Tramadol and Insomnia: What Users Say

• hap...
• June 8, 2015

For Depression "I think there is a reason the government has made Tramadol a Category C drug...they want people in society to take it but everybody in society just wants to get high. Tramadol is the best DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, MILD PAIN MEDICINE EVER. This actually is better than everything without the high. If you actually wanna be a happy person without being high, this is it. 50 mg am - optional second until the next day. Forget the critics. I would say this is like Adderall, without the hunger side effects, lack of sleep, personality disorder, grumpiness, depression, etc. The best thing about it is the government is only selling it for $4 dollars. You don't even need health insurance."

• Anonymous
• June 4, 2009

Tramadol for Pain "I have been using Ultram for about 2 months. I think this medicine works very well for pain, however, the withdrawal side effects for me have been bad. If I stop taking this medicine for two days, I experience cold sweats, hot flashes, can't sleep, my legs get restless at night. I find that I have to take the medicine without having pain just to feel like my normal self again. The restless legs are probably the worst part of the withdrawal symptoms. It does, however, work fairly well for pain if taken regularly."

• Run...
• January 8, 2011

Tramadol for Back Pain "Good at relieving pain for a short duration (4 hours at a time) with few side effects. I found that at 200mg/day my pain was cut in half and I had increased energy and a brighter mood. I have used this medicine for 4 years now and find that it is very effective for about four months, and then effectiveness decreases. At that point, my doctor switches me to a narcotic for three to four weeks and then I can continue with the tramadol over again with a 'reset' in the effectiveness factor. The strongest negative for me is getting off the tramadol... withdrawal effects include major mood swings, insomnia, and dizziness. But overall, it is quite effective and has very few bad effects for me while taking it."

• BBa...
• February 18, 2020

For Back Pain "I was prescribed tramadol for back pain due to a motorcycle accident. I was in agonizing pain, and I had tried all sorts of physiotherapy, and nothing was working, so my doctor gave me tramadol. It made a massive difference in my life, I was able to function again. I took 6 x 50 mg a day, so I took 100 mg morning, afternoon, and before bed. Tramadol helped me from going insane and allowed me to function and get on with my life. After 3 years, I decided to stop the tramadol as my back pain had gotten so much better. WARNING: it was the worst 3 weeks of my life. Withdrawal symptoms were horrendous: shakes, cravings, stomach cramps, nausea, body aching all over, constant sneezing, insomnia, and I have been left with restless legs. Some people say withdrawal from this drug is manageable, NOT FOR ME. I would never take tramadol again for this reason."

• Lee...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 4, 2018

For Restless Legs Syndrome "PEOPLE, PEOPLE, PEOPLE! It's the tramadol and the withdrawal effect that is causing the RLS. I got on this site to find out what I can take for the RLS, as I wean myself off of the tramadol. Number 1 withdrawal effect = RLS! And here everyone is talking about getting on it. Don't do it! It is a severe addictive drug that will lead to many problems when you get off. The anger, depression, lack of sleep, fatigue, achiness, and most of all RLS is enough to drive me crazy."

• Wan...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 4, 2014

For Depression "Though never clinically depressed, I discovered the powerful side effect of tramadol while taking 150 mg/day for chronic sciatica. The unrelenting pain was a real downer, but the tramadol reliably helped me maintain an optimistic, upbeat attitude. During five years of taking it, I never had to increase the dosage for the desired effect. The downside is that it often interfered with sleep so that I found a mid-day nap essential."

• Joa...
• April 26, 2017

For Depression "I have tried almost all antidepressant drugs available in the last 20 years. Fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine, citalopram, and escitalopram did not work and destroyed my sex life. Bupropion increased my anxiety a lot. Mirtazapine caused me hallucinations and insomnia. Venlafaxine and desvenlafaxine worked for some time, but affected my libido and erection. Niacin (off-label) did not work for me. The only one that worked and is still working is tramadol (off-label). It starts to work about 1.5 to 2 hours after I take it, and lasts for 8 to 10 hours. I take 1 50mg capsule first in the morning and another at around 4 pm, on an empty stomach. The only drug that works for my depression and anxiety."

• Cat...
• September 20, 2019

For Anxiety "I’ve been taking many prescriptions because I have been through many traumatic experiences. I was given tramadol for low back disc herniations. Wow! It helps with my pain, depression, anxiety as well. I’m allowed to take 100 mg 3 times a day. I don’t notice the improvement until the second dose, and it’s something I would have to have every day. Drawbacks for me are constipation and insomnia."

• mon...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 28, 2015

For Fibromyalgia "I've tried a variety of prescribed medications for about 8 years. The ones that had worked (i.e., gabapentin) had stopped working after a few months. Others made me feel sluggish and hungover. I started taking tramadol 6 months ago, 100 mg in the mornings. My days are so much better, I feel energized, and it takes 90% of FM pain away. I cannot take tramadol at night as it makes me have nightmares and insomnia. Great if taken in the morning. My father and brother also take it for different ailments, they swear by it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 10, 2017

For Anxiety "Began taking after a minor operation to deal with pain. I told my doctor that it had a calming effect and asked if it was safe to take to deal with anxiety. Been taking it for about a year. Two to four 50 mg pills per day. Some days I take none. No constipation, no insomnia."

