Just wanted to post my experience. I was prescribed Tramadol when I was 55 following a bad ankle break which resulted in traumatic arthritis. In those days it was on repeat prescription and I must have taken it for well over 7 years with no problem at all. Lost weight and ankle improved so just stopped taking them
In November this year (I am now 70) I was diagnosed with 2 prolapsed lumbar discs and my GP gave me Tramadol to ease the pain. I thought OK, had them before with no problems. Please beware - I am sure it is because I am now older but I took them on and off, never more than 4 in a day and never every day. However in March I had a particularly bad episode and took 3 a days for nearly 3 weeks. Back eased so I decided to stop. After 10 days I had to start taking them again as the withdrawal symptoms were horrendous. Am now making a plan to reduce them over the next month. I couldn’t believe how bad it was, chills, shaking, fever, terrible nausea, palpitations. I shall never take it again and hope it doesn’t cause me great problems tapering it.
Couldn’t get a GP appointment to discuss - and even if I had my surgery only signposts to a drugs and alcohol service - so ended up using my BUPA online GP service where the GP assured me that I couldn’t possibly be dependent on such a low dose for such a short a period. How wrong he was, almost immediately I started taking it again all the horrible symptoms went.
Anyone considering it, please think very carefully about it - there’s lots of information out there about it and quite honestly its frightening
