Repetitiveness of my job. I was only prescribed two 50 mg per day which did absolutely nothing so I gradually increased to 3 & then 4 & then 5 or six AT A TIME... Only that amount eased my pain. Needless to say, my monthly prescriptions only lasted about 10 days but I never had adverse symptoms from not having them... Just had to rely on ibuprofen & suffer til I could get my prescription refilled. My Dr told me Tramadol was only used to treat mild pain & were considered mild pain relievers. I had been on that regimen for a couple years & then I guess I hit a plateau & 6 were not working anymore so I took 6 initially in the morning & then a few more in the afternoon before eating... They also reduced my appetite which I liked them for as well... Then I had a grand mal seizure! I was never told that was a side effect. I was rushed to the hospital, they did a cat scan & found nothing, told me it was from low potassium levels and extreme stress. so I was referred to a neurologist. I never went to a neurologist because we don't have insurance. So I just went under the assumption that it was due to heavy stress from our business and tax season and marital problems & the like and so continued with my same routine and then a month later I had another grand mal seizure, was rushed by ambulance again to the hospital and they put me on Keppra which is an anti-seizure medication because they thought I had developed adult onset epilepsy (2 or more seizures is considered epilepsy i was told), told me my potassium was low again and again referred me to a neurologist. I cannot get an appointment for a month. So my question is does anyone think that it really is adult onset epilepsy or that it does have something to do with the tramadol? I do not want to be on epilepsy medication if I don't have epilepsy. Extremely high stress levels right before both episodes & extremely low potassium have been considered the culprit. But I don't know if it is a combination of things or if anyone else has had anything similar happen? Thank you in advance for any insight :-)
I was prescribed Tramadol for arthritis- like pain in my hands & joints because of the repetitivene?
Question posted by Sweeter Than Rain on 23 July 2012
Last updated on 1 August 2012
Also if I continue to take tramadol and Keppra will the Keppra keep me from having any more seizures?
8 Answers
I have read all the responses here & agree with them, but want to add that you can't just stop taking them! THAT is what is causing the seizures! The tramadol itself will not cause the seizures, it's the way you were taking them all at once & then not giving your brain more later on! It's the suddenly stopping them that is causing the seizures. Please read the link I am providing below. I am not advocating you taking them, I want you to stop, but do it with a doctors help. You have to taper off not just quit them suddenly. You could be in more trouble doing that. If the doctor that gave you this script doesn't believe you, print out this html I am giving you as it is for professionals (they rarely read them apparently)& show it to him. It may change his thinking where he can be of help to you.(and others) You wouldn't believe the people on this site who have been in your shoes. I wish you the best, & hope you stay seizure free...
Hey Mar, Gotta run a couple errands and will try and talk to you later this afternoon. Have a great one. Ruthie
Im sorry but i dont agree that its not the tramadol causing the seizures, although withdrawing abruptly can cause seizures, the tramadol itself definitely causes seizures, i spoke at length with a neurologist about this. My daughter told me she knows exactly going over certain amount will cause seizure, sometimes just doesnt care. Medication info specifically says, can caise seizures in people with no prior history, she has only ever had a seizure when taking tramadol, not when she is low on it, which she makes sure doesnt happen much, since u can buy it on internet.
Mary, you took the words out of my mouth... i failed to advise about weaning off the Tramadol, not just stopping them cold turkey! Well done you!!x
Mary632009 is RIGHT. Please, do a taper off of tramadol. Please print off the site she provided, and show it to your doc, as she asked. he may be quite surprised, or he may tell you it's bullsh*t. let us know, please?
fitchick, you do NOT believe it was the tramadol, yet it is well known that if you take too much or stop abruptly (as you noted) seizures are a possibility? I'm so sorry, but could you explain further, because Im not getting what you are saying? (not trying to be rude, just don't understand what you mean)
Please read the html provided approved by the FDA. It will explain it's not the tramadol causing the seizures, it the way she is taking or not taking them. Very easily explained...
Philly i completely believe the tramadol is causing the seizures. I was saying i didnt agree with marys comment, that it is not the med itself that causes the seizures, but simply the way they r taken or not taken that causes them, fact is it lowers seizure threshold, and one of side effects listed is: can cause seizures at normal dosage or at doses over max.
Thank you so much Mary :) but now I am really scared because I haven't taken any for 9 days :/ do u think I haven't had a seizure because I'm on seizure med now? I SO much hope so...
