Tramadol and Withdrawal: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• November 30, 2009

Tramadol for Pain "I underwent a two-level lumbo-sacral spine fusion (2-level PLIF) in 2007 and have been on Tramadol for chronic pain since then. I find that Tramadol works as well as most opioids with less impairment at similar levels of pain relief. I have experienced two seizures thought to be caused by Tramadol while I was titrating upward on the drug, but have had no problems since. I have tried titrating off of Tramadol twice, and in both instances experienced moderate withdrawal symptoms of the opiate type almost immediately. Overall, I consider it a very effective analgesic for chronic low back pain with few side effects, but would recommend a prolonged titration off of the drug if you decide to discontinue use. I give it a thumbs-up."

• TRa...
• April 24, 2012

For Back Pain "I started taking tramadol 3 weeks after my spinal fusion. During the three weeks prior to starting tramadol, I was taking narcotics around the clock. Withdrawal from the narcotics was severe and a difficult process for me. Once I was finished with that process, I started taking tramadol 50-100 mg every 4-6 hours for back pain. With tramadol, I am able to stay awake during the day and manage my pain. These two factors allow me to work on my muscle strength and stamina. I am now 5 weeks post-op and do not require around-the-clock doses of tramadol. I am not experiencing any withdrawal symptoms."

• ALE...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 14, 2021

For Depression "Tramadol is the worst medication you can take for your depression or anxiety in the long term; at the beginning, it makes you happy and energetic, but eventually, you are a drug addict and cannot function without it. You will be so relaxed that you don't care about anything or anyone; you want to sleep all day long and day by day lose your short memory. I used it myself for two years and have been sober from it now for about two years; the withdrawal symptoms are like you go to hell and back. I am not recommending this drug at all. Take my feedback seriously. Good luck."

• Ami...
• August 31, 2018

For Anxiety "I took this medication for anxiety and depression, and it worked miracles. Then I ran out of it and went through awful withdrawals. This drug is a narcotic with very addictive properties, meaning it will very often lead to “drug-seeking” behavior. Heroin takes away depression, but that doesn’t make it a good antidepressant because you need something long-term that addresses the issue, or you will end up worse off. So yes, I took this, and it helped my depression and anxiety, but I had to always make sure it was available to me. A tolerance will build up fast, and this medication has a dose limit to how much you can take a day because it increases the risk of seizures. You may not even take close to the top dose now and may never, but if you read this, haven’t genuinely tried several other legitimate options, and are concerned, ask your doctor why they prescribed this to you and ask if you can take it for anxiety or depression."

• Luk...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 31, 2022

For Depression "Tramadol has been a godsend for my crippling depression and anxiety. After going through the rolodex of all the SSRIs and SNRIs to no avail, my psych doctor decided to give these a shot. In the spring of 2016, I started my first dose, 50 mg once a day. The relief was immediate. My depression and anxiety had gotten so bad I was unable to leave my hometown, drive on the highway, or fly to visit friends/relatives and was trapped in my house with absolutely no hope. After that first dose, I felt the weight of depression fall off my shoulders and the anxiety relief off my chest. For the first time in many, many years, I was able to drive long distances and fly to visit friends/family and go on vacation. I have energy, feel confident, and overall, I am in a better mood. One negative thing I will say is that if you have an addictive personality, be cautious of tramadol. Because if you take more than you are prescribed and run out early, the withdrawal effects are absolutely horrible."

• Lis...
• October 22, 2016

For Pain "Took for short term (5 weeks) after double knee replacement. I took it as directed, two 50 mg tablets twice daily. When I tried to discontinue this drug, I had horrible withdrawal symptoms. I was not warned that it had a dependency potential, and it was given to me billed as much safer than Hydrocodone as far as addiction. Heads up if you are going to take this medication for very long."

• Anonymous
• October 19, 2011

For Fibromyalgia "This medicine is literally a lifesaver. I am only 17 and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about two years ago, but have had pain, severe fatigue, mental fog, and irritable bowel syndrome for much longer. I take 100 mg to 200 mg daily in doses of 50 mg to 100 mg at a time. It works great, I can finally go to school every day and stay like a normal person. The only downside to this medicine is that it can cause withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawals can be moderate to extremely severe depending on the dosage and individual."

• MsG...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 3, 2016

For Pain "I've been on tramadol 50 mg 3x a day for 7 years now for arthritis. It's a very good pain relief, it also helps sleep well and helps with my anxiety issues. But my tolerance level started to get high after a year of taking it. It stopped working well, so I had to start taking four a day, then ended up finding out I'm having withdrawal symptoms, which is a VERY TERRIBLE thing to go through. I suggest if anyone is taking this... *WARNING* if you feel like it's not working anymore and you've been taking it for a long period of time, stop taking it, that means you're getting addicted. Or just take a break from taking it for a bit. I went through hell with the withdrawal from those."

