is this still from Tramadol augmentation?

[Poe7]

So as some of you may have read in previous posts that I’ve replied to I had been taking Tramadol for about 12 years.

I got up to 100mg four times a day. Then I eventually learned my RLS was so bad (full body 24/7 ) because of augmentation.

I have been taking a total of 12.5 mg of methadone (5mg in the morning and 7.5 before bed for about a year and a half. And I titrated off the Tramadol so I haven’t taken any at all since switching.

My question is since I will still have daytime symptoms if I don’t take the methadone when I wake up could that still be effects from the augmentation or do I just possibly have it bad enough now that no matter what if I don’t take the daytime dose I’m going to have symptoms?

I had hoped that eventually I’d be able to just take the methadone before bed and not have to take it in the morning.

Is there any way to figure out what it is? Augmentation effects still? Or I’m just always going to have it during the day without meds?

[Joolsg]

If you stop the 5mg morning dose of methadone, you'll go straight into mini withdrawals and the main symptom of methadone and opioid withdrawal is RLS.So, if you want to change the timing or amount of the dose, speak to the doctor who prescribed the methadone. The slower the better but, as it stops RLS, why do you want to stop? RLS is usually a lifelong, progressive disease and most with refractory RLS will always need to take meds.

They may suggest slowly changing the timing. The average dose of methadone is 10mg a day so you are not taking too much.

It isn't still augmentation from tramadol, it's opioid withdrawal caused by suddenly stopping nearly half your dose.

[Poe7 in reply to Joolsg]

Hi Jools, thanks for your reply. I don't want to stop the methadone completely. I haven't felt this good in 15 years. So i definitely don't want to mess that up. I guess I just thought that the daytime symptoms would get better as the effects of the augmentation went away.

It did get so bad while taking Tramadol that I was having symptoms in my whole body, even my face at times.

Once I was totally off the tramadol and had been taking the methadone for several weeks the whole body thing went away. So now even if I am having a bad moment and symptoms are coming through it's only in my calves. Occasionally in my left leg almost to my thigh.

So I thought (hoped) that it would eventually get to the point where I was only having it at night if I felt it at all.

Its not too bad just taking it twice a day. I think it's more of a phycological thing about the pills. I got to the point that I felt like the tramadol bottle was the thing I had to think about the most in my life bc I was taking it 4 times a day. And I think I was really looking forward to only having to take it once a day before bed.

Like I said 2 , times a day realty isn't that bad. It's just silly thing in my own head. 😊

[Joolsg in reply to Poe7]

I totally understand. I had full body augmentation on Ropinirole and lived in dread in case I couldn't take my Ropinirole on time. Withdrawal was very traumatic.I'm on a similar drug to you- Buprenorphine because they don't prescribe methadone in the UK except to prisoners with RLS.

I think you shouldn't worry and should take the pills twice a day as they're stopping the RLS.

Perhaps check your bloods as keeping serum ferritin above recommended levels helps the majority of RLS patients.

[Poe7 in reply to Joolsg]

I just (after years of not having it) got insurance again. Saw neurologist Monday and she's ordered all the iron tests. I'll be getting them next week. We were both very excited, lol. I was also excited about not have to pay $200+ for each visit anymore, too.

[Steg12]

HiI was mom tramadol for about 5/6 years I was taking that many that they were causing me more pain than I originally had. So I actually went cold turkey which I would not recommend. Then was give Oxynorm then OxyContin which been on for over 20 years they have caused so many problems

Now because of all that has gone on they are taking me off and I am literally a junkie

Now my legs and ankles are in constant pain 24/7 at a level of 8/10 I get around 2 hours sleep at night and was told yesterday that there was nothing they can do for me which felt like a knife in my heart the thought of being in pain for the rest of my life does not inspire me. Not sure how much more I can take. But trying to see a doctor is near on impossible so not exactly sure what to do next except cry and hope to d… ? Sorry got off the track a bit but it sounds like you will need something but try keep as little as possible. As soon as my pills wear off I literally shake flex get really annoyed

And angry till I get something else. Oxy really messed me up but did help till I came off them. Hope you get sorted out soon.

Stef

[Bganim1947]

I’ve been on 100 mgs of Tramadol with same amount of Pregabalin for about 4 years, and so far no problems, I augmented on Ropinerol, but didn’t know one could augment on Tramadol. Yikes!!!!

[Poe7 in reply to Bganim1947]

I've tried Pregabalin but it doesn't do anything for my RLS. I've tried that, Gabapentin, Cymbalta , Horizant, Mirapex, Requip, NuCenta, Topamax. And some others I can't remember the names of. They either do nothing for my RLS or they do nothing for it and I get horrible side effects. Opiates are the one and only kind of medications that have ever helped me.

I am incredibly thankful that we figured out what was going on with the tramadol finally and that I found an amazing, caring, knowledgeable neurologist.

Just keep an eye out for you symptoms getting worse, coming on earlier in the day and moving to other parts of your body. If any of that happens then I'd talk to your Dr for sure.

I'm just guessing but my thought about it is the Pregabalin is helping a lot so maybe that's why the tramadol is doing well for you too. Fingers crossed for you that it stays like that.