I read that HTML link that u gave me & I am so angry & frustrated at myself for being so casual about taking them & my dr for minimizing all the facts about it :( now I'm on a seizure med that I probably don't even need to be on & who knows what damage it could be doing to my brain as we speak BUT it says going off that cold turkey could kill you too! I don't know what to do now & feel like a guinea pig :( I take full responsibility for being so non chalant about how I was taking it but I am such a scaredy cat about everything that if it was represented to me more factually I NEVER would have taken it like that :( now I'm in an awful mess & can't relax or settle down because I'm so completely scared & traumatized at what I've done to myself :( at least Im not having to deal with any WD issues but I'm scared to death :((( thank you again for all your help & concern... I also feel so very bad for all of your health issues & wish u well too :) xoxoxo
Hi Sweeterthanrain, I think you should be ok with the keppra on board. I am also giving you the link for it so you can read about it. Talk to your doctor & be completley honest with him/her about how you were taking thramadol. If the seizures were caused by suddenly stopping the tramadol after taking large dose (running out) they should abate with time. I believe the keppra will have you covered there anyway. You may be able to get off the keppra, but PLEASE read the link, & do it with a doctors help It is probably the only way you will know for sure if the trams caused the seizures or not. If they are over, then it could be you don't need the keppra either, but DON'T just stop them! Read about it as it just needs weaned off of too. Good luck to you, & stay away from that evil drug tramadol. Take the printouts with you to the doctor incase he is not aware of the serotonin syndrome that tramadol can cause. Best of luck to you & let us know how you are doing. Hosesty is always the best policy espeially when it comes to your health... Mary
Oops! Here's the link:
https://www.drugs.com/keppra.html
Lots of luck to you sweetie, & don't worry so much. We can get you straightened around with your doctors help... Mary
fitchick, I am so sorry, it was the way your post was worded, I took it the wrong way, a double negative does that to me.
But i must say that Mary632009 is right, if one takes too many or stops aburptly it can cause seizures. But the questioner is on Keppra now, so no more seizures. (not that i think tramadol is a good med, it's terrible and doctors write way too many rx's for this crap! too many negatives with the med, and too many posts on here about how to get off tram/ultram)
please forgive me for reading your comment incorrectly. i will make certain i read all responses and comments more carefully in the future.
philly
Oh dont even worry about it, philly i didnt take offense i reread it after you replied and yes could very well be taken that way lol, yes at least she is on keppra, which probably minimized seizure risk with stopping suddenly. She is soooo lucky she gets no w/d issues with this med, as it is nasty, i take ultram myself 300 to 400mg/day for about 3 yrs, and have on occasion run out for few days and it sucks. Jane
Jane, you are on tramadol too? please be careful when you run out, you know what can happen better than anyone else.
i'm glad you accepted my apology, i really need to read things with more care.
Well, there is one thing about it ladies, there obviously will be times we are not going to completely agree with everyone. Especially if we feel we have facts to back it up. And fitchick this is not directed at you at all, I promise girl it isn't. But there are one or two on the site that I've noticed that like to throw it out there quite often that their a nurse. Well, I think being one is a gift from God, however there are no rules, thank God, that you have to be one to be on this site. I'm not one. My sister, and a couple other family members are, but not me. But sometimes you gain alot of knowledge through self experience like has been mentioned. I've taken Tramadol, and have my own nightmare story about it. I've gained alot of knowledge by simply being on the site. Just sitting back sometimes and reading peoples personal experiences and answers. And alot of knowledge came from a couple of wonderful women I know who are nurses.
Very knowledgable and helpful to this site. I also have some knowledge about certain things from my own horrible battles and situations through the years. I have been sober from alcohol 6 yrs, but was a chronic alcoholic and almost died several times. In and out of hospitals. On hundreds of medicines. Struggled through terrible depression and a few bouts of suicidal thoughts due to low self esteem. Desperately wishing my sister and parents were not taken from me at such a young age. Having my baby go to jail, and try to commit suicide while he was in there. Calling me crying to just come home. Having an ex- husband physical and emotionaly abuse me for a few years. Then crawling as deep as I could into alcohol to numb everything so I didn't have to feel so much pain and grief. Yes, I have some knowledge about a couple of things anyway. Just remember not to get yor feather's ruffled, and get upset. I'm not preaching to anyone... period. I'm not directing this to any one person either. I just want us all to remember to agree to disagree sometimes in a genuine friendly manner. Sometimes we're not always right. I try not to ever answer a question I have no clue about. But if I can answer one and help somebody in any way possible, than I feel like I've done what I set out to do. Truly help somebody. I think you all seem like just wonderful ladies, and I'm so glad we friended each other and look forward to getting to know each of you. Like one member on here always says... Take the good... and leave the rest. May we all grow together, and be of comfort to each other. I am here for every one of you anytime. Just give me a hollar or a yell. lol. Your true friend, Ruthie
Hey ruthie, how about yelling at me for a minute would ya? hehe Give me a call girl... Mary
Mary is both right and wrong! Tramadol most certainly lowers the seizure threshhold (as fitchick mentioned) but it can also trigger seizures when it is withdrawn. So both of you are correct! I really blame much of this on this posters Dr who minimized the dangers of this medication. One thing important to remember is that ALL drugs are dangerous and can have side effects! Even vitamins can be toxic in too high of doses. One should never lightly take medication or disregard consequences. As most of us are aware, one of the most lethal drugs to the liver is Tylenol-good ole acetaminophen that most people dont think twice about taking.
