tramadol withdrawal

[LanaCSR]

Does anyone know how long it takes for symptoms of augmentation to go away after stopping tramadol? Or does anybody have any experience with stopping tramadol after augmentation and how long it took for RLS symptoms from augmentation to go away?

[Jumpey]

I 've taken Tramadol for several years but haven't experienced augmentation. I take it 5 times a week to avoid any withdrawal problems.

Sorry I can't help.Hopefully someone with a similar experience can.Good luck.x

[MumofSam]

Hi Lana

I was prescribed Tramadol for sciatica/spinal stenosis about 4 years ago. A year after that, after spinal surgery, I was also prescribed Pregabalin. As soo as I started to take Tramadol I noticed I had no RLS symptoms. I was taking 8 x 50mg a day for the pain. However, if I ran out my symptoms went through the roof. I noticed a similar thing with Pregabalin, but not quite so extreme.

After surgery I tried going cold turkey with Tramadol. Kept it up for two weeks but it was absolute hell and I started taking it again. It was only then I discovered that it was used in the treatment of RLS by some.

So, the ensuing 3 odd years were spent making sure I never ran out of Tramadol and, as I said, by that time I was also taking Pregabalin. The minimum dose I needed at this time to control RLS was 4 x 50mg a day.

Then just over a year ago I decided enough was enough, saw my GP and asked for her help to slowly wean off both meds. My RLS went haywire. I started to get it in my left arm, neck and base of my spine as well as my legs, though predominantly now just my left leg rather than both as before. I’d never had RLS in anything other than my legs prior to this, and before taking the meds only used to suffer for a few days a month after suffering far worse when I was younger.

I successfully weaned off both meds over the period of 4 months or so. However, a year later I was still suffering terribly from RLS in my arm, leg, neck and base of spine with no sign of this abating. I also was suffering from insomnia.

I gave up back in February and saw my GP to get help. I’m now back on Pregabalin, 2 x 50mg a day. It’s a low dose (used to take 2 x 75mg a day) and just about controls my symptoms some of the time, at others they still come through. However I’m loathe to increase the dose. The insomnia thankfully went straight away.

So, I don’t know if any of that has answered your question, but that’s my experience. Augmentation that happened when stopping the meds rather than while still taking them, which is atypical but that’s what’s happened to me.

[LanaCSR in reply to MumofSam]

Thank you so much! That was helpful in that I am not the only one who experienced augmentation from tramadol, but I think I already knew that. I still am not sure how long to expect RLS symptoms after stopping the tramadol. I am hoping maybe more people with experience with this will reply to my post. But I appreciate those who did take the time to reply. My dr told me 5-7 days, but I am at that point now and not sure it is over, if that makes any sense.

[MumofSam in reply to LanaCSR]

I really hope your symptoms do start to fade. Mine, however, didn't even after 8 months med free.

[LanaCSR in reply to MumofSam]

Yikes!! Really??? I am so sorry but happy you are on the other side now. 🤗

[MumofSam in reply to LanaCSR]

That's the point I was trying to make. I didn't come out of it the other side, I ended up having to go back on meds and am now on Pregabalin. I sincerely hope this doesn't happen to you, and I'm just an exception. Prior to taking Tramadol and Pregabalin I would never have needed any meds for RLS.

[LanaCSR in reply to MumofSam]

I'm so sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, I know I will always have to be on meds for RLS. I just don't want to ever be on anything that cause augmentation; i.e., cause my RLS to be worse, cause symptoms in the morning, and cause symptoms to show up in other parts of my body than just the legs.

[H12X]

Hi Lana, I too took Tramadol for almost 4 years and like MumofSam I wanted to stop taking it. Three weeks of hell on legs, but I did it and without any doctor helping me through it. Albeit I must say it was perhaps the best medication I have taken to control my RLS and I admit that I have just asked to go back onto it. It seems to be the lesser of two evils for me, my RLS is so very strong. Hopefully you will achieve your goal and find something else that works for you. Good Luck.

[btthemd]

I have taken Tramadol HCL 50 mg for over 30 years now. All the others didn't work, except tramadol. I have only had to stop taking tramadol once in 30 years because it stopped working for me. I was off it for 3 days then back on it and it worked like a miacle. It was difficult being off the meds but it reset my system and it was working like before. Without Tramadol I don't think I could live with the RLS. Also, I have taken Tramadol for over 30 years without any augmentation. If you are having augmentation you might look at the other meds you are taking. Wishing all the very best nights rest.