Ultram and Withdrawal: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• June 4, 2009

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."

• Roa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 5, 2016

For Back Pain "I told my physician that I would no longer take Percocet for my chronic back pain. He suggested I try tramadol and assured me it is not a narcotic. I have been taking the tramadol now for a year and although it is no miracle drug, it has managed my pain immensely. I can finally sleep at night and function normally. One downside to the drug for me is if I run out and the withdrawal starts, it is nasty. Be careful you stop the drug abruptly. Good health to all. Rob"

• Anonymous
• February 23, 2011

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have rheumatoid arthritis and tramadol helps me tremendously with the pain. Be aware though, the withdrawals are horrible. I was out of tramadol for two days and had crawling sensations and aching in my legs."

• Pat...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 12, 2020

For Chronic Pain "I have been on Ultram for 15 years. I started with 150 mg a day, and I am up to 350 mg daily. If I do not take it every 5-6 hours, I start feeling sleepy and irritable. Worst of all, my pain comes back twofold. I cannot stand up straight due to the severe pain and weakness in both my legs. I had a lumbar fusion that has left me with neurological leg weakness and SI joint pain. I have severe DJD and arthritis. I was recently changed to a generic type of Ultram. I feel like I am in withdrawal all the time. How do I get my pharmacy to replace this generic garbage?"

• Anonymous
• April 12, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I have been using Ultram (tramadol) for over 8 years for my fibromyalgia pain. I started on it for a shoulder and neck injury, and it worked so great that I have been able to stay on it. In those 8 years, I have actually lowered my dose by less than half and get through a day on 75 mg. It keeps me working. I cannot take it late in the day or it keeps me from sleeping well. If you are in pain, on moderate to bad days, I suggest you try it in moderate levels. It will not help for headaches for me. Stopping taking it will produce withdrawal symptoms after some time. Be prepared to go through a miserable, cranky day. Good luck, and feel well."

• par...
• December 9, 2010

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I have been taking tramadol for over 11 years for RLS, and while I think it works pretty well for my legs, I feel I have to take more than prescribed to get the same amount of relief that I did when I began the medication. I have not told my doctor for fear that she will take me off the medicine. The withdrawal symptoms are horrendous. My legs are 10 times worse when I am coming off tramadol. I get involuntary spasms in both my arms and legs and am extremely moody. It is near impossible for me to sleep without the tramadol. I am not trying to scare anyone away from taking it because I know it has worked wonders for a lot of other people."

• med...
• November 12, 2008

For Pain "I had back surgery in 02, and I have severe leg and foot pain ever since. Since that time, I have been on Ultram and am pain-free. I know they just classified it as a narcotic, where I live, a year ago. It's a shame because I've been on it for 6 years and have never felt better. It is addictive because when I go for longer than 24 hours without it, I have withdrawals, but I've been on it for 6 years, so it is to be expected. I highly recommend this drug."

• 123...
• August 10, 2015

For Chronic Pain "This did not do anything helpful for me. I tried it for 2 weeks as an opiate substitute after intramedullary nailing. (This surgery always has a very painful and long recovery.) I was given this by my surgeon because it was supposed to be less addictive. After two weeks, I decided to taper off it. This produced horrid withdrawals. They were far different and more severe than stopping the opioids, which I was over in one day. Don't take this med! If a doctor tells you it won't cause withdrawals, don't believe it. Opioids worked during my surgical recovery and were no problem to taper off then quit."

• lon...
• January 21, 2010

For Pain "I have been taking Ultram (200 mg a day) for several years now. I found that it does take the top off the pain down but doesn't give me great relief. I am finding its effectiveness less and less and will be trying to wean off of it, but withdrawal symptoms are pretty bad. Please be well aware of the dependency issue."

• Col...
• January 25, 2012

For Pain "50 mg (2 every 6 hrs) has worked wonders on my pain. I have a small cerebral aneurysm (too small for surgery yet) that causes me to have a terrible ongoing headache (for almost 3 yrs now). If taken consistently, it keeps my pain very manageable. I weaned myself off of antidepressants when I was in my 20s (I'm now 37), but depression crept back up on me. When I started taking Ultram, the depression symptoms went away. I do have terrible withdrawals, though. Otherwise, it's been a lifesaver for me! Thumbs up!"

• Eva...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2016

For Chronic Pain "I have back pain every day of my life. My doctor prescribed Ultram. I took it for a few weeks, and the pain never subsided at all. This drug is as useful as screen windows in a submarine. And... After I stopped taking it, I had bad withdrawals!! Do not take this drug!!!!!"

• Anonymous
• November 30, 2009

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."

• Anonymous
• June 30, 2011

For Restless Legs Syndrome "Tramadol has been very effective for my severe restless legs syndrome. However, the body does seem to build tolerance, so you must increase the dose from time to time. The withdrawal effects are quite severe. I found that a slow withdrawal helps ease the discomfort. I have also been on Neurontin in the past and had good results for several years, but the effectiveness seems to lessen over time, and increasing the dose did not help."

• Lym...
• January 28, 2018

For Chronic Pain "My doctor prescribed me this for chronic pain. I tried it 3 weeks in a row, and it did nothing for my pain! I was really excited about getting it and trying it and was so disappointed. Though it did help me a couple of times coming off of stronger prescription painkillers. It was helpful with some of the withdrawal symptoms."

• Mis...
• October 30, 2008

For Restless Legs Syndrome "Although this drug is effective for pain, I experienced horrible withdrawals from it. I was awake for over 30 hours."