Recommended doses are there for a reason!!! No drug should be taken casually and you should NEVER think that if some is good, more must be better because nothing is further from the truth!!! ALL medications should be treated with respect and they are usually safe when taken at prescribed or recommended doses and one should never take it upon themselves to exceed those doses. It is always good to educate yourself as a consumer. This Dr obviously doesnt keep current with medical research!!
I totally agree with you Dzoo!
I love you all!! You are all such blessings & use your knowledge, wisdom & skill to help others & most probably save lives! I so look forward to getting to know you all better & improve my life & try to impact someone else; even if on some small level :) oh & by the way Mary, it was meperidine in pill form. That was several years ago so I don't know if there are better & more effective meds now or not-i think it is Demerol. It was 3-4 per day if i remember correctly. The dr who prescribed it for 4 years was in kahoots with the chiropractor, the physical therapist & the attorney; therefore not one of them wanted to get me well... They made their money from keeping me sick & coming back. I was never addicted or dependent as I never had WD of any kind. Listening to the stories on here makes me feel so extremely fortunate because it very well could have happened to me; if not for good chemistry or whatnot. I cannot explain it.
I just walked away from my pain meds one day, replaced it with running & strength training & never looked back or had so much as a headache. I didn't even know how fortunate I was. But I know now that I am definitely the exception & will never tempt fate again! I just wish health & life to everyone here & try to maintain a sense of joy through it all :) love to all... :))))
I thought you meant demerol. It usually isn't prescribed for chrontic pain like you had, but dome docs do. I had to take it years ago like that for my lower back pain as I am limited because of allergies. Back then they didn't know or realize it shouldn't be used that way. Yes there are many compassionite people on here, & we all are more than willing to try to help out others if we can. It's not really as it seemed a bit ago, like we all think we are know it all or anything, & I'm glad that all got straightened out. Some of us like Dzoo is a registered nurse, but way smarter with more experience than most doctors, & the rest of us are drawing from work experience & personal experience. many years of working in the medical field has helped me, but nothing compares to personal experience or even just reading & research which I advocate for anyone who has any type of medical problem.
You should know what you are putting into your body.We all wish you well, & hope you stay with us of course. Your own experiences can & may help someone else today or even next week! You just never know. I came to this site looking for help, & hoping with my years of experience, & knowledge of my own problems that I could hopfully help someone else down the road. It has been an amazing experience, & I have made the most wonderful friends in the world. Yes, in the world because we come from all over the world here at DC. I have friends in a lot of countries beside the US of A. Be open, honest & give with your heart is all that anyone can do, & be a great asset to this community. Good luck to all & thank you to everyone that has been a part of my life these past few years... Mary
I have read alot of posts and threads and alot are very informative and helpful. It just seems sometimes even when one is well educated as in nursing etc or just in general experience, we still get into situations in hindsight should have known better not to, lol. So no i dont take offense at any posts responding to something i say, my last 4yrs or so have been in dialysis, and b4 that cardiac, i have always hated the brain lol, and never ever liked neuro, so therefore anything i know about epilepsy is through my daughters experiences, and picking the brain of the neurologists i come in contact with lol, oh and loads of reading, jane
Hi, you have been given some great advice here. I just wanted to add a few lines... I stepped on to that slippery slope with Tramadol as well. I also liked the symptom of appetite suppressant, as well as the way they made me feel generally, and got carried away with them. I was taking ridiculously high doses, but i was spreading them throughout the day, so i think that kept me from experiencing the gm seizures like you. I was at my psychologists office just yesterday (she is based at a specialist drug and alcohol centre) and she told me how many people she is seeing now with Tramadol addiction/dependency. I'm telling you this because i don't want you to beat yourself up about it. It is great that you have asked for advice, and as everyone else has told you, the seizures are most likely due to the Tramadol and not the onset of epilepsy. I'm sure you realise how serious the problem has become. I got off them 2 or 3 years ago, so it can be done. It's not easy, but it could save your life.
