cmm1180: Tramadol only withdrawal

[cmm1180]

The story is long and I apologize in advance for the length but I believe it is important to tell the whole story. In 2009 I broke my hand in 4 places and since then I have had pain in my wrist. In 2012 after I had my last child my doctor gave me Tramadol for the pain 3 times a day (50mg). It did help and I noticed I was sleeping better, had energy during the day, pain was gone, and mood was great. I have always been a somewhat bored and depressed person so it was great to rather enjoy things that previously I would have found boring. Well, I wound up needing more medicine to continue to feel just normal. At the most it was 8 pills a day so 400 mg.

Then in 2014 I started getting dizzy alot. I thought it was the amount I was taking and immediately went down to 1 pill a day and eventually like 1/4th of that pill for about 8 months. Then when the dizziness resolved I went back up to 1 whole pill again. Then I started building tolerance once again so I was up to 2 pills a day. Eventually it got up to 5 pills a day again and it stopped working very well for actual pain. I was always tired but never bored or depressed. And then the dizziness came back again in the beginning of 2017. Also, my doctor gave me hydrocodone for pain at that time too. I reduced my Tramadol to 2 a day and a hydrocodone after work when pain was the worst.  Dizziness persisted and got worse in Sept 2017.

 

I stopped taking the Tramadol completely at that point and stayed with the hydrocodone which I also seemed to have grown an intolerance to somewhat. I was taking half a one instead of a whole one and that was having the same effect as a whole one at that point. My mood was still okay but I was not able to handle as much stress wise. I had more anxiety and started having small panic attacks while driving. I never had anxiety prior to taking Tramadol...ever. Well, in March, my mood was decreasing, fatigue was bad (I had to take a 3 hr nap every day after work), dizziness was pretty bad. So I decided to take a half a Tramadol and it seemed fine. I had been taking 1/2 to 3/4 a pill for 12 days  until I had a bad reaction to it. Complete panic, heart rate at 130, BP was 141/100, diarrhea, flushing, extreme dizziness, low grade sudden fever. I actually called 911 because I was driving and they took me to the hospital.

 

I have had a full heart work up and there is no heart issues at all except SVT that I have had since I was 17 and has been well controlled without medication for a long time. I did not make a connection at the time and the hospital released me and told me to continue my regular medicine. So I took another half a tramadol and same reaction...high heart rate and bp, diarrhea, dizziness, low grade fever. So, I decided to wait on  taking Tramadol again. I did take 1/4th of hydrocodone twice a day for the next 2 days until that seemed to turn on me. I had high bp, heart rate high, diarrhea, no appetite, agitation (could not sit still), low grade fever. Stopped taking that and waited another 3 days. Then tried to take a miniscule piece of Tramadol (I would say maybe 5mg) and that is when it was the worst. High BP, high heart rate (that lasted for days afterwards), diarrhea, tremors, twitching, burning in my legs, low fever, flushing, tingling all over body,  dizzy, felt sick. It felt like Seratonin Syndrome. I was not able to really function at all until the next day.

 

So, now it has been 46 days since then and I am a complete mess. I have not taken anything since then. My mood was actually okay after the incident for about 2 days and started to slowly decline since then almost like the SNRI was still working for a couple days. I have had lots of symptoms since then, burning in arms and legs, tingling and numbness in arms and legs, lots of depression, derealisation, depersonalisation, tons of food and smell sensitivities, lost a ton of weight (prob 20 pounds), anxiety through the roof sometimes, insomnia, crying spells often, and constipation. Have not been able to work because of weakness from weight loss amd anxiety. 
Worst part is that I did not know it was an SNRI or that it had antihistamine properties. I was not aware that it had to be tapered slowly when I stopped taking it. 
So, here ate my questions:
1. Does anyone have a similiar experience with just Tramadol?
2. Does anyone know why my body would reject this medicine and the hydrocodone aftet so long?
3. Should I reinstate the Tramadol at a super small dose after 46 days? (Depression is getting worse)
4. Could the reaction have been Seratonin Syndrome?
5. Could the reaction have been a change in the way my body metabolised the drugs?
6. Could the drug have built up in my body and been too much?

