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Suggest Treatment For Anxiety Caused By Tramadol Withdrawal
Question: I have Scleroderma and the joint pain is much better after skin softening now. However I used Tramadol for the 4 years of real bad pain. 200 mgs . I'm done and don't like how it made me feel. I am in day 6 of cold turkey. Please don't tell me to taper. I tried even at small doses as doc said but had wd affects so decided I would just stop. This is day 6 and I have anxiety which seems to be the worse. I know about the Seri in the medication. My question is why is today so so bad with anxiety, almost unbearable. Little sleep and have to return to work the 22nd. I have Klonapin which I started taking a few yrs ago for itching over entire body. It drove me out of my mind. So I take it at bed time. It's not working at all even in higher doses which I've NEVER done before. Is the increasing anxiety normal. I do take Ambien and that is not helping. Please help me. Answer every question. I don't think I will have serotonin syndrome at this point. I'm sleep deprived and desperate!
Brief Answer:
It is likely due to withdawal of tramadol
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing to us.
From what I understand you were on tramadol 200mg per day and stopped cold turkey. Tramadol is an opioid derivative. It doesn't contain SSRI. Or did you meant you had other SSRI drugs in the past along with Tramadol for pain. Stopping of tramadol at such dose suddenly after 4 years of duration is naturally gong to cause withdrawal symptoms. Considering your previous intake currently it may be peak of your withdrawal and hence the latest worsening. You may have even worse symptoms in the next 2-3 days.
Opioid withdrawal symptoms include sleep disturbance, body ache, watery eyes, diarrhea, yawning, fever and anxiety symptoms. It is treated with another opioid derivative like burenorphine with clonidine, routine pain killers and benzo like klonopin. Based on individual needs patient may be treated in hospital facility as other general medical management is also needed. These medicines gradually tapper down and stopped.
Other option is tapering of tramadol which you had already denied to go for. But Klonopin alone is not at all going to help you as opioid withdrawal is different physical cause for anxiety. You can discuss with your treating doctor about the options I suggested earlier.
That being said, your withdrawal symptoms can go away gradually on its own if you can tolerate for a week to 10 days more. But that may be really hard to tolerate. So I suggest see your doctor and discuss further.
Hope I have answered your query,
regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
It is likely due to withdawal of tramadol
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing to us.
From what I understand you were on tramadol 200mg per day and stopped cold turkey. Tramadol is an opioid derivative. It doesn't contain SSRI. Or did you meant you had other SSRI drugs in the past along with Tramadol for pain. Stopping of tramadol at such dose suddenly after 4 years of duration is naturally gong to cause withdrawal symptoms. Considering your previous intake currently it may be peak of your withdrawal and hence the latest worsening. You may have even worse symptoms in the next 2-3 days.
Opioid withdrawal symptoms include sleep disturbance, body ache, watery eyes, diarrhea, yawning, fever and anxiety symptoms. It is treated with another opioid derivative like burenorphine with clonidine, routine pain killers and benzo like klonopin. Based on individual needs patient may be treated in hospital facility as other general medical management is also needed. These medicines gradually tapper down and stopped.
Other option is tapering of tramadol which you had already denied to go for. But Klonopin alone is not at all going to help you as opioid withdrawal is different physical cause for anxiety. You can discuss with your treating doctor about the options I suggested earlier.
That being said, your withdrawal symptoms can go away gradually on its own if you can tolerate for a week to 10 days more. But that may be really hard to tolerate. So I suggest see your doctor and discuss further.
Hope I have answered your query,
regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Up to 10 more days of anxiety? What do you know about large doses of vitamin c to help minimise wds
Brief Answer:
Vitamin C can not help in opioid withdrawal
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for more query and sorry for delayed response.
Yes withdrawal symptoms will decrease after a peak. And 10 days after peak they will be at minimum level. It will not subside without treatment soon. For complete absence of withdrawal without treatment it may take few weeks to months but they are tolerable after 10 days of peak.
Vitamin C in large dose or small dose is not going to minimize withdrawal.
I will be happy to answer more queries.
http://bit.ly/drchntansolanki
Vitamin C can not help in opioid withdrawal
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for more query and sorry for delayed response.
Yes withdrawal symptoms will decrease after a peak. And 10 days after peak they will be at minimum level. It will not subside without treatment soon. For complete absence of withdrawal without treatment it may take few weeks to months but they are tolerable after 10 days of peak.
Vitamin C in large dose or small dose is not going to minimize withdrawal.
I will be happy to answer more queries.
http://bit.ly/drchntansolanki
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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