I suspect that if the tramadol had been prescribed appropriately it might have helped. It won't work if you only take it once a day, after you get the pain. I've taken it for 10 yrs and I have realized that you have to take it 4 times a day, to prevent the pain. Its not good as an as necessary medication. I'm not even going to tell you about what you did with it being dumb. I think you know that and the others have told you about the side effects of doing it your way.
The likelihood of developing adult onset epilepsy in setting of tramadol abuse is highly unlikely. The seizures are most likely due to the tramadol. My 30 y/o daughter began having seizures 3 yrs ago when she began abusing tramadol, although she had taken over 25 in a day, everyones seizure threshold is different and they can be caused by too many at one time or in a day. Max dose is 400mg/day for a reason. My daughter and i are both nurses she knows better, they put her on 2 different seizure meds, but she still had seizures because wouldnt stop tramadol. Finally decided, gee maybe i wouldnt have stsrted having seizures if not for tramadol, so weaning off, you r lucky you dont have withdrawal issues ad it is nasty. I just eanted you to know tramadol most certainly the reason for seizures.
Thank you so very much for your support & loving words :) I WILL take it to heart now that I am educated on it... I really had no idea it could do this & be this bad :( I honestly was told it was not a big deal drug... It's only $4! I remember paying almost $90 for the months supply of Demerol. I was also told I could have
" brain worms" that we're causing my seizures... I wonder what they're gonna say when I don't have any more seizures because I'm not gonna take Tramadol again! They even took my license which I'm grateful for because I never want to drive again if I'm a danger to anyone else. I do have a family history of epilepsy but as u all said its probably from the Tramadol so I'm gonna go off the keppra & try to live a normal life & one day get my license back :) love & prayers to all who helped me... Sometimes you just need a hit upside the head :) xoxoxo
Sorry if i sounded harsh, didnt mean to, the fact that you do have family history may mean you're seizure threshold lower than another person might be, yah it sux to get license taken, but i think if u r seizure free for 3-6 mos, u can get it back. You r so very lucky u can just stop taking meds with no ill effects, cause tramadol withdrawal is particulary nasty, take care. Jane
No! You are an angel in disguise for helping me :) I admire your work & hope your daughter is doing much better :) you must be a wonderful mother for caring about complete strangers like you do :) love to you & your family in such a confused world we all live in :) take care... Jewels
fitchick1961, you didn't sound harsh to me, just concerned and like you cared. And that's what we're suppose to be here for. So thumbs up to you. Sweeterthanrain, first of all, welcome to the site, and love the name. Beautiful. You have allready received some awsome advice, so I won't go on and on. I'll just say I was on it at one time too, and had a bad experience and know how tough it can be. I'm sorry you did. I hope things turn around for you soon, and wish you nothing but peace and happiness. Your friend, Ruthie May you both have a wonderful day.
Thanks, maybe it felt that it came off that way to me, because ive been so pissed at my daughter, because she has had stitches 3 times, all in her head area, she has 3 kids and this has been such a struggle, to get her to admit tramadol the problem. Because seizures can be deadly.
Oh girl, I feel for you. I have two older son's and they haven't always made the best choices to put it mildly. Their not monster's. Their actually quite good people. Just don't use those thick heads. I'm hear to listen anytime. Unfortunately... I have to go right now to run a couple of errands. Usually I am at home all day. So I'm a friend if you need one. Love, Ruthie
Hi Jane :)
I was just re-reading your post about Tramadol & seizures & noticed the part about seizures being deadly... they can be deadly??? I thought the electrical impulses were just temporarily malfunctioning & everything went back to normal afterwards... I haven't taken any Tramadol for over 2 weeks but I'm scared to death now that i have to worry about seizures being deadly! I'm still on the Keppra but my dr put me on Ativan for anxiety & imsomnia & also Norco for pain... Could either of those cause seizures? I feel like I'm gonna die from anxiety and/or a heart attack now :(
There is a condition related to epilepsy, and/or seizure disorder called status epilecticus which is one long uncontrolled seizure and the person just keeps seizing over and over that is alife threatening medical emergency, as the persons brain temperature rises and this is deadly. In addition everytime a person seizes damages brain more. Also if seizure happens while driving, eating or fall and hit head. That is what i meant by that. If you have been off tramadol for 2weeks and r on keppra i believe your likelihood of having seizure is not to gr8, but then again im not md, a neurologist is best to talk to. There r alot of meds that can lower a persons sezure threshold, but unless you really do have sezure disorder, and you need eeg to know for sure, you should b okay, but again talk to your md with any questions, hugs jane
Hello Sweeter Than Rain and welcome to the site. I also agree with the others. responses. Great info! Best of wishes and good health to you, pledge
Thank you so much! I will get better now that I know what is wrong :) Xoxoxo
Good for you! Positive thinking and have a great week.