I should mention since January I had been eating low carb, high protein instead of constant carbs. Now I seem to react to salicylates and various foods. My diet has been limited but growing every day as I cannot starve and force myself to try things every day. Still seems that I dod not react to proteins so I am still eating high protein, low carb at the moment because I have no choice.

Any opinions would be helpful. Thank you

Edited May 25, 2018 by mammaP
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[mammaP]

Hi cmm, welcome to SA.  I am taking the devil drug tramadol and having problems with it. I've been taking it for 12 years and having to taper so very slowly . I had no idea it was SNRI either and thought it was just an opiate.  This means that there is opiate AND SNRI withdrawal together, which is not a good combination.  

10 hours ago, cmm1180 said:

I had been taking 1/2 to 3/4 a pill for 12 days  until I had a bad reaction to it.

This would have been the changes in dose,  once the nervous system is affected it doesn't take much to cause these effects. Taking tramadol and codeine together and quitting together results in prolonged withdrawal for some people.

We don't cover opiate withdrawal but we do cover tramadol because of it's SNRI part and it is being prescribed off label for depression in some cases. 

 

Because you reacted to it I don't think I would recommend reinstating after 46 days, every time you have a reaction your body has to start to heal again and the reactions can be worse each time.  

My experience is this... prescribed post surgery for arthritis and surgical pain. Took 100mg at night for 9 years and started to react to it. Cut the dose to 50mg in 2015, with no problems that I can remember. Started to taper  2016. I have had to slow it down to a micro taper.  It has taken over 2 years to go from 50 to 25. Each drop that is in my sig took several tiny cuts. When I cut 5% I got withdrawal, my blood pressure spikes, sweats, diarrhoea, tingling and numbness in face, hands and feet, fever, palpitations, terrible insomnia and awful headaches. I went back up in dose to relieve it and now only make very tiny cuts. My BP goes dangerously high so I can't risk any bigger cuts and can't even dream of cold turkey.  If I get the dose even slightly higher than it should be when I have stabilised after a cut, for instance if I get just above the line on the syringe instead of just below it, ( I make a liquid and use an oral syringe)  the side effects are worse, which are headache, muscle weakness, can't talk, dizzy and nauseous, with insomnia thrown in. 

 

 I can't find anything anywhere that can tell me how much of the drug is SNRI. I have asked doctors and the drug companies, who say ask the doctor.  I also asked the pharmacist who said he would research it then said that it is impossible to find the answer because of the way it is made.  

I have researched tramadol withdrawal and found many forums with people who have managed to quit, some have reported withdrawal lasting up to a year but improving steadily. Others have been fine after 2 or 3 months. Many went back on it because they couldn't cope. Everyone is different. 

One thing I do know is that the human body is remarkable, and has the ability to heal itself. You will get better but need to make sure that you have coping strategies and it may be beneficial for you to find addiction counselling or group therapy. SNRIs cause physical dependence, they change the way the brain works and they need careful tapering so that the brain can adjust as the dose lowers. Opiates are addictive, and we don't have the training for that.  

 

I will get some links for you that you may find interesting. First, could you fill in your signature with your drug and tapering history. The link will take you to the signature box. We need drugs and doses but not symptoms. 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/settings/signature/

 

 In the symptoms and self care section you will find topics on withdrawal and what is happening to your body. There are also topics on coping with emotional problems without drugs and other topics on pain. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                  

 

Edited May 25, 2018 by mammaP

[Altostrata]

Welcome, cmm.

 

20 hours ago, cmm1180 said:

So I decided to take a half a Tramadol and it seemed fine. I had been taking 1/2 to 3/4 a pill for 12 days  until I had a bad reaction to it. Complete panic, heart rate at 130, BP was 141/100, diarrhea, flushing, extreme dizziness, low grade sudden fever. I actually called 911 because I was driving and they took me to the hospital.

 

Is it possible you accidentally skipped a dose or two of Tramadol during this period? Or forgot a dose and took it much later in the day?

 

Half a pill is 5mg, is that correct?

 

Given tramadol's composition and capacity for addiction -- which you have experienced -- you may be suffering opioid or SNRI withdrawal or both. We can't tell from your symptoms which it is.

