Desperately getting off short term Tramadol - update

[Seraphina56]

I have written about my problems with this three months ago and there seemed to be a lot of interest as well as much very good advice, so I thought I’d give an update. You can look it up, but briefly, I was put on 400mg of Tramadol daily for acute shingles pain and after three weeks tried to reduce it slowly, or so I thought, and got awfully ill with withdrawal symptoms. I had dropped from 400mg to 300 mg in ten days. I put up with it for a week then gave up and on advice from pharmacists, GP, and a drug counsellor, who specialises in this, I went back to 350mg and stayed there for 2 weeks recovering till all the symptoms were gone.

Then I started on a very slow taper, dropping 1 capsule/50 mg over 2 weeks. Taking new dose and old dose on alternate days for a week, then a week on the new dose before tackling the next 50mg in the same way. Twice the symptoms have returned but much less than the first time. First I just stuck at the dose I was on an extra week. The second time it was worse and as it was the first day of taking zero, I had to take a capsule then stick at one a day for two weeks. I’m in the middle of that now.

I’ve found that I can open the capsules and take out half the powder. So from next Sunday I’m going to take 50mg and 25mg alternate days for a week. This should soften the step from 50mg to zero.

It’s been a long and frustrating haul. I get no benefit at all now from this drug as I have no pain and hate the effect it has on me. However I cannot see that I had any alternative but to take the long slow route I have, following the advice of every expert I can find. I know that I will get off this drug if I’m patient. I hope that some of you might find my experience helpful.

[Ritchie1268]

Well done Seraphina56!

I am seeing more & more people becoming dependent on Tramadol (amongst other medications), & you're right, it is a long haul to come off them & should always be done slowly so your brain gets used to the gradual reduction.

I am so pleased you found the right help from your GP & drug clinic key worker, as depending where you are in the UK, that help & advise is not always available.

It's never easy coming off Opioids, but it's so worth it when you have.

Well done 👍

[cyberbarn]

You have achieved something really amazing and valuable. Well done! Keep it up, it will be worth it.

[RedfoxMorse]

Well done you.

I was on Tramadol 150 mgs bd for eleven years following three lots of back surgery.

Three years ago my GP swapped me to Morphine Slow release 30 mgs twice a day and now I am on 15 mgs twice a day....after a very up and down descent.

If I go lower I get breakthrough pain and now a pain consultant has told me...’accept it....it’s not a large dose‘....and told me to stop trying to get off them!

[Seraphina56]

I can see the sense in that. If you need them for pain then you need them. It sounds like you’ve done your best to reduce what you can and you should be kind to yourself now.

[VELoce21]

The dreaded Tramadol. I am sorry that you are having such difficulty reducing the dose. I was on it briefly and it gave me very high blood pressure. Good luck and well done!

[merlinmac]

Hi So glad your almost off the drug. I think it affects people differently. Your nearly there. I had no trouble taking it but I was only on it a short time.

[Konagirl60]

Good luck. You’re doing very well. Keep us posted.