Hi Peter,

Yes, I would say that I am sensitive to many drugs in general. However, I have not had many problems with narcotics/opioids, except for Tramadol and Dilaudid, and I have been taking them a very long time.

My problem wasn't with 'taking' Tramadol, I did fine with it and it did wonders for my pain. It was the withdrawal from it that made me feel like I was going to die! It was awful!! That is my whole point in warning people about it. Just be cautious about taking it and be prepared if you must stop taking it. That's all I wanted to say.

And, yes, it does come in 50 mg tablets.

Have a great weekend!

Blessings,

Hi Addyson, I'm interested in withdrawal symptoms with tramadol.
Can you say how long it took for them to appear, how long they lasted, and just what the problems were?

Tramadol, this is stuff that kinda fills me with loathing.

I was in 200mg (my doctor said this was the highest dose for someone my weight, 112 lb) a day several years ago, for a chronic pain issue (since resolved).

I found it didn't help much with the pain but it did have some striking side effects - frequent hallucinations of "shadow people", severe postural hypotension, and intense fatigue were the worst.

After several months I decided I couldn't put up with the side effects, so (very, very, very stupidly) I just stopped taking it cold turkey. The result was pretty much like heroin withdrawal, every bit as bad as TV eand movies say, heh. I think the really acute withdrawal period lasted about a month (made worse because every now and again I would freak out, be unable to deal with the horrible, horrible insomnia, and pop 400-600mg) and there were some residual symptoms for considerably longer.

Anyway, fast forward to now . . .

I have very bad occipital headaches and some nerve pain, apparently due to cerebellitis. I'm on neurontin for the nerve pain (3x300mg a day), and it works quite well. My doctor also gave me 50mg tramadol pills, with instructions to take 1 or 2 if necessary, and no more than 8 a day. I try not to take more than 1 at a time and 2 or 3 a day, I think once only I have taken 4. They are very slightly effective for my headaches - they "take the edge off" but nothing more. When a headache is bad they certainly don't take pain down to a manageable level, or reduce it enough that I can think properly - they just turn down the dial a lot.

A higher dose might help more, but meh, I am just really concerned about possible dependance and withdrawal. I know if I handle it properly it shouldn't be a problem, but withdrawal the first time round was the single most unpleasant experience of my entire life and I really do not want to risk repeating it.

Mac33, looks like you are one of the unlucky ones. My wife had a similar experience with just 50mg, and as a nurse she says that a lot of oldies go loopy on it, so it is one to try carefully.
Have you tried codeine pain meds, and muscle relaxants? I find also that for the really bad occipital pains (the bear trap) Tramadol doesn't do it, and I need codeine as well as a muscle relaxant. Mersyndol for example.
Even so, they can still last for 12 hours or so. The secret for me is to hit hard and early. I can recognise the early signs now, so I dose up before it takes hold.
I get it bad usually once a week.
I buy the muscle relaxants as well, then cut them up, as it's a bit cheaper.