• Fiz...
• March 29, 2017

For Pain "I was prescribed tramadol because I couldn't tolerate other pain meds with codeine or Tylenol. Tramadol is great until you run out. I have taken this drug for approximately 7 years now. I wish I'd never started it. It's just been a roller coaster for me, it helps me feel better, but does zero for the pain, and then you build a tolerance up, and it just gets worse from there. I've had withdrawals from this a few times. I've never had such horrible withdrawals as with this med: sneezing, coughing, hot, cold, chills, sweats, restless, depressed, and irritable to name a few, with lethargy. I am due for a refill tomorrow, I'm not picking it up. It's really hard right now, but going through this agony isn't an option again."

• sta...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 15, 2016

For Chronic Pain "I take tramadol for RA. Early on, I would take too many in an 8-hour shift as a CNA and find no relief. After a reevaluation of meds, my pain is moderate to severe, depending on what I've done that day. Otherwise, I'm finding my use of tramadol is to keep withdrawals at bay. They are harsh. More noticeable when I'm trying to sleep. I get extremely tired, there is no fighting the urge-except when you try to sleep. Uncontrollable yawning, my whole body becomes hot, sleep is not an option. Uncontrollable jerking of my arms and legs. Pains in my head, unbelievable gas. Did I mention how hot I get, like I'm in an oven? Sensitivity to cool air, like your nerves are exposed, but you're hot at the same time. Down to 2 to 4 a day, though."

• Liz...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 17, 2017

For Chronic Pain "I was initially prescribed tramadol for chronic pain from rheumatoid arthritis about 8 years ago, specifically because the doc said it was non-narcotic. It worked for me and all was good until I forgot to call in a refill one day, and I had withdrawal symptoms worse than I have ever experienced from any stronger narcotic. I have been on the drug for the past 8 years, and now that they've realized it's incredibly addictive and often abused, they've made it a schedule 4. Now it's difficult for me to get my prescription if my doctor is out of town, or if I take one or two more than I'm supposed to due to increased pain, and I run out a day or two early. I'm a former opiate abuser and so angry that I was misled and am on this roller coaster again."

• Sug...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 3, 2018

For Back Pain "I took tramadol for 5 years. At first, it worked. Side effects were weight loss (about 15 lbs) and an overall mood boost. After about a year of use, it stopped working on my back pain. My doctor told me I could take up to 4 50 mg pills a day. So I did. That worked for about another year, give or take. I continued to take it because I feared the crippling withdrawal I would experience anytime I went more than 12 hours without it. I finally weaned myself off it when I realized there was no point in being dependent on a med that doesn’t work anymore. The weaning process took 3 months. I wish I would’ve done it sooner."

• 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."

• jee...
• April 11, 2015

For Pain "Tramadol would mildly work for my back and knee pain for about a week and then stop. Oxycodone works best for me, and hydrocodone is second. If it works for your pain, great, but my experience is that it does nothing more than ibuprofen or other OTC pain relievers in the long run. The physical withdrawal from tramadol, in my opinion, is worse than hydrocodone or oxycodone due to the dual action it has on the brain."

• Deb...
• June 12, 2016

For Chronic Pain "Started taking tramadol in 2009 for back and hip pain. It worked awesome and made me somewhat hyper! Lost 10 pounds, which was good because with that kind of pain you don't want extra weight bearing down on you! Was up to 6/50 mg a day at one point, and they seemed to not work as well, so I dropped to 3/day for a few years with success. Pain is worse now, so I'm back up to 4/day. This is very addictive, I've had horrible withdrawal symptoms if I forget to take one before bedtime. Morning comes, and I'm in horrific pain and having withdrawals, not a pretty picture! Usually takes 5 or more hours to get back to normal and be a person again! Also, I am nauseous every time I take it, but only for about 5 minutes."

• Ano...
• April 4, 2015

For Chronic Pain "I have been taking all brands of tramadol over the past 16 months, and overall, my experience has been positive. I have gallstones and suffer from acute cholecystitis often. I manage my pain with tramadol and a dietary plan. The only bad side is tolerance builds quickly, and withdrawal can get nasty after a few days."

• Tra...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 22, 2016

For Chronic Pain "Stay away from this drug. Few doctors know how intense it is and what its effects are. I was prescribed much 'stronger' opiates before and after, up to oxycodone. Tramadol blew them out of the water. I have (had as of 1 month ago) been on tramadol for 7 years. I have 2 pars fractures in my low back, and this was what I relied on to alleviate any pain. I started with a single 50 mg daily and gradually worked up to 400 mg. I never abused the drug, I simply did what the doctor told me to do. The level of addiction and dependence on this drug is insane. The withdrawal is the worst thing I have ever experienced. Because of that and its negative effects on my life, relationships, work, and happiness, I checked into a detox program and am done."