 

We don't deal with opioid withdrawal here. If I were you, I might pursue seeing a local addiction medicine specialist (MD) who is familiar with Tramadol withdrawal. It is possible naltrexone or something they prescribe for going off opioids might help.

 

Otherwise, given tramadol's SNRI component, my guess is you might take a very small amount, such as 10 beads, of Effexor, a common SNRI, and see if that reduces your withdrawal symptoms. If it does, you'd stay on that for a month or more and then taper off very, very slowly.

 

This topic explains how to take a small amount of Effexor Tips for tapering off Effexor (venlafaxine) Any doctor can prescribe it and since they love antidepressants, it's very easy to get.

 

Please let us know how you're doing, this will help others come off tramadol.

[cmm1180]

Thank you both for your responses. I have been reading these forums for a while and respect the dedication and knowledge you both have for withdrawal from antidepressants. 

 

I tend to agree with you on reinstating MammaP. The first dose that turned on me was bad, the second dose after that was a worse response, and the third tiny dose was leaps and bounds worse. On top of that, the response to the tiny doses of hydrocodone also turning on me makes me tend to think that my body is too hypersensitive to medication at the moment to reinstate the Tramadol. 

 

Out of curiousity MammaP, when you say you started to react to it, what were your symptoms. At first start of the drug I had no adverse reactions but over time I developed some Tinnitus which never really bothered me that much. Then after a couple years I started to getting dizzy after taking it. That is when I dropped down the dose to 1/4th a pill for 8 months before taking more again. And it seemed at that point my tolerance of the drug was fine again...no dizziness just the same tinnitus but pain relief was less effective.

 

As for the hydrocodone, it has never seemed to be a problem as far as not taking it. To be honest, I really only ever got pain relief from it, never really a euphoria. Not something I crave or need unless actually in pain. None the less, my body is probably physically depenedant somehwat. I really believe the harder part of the withdrawal is the SNRI part of the Tramadol. That is what lead me here because I was trying to find similiar experiences. It is quite easy to find the experiences of acute withdrawal symptoms from Tramadol....not so easy to find accounts of protracted withdrawal. I imagine because once someone is over the nightmare they do not want to continue to relive it by writing and talking about it.

 

Altostrata, I definitely went without my normal 2 pills a day for about 6 months when I just stopped taking them because of the severe dizziness I was experiencing again. I did not know any better and had successfully reduced my dosage quickly previously, which led me to believe I could do so again. I do not think I experienced any acute withdrawal during these last 6 months because I was still taking the hydrocodone as needed. Which also leads me to believe that maybe scientists don't know as much as they think about nuerotransmitters. I would think the hydrocodone would keep the opiate part of the Tramadol withdrawal at bay but would think I would still have the SNRI withdrawal if the source of depression is seratonin or norepinephrine. 

 

I should mention that during the last 6 months I have been diagnosed with Orthostatic Hypotension, which I still have. Although I am not as dizzy when walking around as I have been while previously still taking the hydrocodone.

I had also started taking probiotics and a multivitamin that seemed to be helping somewhat.

 

As for Effexor, at the moment I have such intenses fear of medication I am not even sure I could take another psychiatric medicine or any other. I understand the logic behind it, but I am reacting to foods I have eaten my whole life at the moment so I am even more reluctant of taking new medication and supplements. I cannot find any cases of Tramadol withdrawal that have triggered hypersensitivity so I am at a loss for what might be safe for me. Or at least safer.

 

I have started taking Magnesium which helps some with anxiety, digestion, and constipation. I am tolerating that well at the moment. I am also seeing a functional med doc who practices acupuncture as well. He seems to think that on top of the withdrawal I probably have issues with my liver detoxing and other detox pathways which can lead to a build up of drugs in the body. He does not want to do any detox programs at the moment though. He says it is too soon and that I need to get the basics functioning properly first....bowels moving, gaining back some weight, gut and such. I am having acupuncture which also helps with anxiety and the constipation. He only wants me to take digestive enzymes, magnesium, and a probiotic (all of which have been tolerated thus far). 

 

I am having windows already but lots of depression and crying still. The physical stuff seems to get better daily. I am scared and concerned for a medical emergency and any medication that might be needed in the future. I have had 23 kidney stones many of which have needed surgery. I currently have 18 kidney stones in my kidneys that will eventually pass and I am not looking forward to any surgery or medication since I have no idea how I will react.

