Oxy to Tram?

[Madlegs1]

Has anyone changed from Oxycontin toTramadol ER ?

How did it go?

Thanks in advance.

[ookla]

I go back and forth all the time, endlessly chasing that perfect balance of effectiveness and side effects, and never getting it. Either one, at the right dose, will get rid of my RLS - but with my metabolism, the 12 hour oxy only lasts 8 hours and the 24 hour tram only lasts 20 hours (leaving an uncomfortable, unpleasant, and very moody coverage gap). Sadly, both give me hot flushes, make me sleepy all day, and, um, prevent any interest in "marital relations".

[Madlegs1 in reply to ookla]

Thanks for that!

I seem to have a similar metabolism- or experiencing tolerance.

Have you tried any ' bridging' med- such as oxynorm 5 or oxycontin 5 or even Gabapentin?

It's good to know I'm not the only one. 😢

[ookla in reply to Madlegs1]

I tried gaba a long long long time ago, it didn't really do anything except mess up my coordination and screw with my memory. One of my cardinal traits is having the best memory in the family, so whenever someone talked to me and I couldn't remember a detail from yesterday or couldn't come up with a simple word I was trying to think of really freaked people out.

I'm sort of on a "rescue" med regiment right now, taking 10 mgs of oxycontin every 8 hours, but my insurance hates it. They don't want anyone talking opioids - and if you HAVE to, they want as little as possible for as short as possible. So my three times a day routine is a no go for them. I paid for it out of pocket last month just to see if it was worth fighting for, but: 1.) I can't afford it and 2.) for some reason, 10 mg three times a day isn't as equivalent to 15 mg twice a day as I thought it would be. I figured 10 + 10 + 10 = 15 + 15, so the total daily dose was the same, so the net effect would be the same. Wrong! The 10 mg dose is cute and enough to keep me from stabbing my legs, but it's far from therapeutic and all I do is watch the clock waiting for 8 hours to be up so I can take another dose (which is stupid, because it's another 10 mg dose and isn't any more effective than the previous 10 mg dose which is already pretty much out of my body).

So it's a toss up at this point. Do I go for round the clock weak coverage (if my insurance company will even pay for it)? Or do I go for two 8 hour periods of semi-quiet with two 4 hour periods of crazytown. The funny thing is, I always make my mind up one way, and then while I'm in it, the other way seems better. A few weeks ago, when the 15 mg wore off and I was waiting for my next dose 4 hours away, I was thinking: "screw this, get me the 10 mgs right now, anything is better than this down time!" And then just the other day, while on the 10 mg, I was thinking: " wow, this sucks, I would trade anything just to get 16 hours of relief!" So, yeah, the grass is always greener on the other side and I'm stuck in the mud.

[Madlegs1 in reply to ookla]

Yeah- that figures!

Effectively you are reducing your dose by 5mg and so are suffering withdrawals. If you can stick with the three doses for few weeks, it should get back to normal.

Taking some Paracetamol ( Acetaminophen ) ( about 500mg) when it starts to wane , may help. That is assuming you can take that med.

Tolerance is the other issue with opiates- which is where I may be at , I think.

Cheers.

[ookla in reply to Madlegs1]

I've been on it for a month, waiting for the blood plasma levels to even out. Everyone agrees it should have worked out... but my legs refuse to understand science. I think I'll go with the 15 mg twice a day next month. And then, when that doesn't go well, back to tramadol. Rinse. Repeat.

So what's going on with you? Are you going from oxy to tram? What dose to what dose? Tramadol was the first med that ever provided any sort of real relief, so it will always hold a special spot in my heart (right next to my wife, kids, and childhood dog).

