Does tramadol keep you awake? - Restless Legs Syn...

Restless Legs Syndrome

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Does tramadol keep you awake?

13 Replies

I use tramadol for RLS symptoms- but it's like an amphetimine to me. It relieves my symptoms for up to 2 hours, but then I'm wide awake. So I sleep 5am to noon. Anyone else?

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13 Replies
keiralee profile image
keiralee

Yes it does seem to act as a stimulant. I take 1 x 50g Tramadol and Mirapexin and have done so for several years.It helps with the RLS so I consider it worth lesser sleep because without it I wouldn't sleep at all. 😴

Jumpey profile image
Jumpey

Yes after a while all opiods cause me insomnia/ alerting sadly.A change to another opioid might help.

Birdland profile image
Birdland

Tramadol kept me wide awake also. It’s nice to have calm legs but not being able to sleep defeats the purpose.

johannasuar profile image
johannasuar

Hi, I’ve been taking tramadol for over 10 years and I also don’t sleep till about 4/5 even 6 in the morning and usually for only four hours. I take 1 50mg tab at 5:30 and another at 10 pm. I am used to the lack of sleep but I entertain myself with movies, watching tutorials on painting since I’m an artist, or play silly games on my tablet. For me the lack of sleeping earlier is a cheap price to pay for not having that awful sensation through my body from the RLS. A couple of days ago I had cocktail at a friends and OMG, I got the worst RLS attack I’ve had in years, my whole body was making me desperate so much I started to cry, I don’t want to ever feel like that again, so loosing sleep is not my priority, fortunately I can take an afternoon nap which I do daily. I just turned 70, female in the USA. By the way, I started with RLS just in my legs but for what ever reason I now have full body rls, something we just have to trade one thing for another and decide which is the better one, for me, not having RLS is the most important than sleeping for four hours per night. Good luck. My alcohol mistake cost me a horrific night that I don’t want to go through again.

Pte82 profile image
Pte82 in reply to johannasuar

johannasuar, your reaction to the cocktail may offer a clue to a path for additional relief for your RLS. Alcohol is among other anti thiamine factors that deplete thiamine and is one of the more impactful substances. Thiamine needs adequate magnesium to become bioactive. Activated thiamine helps clear lactic acid that may contribute to RLS. Benfotiamine and sulbutiamine are fat soluble forms of thiamine that offers higher absorption levels than water soluble forms. Used with a B Complex it offers a group, including B12 and Folate, that address B vitamin deficiencies that have a connection to RLS. Always consult with your health care professional before using any supplement.

stuttersense.blogspot.com/2...

johannasuar profile image
johannasuar in reply to Pte82

Thank you for all the info. I take magnesium religiously every night before bed, it’s very relaxing. As for the thiamine I had no clue but I’ll definitely start with that. Because I take Tramadol it’s a law I must be checked by my prescribing doctor every three months, at that time I do a blood check and have requested my ferritin level to be checked as well, so far it’s been very good. I also take the B12 supplement and a few others that are a must since I’ve had liver damage in the past. You gave me a lot of info that’s so good to know. Again, thank you for your response.

Camry2020 profile image
Camry2020 in reply to Pte82

HUH?

Yes, I took it once. Was awake the entire night. Other opiods give me insomnia but none as much as Tramadol.

Jerry57 profile image
Jerry57

Interesting how different we all are. I've taken tramadol for over 20 years and can usually sleep quite well for 7+ hours. I feel rested, however, I do think tramadol takes away my dreams, at least I don't remember them. Recently I added ferrous bisglycinate to my nightly regimen, and my dreams have returned! Perhaps tramadol interferes with REM sleep.

89874438863 profile image
89874438863 in reply to Jerry57

Здравствуйте,, пить 20лет трамадол? Привыкания нет?

DeepL Translate - Hello, 20 years of tramadol? No addiction?

Jerry57 profile image
Jerry57 in reply to 89874438863

No "addiction", at least not in the strict sense of the word. But I am definitely "dependent" on tramadol and suffer withdrawal when I try to quit or reduce the dosage.

Nikos64 profile image
Nikos64

Definitely keeps me awake. But it has been the only drug that resolves my RLS. So, I’ll accept that side effect. Maybe you can ask your doctor for some gabapentin. But be forewarned… it doesn’t work consistently f

Bganim1947 profile image
Bganim1947

I’ve been on Tramadol for several years—it makes me sleepy. I’ve never experienced augmentation with it.

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