... afford the lap (surgery) and since long term use of narcotics is a bad idea my doctor started me on tramadol. Since there is no cure for endo., I'm looking at pain relief regularly (once a month for approx. a week) and I found that the tramadol does help. As problems have advanced, I started taking the tramadol more often and only allow myself two pills (50 MG each) every six hours and I try to keep the use at no more than six pills per day. The first few times I ran out of pills I thought I was getting ill because I didn't realize that I could actually be going through any sort of withdraw but I have seen this pattern after dealing with this drug for a few years now. Even with short term use, when I stop taking the tramadol I break out into cold sweats, I become depressed, I feel achey as if I'm getting the flu, I feel restless, and all I can think about is getting at least one pill to alleviate the problems I'm having. After researching tramadol withdraws I see that some of my problems match symptoms people have talked about and I'm a loss of what to do. The medication does help alleviate pain, but I obviously have to keep taking it otherwise problems set in. It seems apparent that I need to stop taking this drug permanently with these issues that arise when I stop taking it. Does anyone have any recommendations of any good pain relief that is not as problematic as tramadol and that also isn't a narcotic? My doctor has tried me on a series of NSAID's with little success and I myself would prefer to avoid hydrocodone/oxycodone, not to mention my doctor won't prescribe them for me. I admit, I am afraid to stop the tramadol but I obviously need to and I'm hoping I can find something that will help me that obviously won't cause as much problems as the tramadol does. Thank you for any advice, I appreciate it!
I am new here and was put on tramadol for dealing with chronic pain from endometriosis. I cannot?
Question posted by AutumnFairy70 on 9 Aug 2011
Last updated on 18 December 2023 by Terri Denty
5 Answers
I had. Endo from the time I was 13. Severe pain. My imagination from most dress warmer. I went on the pill at 18 I forget the brand. But stopped at 28 I wanted a baby. Nobody ever told me about Endo. Finally just had my tubes tied. That's when I found out. They lasted. Gave me Depo shots 6 months. Waste of time, makes your hormones go crazy. Ended up on Zoloft because of Depo shots . It made the meanest PMS. BUT THE PAIN CAME BACK 10 TIMES AS BAD. THE ENDO WAS EVERYWHERE. COVERED 1 OVARY COMPLETELY. HAD TO HAVE HYSTERECTOMY. LOST MY CHANCE TO EVER HAVE A BABY. BUT I SAW A PROGRAM ON PBS. HELPS YOUNG GIRLS WITH ENDO. DO SOME RESEARCH ONLINE. DON'T END UP LIKE ME. OLD AND ALONE. PROGRAMS OUT THERE TO HELP YOU. NOT WHEN I WAS YOUNG. IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD OR ANTI INFLAMMATORY ENDS UP RUINING KIDNEYS, EATS UP YOUR STOMACH, LIVER DAMAGE. THE TRAMADOL ARE ANALGESICS. WHICH WILL END UP DOING ALL OF THE ABOVE TOO. I KNOW I HAVE ALL OF THE ABOVE. NO BABY KEEP SEARCHING.
MY SISTER HAD IT .HAD 1 BABY THEN LOST 1. THEY SCRAPED HER INSIDES. IT WORKED HAD ANOTHER BABY BOY. THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. THINK OF YOUR FUTURE. I HAD NO MONEY EITHER UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. DON'T STOP RESEARCHING.PAIN MEDS WORK. BUT IT'S STILL GROWING. I AM IN IN ALABAMA. I SAW IT ON A PUBLIC TELEVISION SERVICE. SAME STATIONS PROVIDE BIG BIRD COOKIE MONSTER ETC. HOPE YOU FIND THE HELP. SAY A PRAYER FOR YOU . Terri
You may want to keep in mind that (I had to find this out myself, even though well established, it was missed by both PRM Doc and Pharmacy that I had been taking Tramadol for 3 months before starting opiate pain management program, luckily I did not take much cause it gave me terrible headaches. Later I was told Tramadol can actually cause severe opiate withdrawal symptoms if taken together. And is highest level of "Contra-Indicated"! Others can probably verify Please? So, perhaps your Doc would want purg of tram before prescibing opiates anyway. And please dont tempt (P.S. though not Federally last I checked, (Sorry I am LE) Tramadol is a schedule III drug now in many states!
