Gradually reducing tramadol dose.... feel dreadful

[FeelingWeirdNow]

I have begun reducing my tramadol dose from 400mg a day to 200mg. I am on the 200mg extended release capsules. I take them for TMJ and Trigeminal Neuralgia (Jaw and facial pain). Iv been on them for 3 years nearly and I will admit I have abused them. I'm ashamed to say I purchased them online when my prescribed monthly amount ran out, and at my worst 18 months ago I was taking up to 800-1000mg a day.
I have managed to very, very steadily get myself down to the proper dose which is 400mg per day, and was very happy at that, but I have this week started taking 400mg and 200mg on alternating days and I feel dreadful.

I feel like I want to isolate myself, I feel moody, keep having brain zaps, feel just..... weird. I need to come off these tables, my facial issues are much better now. How can I combat these feelings?

I feel like a druggie going cold turkey. I'm actually mother of 2 in her mid 30's who likes baking. I have hidden this addiction from everyone. I feel bloody awful.

Has anyone else had similar experiences coming off prescription drugs, and if so, how have you combated these dreadful feelings?

Please don't tell me to go to my GP, I really dont want a pharmacy drug addiction on my notes forever.

Many thanks everyone x

Oh you poor thing , I can see how easily this can happen .
Pain ,and the fear of pain ,is such a dreadful ,all consuming thing and makes one do anything to ward it off .

Please at least stop feeling so guilty and ashamed ,I think the situation you've ended up in is due to poor medical support and you maybe trying to manage too much on your own .

( I say that because I can see myself in you ,I'm in pain ,it was managed fantastically in hospital but now I'm out I'm making random phonecalls to GP and getting easily ,and I think slightly casually ,prescribed tramadol ,encouragement to increase the dose ,offers of more painkillers and no monitoring )

I wish I could encourage you to go to GP . Any half decent GP would be kind and helpful and will be very very familiar with your predicament . I think GPs themselves often fall themselves into the trap of addictive drugs ,and they certainly won't judge you .

I'm sure you can ask for it not to be referred to in your notes ( and actually ,even if it were IME the GPs never go back and read through notes ...if they did mine certainly wouldn't be prescribing me Tramadol ) .
And honestly isn't it worth involving the GP if it makes coming off them doable ?

Finally I'm sure I've seen mention of an online forum dedicated to exactly this problem - perhaps you could find by googling ?

Please stop blaming yourself and be nice to yourself . You've already helped me with your post by reminding me that I'd better be careful .
So you've already done some good !

Let us know how it goes . I believe it's a common problem ,you're not alone .If that's any comfort .

Can you cut the tablets in half and try getting down to 300mg one day instead of 200? Or 200 one day and 400 the next 2? You could ask your gp for the normal 50mg capsules rather than extended release. It might help you control how much you take a bit better. I think gps expect to have to help people cut down so it wouldnt necessarily go down as an addiction. Just that the time has come for you to cut down.

Youve done so well getting this far. The key is to take it really slowly. You reach a plateau where your body is used to a bit less then feel rubbish again until your body gets used to a lower dose. The rubbish feeling is only temporary, try and keep hold of that thought.

Iv no direct experience of being addicted but i was on tramadol and various other strong prescribed drugs for 18 months so i know how they make you feel. Youve got this far. Im sure you can overcome this hurdle.

Hi I have been taking codine for nearly 2 years for arthritis and find I do abuse them sometimes I will take them if I not in pain or anything. Now I have not ever upped my dose or any think but I am trying to not take as many everyday. But the best thing I can say to you is when you are feeling bad just remember that all these feelings and symptoms you are having are temporary and you can do it no matter how hard it is. Oh and mabey get some support of some kind of website to do with prescribed medication even under fake name if feel more comfortable x

You can't cut the slow release tramadol in half as it can release to much at once and make you I'll but got doctor and ask for lower dose as pain is subsiding x

Thankyou everyone, I thought you would tell me it was my own fault :(

And yes, I'm trying to focus on the MN mantra "this too shall pass".

I feel so remote and shaky and just, well... meh!!

I think I may bite the bullet and go to gP. x

It not your own fault tbh it the gp fault as they should have kept a closer eye on you but some gps are like that I didn't see mine for 18 month after he prescribed me the codine and he still don't know what going on now. Hope gp appointment goes well for you :-D

Opioids are bastard things for dependance and there is not enough awareness on the part of some prescribers. I know of GP surgeries that just keep doling them out, without regular reviews and support.

There is a website called Codeinefree which may help. A good GP would offer help and would not want you to go through this alone but I don't know if that applies to all or what yours is like. Practices in our area offer regular appointments with a practice pharmacist and short prescriptions for reducing doses for opioids, benzos, etc.

Of course it's not your own fault - you didn't ask to have TMJ and Trigeminal Neuralgia did you ?

I understand they are v v painful ,met lovely ,very normal lady in hospital who'd ended up being admitted to a psychiatric
hospital because the pain was just too much .

Agree with timidviper .

Not your fault at all.. I had Trigeminal Neuralgia and the pain is unbelievable.. tramadol helped , it's addictive, and that's not your fault.
But I would go to the GP and get their help to cut it down gradually. You have done amazingly well to get it back to the 'proper' dose, but there is no need to put yourself though hell.
Ask the GP to prescribe in a smaller dose and cut it down in increments.

if the TN every returns, ask for gabapentin or lyrica, or Carbamazapine (first line of treatment) as it's far more effective than opiates for nerve pain xx