How do I Treat Tramadol Withdrawal?
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Tramadol is the generic name of a medication that is used to relieve pain. Its brand names are Ultram® and Ultram ER®. It is typically used in treating a patient who has pain that is moderate to severe in intensity.
Tramadol can be habit forming, and a person may experience unpleasant symptoms when discontinuing its use after a long period of use. For this reason, it may not make the best medication option for someone who has a history of drug addiction or abuse. Likewise, a person who has previously abused alcohol may be better off with another type of pain reliever.
Tramadol use may be contraindicated for those who have recently consumed alcoholic beverages—even in the absence of abuse—taken narcotics, taken sedatives, or used any type of illegal drug. A doctor may also decide to prescribe a different medication for those who are being treated with medications for mental health issues, anxiety disorders, or depression.
To avoid possible tramadol withdrawal symptoms, a patient should not stop taking it suddenly. A person who stops taking the medication suddenly may develop tremors, chills, and abnormal sweating. He may also hallucinate, experience anxiety, and have trouble breathing and/or sleeping. Nausea and diarrhea are also among the unpleasant effects of tramadol withdrawal.
The dosage level of tramadol may be directly related to the intensity of the withdrawal symptoms a person experiences when it is time to stop taking the medicine. A higher dosage may mean more intense withdrawal symptoms. The length of time a person took the drug may influence withdrawal symptoms as well. The best way to avoid tramadol withdrawal is by gradually stopping the medicine. It’s also best to take the medication exactly as a doctor prescribes it, without missing doses.
It is possible to treat tramadol withdrawal in an inpatient rehabilitation facility as well as on an outpatient basis. It may also be treated using rapid detox. A drug called buprenorphine, a type of opioid, is often used in helping people to discontinue tramadol without all of the symptoms normally associated with withdrawal from the medication. This drug is said to be both safe and effective.
Besides withdrawal symptoms, a person on this medication should also be aware of the symptoms of an overdose. They include drowsiness, fainting or near fainting, and weakness. An overdose may also cause clammy-feeling skin, an abnormally slow heart rhythm, and shallow breathing. It could even lead to a coma.
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I recently stopped taking tramadol and the withdrawal symptoms are relentless.
I usually don't like to relay this information but I know it's helpful to be able to relate to others. I was taking about 10-15 50mg tramadols a day. I know that using other drugs to mask withdrawal symptoms is not the greatest way but i found that marijuana actually helped my withdrawal symptoms a lot. This is only recommended to the people who are trying to stop taking tramadol without the help of a doctor. If you are going to have to take about a week for withdrawal (as I have heard from many other posts.) you might as well try and do it as comfortably as possible because like i previously mentioned, the withdrawal symptoms are horrible. Well I hope this information was helpful. - anon53107
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I thought I had it bad. I take 3 1/2 a day for a total of 125 mgs a day. When I stop taking them, I go through terrible withdrawals and end up taking them again to stop it. I feel like a wuss now that I just heard someone takes 20 a day! Life isn't so bad after all! - anon52005
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First: Get down to eight. Anyone can do that no matter how many you are taking. It will be a tough day. Do that a couple days. Then down to six for another couple. Then down to four (hard), one in morning, one in afternoon, two at night. Then three and reduce night dosage to one. Stay at this dosage for awhile - then start removing the midday dose. In no event take more than three, but try for two.
When you get reliably to morning and night pills, stay at two for at least a week. Experiment with cutting out each one to see which is the next to go. Some people can't sleep without the night dosage. Some can't function without morning. It is tough, but pick one. take one a day for a week or so. Skip a day. Take one the next day. Skip two days. Take one and you're done. Just be prepared to be miserable. If you can't formulate the will to do it, then go into treatment you pathetic weakling. Don't be a wuss. People have suffered much worse and you did this to yourself. - anon51832
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thanks for the comments. I thought i was going insane. i was told there was no withdrawals with this drug by doctors. I feel like i can't breathe, that i am choking in air. My sleep is terrible. i have just checked out symptoms, and ended up in casualty a few days ago. they didn't know what was wrong, and did loads of tests and kept me for overnight observation.
now i know the reason, so i can start to detox slowly. - anon51630
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anon49702: You can't do it alone. I took many more than you. Go to the hospital emergency room, preferably one with a detox program. You'll be there four days or so and get medication for withdrawal so you don't suffer at all. I was sent home with a Catapres patch. Lasts seven days. Contains clonidine. I am not suffering. Go. Do not hesitate. Go. - anon50651
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i know exactly what you are going through. i am in that position now, the only thing i am doing is reducing them daily, one day at a time, and i would advise you to tell your gp of your addiction to prevent this from happening in the future.
be strong. x - anon50264
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at first just tell someone who cares for you and will help you that you have developed an addiction. this is a must. otherwise you will never come out of this. forget the stigma of everyone knowing about it. Then with that person go to a senior psychiatrist and 100 percent you will beat it. Do not try to do it alone. all the best and may God be with you always. - anon50219
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I am very badly addicted to tramadol. i take at least 20 a day and i want to stop but have tried and cant take the withdrawals. does anyone have any suggestions? please help. thanks. - anon49702
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Written by
N. Madison
Last Modified: 18 November 2009
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