I was prescribed Tramadol 400mgm/day and Amytryptiline 20mgm at night for severe back pain. I took both for two weeks but had to stop because I had stomach pains, diarrheoa and hallucinations. I was very drowsy with no appetite and felt just awful. Now, ten days later I'm still hallucinating. It is so scary. Is this normal and if so how long could it continue? I still have back pain but am using a TENS machine and physio and starting yoga. I just want the spiders I see everywhere to go away.
Tramadol hallucinations?
Question posted by Judim on 7 Sep 2013
Last updated on 30 January 2017
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3 Answers
bpowelsbowen
4 Aug 2015
This is also a Question because I am having the same experience:
I had out patient surgery July 27, 2015, the pain was pretty significant so much so that I was admitted into the hospital. I have a sever sensitivity to narcotics so I do not take them for no reason, I was per scribed Tramadol, I was told by one of my physicians that it is not a narcotic, it helped with the pain but I started seeing things that I have never seen in my life. I realize that being half sleep thinking that I am awake the hallucinations extremely scary and have made me fearful to sleep. I am not sure what this drug does to others, I have an appointment with my Doctor tomorrow and I must share that this is a scary drug. I stop taking the pills on Friday July 29 and still having hallucinations as of last night August 3, 2015. I want to know how long will it be before this medication is out of my system. I need sleep so that I can heal from my surgery. .
Judim
4 Aug 2015
Hi, this is an old post but I do remember the spiders crawling all over the ceiling and that all water was turquoise blue! As far as I can remember the hallucinations lasted about two to three weeks after stopping Tramadol. I realise that this will not be too encouraging for you but I'm glad that you've stopped taking it and hopefully the level you have in your system isn't too much and your hallucinations diminish quickly. Good Luck, I wish you well soon. Please let me know how you get on.
Delila
4 Aug 2015
Hi, please ensure you tell your doctor everything... you might benefit from a sleep aid short term so that you can get the sleep you need without having to worry about hallucinations. Tramadol is a synthetic opiate and is classed as 'narcotic like', so it can cause these side effects in rare cases. The medication will be out of your system by now so hopefully you will be free of these side effects very soon...
bpowelsbowen
5 Aug 2015
Thank you both for your response, I did see my Doctor today and shared the extreme hallucinations, this medication is added to my medical record and the adverse reaction that I experienced. Last night the hallucinations were very mild, I saw frogs but they were very peaceful. I pray that is a sign that the medication is clearing my system.
Thanks again to both of you.
cc95437
9 Dec 2015
I just took a 50 m tab before bed last night for the 1st time. I woke up at 2:30am and felt like I was on LSD. Not good if your not expecting it. I can't tell if it helped with the pain because I was too high... It's more than 12 hours later, and I still feel fuzzy.. Thank god I don't have to work today.
cleanmachine7
30 Jan 2017
My father is 91 years old and suffers from MILD dementia. He recently fell and broke several bones, resulting in a 6 day hospital stay. He was gaining strength daily and being medicated with oxycodone for the pain. On the forth day of his stay the attending physician scheduled his discharge to a rehab facility and changed his pain medication to Tramadol.
About 12 hours after the first Tramadol pill, the hallucinations started and it has been a living hell for him and our whole family ever since. He was discharged as scheduled and the physician at the rehab immediately took him off of the Tramadol and prescribed Tylenol 3. He also stated that older people should never be prescribed this drug.
He took Tramadol for 2 days and has been off of it for 3 days. The symptoms described above are so similar to what he is going through. Brown Spiders! Everywhere. Can not sleep. Sees trucks and airplanes and birds flying over. Hands constantly fidgeting and pulling at anything and everything. We are lucky enough to have family members to sit with him 24/7 but it is un-nerving to watch him so tired and confused.
Someone please tell me this is not going to go on for 2 weeks or more. I am going to need some meds myself if this goes on much longer.
Delila
8 Sep 2013
Hi, the symptoms of diarrhoea, drowsiness & lack of appetite are known side effects when first starting Tramadol. I felt the same for the first few weeks, with nausea also. I was prescribed the same combination as you, i didn't suffer any side effects from Amitriptyline though, other than drowsiness, which was welcomed. Tramadol, being a synthetic opiate, can cause hallucinations in rare cases, but you really shouldn't be suffering from hallucinations after discontinuing the medication(s) for this period of time. Please seek advice from your doctor... I would be interested to know how you get on?
kaismama
7 Sep 2013
Did you stop both of them? At this point you shouldn't be seeing spiders, if its the meds that were stopped causing it. You should see your dr about it.
Judim
7 Sep 2013
Yes, I stopped both as instructed by my GP. I'd been on the Amytryptiline for four weeks longer than the Tramadol. Thanks for such a quick reply. I'll see him Monday, if I can an appointment!
Related topics
pain, back pain, tramadol, hallucination, stomach pain, stomach
Further information
- Tramadol uses and safety info
- Tramadol prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Tramadol (detailed)
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