• Nub...
• April 7, 2017

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I too suffer from this horrible condition, and it is extremely frustrating that tramadol has fallen under as a controlled substance. I have been taking it for some years now, and it's what works for me. Now it's gotten more difficult to get the doc to refill without being stereotyped as a junkie. I put in for my refill a day or two before running out, and it's a battle to get it on time. Therefore, I suffer many restless nights with my RLS before it gets refilled. It's frustrating, no doubt!!! And angering for sure!!!!! I too wouldn't trade one dose for all the others in the world!! It truly is Godsent....."

• hel...
• March 5, 2008

Tramadol for Pain "I am a helicopter pilot for the US Army and I have chronic upper back pain. I am on the 200mg Ultram and it is a lifesaver. It still allows me to fly and controls the pain. My only issue with this drug is it tends to make me itch, and I can't take it before bed or I will be awake all night. I have been taking it as needed for the past 6 months."

• Mun...
• October 26, 2015

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I have had RLS since I was a child, they didn't know what it was then and called it 'growing pains.' I would cry when it rained or was cold, my legs would hurt so bad. Then, 15 years ago, as an adult, I was given Ultram for a neck injury [three ruptured discs], and my RLS just vanished. I couldn't believe it! At first, I kept waiting for it to come back, but it didn't. Now I take tramadol 100 mg three times a day for nerve pain and RLS, and it completely controls the symptoms without obnoxious side effects [like nausea, vomiting, insomnia, and sinusitis from Requip, loss of coordination and falling from gabapentin, headaches, blurred vision, nausea, and flank pain from Lyrica-ugh, those drugs were awful!] I sleep well now and feel rested."

• bil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 11, 2014

For Pain "I was prescribed tramadol for a torn rotator cuff and bursal tear in my right shoulder and another tear in my left. I can say it helps a little with nerve pain, and it did help my mood if I was doing absolutely nothing at all. In short, this medication was not worth the trip to the doctor for my circumstance. Happy that it does work for many people. I was also given Ultram extended release at another time, which made me sick and gave me insomnia. I was crying in pain at the doctor's office door before they opened, with no sleep and ready to puke. This was my worst experience with any medication in my life."

• Anonymous
• November 3, 2009

For Pain "62-year-old male with long-standing osteoarthritis. Under my doctor's supervision, tried many arthritis medicines with varying results. She took me off the one that worked best due to possible conflict with my heart disease. Now taking tramadol 50 mg as needed with good results. I occasionally have some symptoms which might be side effects, such as sweating, dizziness, interrupted sleep, decreased appetite, and others, but they are so mild and infrequent that I can ignore them. The dose works about an hour after taking and lasts for about 4 hours, giving me a major mood lift along with the absence of pain, a real spring in my step that lets me enjoy gardening, exercise, and work instead of just limping around. A major improvement in my life!"

• Tra...
• March 28, 2008

For Pain "Good med for moderate pain and can help with anxiety, but will cause headaches and constipation, but not as bad as opiates. The #1 problem is if you have to stop, then you MUST taper off over weeks, especially if taking a high dose over 200 mg a day or for more than 2 weeks, or you will experience some wild withdrawals, like not sleeping and tingling down to the tips of your fingers and other horrible feelings. If you're lucky to have it, you can take the drug LYRICA, and it will stop most of the withdrawals, especially the nerve tingling."

• Mrs...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 23, 2013

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I was given 50 mg of tramadol 3x a day, initially for restless leg syndrome. This, combined with gabapentin, has helped so much with restless leg syndrome. I also have chronic hip pain and have been dealing with it since I was a young child due to my hips dislocating multiple times a month. This medicine works well, but I have had to have my doctor up the dose. I now take 300 mg a day. I do have to say that the side effects are terrible. I itch horribly! My whole body, but the worst place is my face! It also has made it so that I am unable to sleep at night. It's worth it to not be in pain and to lay down comfortably, but the side effects for me are bad."

• Too...
• December 1, 2018

For Fibromyalgia "I have a complex history of autoimmune problems and fibromyalgia. I had tried multiple different medications, including NSAIDs, tricyclics, SSRIs, Lyrica, and Cymbalta. What worked best for years was low-dose OxyContin 5-10 mg twice a day. My doctor suggested long-acting tramadol because she knew I was worried about the anti-OxyContin push by government agencies and misinformed doctors and worried OxyContin would be made illegal (other Schedule II narcotics like fentanyl and methadone made me too tired to function). Tramadol worked even better than OxyContin. Both agents caused constipation, Ultram at 300 mg a day caused twice as much (based on how many senna pills I needed to take). Both agents caused insomnia, tramadol caused more (I needed 5 mg Ambien to sleep with low-dose OxyContin, but I needed 10 mg with tramadol 300 mg long-acting). Now I am told there is a manufacturer shortage of tramadol and hope I will not have to go back to OxyContin."

