1. < Depression & Anxiety
Profile picture for csmiller

How can I taper off Tramadol 100 mg gradually, safely?

Posted by csmiller @csmiller, Dec 2, 2022

I am on several antidepressants and I've been on Tramadol since mid-September for pain in my hip. I want to get off of this narcotic. Any med that will help me? My doctors don't seem to understand the difficulty that I'm having. Can anyone advise me how to gradually taper off?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

Profile picture for Helen, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | Dec 11, 2022
In reply to @csmiller "I need to gradually taper off tramadol because I'm finding that it has too many negative..." + (show)
Profile picture for csmiller @csmiller

I need to gradually taper off tramadol because I'm finding that it has too many negative side effects. I'm also on too many antidepressants. Seeing my internist early next week and I don't expect him to know medications to do that so I may have to suggest some. Can you suggest best way to do it? I see that there are a great many listed on the web and I'm wondering what are some of the best additional medications to accomplish withdrawal.

Jump to this post

@csmiller. It's very reasonable to expect your internist to review all of your medications and help you to figure out what is working for you and what is not working for you. Are your prescriptions from other physicians? If yes, then your internist would want to know what all of these are. He is likely familiar with most or all of them and if not he has the training and knowledge to consult with others or do some research. I'm suggesting this because when my primary care physician was an internist he was very good at doing just this.

I also think it's reasonable to talk with your internist about tapering off Tramadol if that is what you'd like to do. There are other approaches to pain that you can explore with your internist. A referral to a Pain Clinic?

REPLY
Profile picture for jchet
jchet | @jchet | 4 days ago
In reply to @jdiakiw "For 50 years I suffered from headaches/migraines I was taking 10-20 222with codeine. Advised to off..." + (show)
Profile picture for jdiakiw @jdiakiw

For 50 years I suffered from headaches/migraines I was taking 10-20 222with codeine. Advised to off it. I did. I immediately started taking oxycontin increasing to 180 a day plus fentynl. Advised to get off it. Over a miserable year I tapered off. Started taking tramadol and increased dosage till a dr told me I had MIH. or medicine induced headaches. ( or something like that). I tapered off and didn’t go to anything else after a couple of months the headaches went away. It to awhile but hey went away. I’m 86 and haven’t had a return chronic headache condition. I may take an acytomenophen once a month now. I was told I would not live past 2021 without major open heart surgery but I wou,d not survive with all my co-morbidities. still kicking

Jump to this post

@jdiakiw
Good for you and your perseverance! Hope you continue to be strong and well!😊

REPLY
Profile picture for dckuke
dckuke | @dckuke | 2 days ago
In reply to @colleenyoung "@csmiller, in addition to @clutch's helpful reply, I'm bringing @jdiakiw @mompiano @catharbert @mcd123 into this discussion..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

@csmiller, in addition to @clutch's helpful reply, I'm bringing @jdiakiw @mompiano @catharbert @mcd123 into this discussion as they also have experience with tapering off tramadol.

When tramadol is used for a long time, it may become habit-forming, causing mental or physical dependence. However, people who have continuing pain should not let the fear of dependence keep them from using narcotics to relieve their pain. Mental dependence (addiction) is not likely to occur when narcotics are used for this purpose.

It sounds like your use of tramadol is temporary and that you feel you no longer have the need for it and therefore want to taper safely and without withdrawal symptoms. Do I have that right?

Jump to this post

@colleenyoung

I took tramadol 400mg for a decade for severe neuropathy, told it was very mild. Doctors suspected dementia. After eliminating OTC meds like Benadryl and changing prescriptions, I tapered off tramadol over one year under supervision. Suddenly I was energetic, focused, alert—no dementia!
However, I'm now 21 days into withdrawal hyperalgesia. Some symptoms are improving, but increased pain, sleep issues, and flu-like symptoms may persist for months. Tramadol dulled my memory and emotions significantly.
For pain management now, I use: Lyrica (prescription), magnesium glycinate, B vitamins, Alpha Lipoic Acid (research-backed), and temporarily three micro-doses of THC per day for Lyrica's troughs—just for pain with no high.
Meeting with my pain specialist soon. My experience: if tramadol dulls you, talk honestly with your doctors. Even with this difficult withdrawal and increased pain, I find the mental clarity worth it.

REPLY
Profile picture for dckuke
dckuke | @dckuke | 7 hours ago
In reply to @colleenyoung "@csmiller, in addition to @clutch's helpful reply, I'm bringing @jdiakiw @mompiano @catharbert @mcd123 into this discussion..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

@csmiller, in addition to @clutch's helpful reply, I'm bringing @jdiakiw @mompiano @catharbert @mcd123 into this discussion as they also have experience with tapering off tramadol.

When tramadol is used for a long time, it may become habit-forming, causing mental or physical dependence. However, people who have continuing pain should not let the fear of dependence keep them from using narcotics to relieve their pain. Mental dependence (addiction) is not likely to occur when narcotics are used for this purpose.

It sounds like your use of tramadol is temporary and that you feel you no longer have the need for it and therefore want to taper safely and without withdrawal symptoms. Do I have that right?

Jump to this post

@colleenyoung I agree wholeheartedly that we should seek medical advice and follow it. However, people and their families must also take the responsibility to respond when it is causing harm. One doctor had me on 400mg for 10 years for polyneuropathy. In my case it caused false dementia and a dulling of emotion too. The pain continued.

With close medical supervision I tapered off and clarity returned.

However, this Tramadol withdrawal hyperalgesia is a real test. Tramadol dual action makes quitting serious. Again, medical advice is critical at every stage.

I am not sure how doctors will help manage the extra pain, but there are newer non-opioid alternatives now.

Today, I am following the recommended supplements.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.