Okay, I was taking 4 a day, then the prescribing doc just packed up and left town, no warning. So I only had a few days left. I immediately went down to 2 per day for 2 days, now one. Does not help pain - never did all that much anyway.

But if I stop I note leg pain - which I did not have all the time, have been having lately - is like 10 times worse than it ever was, fatigue to the moon, and headaches pretty bad. Back spasms, bad to begin with are even worse. Can't think (pain and fatigue are probably behind that).

One pill per day seems at least to take the edge off that a bit.

But now I'm having new sx on top - burning in thumb and first finger (both hands), ache in wrists/ fore arms.

Is that more likely stress related?

Anybody else taper off tramadol lately? What was that like for you?

I cannot get in to see neuro for 3 months, pcp is out of town, appt is Nov. Trying to hang until then.

i'm sorry brain. what a bad situation.
is anyone covering for your pcp?

i came off tramadol but went on darvocet and havn't noticed a difference.
the darvocet handles my pain.

i hope nov comes quick for you.

It sounds like your body has become dependent on the medication and you're suffering from withdrawals. I remember my hubby going through almost the same last year when he came off his patches.

That does NOT mean you are or were addicted. It means what it says.... your body has become used to that dose and drug, and is dependent on receiving that same same dose of that medication.

Addiction is when your mind can't do without the drug, dependent is when your body can't..... and that's a huge difference.

Dependency is reason most pain medications are weaned off...... and by that I mean that the dose is decreased slowly to give the body a chance to adapt.

Same as we do with our oral steroid taper!

Cramps, spasms, pain can all be possible side effects from a sudden drop in dose. Restless leg syndrome is another that can appear or worsen.

If seeing a doctor is not an option to give you a taper, maybe you could contact mrsD and ask her if there's anything you could do to make it easier on yourself. Just a thought!

I agree with Koala.

A taper would be much more comfortable. Tramadol has some SSRI effects also, and sudden withdrawal of that family of drugs affect serotonin receptors too.

Here is a website to read:

http://pain.emedtv.com/tramadol/tram...ithdrawal.html

This withdrawal depends on how much you take a day, and for how long you took it and if it was regularly daily.
Many of the symptoms reflect the mu receptors, and are similar to opiate withdrawal.

Here is a more complete description:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramadol

I find this drug puzzling myself. I can't tolerate it very well, so only use 1/2 tablet for severe pain days. I don't take it everyday. A whole tablet made me "zoom" all night! The weirdest thing like hallucinations, but not quite.

I think people react to it differently. Some people become very habituated to it, and others don't. I don't understand why it is not a controlled substance.

Koala - I think you are right on the head with that. Thanks.

Mrs D - I take 2 50 mgs, 2 times a day, or I did. Now, I am down to 1 per day. I don't *feel* anything when taking them but some very mild relief, hardly felt when they wore off on my 4 a day dose.

I was on it for about a year ? Since I had a bad reaction to the flector patch and had to stop using that.


I tend to have a high tolerance to pain meds. Always been like that, like they don't absorb. I could always out-drink people twice my size in my youth.

Anyhoo, is there some way to help get past this without the tram, like Koala suggested?

If you are tapering too quickly... you will feel it.

Are you out of tablets completely? Your dose is moderate, not really high. There is a poster on PN who take 400mg a day of it.

L-tryptophan (amino acid-- not cheap) is used for some people trying to get off SSRIs. I wouldn't take it WITH any tramadol however. And if you try this, start at low 500mg dose at bedtime and see if you get any relief. I used to get sleepy with it, so I take it at bedtime. I have noticed with daily use my pain levels are lower. I have been using it every day since my vacation, as I was having nightmares too. I am much better now.

I find l-tryptophan helps me at night for night type pain. I have nagging pain sometimes and that is why I tried the tramadol.
If I take ONE Tylenol w/codeine #3....it will last me into the next day! I am very sensitive and may in fact be a slow metabolizer.

If you do NOT have serious withdrawal symptoms, like on the list...you may be able to stop more quickly.
Alot of pain perception is central in the brain, and the l-tryptophan works there IMO. (it makes serotonin).

Having the pain come "back" is to be expected. But if you had vomiting, cramping etc...that would be "withdrawal" above just the return of pain.

I sure wish we had better pain relievers. Why can't Big Pharma do that?