 

Have either of you developed sensitivity to food, chemicals, medicine? Have you recovered at all and how do you deal with surgery?

 

Also, I would like to start fish oil eventually. Can anyone recommend a quality brand?

 

Has anyone had Orthosatatic hypotension and recovered from that?

 

[Altostrata]

On 5/26/2018 at 9:49 PM, cmm1180 said:

would think I would still have the SNRI withdrawal if the source of depression is seratonin or norepinephrine. 

 

I should mention that during the last 6 months I have been diagnosed with Orthostatic Hypotension, which I still have.

 

Good guess, but antidepressant withdrawal is not dependent on any source of depression. The theory that serotonin or norepinephrine are involved is invalid.

 

You become physiologically dependent on any psychiatric drug exactly the same way you get dependent on an opioid: Your body accommodates to it and eventually needs it to function properly.

 

One can develop orthostatic hypotension as a result of going on and off psychiatric drugs. For the most part, withdrawal syndrome is autonomic dysfunction and can be manifested in orthostatic hypotensioin.

 

On 5/26/2018 at 9:49 PM, cmm1180 said:

I am reacting to foods I have eaten my whole life at the moment

 

We also see this in withdrawal syndrome. You may wish to go on a non-irritating or a histamine intolerance diet. See

 

Elimination or exclusion diets for reactions to food (food intolerance)

 

Histamine intolerance

 

On 5/26/2018 at 9:49 PM, cmm1180 said:

I cannot find any cases of Tramadol withdrawal that have triggered hypersensitivity so I am at a loss

 

We very frequently see hypersensitivity to drugs, supplements, even food as a result of going on and off psychiatric drugs. In fact, almost all our members are hypersensitive in one way or another.

 

 

Given your history of inconsistent drug dosing, orthostatic hypotension coincident with same, food intolerance, and hypersensitivity to drugs, my guess is you have antidepressant withdrawal syndrome. Depending on your degree of distress, you might consider a few beads of Effexor XR.

 

[mammaP]

On 5/27/2018 at 5:49 AM, cmm1180 said:

Out of curiousity MammaP, when you say you started to react to it, what were your symptoms. At first start of the drug I had no adverse reactions but over time I developed some Tinnitus which never really bothered me that much. Then after a couple years I started to getting dizzy after taking it. That is when I dropped down the dose to 1/4th a pill for 8 months before taking more again. And it seemed at that point my tolerance of the drug was fine again...no dizziness just the same tinnitus but pain relief was less effective.

 

The first time I took it I was so dizzy and sick that my daughter had to undress me and put me to bed like a baby.  I didn't try again for years and took codeine, which was sedating  and could only take it at night. In 2006 post surgery I tried tramadol again and was ok because I was in hospital but couldn't do anything the first few days except sleep. At home I reduced it to 2 at night and stayed with that for 9 years, then started to feel side effects. I was just finishing my effexor taper and thought it was withdrawal until I made notes of my symptoms and realised they were from the tramadol. I can't remember now but I cut down to 50mg and when I had recovered from the surgery started to feel better with the lower dose than i was at 100.  Now the side effects are muscle weakness, can't hold my head up, numbness and tingling lips, headaches, slurred speech. People notice and I don't go anywhere in the evening. Insomnia is a known side effect, I've suffered insomnia for years and recently started going to bed at 8.30-9pm because I cant keep my eyes open.   When I make a cut I get diarrhoea, sweats, hot flushes, prickly skin, blood pressure shoots up, dizzy, nausea, and still get the side effects too. I would love to stop. 

 

Not much is known about tramadol withdrawal, I found many forums with lots of people who said they tried to get off but went back on because of the withdrawal. I am sure there must be people who have managed to taper off, maybe they take something else.   Alto suggested  that a few beads of effexor from a capsule might help your withdrawal.   

 

[cmm1180]

At the moment the symptoms are manageable. I am hesitant to go on any other psychiatric medicine at the moment because of the perceived serotonin issue (probably not serotonin syndrome but certainly scary enough for me to stop taking the Tramadol). Also because after tons of research it seems as if tapering from Effexor seems to be one of the hardest drugs to come away from without side effects. 

