Bye Bye Tramadol

[ratfancy]

Since I started methadone a couple months ago, I understand better about the difficulties I started to have with Tramadol. BTW, I went cold turkey off Tramadol, because methadone would negate it anyway.

I realize now that after 4-5 years on Tramadol I was augmenting badly. I didn't realize what was happening, just that I only had relief for about 3 hours and had to keep taking more and more.

Another thing I notice is how temperature sensitive I was on Tramadol. I'd be sitting in the evening, almost feeling like I had a flu. Hot, cold, hot, cold about every 20 minutes. That's gone now.

Also, I'm not tempted to eat as much at bedtime or during the night (because I'm sleeping!).

I had a good run with Tramadol, but now it's over!

[Joolsg]

Thanks for sharing. Tramadol is the only opioid that causes increase in severity of RLS ( augmentation). I'm glad you were able to get methadone and are now sleeping. Interesting about the hot and cold flushes disappearing because methadone can also cause that.It's not prescribed here in the UK for RLS which is a great shame as it would help so many people who do not fare well on gabapentin or pregabalin after dopamine agonists.

[TheDoDahMan in reply to Joolsg]

Agree with you 100%!

[Cather]

I have no experience with meth. I weaned myself off pramipexole, after augmentation set in and am now on gabapentin. It isn't perfect, but gives me enough relief to get a reasonable night's sleep and gives me rls free days and evenings.. I am on 900 mgs. I will likely go to 1200 mgs at some point, but right now 900 mgs works for me.

[SueJohnson in reply to Cather]

Are you taking it in divided doses? 600 mg 1 to 2 hours before bedtime and 300 mg before that as it is not well absorbed above 600 mg. And if you do need to increase it, just add 100 mg every couple of days until you find the dose that works for you. Don't just jump to 1200 mg as you may not need that much.

[Cather in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks Sue. Good advice.