posted
I have been on Tramadol for 6 years now, 2 50 mg tabs 3x per day, though sometimes I can get by on four or five. I find if I don't take it, I can't function, can only lie down and walk around the house a little. But if I take it then I function fairly normally (I'm past the acutely phase, which lasted a couple years). I read about some people having side effects from Tramadol (non Lymies, and not people on it for a long time) that included them feeling an odd pain after stopping it (I guess I must assume that whatever they were taking it for had healed). The description sounded kind of like what I feel--a flulike thing--which of course is the reason I got on it to begin with.
I sometimes wonder if when I'm off, my body reacts somehow. Yesterday I ran out and borrowed a friend's Percocet and I didn't find it helped anywhere near as much as the Tramadol, which seemed odd (I used to take Percocet plus Tramadol) since the Percocet is a true opiate so you would think it would work better than the T.
I don't really think the T is doing anything to me or that the pain would be different, but I'm wondering about other folks' experiences, if anyone has been on it long term and gotten off and if there were issues around getting off it. The literature on it says don't take it long term but gives no reason. I would love to just get out of pain--has anyone managed to do this ? Some supplements help a little but not much. Of all the awful things I think being dependent on a drug is the worst.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? (on whether there is a reaction to getting off, does Tramadol possibly create withdrawal pains, is this going to be for the rest of my life?). Thanks.
Posts: 13 | From san francisco | Registered: Jul 2010
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nonna05
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33557
posted
WOW ! I hadn't heard that it heled with this pain well.. I'm on other.....and that's not all that great... I had family member on it, helped and was supposed to not be addictive...Nonna
Posts: 2563 | From Denver,CO | Registered: Aug 2011
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Yes, for some tramadol (Ultram) really helps with their lyme pain. I understand it is good for nerve pain and that is why.
I agree that percocet generally won't work as well for the pain lyme patients get.
The only way I know to get out of pain is to get excellent lyme treatment and get rid of your diseases. That's what I did.
It is nearly 7 years now since I completed my treatment and I am still symptom free, enjoying my life.
Sorry, but I don't know anything about getting off tramodol after being on it for so long. I would not even think about it at this point if I were you. Just focus on getting well.
Chances are you can just taper off of it like any other medication people have taken for a long time--xanax comes to mind, for example.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Right Nonna, the Tramadol is not addictive and doesn't hurt your liver. It should be plain Tramadol, not Ultracet like some docs give which is acetaminophen and Tramadol. It does really help me and give me energy too. I feel more or less normal when I'm on it, though a tad numb--and I'm nearly always on it, so no one thinks I'm sick. But when it wears off I realize I've got a problem!
TF, that's great news. How did you get rid of Lyme?
Posts: 13 | From san francisco | Registered: Jul 2010
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posted
It works better, but taken 3x a day, Tylenol will wear on your liver. The few days I was off it I felt crappy but it seemed to be just from pain, however, maybe it was withdrawal too. Hard to say, as I had been blocking the pain. Interesting, Kratom. ..I'm reading about it. It looks kind of addictive. But at least it's natural.
Posts: 13 | From san francisco | Registered: Jul 2010
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
I got rid of lyme and company by going to a doctor who follows the Burrascano protocol.
A number of my friends did the same and they are rid of it also.
That's why I believe in the Burrascano protocol.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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Kudzuslipper
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31915
posted
Mapletree, I have been on tramadol for about 4 years. I too notice if I skip more than a day. I think you would need to taper to get off. I also find it works better with Tylenol. I can't say that i notice it taking the pain away, but I am in more pain if I don't take it.
I hate the idea of being on so many drugs too. But the abx are getting us better and the others like tramadol and ambien are helping is to live better.
Posts: 1728 | From USA | Registered: May 2011
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posted
Hi, I have now cut down to half the amount I was taking. Before I posted this, I had run out of Tramadol. I had a rough day and a restless night of feeling hot and cold, with the sheets feeling like a hair shirt and my bed like rocks.