 

I still have lots of depression, crying and just an overall feeling of "nothing" right now but I am trying to keep my mind focused on other things when possible. I have young children so I have to do certain things every day. I am a lot more angry and without patience for no real reason it seems.

 

Physically the most annoying symptom right now is short term memory loss, which was not apparent at first and has only in the last week been worse. I am remembering things randomly from childhood and such that I have not thought about in years but cannot remember what I was thinking 5 seconds ago sometimes. Quite annoying. The food allergies are limiting and taking a toll on my nutrition. There is no rhyme or reason to it. I have tried low histamine but react to lettuce. I have no issues with protein though. I get occasional pain in my legs but nothing crazy. I have terrible insomnia but do sleep 5 or 6 hours after eventually falling alseep. 

 

Thank you for all the information and responses. I appreciate it. I am pushing onward at the moment with waves and windows to see if any of this resolves without having to take another drug of sorts.

 

MammaP, it's crazy how poorly understood this drug really is and also more disturbing that there are no real answers to how much of its makeup is an SNRI. It's of no real value to me now as I am suffering through the withdrawal but it is still something I would be interested in knowing. 

[cmm1180]

Just an update for anyone who may be taking Tramadol or searching for answers like I still am somewhat. The mood and mental symptoms are pretty much the same with more windows as of this past week. It almost makes it worse in that you feel okay for a bit and then back to your cell. However, I am certain that it does mean things will eventually get better. 

 

My physical symptoms are again pretty much the same but with improvement to reactions to smells. Not nearly as sensitive as I was even a month ago. Digestive issues of course and the orthostatic hypotension (this is also gradually getting better). My heart rate which was pretty high on the medication (resting in the 80s is no down to the 60s) is getting better.

 

I know Tramadol is not a "true" antidepressant  (although the structural similarities to Effexor are scary), but in my opinion should be classified as one. It also works on NDMA, histamine, and several other receptors....although they only mention the SNRI part in the prescribing paperwork. I also know many people have been on and off the drug with no issues (myself included the first time), but if even a few people have long term issues from it, it should be noted by the drug companies. And, this is definitely not an AS NEEDED drug. I thought it was and look at the results. Just my opinion.

[cmm1180]

It has been a little over 3 months now since having to stop all medication. Most of the physical symptoms are gone except the sensitivity to medications and foods (although that has gotten much better as well), but the mental issues still ensue. Still a lot of derealization, depersonalisation, depression, I think even a identity crisis of sorts (although I think this ties in with the DP and DR). Just don't feel like myself or even in "reality" sometimes. I try to deflect thoughts with activity and keeping my mind focused on tasks. 

 

My best advice for taking Tramadol is to NOT take it. EVER. It is definitely one of those hindsight things in life. 

[cmm1180]

I sit here and read stories on this site and try to find stories similar to mine on Tramadol recovery forums but nothing seems to compare. I wonder if that's because no one is telling the whole story or am I in a unique situation regarding this particular drug. My rational mind tells me I am not the first to experience this type of mental anguish from withdrawal but it feels like I am. The physical symptoms are gone with the exception of the sensitivity still but the mental torture seems to be getting worse. Depression is awful, depersonalisation, no feelings, no motivation, and obsessive thoughts that I try to get deflect from (but often unable to), just do not feel like myself (and seems like I am forgetting who that is). I would not wish this on anyone. It makes me think I have depression and mental health issues, even though I was not prescribed this medication for anything other than pain in my wrist. Sorry for being so down, just venting.

[cmm1180]

Just an update in case anyone is considering taking this drug. 

 

I am back to work with very few issues at all. My long term memory is good so it is like riding a bike in terms of job performance. I actually feel the most like myself at work. Probably a combination of familiar people, situations, and lots of exercise (I am a waitress). It does take a tole on me and after working 5 days the first day off is full of depression (more than usual). However, working is great for my mental health while I am there, not to mention my wallet as well. 

 

The physical symptoms are the same...just sensitivities to meds and food. Worn out from work, but who isn't. Mental symptoms are still awful and I rarely feel like myself outside of work. I have very little feeling one way or the other. Nothing is interesting or exciting.

