I've been prescribed extended (slow) release tramadol, 100mg dose twice a day. The doctor said to the them 12 hours apart. The problem is I'm not sleeping... literally 4 hours a night, and by 8am I'm shattered and having to nap for an hour. Can I take them 6-8 hours apart instead or will this mess up how they will work in my system? Ive only had 4 hours sleep for the last 5 nights in a row and im desperate! Thank you.
Extended release tramadol - I can't sleep!!?
Question posted by Ericauk on 22 Aug 2015
Last updated on 5 September 2015
3 Answers
Delila
23 Aug 2015
Hi, as Kaismama has rightly stated, Tramadol XR should be administered once daily, ideally in the morning. I used to take it and found it very successful. Over time i did notice that i needed less sleep, rather than an inability to sleep. If you take the medication the way it is intended your sleep should improve dramatically.
Ericauk
23 Aug 2015
Thank you. Yesterday I took them 8 hours apart and I did sleep for 7 hours, but didn't fall asleep until the early hours. Today I will do as suggested and take them together.
Uncltodd
22 Aug 2015
I gave up, I'm sorry. Same dosage as you, but I sleep in my recliner 2-3 hours at a time. After 3 years, I prefer the lack of pain to the lack of sleep. Chronic pain is a lousy alarm clock.
Ericauk
22 Aug 2015
It's so frustrating isn't it!! They are brilliant at stopping the pain so I will just have to find a solution to the sleep problem somehow. The problem is I'm back to uni soon so will have to be 'with it' enough to write essays!!
chellybow
6 Sep 2015
I had the same trouble with Tramadol, kept me awake all night. Doc switched me to Fentanyl patches with Oxycodone for breakthrough pain. I have horrible insomnia anyway and take Trazadone for sleep and the Tramadol trumped the Trazadone. I couldn't take the lack of sleep any longer! Good luck, my husband takes tramadol but not after 2-3 in the afternoon.
kaismama
22 Aug 2015
It is a once a day medication and take it in the am. The problem is your dr doesn't know how to use it. You're taking 200 mg a day and that should be one dose in the am.
Ericauk
22 Aug 2015
I knew it wasn't right! Well today I took one at 7am and another at 2pm. Will see how the sleeping goes tonight and if it still doesn't work then I will take them both together. Thank you for getting back to me.
Related topics
sleep disorders, tramadol, chronic pain, sleep, dosage, doctor, prescription, sleeping, sleep disorder
Further information
- Tramadol uses and safety info
- Tramadol prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Tramadol (detailed)
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