Hi. I took 400 mg Tramadol a day for three weeks for severe shingles pain and after 2 weeks tried to reduce it but the pain came back. So I carried on at 400 for another week then tried again. This time I got it to 200 in 10 days and thought I was doing okay. Then on day 11, with no return of the pain, I started getting what I assume are withdrawal symptoms. Awful fatigue, tension, sweats, weakness, can't concentrate, a bit nauseous. It comes in waves but there is an odd hour when I might be relatively okay and can hold a conversation or make some food; I think it's gone but it always comes back. It's been 6 days and is no better. I'm still on 200 and intending that once I get over this I'll go on a very slow taper. But at the moment I'm desperate to know when this will end and whether there's anything I can do to make it stop. Is this normal for someone who was on it for so short a time? I would be grateful for any help.
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Seraphina56
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So it's most likely the tramadol withdrawal you think, not residual problems from the shingles?
I don't know much about things like this but I did find this:
"Tramadol should be tapered at a consistent speed to ward off the two conceivable withdrawals. Experts advise several general reduction rates: 10 percent daily for those who’ve only used the drug for a short time and 10 percent weekly for those using tramadol for years."
Hi yes i found that info you quote. Judging by that I was actually doing it slower than recommended at one capsule reduction every three days. This is assuming I would fall into the short term category which I think I should do. I can only get phone consultations with a Dr and one I spoke to yesterday wasn't much help just said to carry on. I don't think she knew much. I dont think there's a help line. But thank you.
Are you on tablets or capsules? Slow release? How were you taking the 400mg? It could be the nerve pain was/is still lingering.... In which case another med might be appropriate.
I have been on tramadol almost 20years. And have tapered or gone cold turkey many times in that period to adjust tolerance.... Cold turkey not recommended and feels like really bad flu aching muscles, stomach pains, fatigue, the shakes etc.
I think 10 days is quick to drop 200mg. I slow tapering right down. I currently have 50mg prolonged relief tablets which are hard to taper. Prolonged relief capsules were better as with care I could used bought empty capsules to to split the 100mg capsules into 4 doses of 25mg and reduce by only 25mg every 3 to 5 days. Then like pred letting things stabilise and see if pain returned after any withdrawal. You could try 25/50mg reduction for at least a week to 10days before you drop again. It's a slower process than people believe. I usual take paracetamol to control some of the withdrawal symptoms. It all depends on how much tramadol you have to mess with. Of curse my aim was to get to zero and then start the dosing again just as slowly until I achieve acceptable pain relief. I must confess I wasn't able to withdraw at all for the past few years because the chronic back pain and fibro were at top notes! So nice and steady after a 5 day (min) then you can try the next drop if no withdrawal symptoms....
I'm taking four capsules a day at present. Down from eight. I'm not having pain so I think the shingles pain has gone or is under control. You're right, when I start reducing again, I'll do it very slowly, probably 50mg a week. At the moment I'm struggling with the list above and feeling like it will never end
What is your Pred dose? I experience all of this with Pred withdrawal. I have taken the odd Tramadol dose over a much longer period than you. It is helpful for bad arthritis pain but doesn’t do much for PMR related pain. I can honestly take it or leave it. I understand that Shingles produces awful lingering pain. I would certainly visit my doctor over the Tramadol worries and see if there is a suitable substitute - Amitriptylin maybe. A gradual taper may be the answer and you may be worrying unnecessarily. Good luck.
Hi. I'm on 10mg of pred and haven't reduced that for about six weeks. I was reducing it but then I got the shingles and thought it was a flare or pred withdrawal so put it back to 10.
Are you friendly with your Pharmacist.............................if so go and talk to him/her. In the past I have found that they know so much more about drugs than other medics do. Worth a try?
PS: I once was given Tramadol..............once of the worst 24 hours I have put in.................never again.
I became addicted to both tramadol and codeineafter my knee replacement this time last year..
I found it helpful to lengthen the time between doses as well as reducing the dose. So I went from 6 hourly to 8 hourly to 10 hourly to 12 hourly on one dose. Then reduced the dose and did the same regime. Far less in the way of withdrawals than just reducing the dose.
Good luck. This too shall pass!
PS I lived in Malvern as a teenager. Beautiful place.