 

Please stay away from Tramadol. It is not worth the pain relief and definitely not worth the withdrawal!

[papaloapan]

Hi ccmm1180. I'm also living the hell of withdrawing tramadol. A stupid dentist prescribed it to me after a dental surgery (removing some teeth away), but my problem is that I've been on many different psychiatric drugs since 5 years ago, so even though I took tramadol for a few days, because of my history of 5 years of taking many psychiatric drugs, my body developed a dependence quickly to tramadol. Right now I'm taking 2 drops in the morning and 2 drops at night. Last time I tapered from 2 - 2 to 1 - 2 (1 drop in the morning and 2 at night) but I had severe and intolerable withdrawal effects for 10 days so I had to get back to 2 - 2.

So I have to figure out how to get half a drop of tramadol in order to make a smaller reduction of 1.5 - 2. I had an idea whih is in 400ml of water in a glass I put a drop of tramadol and watched how the drop dissapears Then I poured to another glass 200ml so I had 200ml in one glass and 200ml in the other. But the problem is not knowing  if the drop really dissolves evenly into the whole 400ml of water, becaus if it does, I would have half a drop of tramadol. Tomorrow I'm calling the manufacturer to see if they know if the drop dissolves evenly. Alto told me to use an oral syringe, I read the whole topic of "Using an oral syringe" but I don't know how to use it to in order to get half a drop of tramadol.

You are not alone.

[cmm1180]

Once again I am here posting. Looking for answers. I was doing well post Tramadol recovery. Almost 2 years out and I got an excruciating toothache. I decided to take a minuscule piece of a children's tylenol and I am now right back where I was 2 years ago, if not worse. Not sure of it is really worse because it is hard to remember the exact symptoms and mindset 2 years ago but it seems that I was not suffering mentally this much. Anyone with the same issues from Tylenol?

[cmm1180]

I am finding it harder to cope this time around. I keep thinking about how if this medicine could change my brain to not have emotions, not be able to control any thoughts, make me feel like I am a different person completely (personality), than what really makes me "me". Or is the human experience just one big biological process that we are living out. I logically know there is no real answer to this question, but I cannot stop thinking about it.

[cmm1180]

Please be very careful with any substances at all. It had been almost 2 years since I stopped Tramadol and a small dose of Tylenol threw me back into much worse withdrawal. I am consistently confused all the time (even about basic things), cannot feel anything but anger, anxiety is ten times worse than it is was originally, sensitive to most food again and smells, obsessive never-ending thinking, legs and feet are burning, hard to walk around. Just worse all the way around. Hoping that this will resolve in a similar manner as before but I think it will take much longer. It feels like the "me" is completely gone this time. 

[cmm1180]

At day 49 after the tylenol. Things keep getting worse every day. There are no windows. I am intolerant to all food. A piece of a potato gives me unbelievable anxiety and fear. Two carrots or one piece of chicken gives me mania within 20 mins. I have lost 15 lbs in 50 days and still losing more. The other symptoms include waking with terror not knowing who I am, constipation (not enough food though), confusion, dizziness, rumination, obsessive thinking, heart pounding (but not racing), tingling in legs and feet, gut motility issues, depression, depersonalization, derealization, sound sensitivity, aggression and anger at little things, heart skipping beats often. I am sure there is more but memory is not great either. Interestingly enough, tylenol has a large affect on the seratonin system. So be very careful with use. I have to go through this all over again but with much worse symptoms and I don't know how I am going to survive. I know not many people will read this because it was "just" Tramadol and it was "just" tylenol ,but for the odd one that does, please research all meds thoroughly before taking anything. I did not and now I am trying to survive for my kids and family.

On 4/13/2020 at 6:26 PM, cmm1180 said:

Please be very careful with any substances at all. It had been almost 2 years since I stopped Tramadol and a small dose of Tylenol threw me back into much worse withdrawal. I am consistently confused all the time (even about basic things), cannot feel anything but anger, anxiety is ten times worse than it is was originally, sensitive to most food again and smells, obsessive never-ending thinking, legs and feet are burning, hard to walk around. Just worse all the way around. Hoping that this will resolve in a similar manner as before but I think it will take much longer. It feels like the "me" is completely gone this time. 

