I've been on Tramadol for almost a year now but am beginning to augment. I have been referred to a neurologist but don't expect an appointment until some time next year. In the meantime my GP is putting me on codeine.
Does anyone have any advice about changing from Tramadol to codeine? The GP said I could just stop the Tramadol and start the codeine at 30mg although he's happy for me to gradually increase the dose up to 80mg if I need to.
Tramadol is the only opioid that causes augmentation, so yes, it's best to switch.Tramadol 50mg is stronger than 30mg codeine, so although you can make a straight switch, you may find your RLS isn't covered.
You may have to try the same dose of codeine to avoid RLS.
That's so helpful, thank you!
Are you sure it's augmentation rather than tolerance? There will be no withdrawals switching from one opioid to another.
My symptoms have increased and are especially bad in my arms and hands which is what happened when I was on Ropinerole. I've heard, as Joolsg said that Tramadole is the only opioid that causes augmentation.
Ah that does sound like augmentation. Huge good luck.
Thank you!
Hello, so happy you found a neurologist that will prescribe an opioide.Have you tried Gabapentin yet? If not, talk to your Neuro about adding it to your RLS medicines. Gaba and Codeine are a good combination for RLS. Low dose Methadone 5mg. Is also very good.
All the best!
David
I've not seen the neurologist yet - that will probably happen next year! I've been on Gabapentin but not only did it not take all the symptoms away, I felt awful while I was on it. Interesting about combining though, something to talk to the neurologist about - when I get there!
If you consider combining you might want to consider pregabalin. Although it is basically the same drug as gabapentin except you don't need to divide the doses, and the side effects are basically the same, some people find that the side effects that bother them on one don't bother them on the other.
Ah - I went on to pregabalin after I found that gabapentin didn't work - very similar problems.
I know everyone is different but I've been on Tramadol for 15+ years and it works great for my RLS. I take 100 mg of Tramadol plus one pramipexole and it works great.
That's great news! It's lovely to hear when things work.
Quick update - came off tramadol, went on codeine last night - legs and arms went crazy. Got three hours sleep at 8 am when I gave up and took another codeine. Anyone know how long it takes for tramadol to go through the system?
On googling it appears to be about two days but hopefully someone else will reply to your question as well. Hope you get more sleep tonight.
Thank you! I did manage to get a very good sleep last night and feel better in myself than I have for ages. So glad I'm off the Tramadol.
Thank you so much for your helpful post, sorry it's taken me a while to respond! I have been taking ferrous bisglycinate, which is why my ferritin level is quite good, but I didn't realise the importance of the timing, so I'll adjust and see what happens.
Yes, so far so good. I still get some RLS coming through, but then I have on every medication I've been on - and at least I can think clearly on the codeine.
Please don't apologise - I'm grateful for any help I can get! I spoke to the doctor about magnesium and he recommended taking A-Z vitamins, so I've been doing that for over a year now.
Good to hear your transition off Tramadol seems to have gone well. My wife took her first Tramadol last night, after a 12km 'fun run' expecting a bad night but no RLS at all. Will have to wait and see how she feels today but took a very small dose.
I do hope it goes well for your wife. We are all so different and respond in various ways to these drugs.
Pain meds
Starting to withdraw from Ropinirole
Tramadol and RLS
insomnia 