I agree you would be trading one prob for another, like I am beginning to believe I did. Damn it. There are other pain options: TENS, Accupunt', Inplants, "water therapies", etc. etc not discussed enough or offered or affordable so we spend Billions on questionable rehabs... I am going natural one way or another. Good Luck! I am Catholic and not a Scientologist but I am told (like it or not) old L. ROD HUBBARD and followers had developed very effective pain management alternatives and very confidential, economical and guaranteed self and group rehab programs that work! Anyone one have any additional info on this?
Hi dogsbestfriend,
Are you saying that Tramadol is not an opiate? Tis actually a synthetic opiate-an opioid.
Also, do you mean combined WITH other opiate pain meds this increases the addiction potential?
Sorry, but I am confused on these points!
Sorry let me try again, Tramadol is a "Very High Contra-Indicated" drug with Hydrocodone, so assume with other similiar opiates. Tramadol was not even a "scheduled" drug when orginally released). Obviously, for reasons similiar to other opiates, benes, antihistimes, etc. it is considered a risk BUT, additional I was told by a PharmD/MD that Tramadol can cause a person taking opiates eg. Hyrdocodone to go through serious symptoms of opiate withdrawal if taken at same time. I later confirmed this with some web research.
P.S. Visteril/Atrax is often used for pain (pure antihistimine) especially in ER's and with the military. It is not physically addicting but as with many non scheduled drugs can be psychologially addicting. I took it for 4 years for pain 1994 - 98 and it worked but effects eventally wore off. No withdrawal. Not sure, sence it is very anticholegentic, if it is a possible alternative for you.
Hi Autumn Fairy,
Welocme to the site. As you have discovered Tramadol is addictive and you can't just stop it cold turkey after having been on it awhile. In fact, stopping cold turkey is dangerous because it can cause seizures. If you decide to discontinue you will need to stop slowly over time. Have you tried any hormone treatments for the endo? Might want to investigate that avenue.
These treatments as well as others are discussed int he following link:
http://health.yahoo.net/channel/endometriosis_treatments
Best wishes,
Laurie
Hi AutumnFairy70,
I really cannot add much more to what Stealthk said!
However, if you are abusing Tramadol be very very careful as seizures are a possibility. Don't want to frighten you and I am certainly NOT JUDGING you atall, just be careful.
Trams have an SNRI quality to them, a serotonin, norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, like certain antidepressants. IF you go off of them, please see your doc because depression can ensue with cessation. You may need an SNRI to keep from becoming horribly depressed.
Best wishes and welcome to this great site!!!
I appreciate your extremely complex situation. However, you really NEED to stay away from Tramadol. The horrible Withdrawal Symptoms you have been experiencing only get worse and worse im afraid to say. You are only a short term user and look what is already happening.
You really need to see another doctor to help with your pain (2nd Opinion), as Tramadol is prob the worst and most addictive and hardest to get off drug available. I know, as ive been struggling with this drug since 2006.
The side affects and long term damage to your mental health are not worth it.
Doctors have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA how bad this drug is, and thats why they keep prescribing it to their patients. They are told by the manafacturers that it is non habit forming, and is easy to get off. THIS IS A MASSIVE LIE...
trust me, i mabe just a stranger at the end of the computer at the othe side of the world, but im telling you to get off this drug before its to late. there is nobody better to advise you on this drug than me.
I am not a Doctor, so i cant tell you what pain meds are best for your condition, however, Tramadol, and Ultram are the worst ever.
There ARE alternatives for you.
Please, please, get off AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. one day you will thank me.
Thank you for your reply, and I am going to wean myself off of it and won't take it any more, especially if the problem only worsens. I'm going to try talking to my doctor and if he doesn't have any good alternatives I will definitely seek out other opinions, but as you mentioned I don't think he is aware of the side effects or the problems related to this drug. It is unfortunate that the manufacturers are telling people it isn't habit forming because through my research I have found a large amount of people who have become addicted to it, and suffer from a wide variety of ailments associated with its use. The thing that scares me the worst is that I never took high doses of this medication and it had such a negative effect when I stopped taking it, I guess I am a bit more sensitive to this particular medication with my body chemistry.
Related topics
endometriosis, pain, tramadol, chronic
Further information
- Tramadol uses and safety info
- Tramadol prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Tramadol (detailed)
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
