Coming off opioids

[Sunsetdays]

Following an accident and back injury I have been on tramadol for 6 years. After a year of tapering I have completely stopped taking them. My question to those of you who have been through this how were you after stopping. It’s been about 4 weeks now and I feel so angry! I wasn’t expecting this and I’m not sure why it’s happened?

[LoafofSellotape]

They're very strong, maybe see it as another part of the process and hope it settles down soon. I had to do the same.

[Sunsetdays]

Loaf Thanks for the reply. Did you feel angry? I wasn’t expecting this.

[LokisLover]

First of all well done for coming off them, you should be proud of yourself as it’s not easy.
I had to wean myself off morphine after a back op and it wasn’t easy. I don’t remember feeling angry though but everyone’s experience is different I suppose. It might be your brain just needs a little time to adjust.
I’m sorry I don’t actually think my post is that helpful!

[LoafofSellotape]

Tbf I was like Renton off of Trainspotting,I was a real mess ,I'm sure anger was apart of it! I then came off really slowly, I can't really remember I just remember being aware just how strong they were to make me feel so bad!

Go easy ,it'll take time to adjust

[Sicario]

I had a splitting headache for 5 weeks and other effects so awful that I felt like suing the hospital for giving them to me in the first place without explaining what they were. I had no idea.

[Basilneedswaterandsun]

Nothing to add apart from well done OP!!!

[Sunsetdays]

Thanks everyone. The support is so lovely. I have read that long periods of using them alter your brain chemistry so maybe that’s whats happened. I lost my Mum, Dad and sister in the last 5 years as well and wonder if the opioids were dulling the grief on some level and maybe that’s where the anger is coming from. When I was on them everything felt flat line somehow. I’m so glad I am off them but I don’t want to be angry.

[LoafofSellotape]

Have you ever tried mindfulness?the Headspace app is brilliant and might help.

[LoafofSellotape]

I'm really sorry for your loss,you've done amazingly well to come off tramadol on top of deal with so many deaths

[mimibunz]

Well done!! I came off benzodiazepines for anxiety and was prescribed citalopram. I wonder if your GP could prescribe a chill pill to get you through the worst?

[Bellwoo29]

Tramadol was given to me for chronic back pain then when I came off them weird stuff started happening like nearly falling etc . Turns out at age of 34 I had developed epilepsy because of tramadol. Be careful it's a awful drug and should be banned.