Not to go off on a tangent again, but gawd, I remember that day so clearly. Sitting on the couch, taking 25 mg of tram ir... then ten minutes later, feeling a tingly wave wash over my legs, all the weird sensations and urges disappearing and being replaced with calm nothingness. I had completely forgotten what it was like for my legs to feel normal. I stayed up all night enjoying the ability to sit in a chair, on the couch, and lay on the bed. It's funny how people take for granted the simple ability to sit still. I enjoyed the stillness for three months. It was one of the greatest three month stretches of my life. But then my dose had to go up to 50 mg. And then 100 mg three months after that. Like clockwork. Then it was 150 mg. I saw the writing on the wall and started trying to find other effective medications. And so the search continues these many years later. I don't think I'll ever have another 3 months like that again... I'll never forget them, though.

[Madlegs1 in reply to ookla]

Yeah- much like your story.

I think I'll wait to see the Consultant on Oct 5th - my new GP won't even discuss opiate meds at all.

I probably need to determine whether I'm suffering tolerance - in which case I'll have to change med- or just a matter of Oxy not lasting- in which case it may be a factor of adding something to the mix- Gabapentin? ?

Good luck.

[ookla in reply to Madlegs1]

I hope you're able to figure something out. Please let us know what you end up doing and whether or not it worked. Take care, have a nice weekend.

[Hidden in reply to ookla]

Hi ookla, I'm not telling you what to do but if it were ME (and the whole world is tightening up about opiods) I would let the insurance continue their little games,cut one of the pills in half (if they are cuttable)-get a pill cutter- and voila! I would have my 15mg twice a day!!! Of course you understand this is what I would do. By the way, you're astute to realize that the same total daily dose does not always work. I believe this is because once the pain gets ahead of the medicine (from too small a dose 'catch-up doesn't work.) (In my opinion)! Take care, burmag

[Hoffie in reply to Hidden]

The sad part about all this is I was only taking 5mg 2x a day. I never asked the doctor for a increase in dosage so I don't know where the "your are a crazy addict" came from. I think because I would come into the office with notes from research it would make her angry . I am hoping my new doctor puts my back on tramadol. I took it successfully for several years. I was in two serious motor vehicle accidents and have many screws and plates holding my spine together so I do need something for pain in order to sleep.

[Hoffie in reply to ookla]

I just came off 2+ years on oxycodone. Oxy totally disrupts the sleep center in your brain. I seriously suffered for 3 weeks without any sleep at all, it was masking a urinary tract infection which is now taking a long time to heal. The leg cramps, sweats, diarrhea and other symptoms were not pretty and I had to miss a lot of work days. Although the oxy provided fantastic relief of my RLS, I will think long and hard before I ever take this drug again. Its just not worth it.

[AAustin98 in reply to ookla]

I take 4 mg of Ropinirole at night for RLS and PLMD, and 1 50 mg tabs of Tramadol 2X a day, 10 mg Baclophen 3X @day for multifocal dystonia, 2 400 mg 2X @day Gabapentin for trigeminal neuralgia, 2 capsules of Turmeric/Curcumin 50/400 mg 2X @ day, and, for anxiety, 1 15 mg of Temazepam. Most nights the Temazepam helps me sleep almost 8 hours. In September of 2015 I had what was supposed to be a total right hip replacement, but the Dr decided mid-surgery to do only the lower part. In February 2016, I had to have a revision, making it a total replacement. First, in April 2016, I developed cellulitis at the incision site. In October, I developed a massive infection the area of the lower replacement. I had 2 months of IV antibiotics. I also developed cervical Radiculopathy, due to severe osteoarthritis in my entire spine combined with all the other problems. I stay busy making jewelry and petting my cat, Max.

[LotteM in reply to AAustin98]

Hi Max, you have or have had a lot of physical problems. Almost unbelievable. And you still sound cheerful somehow. I am in awe.

You also seem to have an unbelievable amount of meds. I wonder what part in still effective, and what part is just fighting another part. It may be advisable to sit with your Dr and review the cocktail of meds with her/him to see if some of the meds can be omitted - at once, or by reducing slowly. At least I have been wondering what this cocktail is doing to your rls and sleep. E.g. temazepam may help you sleep, but the resulting sleep quality is generally poorer, thus may contribute to reducing your overall condition.

