I have been taking Tramadol a long time for Fibromyalgia and when I don't have any to take, I start having some kind of shocks to my body. What is this? Does this have anything to do with my Nerve Damage?
I have Nerve Damage and take Tramadol for pain. But when I try quitting, I experience shocks?
Question posted by goodsondonna on 31 May 2010
Last updated on 24 June 2017
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4 Answers
bridgehsl
24 June 2017
Tramadol is a synthetic opioid and also works as an anti-depressant by increasing the hormone serotonin in your brain. Sooo, when you quit taking Tramadol after being on it for a while it's like a double whammy of withdrawing from an opioid and an SSRI (anti-depressant) medication. The brain zaps you are getting is not from nerve damage, it is from not having the extra serotonin in your body that Tramadol produces. The easiest way to get off of it is to stop taking tramadol, use a benzodiazepine (SHORT-TERM!) and get on a low dose SSRI..than taper off. No brain zaps will occur, and the benzodiazepine helps with the withdrawal from the opioid effect of Tramadol. Always consult with your Medical doctor before stopping or starting any medication.
bridgehsl
24 June 2017
A neurotransmitter, I meant.
jerreba63
2 April 2017
Tramadol helps me with my nerve pain I also get shocks when I take them always wonder what was going on with my body.
ttamber1
2 June 2010
i think your having withdrawls. been there. the only way to stop it is to wean yourself off. slowly. the longer u take them the worse its going to be. and the more u will need them.everytime u run out youll have to experience it and it sucks.
mpvt
31 May 2010
Sounds like it could be withdrawals from the tramadol as it is highly addictive. It is also know to cause seizures if you take more than prescribed. Be careful with this shit and use it only if you really have to. This drug is a very weak painkiller and there are much safer and overall better painkillers out there...
mountaingirl1995
1 June 2010
Hey mpvt - I also have chronic pain from fibromyalgia... what painkillers are "better"? ha, ha... sounds like I'm asking you what's your favorite drug - I AM NOT! it's just that i'm on oxycontin and i do not like how depressed i am. I am looking for a replacement to talk to dr. about. thanks for any input!
mpvt
1 June 2010
opiates aren't very useful for fibro patients. The drug that is really proving it's self with fibro is lyrica...
fall queen
1 June 2010
The Tramadol has been a major topic on this site, some good, some bad, and seems almost everyone has an opinion about it one way or the other. My pm dr. gave me some sample of Lyrica which ( besides the weight gain ), it works very well for the nerve pain. It helps me sleep as well. I have heard it is expensive but I am always wanting any samples my dr.has. It is worth a shot and I totally agree with Dave, there are much more effective painkillers on the market. As long as you have a good repore with your dr., you should not encounter any problems. Feel better Fall Queen
Rajive Goel
1 June 2010
All i can say is to keep away from Tramadol
tglidewell
1 June 2010
The shocks are probably withdrawl symptoms. I'm on Effexor XR and if I forget to take it (or once when I tried to taper off of it) it causes shocks through my body. It's hard to explain unless you have experienced it. I tried Tramadol for my headaches and the side effects were just too much for me. They made me feel like I was "high". I know how upsetting it is to have to keep going through pain killers until you find one that works for you though. I can't take anything that contains Asprin or Ibuprofin because of ulcers, Tylenol doesn't work (I'm allergic to Codine), Narcotics and muscle relaxers knock me out for at least 12 to 16 hours, and I've been through pretty much any other pain killer that is in the same category as Tramedol. Fioricet will work sometimes, other than that I'm still on the search. It's very depressing. Good luck finding something that will help you! Pain sucks, especially when nothing helps or the side effects of the meds are as bad or worse than the pain itself.
mpvt
1 June 2010
Have you tried LYRICA??? It is a close relative to gabapenton(SP). It has literally gotten people off the couch that have been stuck there for 10+ years. It has a very high success rate.
I was talking to a woman in her early 70's this past winter and she was telling me that she didn't know what to do because her joints were so stiff and sore. I told her about Lyrica and 2 weeks later I get this big hug from her. She asked her doctor about it and he prescribed it. She felt instant relief and is still feeling great today. She later told me that she was ready to end it because the pain had taken over and she was at the end of her rope. So, it doesn't work for everyone but it is usually very successful...
Dorothy2010
3 Aug 2010
I just stopped taking tramadol last Wednesday, July 28, 2010 after 12 years of 10 of the 50-mg pills a day. The shocks are scary and painful. I had them too until today (Monday, August 2, 2010). Very troubling. I was also given tramadol in 1998 for fibromyalgia and paresthesias in my arms. I don't see many other people complaining of that symptom of withdrawal, but I know what you mean!
Theodin74
5 June 2012
I have been taken tramadole 200mg-300mg a day from the last 6 months plus I have been off and on them for the last four years for nerve pain. I find that this drug works very well for nerve pain only as it effects the nerons of the brain shutting down your nerve resepticles. Withdrawal symptoms can include insomnia, restless leg syndrome in your entire body, over heating, and mild hallucinations that last from 3 days to a week. It is a form of an codien that acts in the brain the same way an opeit does. My opinion is if your going to take this drug for nerve pains, do it over small periods of time before you get hooked. I love this drug because its the only thing legal that works for nerves that I can take. The doctors use to have me on three lethal doses of methadone for my nerve pains which I'm glad to be off of. I'm waiting for medical THC to pass as this plant does the same thing, attaching to the neurons of the brain and dulling the nerve pain.
When I was a teen I started using it and it does help but I stopped because I didn't want to get in trouble. Since I stopped I needed to go back on sometype of pain meds and tramadole works but has some very uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
Related topics
shock, pain, fibromyalgia, tramadol
Further information
- Tramadol uses and safety info
- Tramadol prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Tramadol (detailed)
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