Tramadol side effects.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

I have just been prescribed Tramadol 1 x 50mg 4/day. I took the first and felt pretty spaced out and wired although that tapered off after about 4 hours.

Six hours later I took the second. A couple of hours later, I suddenly had difficulty swallowing, wheezing, shaking and jittery but struggling to remember the words to even describe my symptoms. (IE a lot of confusion). I called 999 because I was alone in the house with dd and was concerned I didn’t have the capacity to decide if this was the start of anaphylaxis (never had it so no idea of symptoms). They assessed me and told me to call out of hours. No ambulance required.

Out of hours advised me to take antihistamines and I’d get a call back within 2 hours. It’s 4 hours later and I’ve taken my second dose of antihistamines.

I’m obviously not going to take any more. I’m itchy as hell and assume all of this is an allergic reaction. Is that right?

Phone out of hours back. It sounds like an allergic reaction.

Sorry, I meant phone 111 - not sure if that's what you were referring to.

Yeh I mean 111. Thanks for responding.

I’m fine now, swallowing 100% ok. No wheezing. Just itching. Idk why I’m writing this. It’s more I’m pissed off and need to get it off my chest

As I’m pretty much back to normal, I’m not going to call them again because i am feeling so much better.

I will be going to see my gp ASAP though.

I really wanted to know if anyone thought it was allergic. And to know if I can take cocodamol as of tomorrow for example.

Definitely sounds like an allergic reaction. I'm glad you're feeling better - get onto your GP first thing tomorrow; you can ask about what medications would be safe to take.

Thanks, yes I will do. I can take ibuprofen tomorrow for sure and paracetamol. I know this is safe as the dr told me. Hopefully that will suffice til Saturday. I’d rather leave a gap of at least a day between Tramadol and cocodamol tbh.

At least I’ve tried it and now first hand experience of just why this stuff is dangerous and so highly regulated.

No idea, but definitely leave a gap between tramadol and codeine - the side effects are like a terrible hangover. Only done it a couple times when nothing was touching pain, but never again. Tramadol by itself I find is similar to alcohol, more spaced out, and tends to result in insomnia at 4am.

I was given it when recovering from an operation - it made me feel spaced out but had no effect on the pain. I wouldn't take it again if offered. Ibuprofen is the best all round painkiller in my experience. Codeine is OK but terribly constipating.

Well I won’t be doing it again either. 😬. Bit of a shame. Next appointment with the gynaecologist is in 3 weeks. I was so happy to be almost pain free today. He’s going to try me on morphine patches next. So maybe I’ll be back on here with another set of issues. 😨. Need to get this sorted before surgery as I’m in need of a hysterectomy, idk if it will be c-section cut or the dreaded lateral yet.

I had an abdominal hysterectomy - it's the best decision I ever made. Released me from years of pain. I had a cut similar to a c-section and 18 months later it's barely visible - at close range, it looks like a faded stretch mark. What is causing the pain, if you don't mind the question?

No I don’t mind at all. Thanks for sharing. I have adenomyosis, which is similar to endometriosis, but the lining of the uterus grows inside the muscle of the womb itself making the walls thick and the whole thing very enlarged. I also have some endometriosis.

Do you have any after effects, back or hip pain etc now that you are properly healed from the operation?

Just been called back by nursing team. Informed I should talk to gp tomorrow. Now if I could only get to sleep!

Have you tried zapain @op? It's co-codamol but as strong as they can prescribe. Sorry you're in so much pain

(Have been on tramadol for a back injury and it was awful - I'm so surprised they give it out)

rosie
Yes I have, thanks. I have taken this strength cocodamol during my past 2 periods. Then dropped back to otc as and when required. It doesn’t really do very much for the pain tbh and had to combine with ibuprofen. I’ve tried other nsaids as well but they don’t suit me.

It is super hard to get nowadays. Gynaecologist gave me a 2 week dose.

Ironically the pharmacy forgot to put user instructions in the box. I obviously read a couple of different online instructions first. Including an American one, which advised against sniffing or making and injectable solution from it due to risk of death.

Histamine release (which causes itching, wheezing, etc) is a common side effect of opioid analgesia (all of them can do it). Not strictly an allergy (it's not immune mediated IIRC) but sounds like a pretty unpleasant set of side effects for you and probably best not to take it again. Tramadol's probably the most marmite like opioid - some people love it, some people really don't get on with it....only one way to find out which you are!

I was prescribed Tramodal & like you I felt spaced out, I wanted to go to sleep but I felt like I couldn't close my eyes, I only took them for a couple of days before asking my GP to change them, he gave my dihydracodeine, I've been on them for 8 years now, the only side effect I get is constipation so I have to make sure I drink lots & eat plenty of fruit & veg.

Thanks for your responses. I hardly slept last night so didn’t want to have to drive down to the gp in the end. Luckily my period is holding off so no massive need to take codeine thank goodness. Had a couple of ibuprofen 400mg throughout the day.

I read up on the half life of Tramadol, which is 5-9 hours and takes 2-4 days to leave the urine. I definitely still feel a residual pain relief effect from the Tramadol. Such a pity it doesn’t suit me as it was lovely to feel so much better yesterday. I figure by tomorrow this will be gone.

The gynaecologist suggested morphine patches next. I’ll have a look at dihydracodeine. When I lived abroad, I took an opioid for a while, which suited me but unfortunately isn’t available in the U.K. it was great because it came in liquid form so dosaging was brilliant ie I could take 1/2 drops and then build up to the max of 10. I think we aren’t trusted enough in this country to take it in this form as it’s open to abuse 🙄. I’ll have a look.

I want to leave some time now between this and trialing another drug anyway. Once a histamine response has been activated, I understand another one is more likely. So letting my body settle for a couple of weeks until I see the gynaecologist would be good.

Thanks for the heads up Walkingthroughawall. I didn’t realise it wasn’t strictly speaking an allergy.

Histamine response is normal from tramadol.
I get a bit itchy the day after I take some. 50mg is half the usual dose.
Hopefully you’ll find something suitable for you. The pain relief effect is fab but it’s a bit rubbish if it’s a toss up between feeling sick and itchy vs pain!!

I hated tramadol. Vomiting and itching so bad that I have scars on my back from it were not fun side effects.

I hope you find something you can tolerate soon.

Thanks . I don’t mind the vomiting actually as I know it will probably pass - or at least it did with the stuff I took abroad. The itching on otoh is awful, I’m not surprised you have scars Unimaginative. I have been taking antihistamine all day so it’s settling. I would definitely prefer the pain to the reactions I’ve had tbh!