• goo...
• September 14, 2011

For Back Pain "I was prescribed tramadol when diagnosed with a herniated disc at the start of this year. I have found tramadol to be an effective painkiller, but at a price. Following my operation, I suffered very bad withdrawal, the hot sweats for the first couple of weeks were, quite frankly, awful. I was taking 100 mg three times a day. Unfortunately, post-op, I am still suffering pain and occasionally take 1 x 50 mg once or twice a day. Again, I suffer awful sickness, dizziness, and headaches. At night, I suffer from nightmares and generally do not feel myself. For those prescribed tramadol, please be cautious, as while it is a good painkiller, the side effects are very unpleasant."

• MJ ...
• April 8, 2016

For Restless Legs Syndrome "Sleep deprivation from RLS was becoming unbearable. One 100mg Transform 2-3 hours before bed, and I slept like a baby for 4 months. Now my bigger concern is, am I hooked on this? I stopped cold turkey a week ago, and it's finally out of my system, but the withdrawal symptoms were horrible at night. Now I am back to sleepless nights and sluggish days. I would get back on it in a heartbeat so I could sleep, but am going to ask my doctor about non-opioid first."

• Jam...
• January 18, 2010

For Pain "Tramadol works okay for me. It seems to be good for my degenerative/herniated discs in my neck and lower back. Far better than any over the counter. I preferred Fioricet #3 and/or Percocet (oxycodone). Personal tolerance plays a role. I'm sure that it should be very effective for someone with little or no opiate experience, given the right dosage. When I first started taking it, I did experience a strong 'feel-good' feeling, which I found out was due to the same action of an SNRI (Effexor, Pristiq). That has lessened, but is still there. The pain management has been the same throughout, however, I've had to increase my dosage gradually to 600 mg/day over about 6 months. Be warned though! Physical dependence is easy to get! The withdrawals are bad!"

• Anonymous
• October 19, 2011

For Back Pain "I take this pill for back pain. I have bulging and degenerative disks, I am a 30-year-old female. I have been on this medication for about 5 years or so, give or take a few months, and it works great. When I have the medication in my system, I feel no pain whatsoever, however, I must warn new patients who are just starting this medication. Try not to up the dose too much because the withdrawal is horrible. When you are running low and you know you can't get any right away, it's best to wean yourself off as much as possible."

• jen...
• January 11, 2012

For Back Pain "I was first told about tramadol by a friend. I was tired of taking Lortab for a herniated disk, at first, it was good, but after a few months of going to the doctor, I thought maybe I would see if I could stop taking it, and so I did. That was the worst week of my life. I went to the doctor at an urgent care and was told that I was suffering from withdrawal from tramadol and that it was addictive. I was shocked, my back doctor had told me that it was safe long-term and non-addictive. I then went to my doctor, he said no, no, but you should never just quit any medicine. So after a year, I started taking more of the tramadol, noticing I needed more to keep the pain away."

• Den...
• December 6, 2008

Tramadol for Pain "I had spinal fusion in the lower lumbar region 9 years ago. I was fine until August '08. I had such severe sciatic pain the doctor progressively put me on Ultram ER 200 mg 1x/day. It worked great. Pain went away after 4 months. I stopped taking Ultram, and now I am dealing with withdrawal symptoms. Pay attention to warnings about long-term usage."

• Lea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 16, 2025

For Chronic Pain "I had severe Lyme in '99, requiring 6 months of IV antibiotics. A year later, I developed chronic pain, diagnosed as fibromyalgia. I call it Lyme's arthritis. I was prescribed oxy, requiring a pill every 4 hrs., producing addiction and withdrawals. It was hell. I then took morphine ER, reducing it over time. It also produced withdrawals, and I didn't like feeling 'high.' I just needed pain relief, to be functional. Several years ago, I was prescribed Tramadol, up to 150 mg/day. I usually take 100 mg. Godsend! As a synthetic opioid, it's as if they deleted the mental 'high' and left the pain relief. Plus, no withdrawals. Thank you!!! As a Schedule IV drug, it has a lower possibility of addiction (correct!). I've had depression since I was a child. The pain relief allows me to be productive, improving it. Please see the Diary of a CEO podcast with the Stanford Addiction Clinic doctor re: dopamine and addiction. It's not you, it's your body. Bless."

• Kei...
• October 5, 2010

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I am prescribed tramadol for chronic back pain. The first time I took it, I finally felt 'normal.' I had occasionally had restless legs and cramps. However, after a back adjustment removed the back pain, I tried to get off the tramadol and became very agitated, almost in a panic once, so withdrawal can be a problem. I understand tapering is the way to do it, but my back pain returned, and I am still on about 150 mg spread over 24 hrs. Try the lowest dosage if you try it."