Take care.

[Hoffie]

Happy Saturday Madlegs1,

My GP, after over 2 years suddenly decided I was an opioid junkie and took me off my Oxycodone cold turkey. She kept calling in several benzo drugs which I complained did not work. In addition to full body RLS, I have had 2 spine surgeries and currently have 6 herniated discs. Needless to say, I was in a very, very bad place. Yesterday I was able to get an emergency appointment with a nurse practitioner at another facility. She told me to take .5mg clonazepam in the afternoon, then before bedtime (around 8pm since I have early responsibilities) 15mg temazepam. I woke around 1am and took another clonazepam since I am allowed 2 per day. I had a fairly restful sleep for almost 7 hours. The best I have felt since the other doctor took me oxy 3 weeks ago. I will be seeing the doctor in early November for a follow up (not sooner since I am in the middle of having cataract surgery in both eyes and want to concentrate on that). I am also not taking any pain meds for my severe spine pain and arthritis either. What a relief. I will keep you all updated as to my progress.

[Madlegs1 in reply to Hoffie]

Good luck- sounds like you need a load!

[Hidden]

Hi Hoffie, I'm so sorry you are having to go thru all that..Is it possible to change doctors? She doesn't sound to me like she brimming with compassion. Thank goodness for the nurse practioner! Good luck and take care. burmag

[Hoffie in reply to Hidden]

Hi burnmag: I have changed doctors. Since I was feeling like I needed to be admitted to the mental ward, the new practice squeezed me in and I saw the nurse practitioner. I will be seeing the doctor in a few weeks. But I have been doing a lot of research and it appears the oxy changes your brain functions like sleep, memory, general well being and it could take several months before my brain heals from this oxy invader. There is not much any doctor can do, it's all part of the withdrawal process. Ever since Obamacare, the healthcare in the USA has changed for the worse. Doctors who once operated independently had to leave their practices and combine with others due to the regulations. Many doctors just up and retired. Co-pays which used to be affordable are now extremely high. It's almost as if we no longer have insurance. Now when I see my neurologist my co-pay is $75USD and my Medicare pays only around $6. Where is all the money going that I contributed working since I was 14 years old? I have had to go back to work part time just to pay my medical bills since I have other health issues as well. I guess all the money I contributed is going to cover the illegals and welfare recipients. While I was working full time I had to have some expensive dental work done and paid for most of it out of pocket, while a neighbor who was on welfare received her treatments for free. This is just wrong on so many levels.

[Pattycake33709 in reply to Hoffie]

Don't worry, remember Donald Trump will make it all better,believe me, it's going to be fantastic, better than any other place in the world you're going to love it. First we'll dump Obama Care and then we will work out the details. Of course it won't be as comprehensive a plan as the politicians in the senate and house get, but , hey these people work slavishly hard at staying in office and protecting the privledged 1%. Believe me though you're going to love it, the best,no question. You will get the details in two weeks or so, we'll see.

[LotteM]

I agree with Burma, Hoffie

And.... as if benzo's are not addictive! Trading an effective, but perveived addictive med for another INeffective, known addictive med sounds ludicrously.

[punked]

I went from oxycodon to tramadol following spine surgery. I'd been taking oxy for years, then the state government, in recognition of the epidemic of prescription drug overdose, put the skids on prescriptions for oxy only for people who were terminally ill or for a couple months following surgery. It took a while to get used to the change. I was miserable for a few weeks, and my primary doc gives me only 60 tramadol a month. I'm OK with that now, but occasionally have break-through pain from spinal fusions and the tramadol does little for that. Although a benign drug, tramadol is listed as a narcotic now and is a controlled substance. Docs are increasingly paranoid to prescribe.

[Madlegs1 in reply to punked]

Thanks.