Tramadol Withdrawal

[John_naylor]

After over 2 years on 100mg Tramadol my sleep reduced from 8 hrs day, RLS symptoms started earlier in the day and spread from legs and arms to hands as well. Rather than Tolerance I suspected Augmentation and spent 4 weeks reducing Tramadol to zero whilst building up a mild Gabapentin dose (3x100mg). Have been clear of Tramadol now for 10 days and am struggling (2 to 3 hrs sleep) and had a fall last night with exhaustion. The Gabapentin doesn't appear to be doing anything but am loathe to increase or add a DA into the mix yet as I'd like to be convinced that I'm not still suffering from withdrawal. How long does it take for the effects of withdrawal to subside, anybody any experience? On a positive note, I've had no other side effects from opiate withdrawal, purely RLS increase. Another positive, I have struggled to get above 10 stones until re starting the Gabapentin and am now 10.5 stones!

[Joolsg]

I can’t comment on tramadol withdrawal as I was only on it for about 6 weeks but symptoms of DA withdrawal went on for months for me.

I think you are experiencing RLS symptoms now because you need to take something stronger to control it. 300 mg of gabapentin is very low for RLS. The average dose is 900mg with some people on higher doses. I found gabapentin on its own did nothing for my RLS but it worked a Little better with codeine/paracetamol.

You could try pregabalin which has fewer side effects and has been shown in studies to be as effective as dopamine agonists.

Really sorry that the tramadol caused Augmentation.

[ahome4u]

I was taking Mirapex for several years. It was okay. I injured my knee and the doctor prescribed Tramadol. With taking Mirapex and adding Tramadol, augmentation set in big time. It was horrible beyond horrible. I read where Mirapex and Requip were the ones to cause augmentation, and sometimes Tramadol. I immediately quit the Tramadol, and slowly detoxed off Mirapex. This was 2 years ago. It was very hard and took several months. I still have RLS. I have never been able to find anything that causes it or works for it. Some nights it's not too bad and then the next night I'm going insane. I do not have pain with mine. Mine is the creepy, crawly, brisling, edgy, limb flinging, jerking kind.

[LotteM]

John, how are you doing? You received quite a few suggestions in reply to your previous post. I am afraid you “simply” have to wait for the rls to calm down again if you don’t want to up the gabapentin or ask for another opioid or try kratom or cannabis. The waiting may take a while and your increasing exhaustion owing to lack of sleep will not help to lower the rls either.

How else can we help?

[John_naylor in reply to LotteM]

Many thanks, Lotte, My question was how long would it take for the level of RLS to return from Augmentation to normal? I had no improvement whilst coming off Tramadol and none for the 2 weeks since. Life is seriously disrupted at the moment and I was asking for experiences from others as to how long. Night before last I slept for 6 hours and got very excited, last night made up for it with less than my 2 hour average! Seeing GP tomorrow and will probably increase Gabapentin.

Thanks All for your support.

[LotteM]

John, thanks for the update. I hope the increase in gaba will help you. I am currently finding out the same thing, although also still om trama. Don’t want to incease the latter, trying to forestall augmentation.