , i was saying a Pain Clinic will have one who will evaluate you as a routine normal patient intake. They do this because there are people who do not have diseases like us that cause pain, but something in there mind is bothering them and it shows as physical pain and they want to derail them from the Physical pain system and get them the Mental help that they need, just as we need Pain med's PT OT things like that , they have a different set of needs to get them better and stop there pain, which unfortunately cant be stopped with all the Pain med's in the world they would go on hurting , and do worry about taking anti depressant theres alot of us here that our Doc's have given them to us for one reason or another they seem to be the good for everything drug's .

Peace

Annette, Thanks for the good info, and the link. I will certainly check it out. I am in agreement about exercise. Just a little over a year ago, I walked 2-4 miles 5 days a week.
I went from that to almost nothing. I was in shock with this sudden illness, and have been trying to adjust. I am learning. And one thing is for certain, Tramadol is not for me. I am down to 1 a day, and am so glad! I know though when the next flair hits will be the test for me. I want to stay off it till i can see a pain mngt doctor.

I am like you when it comes to antidepressants, do not want to take them, but may try a low dose after I'm completely off the Tramadol. The Seratonin Syndrome it caused was the sickest I have ever been. Terrible nausea, plus many other awful symptoms.

I have started some simple stretching and it is feeling really good. I will try to work up to more gradually.

Thanks again.

Debbie

TDXSP08, Hey, thank you again, also for clarifying what you meant.

I do agree with what you are saying. I am just very leary of taking anything. Perhaps because I have never needed to till recently. Also because I have family members who have run the gamut of taking prescription meds, for real ailments, and for just wanting a high, or wanting something to make life easier. I have seen the side affects cause my Mom to really go thru hell. With her, this has been going on for 40 years. Of course I swore to myself, I would never take anything. Well .... some times reality steps up, and grabs us, and we wind up eating our own words. I will do what it takes within reason to get better.
I am also aware many here are much worse off than I am, and my heart goes out to them.
I only want my symptoms managed with as least trouble as possible!

Thank you for taking the time to try to help me. It is very appreciated.

Bless You

Debbie

Tramadol is not A NSAID at all. It is a potent opioid. The withdrawals are absolute hell. I go through withdrawals for about 2 weeks and it is the worst feeling in my life. It is like having the worst flu in your life times a 1000. If you want to get off tramadol you need to tapper yourself off or go to treatment like I did and the will help you get off safely and pain free. Call your doctor first and let him know your plans and maybe he could help but mine didn't. Good luck!

The maximum does is actually 8 pills a day which is 400mg. Trust me I've been on this for 4 years I've gotten up to taking 30 pills a day which is 1500mg a day.

Tramadol is not an NSAID and neither is Tylenol. Ibuprofen and Aleve are examples of NSAIDs you can buy over the counter.

Tramadol withdrawals are uncomfortable, similar to opiate withdrawals I believe. It is normal to have them if you go off of the recommended daily dose abruptly. Better to taper off slowly.

Take care, Annette

For anyone who is considering going off Tramadol who has been on it awhile. I was taking 2 50mgs 3 times a day. Not quite the maximum dose which is 800 mgs a day. I never took more than prescribed.

I titrated down, but now I know I did not do it properly, and should have had my doctor in on this.
Although many people said even going off very gradually was difficult.

It was pure hell, and it lasted a long time, The worse of it for 2 months. Needless to say I was in disbelief at how long this all lasted. Tramadol has an antidepressant in it too, which is why I went thru mental agony as well as the physical withdrawals. I was very surprised to find this out, but it explained the emotional torture. My emotions were so unstable, like being on a rollercoaster. I cried several times a day which wasn't me! Finch is right, It felt like the worse flu ever. Plus I could not stand to go out in public feeling as horrible as I did.

This is the only pain med I have ever been on, and now I am not on anything for the fibro, arthritis, and TMJ I have except muscle relaxers, and they do not help much. I am willing to try something else, it's just that my doctor wants to try anything and everything possible before probably sending me to pain management. Anyone on tramadol please be careful. I would hate for you to experience what I did.

Pain control for those with chronic pain can be a difficult journey.

Blessings all
Debbie

If this helps anyone it is so very worth it.

Hi Debbie,
I'm glad that you're finally through the withdrawal.

I have not taken Tramadol; I take MSContin.

Neither have I ever before heard or read that Tramadol contains an anti-depressant. I may look it up because I am curious about this.

Meanwhile, if anyone has further information, would you please post?

TY

CBT