Another cry for help

[bedith6]

Things have gone very badly wrong with me and I’m not sure of the way back. I have had RLS sinceI was 22and I have recent.y had my 90th birthday. I have been taking Tramadol fairly successfully for about three years and it has enabled me to cope. Recently however the rls has become much ,much worse. I first took two Tramadol but over the years gradually increased to four. About six months ago it all became worse again and so I took one more tablet in the early morning. Now I think it has just tipped over into augmentation, it is so bad night and day and hardly any sleep. I decided I should come off the Tramadol and dropped the early morning one for the last two nights. However I already feel awful, I am 90 for God’s sake and all I want is a bit of peace . Should I drop one Tramadol every other day or what other advice is out there please, I’m really desperate!! The tablets are 50mgs Thanks in advance

[Madlegs1]

So sorry for your plight.Since you are already on opiates, you should be able to demand another form.

Oxycontin or Buprenorphine ( in one of its forms) might be the way to go.

If you get the scrip ,then there should be no need to taper down on the Tramadol, you should be able to go straight from one to the other.

Given your age, there should be no risk of addiction.

You might have to throw a wobbly in the surgery ,and complain about the agony and pain you are in, and the extreme proximity of a final exit strategy, if you do not receive a favourable outcome. 🥴😜

Hope it works out for you.😍

[Joolsg]

I agree with Madlegs. Just ask your GP for a straight swap to the equivalent dose of OxyContin or Buprenorphine/Temgesic.

Tramadol is known to cause augmentation- I had augmentation on it almost immediately after coming off Ropinirole.

Make sure you’re not taking any meds that worsen RLS like anti depressants and anti histamines or cough and cold meds and ensure your serum ferritin is above 100, preferably 250 as that will help your RLS and reduce the augmentation symptoms.

[bedith6 in reply to Joolsg]

Thank you for your reply Joolsg I do take iron tablets to help keep my Ferritin level up also magnesium and B12 ' I'm very careful not to take any other meds that can cause RLS to worsen so I'm stuck unless my GP will help. It's so difficult at the moment to get to one , they only want to speak via phone so I think I'll write a letter. Take care

[Wiggler]

Hi, having been there before with the Tramadol myself, don’t reduce it quickly or you’ll be in all sorts of withdrawl issues. Good luck with trying to get a swap as advised!

[bedith6 in reply to Wiggler]

thank you for your reply. What do you take now ?

[Wiggler in reply to bedith6]

I take a low dose (0.75mg) of Ropinerole but as you will read on this forum there are lots of potential longer term issues with this medication. With that in mind, I have just got on a medical cannabis research programme (more details of it on this forum as well), with the aim of stopping the Ropinirole. So float the cannabis is going really well and just slowly increasing the levels to get it right but definitely helping. I have one type during the day to help with pain and tiredness and then a different type for night time. It’s oil droplets, thus far no side effects!!

[Mickmaur]

Really sorry that you are going through this, at our age we shouldn’t have to suffer like this, I am 86 this year. I really think that you are going through augmentation. I was prescribed oxycodone, it controls my legs 90% of the time. I find the only problem with it is I am inclined to have micro sleeps such as when I sit down to relax e.g. watch TV, read, passenger in car etc., I am normally a very alert, active person, these micro sleeps may not happen for everyone though. Please don’t suffer, go along and talk to your doctor, really put it to your doctor the torment that you are in, don’t hold back sock it to the doctor how desperate you feel. You could even suggest opiotes. Good luck and here’s wishing that you find the right meds.

[bedith6 in reply to Mickmaur]

Thank you for your reply. How did the oxycodone affect your stomach?. Tramadol seems to have been the only opiate I could tolerate so far, but as I said now it's not working. What sort of dosage are you on?

[Mickmaur in reply to bedith6]

I am on Targin 10mg morning and 10mg night. No stomach problems. I have been on so many different meds and I find the opiates are the best. The doctor started me on 5mg morning and night but it wasn’t quite strong enough, I needed the 10mg.

[Lauramorris]

I really feel for you! I got to a very similar point last year, a long with RLS I also suffer with migraines and cluster headaches, I think it’s all related. After one ordeal of 8 days of Constant migraine, RLS and the odd excruciating cluster headache thrown in I sobbed I really felt that I could not take any more! I felt that I needed to do something as I wasn’t getting anywhere with the dr and had been waiting for ages for An appointment to see the neurologist, Lots of people had asked me if I had tried acupuncture, I hadn’t so I thought this might be a good a place as any to start working my way though the alternative health list, and if I’m being honest I was just planning to go to cross it off that list. I got an appointment that morning to my surprise he put a stop to the 8 day migraine straight alway and my RLS improved. I had weekly sessions and felt better and better each week then I had fortnightly appointments now though I can’t go due to lockdown! My RLS is gradually returning and once a month I get a 24hr migraine. I’m looking forward to him opening soon. I can’t recommend it enough! The good thing is that it doesn’t interfere with the treatment from your dr but like me you may find that you no longer need it I hope this helps

[bedith6 in reply to Lauramorris]

Thank you for your reply but I have already tried acupunture and it didn 't work for me although I'm glad you had some relief from this dreadful condition

[Lauramorris in reply to bedith6]

I’m sorry to hear that I thought I’d mention it. I hope that you find some relief soon.

[Gemimablackvelvet]

This so distressing to hear. I answered questions on this subject yesterday. Clonazapan which help

[Bookhead]

Hi there I hope your well. How come your coming off the Tramadol if it has always worked for you?

[bedith6 in reply to Bookhead]

It has now completely stopped working