I did not connect this to the Tramadol. Then I Googled Tramadol withdrawal and Tramadol addiction. It was shocking. I'm now tapering off. I'm not having the horrible reactions some people have had, but I need to know how I feel when my symptoms are not entwined with this drug. Today I am fatigued and flulike
I believe it CAUSES more pain when you don't take it because of the withdrawal. I would not call it addiction, because addiction would mean it would be much harder to just decide to stop and do so. I can feel the levels in my body falling. I think one needs to be off it for a week to know how one feels. Then, if I still feel crappy I need to decide what to do. Maybe LDN if I can find a doc. Getting back on the Tramadol is an option, but it's not a great option if it causes more pain.
I have gone to docs who did the Burrascano protocol but because of my lack of reaction to antibiotics after a while, the docs did not continue with the abx.
Posts: 13 | From san francisco | Registered: Jul 2010
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
I did a search and found this thread on tramadol.
I am a bit confused.
I started taking tramadol and felt it was not helping.
Dehydration increased which was a problem before starting tramadol.
I was off of it for several months.
But, had pain again so thought I would go back on it.
I am still confused as to whether to be on it or not.
For now, I will take it but how much is in question.
I tried to cut back.
I am to take it 3 times a day. I did not have any last night or this morning.
But, am not doing well now so considering sticking to the 3 times a day.
unlike the poster above...I am still not able to do much each day. Most of my day is down time in bed watching TV or being on the computer playing mindless games as brain is not working well enough to do any more.
I was able to be out in the afternoon yesterday for an hour est...some of that was in my power chair.
I was suprised I was able to do this. Now, I am wondering if it was due to tramadol.
in the past the pain would have been too much
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
I get more help out of Tylenol than Tramadol. I wish it would work for me.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96237 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Ellen101
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 35432
posted
My LLNP told me pain meds really don't work well for lyme pain. She suggested neurontin which has worked well when pain is bad.
Posts: 1748 | From United States | Registered: Dec 2011
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
I have been using tramadol for almost 11 years and have now tapered it back to just one 50 mg tablet/day. When I started on Low Dose Naltrexone I was able to cut back the tramadol and noticed no side effects when I did so.
I take gabapentin (generic Neurontin) at night, and it helps with sleep as well as pain.
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
I disagree on the addictive comment. I was on tramadol for years for arthritis and when I reduced my dose or tried to come off, I went through withdrawel. Tramadol is a synthetic narcotic and works differently with everyone.
Some get tremendous relief from it but others like me built up a tolerance where it didn't work anymore (had to increase dose)and it caused insane insomnia. I was dizzy the whole time I took it and could not do much.
I use supplements for pain mostly but supplement with vicodin when I need it. I could not take neurontin or lyrica. Both made me sleep for days and also made me vomit.
I believe that everyone reacts differently to drugs. What works for one person is not necessarily going to work for the next person.
It takes lots of experimenting to find what is going to help you.
-------------------- Faithful
Just sharing my experience, I am not a doctor. Posts: 2682 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2009
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
Tramadol is Opiod analgesic and and SNRI (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor)!
The SNRI part is what makes it so different from other opiod analgesics. This is why it helps some people when other narcotics fail.
The SNRI's work to help relieve their pain in a different way, by balancing the neurotransmitters.
This is why it can be so hard for long term users to stop using Tramadol abruptly like mapletree discovered. They need to slowly (very slowly) and carefully wean off the medicine under a doctor's guidance so that they don't feel sick.
I had no problem taking Tramadol 50mg 3x per day for 1 mo earlier this year. It didn't help my pain enough though so my doc switched me to vicodin. After surgeries I've been prescribed combos of tramadol with vicodin. The combo worked better than both alone (smart anesthesiologist!!!).
I have to take pain medicine daily to function. Without it I could not get out of bed, literally. My back is damaged from the 9 vertebral fractures I suffered with earlier this year, they haven't healed right and continue to develop more degenerative changes.
I don't want to take the pain medicine but I want to live a full life. So right now, this is what i have to do.
Kam, if the Tramadol is helping you live you life better. I would take the medicine. You can work with your doctor later if and when you feel it is time to start weaning off the medicine. This is part of the doctor's job to help you!
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Not able to read what everyone wrote yet due to the pressure in my brain.
I am associating not being able to have bowel movements with the tramadol.
Which causes those terrible brain flare ups I get.
Not sure what to do at this point. Increase vit c and mag again I guess
I am taking it 3 times a day @ 50 mg
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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