• MDM...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 12, 2018

For Back Pain "Was given this pain killer by my doctor due to a back injury. The doctor didn't really tell me much, just said it was a good pain reliever. Taking 8x50mg daily, the pain reduced, but felt that I was becoming dependent. If I missed a dose or was running late, I would start to feel sick. After 6 months, I have now started to reduce tramadol. PLEASE - If you can find another pain killer able to manage your symptoms, use it. Tramadol is difficult to stop. The withdrawal coming off tramadol is terrible. No sleep, diarrhea, dizziness, restless legs, cramps, sweats, unable to function, headaches. Tramadol is really not worth taking when you weigh up the pain relief and the withdrawal. AWFUL. PLEASE SPEAK TO YOUR DR OR PHARMACIST ABOUT THIS DRUG BEFORE STARTING. EVEN IF THEY SUGGEST IT, GET ANOTHER OPINION. I feel like an illegal drug addict trying to stop this."

• Lil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 22, 2019

For Chronic Pain "Prescribed tramadol for post-chemo and other meds pain. Had OxyContin 10 mg prior between treatments. Went off OxyContin, no withdrawals, only shaky hands for two days. After being “cured” of the main life-threatening illness, asked for no more oxy, no codeine. Given tramadol, not aware it was as sinister as I found. Taken 100 mg twice daily for twelve months. Took myself off it five days ago. Had a full opioid withdrawal, still going, worst is over, I hope. Hallucinations, disorientation, diarrhea, shakes, no body temperature control, lying in fetal position, sweats, night terrors, insomnia... I am horrified. I would not recommend this medicine and would never want anyone to go through the last five days. I don’t know when this will finish, at least my eyes are open again and I am speaking out here, they were closed for three days. Even the most experienced patient can be unfortunate. I sure am in this case."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2018

For Back Pain "I was given Tramadol for back pain. I was very adamant in making sure my doctor knew that I am bipolar, as my last doctor kept trying to prescribe me steroids, which can induce hypomania/mania in bipolar people. Apparently, my doctor did NOT know that Tramadol is a partial antidepressant, and he prescribed me this medication for a herniated disc in my back. For one, this medicine is useless as a painkiller for me. It doesn't even touch the pain. And then on top of it, Tramadol induced the worst manic episode of my life, leaving me severely anxious, wound up, restless, unable to sleep, and in a dark place. I've almost gone to the emergency room about five times because of my thoughts. I finally googled tramadol and bipolar disorder and realized that I should never have been prescribed this medication. I failed to read the paperwork the pharmacy gave me because I had taken this medication in the past, before being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and had no adverse reactions."

• bry...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 15, 2014

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I tried everything to stop this RLS, and nothing worked. I would be up all night moving my legs up and down, and then it started moving to my torso, and I could not take it no more being up. I was finally given tramadol for my back issues but found it worked to quiet my RLS. I only get 50 mg, and I live normally now with it. I can't tell you of the sleepless nights I have had without it. I only take one in the morning and one in the evening. It lasts for me, but sometimes it doesn't for real long periods of time. I would rather take tramadol than gabapentin, that is horrible! I also have nerve damage from my diabetes, and it also relieves that pain, too. Thank God for this to regain my life back."

• Mig...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 17, 2016

For Chronic Pain "I've taken tramadol for 6 years for severe migraines. I've used hydrocodone too, but I choose tramadol over hydrocodone as it works better than anything else I've tried. It also helps with my depression and restless leg syndrome, and knee pain-that's 4 symptoms of relief in tramadol for me. 100 mg twice a day. The only complaint I have is that tramadol is very addictive. If I stop using it, I have really bad withdrawals: hot/cold sweats, trembling, shaking, loss of sleep, no energy, nausea, and extremely painful headaches. When my doctor first told me to take them, he said they are not addictive, which is not true. Maybe for short small doses, but for long-term use, they are highly addictive. Use caution when using for a long period of time."

• Fam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 8, 2014

For Back Pain "I take it daily for an L5 herniated disc. It is very effective in restoring a quality of life with pain marginalized. I take 2 to 8 tabs rather irregularly today as my back condition improves. Side effects: if I take up to 8 tabs in a day, I inevitably have sleeping problems, and in most cases, I require another medication to prevent a sleepless night."

• Aly...
• December 6, 2015

For Back Pain "I was prescribed this medication (50 mg x 2 before bedtime) after I was in a bad car accident. The car accident caused two herniated discs that were pressing on a nerve root. I took this medication and absolutely could not sleep. My heart was racing, as were my thoughts. Also, it caused me to sweat a lot. It was absolutely terrible. I was only able to get 2-4 hours of sleep a night. I will never take this prescription again."