I would say it is most likely the high dose of Tramadol. You are taking a huge dose and if you read the list of side effects (or even look up Tramadol here on drug.com in the A-Z Index, it will tell you seizures are a side effect. I agree with the others. You need to come clean with your Dr and let him know about your abuse of Tramadol (taking this large of amount over the recommended prescribed dose constitutes abuse) You are not the first to do this, nor will you be the last. Tramadol can be a difficult drug for some to withdraw from, especially when your body has been used to large doses so you will definitely need your Drs support to reduce the drug and get off of it. With these seizures occuring, you need to get on track to stop NOW! There are other medications and treatments to help with your pain.
I'm surprised that no one tied the seizures in with your Tramadol use (unless you didnt mention you were taking Tramadol at all when they asked for your list of medications you take). Some people with low seizure threshholds have been known to have seizures even at recommended doses.Anyway, you do need to stop the Tramadol-this is not the drug for you! All the best and start taking better care of yourself! Dzoo
Thank you all for your responses :) this is the strangest experience I've ever had. My own doctor knows about the Tramadol because he is the one who prescribes it! Along with the Keppra... he was the one who said it was a very mild pain medication... Only slightly better than a Tylenol he said... he almost acted like it was as insignificant as taking aspirin & that it was a waste of his time to even write it out! & has not even correlated the seizures to it. I guess from reading on here last night I should have done my own research instead of blindly trusting my dr. :((( I haven't taken any for a week with absolutely no side effects & I will not be refilling my RX after finding out all of this! After a terrible car accident that broke my back 10 years ago I was on Demerol for 4 years & went off that no problem replacing it with a lot of exercise but no withdrawals or anything.
Maybe I'm just one of the lucky ones in that way :/ so after this info I do not want to start on any other narcotics especially now with being on the seizure med. I am interested in that aspirin & milk combo but doesn't it rip up your stomach? Does it really work for pain relief?
Dear Sweeter,
There's really no reason that you should live in pain if you don't have to. I see that you have rheumatoid arthritis. Do you see a rheumatologist? There are several good medications for your disease that are not narcotics. Even if you do use a narcotic pain reliever there's no great cause for concern as long as you follow your dr's orders exactly. Tramadol is not a narcotic and only a controlled substance in a couple of states. But it's obviously not the right medication for you. Chances are that the dr would take you off the anti-seizure medication if you tell him about the overuse of the tramadol. Why take a medication that there's a really good possibility you don't need? You don't necessarily have to be scared of all pain medications just because you reacted that way to one of them.
Best of luck in finding the right medications for you! :)
Lisa
My dr is gonna get an earful... I don't know... Maybe they're uneducated too about the effects?? I will give him the benefit of the doubt for sure... I know he was only trying to help. I will ask about the rhumatologist... after the neurologist,,, & my golf ball sized tumor! Oh well... All things in time :) xoxoxo
Dear Sweeter,
As Balbanese has told you, tramadol can cause seizures, especially when you take so many at once. You need to cut back and spread your dosage out over the day or you're going to wind up killing yourself. The first seizure should have been a clue, the second is a direct warning that you can't tolerate the amount that you're taking. You need to come clean with your dr and tell him what's going on. Regardless of the earlier school of thought that tramadol has no addictive properties, it has been found that it had a fairly high rate of dependency. If you've been taking it for a couple of years, your body has become dependant and also developed a tolerance to it. Which is why you're having to use so much to control the pain. An honest discussion with your dr is in order. Your medication can be changed, or added to, to help with your pain.
Stopping abruptly every month when you run out, waiting weeks to get it refilled, then slamming your body with mega doses again is very probably causing the seizures. To continue doing this to yourself is tantamount to committing suicide. Please have this discussion with your dr before you end up causing yourself irreparable damage.
Lisa
It is common knowledge among the medical community that an overdose of Tramadol WILL cause seizures. The daily ceiling is 450mgs HOWEVER, those who are susceptible to migraine's and other conditions have a lower threshold.
Yes, the stress factors you mentioned may also lower the threshold, but as it was with my wife, all the inquires stopped cold once she admitted to taking Tramadol. Hope this helps.
Related topics
rheumatoid arthritis, pain, tramadol
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.
