Has anyone augmented on Tramadol

[mmb8083]

I’ve read that augmentation on Tramadol is rare but I think I may be augmenting already. Did so on Recuip after about 8 months now after only 2 months same appears to be happening on Tramadol. I was so happy thinking I found something to help me. 50mg Tramadol and some THC Edibles and I was doing pretty well. But last 2 nights of torture again due to no sleep. Even took 2 Tramadol which my neurologist said was ok to do but not even an hour of sleep last 2 nights. Last 2 days have been feeling restless all day and oh so irritable . I’m so tired of this

[Heatherlss]

I've found that too. I don't suspect augmentation rather I feel that tramadol has just lost its effectiveness for me. 50mg for 6-8 months intermittently used to just stop my RLS and I used to feel its effects until the next night. Probably my augmentation has worsened in the last couple of months. I also take pramipexole 0.125mg( have been doing so for a year with breaks but augmenting).

[LotteM]

For me tramadol 50mg lost its effectiveness after about a month and I couldn't stand a higher dose (incessant heart palpitations). Augmentation on tramadol is rare, but it does happen. I watch a Q&A webinar with dr B and he even acknowledged it, and he usually relies very much on scientific evidence. It is not illogical as tramadol also binds to the dopamine receptors, just like dopamine agonists.

Do you think your doctor can prescribe another med? Have you already tried gabapentin or pregabalin? Otherwise another opioids is the to-go to type of medicine, and Targinact (containing oxycontin i.e. slow release oxycodon) is licensed for RLS in the EU. In the IS drs also often prescribe methadone and more recently buprenorphine. Btw. If you are a member of rls.org, I can recommend the webinar with dr B.

[mmb8083 in reply to LotteM]

Thank you so much Lotte. I have been thinking of asking my neurologist about buprenorphine. I’m 66 and this last year has been horrible. I feel this disease getting worse every day. I thought Tramadol was the answer for me even though I am leery of taking an opioid everyday but seems like it also turned on me. My next question is to find out how people on this forum are doing with Buprenorphine. Such good advice on this forum

[LotteM in reply to mmb8083]

Buprenorphine and also methadon will he difficult if not impossible if you're in te UK. But you are in the US? If so, do contact the rls.org organisation to find ab RLS quality care centre near to you.

[Joolsg]

Tramadol didn’t help me either. I augmented badly on Ropinirole and suspect my dopamine receptors were too fried. OxyContin did work however and I’m in the UK. It’s stronger than tramadol but works in a different way.

[Hidden]

Just a couple of thoughts on this.

Are you sure you're suffering augmention? i.e.

Are your symptoms more intense?

Do they happen earlier in the day?

Have they spread from your legs to other parts of your body?

Has the time between sitting or lying down and symptoms starting got shorter?

I have heard it claimed that tramadol can cause augmentation, which is a little hard to explain as apparently no other opiate does.

I've also heard that tramadol causes "rebound" which might be confused with augmentation.

I believe that rebound is a phenomenon where symptoms appear, perhaps intensely, when a drug which is suppressing them wears off.

I have read that with tramadol, this might be avoided by taking the extended release version, which doesn't wear off so quickly.

It's possibly another option.

[mmb8083 in reply to Hidden]

I’m more or less guessing I may be augmenting as I haven’t been able to sit still during the day for past 2 days. Same feeling as when I augmented on Recuip. Back then I didn’t know what was happening but having been thru it before it is feeling very similar. I’ve read that it is rare on Tramadol. I was relieved to have found some relief but it seems to have been short lived

[Heatherlss in reply to mmb8083]

You might want to try a drug holiday. Some people here on do that and it works for them. That is if you can't have access to Methadone or Buprenorphine or any other long acting opioid.