I was put on this drug that basically saved my life in so many ways… 6 years ago. Pain/depression/anxiety - GONE. Doc decided that 6 years has been long enough now, it’s lost it’s efficacy and she refused to up the dose or switch me to something else. BAM. I weaned off for a couple of days and now I feel like death - day 2 into really nasty withdrawals I had no idea would happen. Not much is helping, and being that Tramadol is not even a narcotic, I’m surprised I feel this ROTTEN. I hate my doctor. HATE her. Please tell me this gets better… pleeeaaase.
What dose were you taking? Did you dr wean you off or just tell you stop taking it?
I take Tramadol for pain (I am clinically depressed and have noticed it’s effect), I think I take 100mg pills. They used to have a significant effect on me, but lately I have to take at least 2 to feel anything different. I dont take it regularly, just as I need it.
As a fellow anxiety/depression sufferer (although I never tried Tramadol), your body will adjust. Shame on your doc for not putting you on a graduated withdrawal, you may want to push on her about that.
The wikipedia article on Tramadol says 7 days or so for withdrawal, and it is severe…
Best thing to do is try to find something immersive to take your mind off the withdrawal symptoms, e.g.:
[ul]
[li] Something you enjoy and can lose yourself in (like maybe sculpture, video games, hanging out with friends) = good[/li][li] Lying in bed staring at the clock and being hyper-aware of every bad sensation = bad[/li][/ul]
Good luck!
I took 50mg 3X daily for 6 years. She abruptly stopped me. I asked what to do about withdrawals (as I’ve stopped taking them before and knew it may happen). Her suggestion? “Go to the Rehab Clinic”.
Yeah, you do build up a tolerance quickly, but I never felt the need to ask for more. Well, when I did recently, she took me off of it. Grrr.
I had been on a minimal dose of an anti-depressant during my brief marriage - at my wife’s insistence (she was on SSDI for Mental Illness). When we separated, I went to my doctor and asked to come off it. He refused. So I stopped seeing him and stopped taking it cold turkey. Was pretty bad for about a week. The expression in Lord of the Rings where Bilbo says “Like butter scraped over too much bread” was one possible description. Having your mind randomly stretched like taffy was another.
With absolutely no snark intended I suggest this may be a good time to find a new doctor. The lack of compassion shown by your doctor here is saddening, and you don’t deserve it.
A new doctor may not help you in this situation, but I sure as hell wouldn’t want to have to deal with the same doctor in a future situation. Sounds like a deal breaker.
Tramadol is an opioid, like codeine. That makes it a narcotic, even though the laws regarding it aren’t as stiff as other opioid. It varies by state. It does affect serotonin and dopamine but it’s mostly a painkiller. I’m not surprised that your doctor wanted to take you off it rather than up your dose. She probably won’t put you back on it but you might talk to her or a therapist about going on a more typical antidepressant.
Tramadol’s got a nasty withdrawal window, which lasts about a week. If it gets really bad don’t hesitate to go to your doctor or even your ER to help you through it.
Another vote for a new doctor. That response is not only unfeeling, it could end up being medically dangerous! If any of my doctors did that to me, I’d camp out in their office during the worst of the symptoms. Go to the Rehab Clinic indeed … :mad:
Tramadol is one of the most addictive legal substances out there. I would personally have to be VERY desperate before I took it; it also has some very common and unpleasant side effects.
After reading up on it a bit more - I’ve discovered this as well. I really had no idea it was as potent as it was… hence the horrific withdrawals I imagine.
My problem is that I’m already on antidepressants, I have been for 11 years. They started pooping out, hence the Tramadol for depression/pain relief. Now I’m left on this antidepressant and anti-anxiety meds that make me a ZOMBIE. At least the Tramadol gave me some life and energy. I was functioning very high level. Now I feel dead.
Even stranger tidbit yet? My doctor referred me to a Neurologist.
I don’t know what’s up with the neurologist but it might be time to try a different antidepressant and different combos. It might be time to start fresh. But one withdrawal at a time. It’s something to discuss with your new doctor. Maybe it’s time to talk to a psychologist, too. I don’t know of course, but they have more experiences with these meds than regular doctors do.
Nitpick: “Psychiatrist”, not psychologist. Actually, the suggestion about the chemical dependency (Rehab clinic) followup wasn’t a bad one. This is a big part of what they do. If I was you, that’s where I’d go now, rather than white-knuckling it or looking for help from an ER doc.
I see a psychiatrist (his comment about coming off Tramadol was “I’m sorry - withdrawal is out of my scope. You’ll need to see your doctor”.
NO doctors want to deal with painkillers or withdrawals. NONE. It must look bad to be associated with people who have had dependancies or addictions and there is too much liability.
I am going to work every day and taking care of my 2 kids through this personal hell. I have to. I can’t stop my life to be depressed or sleep. My pity party is getting noisier, isn’t it.
I’m completely disheartened by everything and everyone. The help that is extended is in vain - the doctors see me drowning and they throw me a line of dental floss. That’s what this struggle feels like.
Bear in mind that it seems worse because of the psychological effects of the withdrawal. Knowing that this is not necessarily real, that it is how it is making you feel and it is only temporary, may help you struggle through it.
Well, again, the MDs in Rehab aren’t scared. Is there a reason you don’t want to try that option? It’s not a moral/ethical issue, you’re (medically) addicted, and that’s their scope of practice specifically.