I can't imagine that high dose! I take 50 tramadol daily when I have pain [mine is from steroid induced stress fractures in the spine] and I even split it: 1/2 of 50 mg. tramadol with 1 tylenol. That takes care of my pain beautifully, and when I don't need it some days, I have absolutely no problem skipping it. so what I'm actually taking is 25 mg. twice a day as needed. If you ever get down to that level, try it. It was prescribed 50 mg. twice a day or 100 mg. and I thought I'd try it lower first to see if it worked, and it did. I hope you can wean of of that high dose.
I take 400mg daily and have done for years. Its that or the next step... Morphine... but I am saving that for things like fractures!! 🤢
As I say above I do wean myself periodically but 400mg works for the pain I have, though some days 300mg is enough, but not often ... Prolonged release means a relatively even dose release across the 24hrs. Some people tolerate it like me and it works. My sister can't touch it!
I went cold turkey with opoid painkillers when I went into pred at first. Its not nice. Took three weeks of being in bed 24/7!
I was on 30mg of Pred at that time so was coping with the side effects of that too.
I got shingles about a year into taking the pred. I was put back up to 15mg of Pred and given antivirals. I took paracetamol and Amitriptyline to help with the pain. I took a few opiod painkillers but only at the worst time.
I didn't suffer withdrawal at that time.
I think you've got some good advice here with the reduction schedule but don't be afraid to take paracetamol to help with pain and also something to help with nausea if you get it. I would ask your GP for some Amitriptyline, a small dose, to help with any left over nerve pain and also help you sleep and relax during your withdrawal. If you have shingles pain in one place then Lidocaine medicated plasters may help.
I still need opiods so three years later was back on them but a slow release Tapentadol. This has really helped my pain but I guess if I have to come off again I would get withdrawal but as these pills come in small doses it would be easier to reduce gradually.
Thank you all for telling me about your experiences. Fortunately I think the shingles pain had gone so the big problem is the Tramadol. But I did need it when the pain was at its height. It even took three doses to take effect.
I decided to go back up a capsule last night on the advice of various others in the pain community. However I did also have a reflexology treatment from a kind friend yesterday morning and I felt much better after that.
Today I’m much better again. I guess I’ll stay on this for a week then reduce by one cap a week and take it very slow.
I do think withdrawal from Tramadol is not the same for everyone. I was taking 100 mg a day for about a month for a back/S1 issue, then increased to 150 for about a week and started to feel flakey. I didn't like the feeling and decided to quit taking it and stick to acetaminophen. I took 100 that day, 50 the next and then none. I know, I know, stupid, but I didn't know that withdrawal would be a problem at that dose. Nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, the whole nine yards. By the time I realized it was withdrawal, I decided to just stick with it rather than start all over. It took about a week before the worst symptoms subsided, but then it was over. Yes, take it very, very slowly. I'm not convinced that it is possible to withdraw from it with no symptoms, so my suggestion would be to deal with your pain first and try to be in optimum condition to deal with removing the Tramadol. Talking to the pharmacist is great advice. They know far more than the average physician who prescribes it. They may know some tips for dealing with the symptoms, too. Best of luck and I hope this all settles down for you.
Hi, my husband was prescribed Tramadol. He took one dose only and had symptoms same as yours. He ended up as an emergency in A & E. Our GP thought my husband had suffered another heart attack and had him rushed to hospital. Needless to say it was an adverse reaction to Tramadol and thankfully not his heart. He never took them again.
I am sorry to hear that but glad your husband was eventually OK. You might not want to read it but I have just provided a link to illustrate that some drugs don't suit people genetically. A friend can't take anything with codeine and is sensitive to all drugs. I hope I haven't stepped over the line. But gathering information and knowledge are my hobby... I am indeed a sad nerd. 😞😁
I know its too late in your case now but when I had shingles my pharmacist recommended a topical solution. He ordered 5% Lignocaine cream and that worked very well for the pain which at times was very bad especially at night. On another note I was on Tramadol for about 20 years for spinal injury pain and I decided that I wanted my life back and tapered it off to nothing. I suffered a lot of the symptoms from the list but I was put on Morphine patches to take the place of the Tramadol. This worked well untill I developed a reaction to the adhesive used on the patches. My gp then put me on slow release Morphine tablets and I still take them for my back problems. I'm also now down to 9mg Pred for my PMR. I know that is still a high dose but ive only just been able to get to that with the help of Azothioprine. So far no problems with that.
Good luck with the tapering of Trmadol. You will get there.
Do you have access to Gabapentin? That is what I was prescribed for shingles nerve pain, and it worked. It also took away a lot of other aches and pains I was experiencing. I do more now than I have in months...I get tired...but I want to do it and I can. I wish you the best~~
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