Tramadol withdrawal

[VS1955]

Hi everyone, I've been taking Tramadol 50mg for a number of years now for my back issues & also sit pain. Recently I've been getting out of breath even climbing few stairs, foggy brain which is awful, and overnight withdrawal symptoms quite regularly. I've spoken to GP and he has agreed for me to come off Tramadol and move on to Nefopam. Obviously as I've been taking it for a number of years this now has to be done slowly. He said to drop 1 x 50mg per week. I was taking 6 x 50mg to begin with and I'm now down to 4 x 50mg perday in single doses. This has been pretty bad this week and can really feel the withdrawal symptoms, flu, aches, cramps, upset stomach and tiredness, haven't even been dressed the last 2 days. Any idea how long this lasts? I'm scared to drop any further or do you think I'm going through worst of it now? Also, should I be taking the Nefopam in place of the Tramadol dosage? The prescription states 1 x 30mg 3 times a day as required, but was worried in case it shouldn't be taken with Tramadol. Oh and I've got weird smells in my nose! What's that all about? I hate meds... 😄 Sorry for long post.. x

[Madlegs1]

I imagine you would need to be taking the Nefopam to help with the withdrawals.Withdrawing from any opioid is pure hell.

It took me 18 painful months to get off Fentanyl 70. I used oxynorm 5mg to help.

Rest lots, eat healthy and be nice to your partner.

Good luck.

[VS1955 in reply to Madlegs1]

Ahhh...Im lucky, my hubby is amazing, looks after me really well 😍 Glad your OK now, thanks for the reply x

[katieoxo60]

Hello there, thank you for details of withdrawal from opiods. I have been taking small dose for over ten years but didn't realise some symptoms I get might be saying I have forgotten my tablet. Hope your withdrawal does not take too long . I am on slow release tramadol now twice a day.

[Sunlover56]

Hi, I have been coming off Butrans Patches ( 35mg) together with Tramadol (200mg slow release a day), as I now have a spinal cord stimulator. I was advised to do everything in tiny doses a fortnight at a time and am now down to no Butrans patches and just 50mg Tramadol in the day. The withdrawals were truly awful, they lasted 3 days and I managed those by taking a diazepam at night for those 3 days, this seemed to work. I’m shortly going to try to come off the last daytime tramadol and have resigned myself to being a zombie for the 3 days whilst on diazepam. I think you should check with your doctor re the Nefopam, you may be able to use this in a small dose whilst in withdrawal and then increase the dose when you’re completely off the Tramadol. I noticed a weird smell too but I’ve had a Covid like bug and put it down to that, interesting…… Sending hugs, you got this, you can do it!

PS, online it says this “nefopam may cause serotonin syndrome if used in combination with medicines that also increase the level of serotonin, such as tramadol.”

[VS1955 in reply to Sunlover56]

Thanks Sunlover56! yes I've just been taking Nefopam just twice a day to help with the pain, my GP prescribed them so I'm assuming it's OK to take them whilst reducing the tramadol. I'm dropping another 50mg from Friday so praying the withdrawal doesn't kick off again. Felt a bit better today, haven't been dressed since last Sunday 😕. I'm still getting mild stomach cramps and chills, so hopefully I'm recovering. You've done brilliant, glad you're on the home stretch 😊 never will I take Tramadol again after this...Thanks for replying x

[Sunlover56 in reply to VS1955]

So glad you’re feeling a little better, don’t rush things, if you’re still feeling rough by Friday, delay by a few days, give your body a chance to recover xx

[VS1955 in reply to Sunlover56]

Will do, thank you xxx

[Konagirl60]

Whatever you do keep hydrated. These meds tend to dry us out internally. Drink coconut water and aloe Vera juice if you can get some.

Slow weaning is the best. After you’ve stopped the next 50 mg pill, give yourself a few weeks for your body to adjust.

If you’re having muscular pain or spasms you might need some magnesium bisglycinate. Have Epsom salt baths before bed.

Passionflower tablets help with pain and the stress of weaning off of meds. You might like to give these a chance. Good luck.

[VS1955 in reply to Konagirl60]

Thank you Konagirl60, I'll take all that on board 😊 x

[Hidden]

I've been taking Hydrocodone 5/325 mg for the past 3 years, taking 2 a day, one in the morning and one in the evening for severe back pain. I've had times where I tried to not take it for a day or two just to see how I do and I didn't really have withdrawal so much as my pains came back with a vengeance. Tried using Tylenol but it doesn't work as well and I can't take any NSAIDS due to kidney disease.

[PainConcernHelpline Moderator Community Champion Pain Concern]

Hi VS1955,

I am a moderator on this forum and I have found some resources that may be useful for you.

I'm sorry to hear about the withdrawal symptoms you've been experiencing, it sounds really tough. We have some information about medications and changing medication which may be useful to you.

Here are some of our podcasts about how pharmacies can help with changing and managing medication.

painconcern.org.uk/airing-p...

painconcern.org.uk/pharmacy...

Here is another podcast we have about opioids and chronic pain. You might find the second half of the recording useful as someone with chronic pain talks about their experience with opioids and changing their chronic pain management methods.

painconcern.org.uk/airing-p...

I hope these podcasts are of some use for you.

Best regards,

Pain Concern

Please consider answering this questionnaire about the interaction you have had with a Pain Concern moderator today. forms.office.com/Pages/Resp...

[VS1955 in reply to PainConcernHelpline]

Thank you 😊 x

[peacefulandcalm]

hi, I take tramadol for fibro. are you cutting down from 50 mg 4 times a day? how about cut much much slower....talk to doc and tell him or her what you are experiencing? I feel better when I talk to doc....maybe cut down 25 mg a day for a longer time? what does doc say? you are doing a good job, if it is too intense, could slow down....

[VS1955 in reply to peacefulandcalm]

Hi there, I'm reducing from 100mg x 4 per day. I'm cutting it back 1 x 50mg per week. Last week was horrendous... feel a little better this week, (now down to just 50mg x 3 per day) but just made the big mistake of falling asleep last night without taking my last dose so only had 2 tabs yesterday, felt like crap again this morning- my own fault! Anyway, sticking with 3 x 50mg until Friday then I'll drop to 2 x 50mg next week, can't wait to be rid of this horrible drug. I can then see if the new drug Nefopam is actually working and what side effects if any. Will speak to GP then. Thanks for reply x

[peacefulandcalm in reply to VS1955]

don't forget to keep doc informed ok? are you doing with doc? stay well.....xx

[VS1955 in reply to peacefulandcalm]

Yes, I'm under GP for the Tramadol reduction .. Will speak to him again once I'm off Tramadol ... I can then see if the Nefopam are doing their job...he's only started me on 1 x 30mg 3 times a day as required, but not sure if that dosage will help my pain, normal dose is 2 x 30mg ...Will wait and see... x