 

[cmm1180]

This is just as awful as I can imagine. It was not like this before at all. My mind and emotions cycle so quick that I cannot keep up with the thoughts. I cannot distract at all because everything I look at or interact with causes fear, anxiety, and more racing thoughts. I go from crying one minute to rage literally within a few seconds, then I get manic, then back to depressed...all within 10 minutes. Then that cycles the entire day with no release from it at all. Every food I put in my body causes anxiety, fear, and either more depression or mania within 20 mins. Is it possible that because my seratonin receptors started to upregulate over 2 years of nothing at all in my system but food that the tylenol added too much seratonin into my system to handle. I find that if I try to eat protein that I get manic, my legs twitch, I have tremors, anxiety worsens, nausea, heart palpitations, burning in my feet, and the Dp/Dr get much worse. Almost 2 months out from this and it is getting worse every single day. At least 2 years ago there was marked improvement at 2 months and the food was not affecting me like this. I don't know how people go on like this. It's a struggle to get down any food and a struggle to live every day.

[cmm1180]

Just have to write again. I cannot eat. Every bite I put in my mouth causes mental symptoms to the point where I think I am actually going crazy. I don't feel like myself at all. Not even my inner thoughts. My digestion is awful and I have been losing weight. I search and search for answers or similar stories to mine on here and I cannot find them. I really think the tylenol kindled me even more and that I have too much seratonin. I have muscle twitches, high body temp, nausea, burning, tremors. I have very brief moments where I feel somewhat normal, but that cycles back to the craziness very quickly. Getting harder to think and be hopeful. Wish that I could find any similar story to mine.

[cmm1180]

I am in agony. Just complete agony. I had such bad internal vibration last night I could barely sleep at all. I am a complete mess today. Cannot sit still, internal agitation, mind agitated, fear, anxiety. All that on top of fear that I might die from not eating enough. My mind is often blank or cannot think. Probably because of lack of calories. Every bite of food I put in my body makes me shake and vibrate, and makes my legs burn. I don't know what to do. @Altostrata any thoughts? I know you cannot really comment on nutrition or things like that. However, your knowledge could be of great importance in the symptoms department. I cannot tolerate magnesium....I have tried. Almost akathesia like symptoms with that. I took a tiny piece of a children's tylenol. Is this withdrawal from that? Or further damage to the blood brain barrier? Is there anything that might help?

[Altostrata]

cmm, have you taken an antibiotic or other drug? What are you taking now?

 

To help us out, follow these instructions Please put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this.

[cmm1180]

@Altostrata I have not taken anything but that Tylenol in 2 years. No supplements, only food. I have not taken any antibiotics and I am not taking anything now. I am trying to get down some food (an egg, tried potato and brussel sprout). All of it still giving me that akathesia like reaction. I should note that when I took the tylenol, although not necessarily a bad reaction it was a fast one. It worked for the tooth pain in less than a minute and made very tired. 

[Altostrata]

After almost 2 years, I cannot say what's going on. Many things may have happened. Do you have an infection in your tooth?

 

The reaction to Tylenol may be coincidental with something else that triggered your sensitivities, such as food poisoning or drinking alcohol. (Your symptoms could be histamine intolerance to certain foods.) If you had food poisoning or some other reaction to food, you might consider

Food sensitivities
 
Histamine food intolerance

 

Elimination or exclusion diets for reactions to food (food intolerance)

 

If you are drinking alcohol, it probably would be a good idea for you not to touch it for 6 months or more.

 

Did anything happen in March that might have done this? Did you have an illness, maybe coronavirus? Is it possible you have Lyme disease?

 

My intuition is this may be not be related to your going off tramadol, other than your nervous system might have been left somewhat sensitive, and something else is going on.

[Colonial]

44 minutes ago, cmm1180 said:

.I took a tiny piece of a children's tylenol. I should note that when I took the tylenol, although not necessarily a bad reaction it was a fast one. It worked for the tooth pain in less than a minute and made very tired. 

 

I dont want to be an alarmist but...

Tylenol will not make you drowsy or work in only a minute.

It almost sounds like it was laced with something if it truly was the reason for your reaction.

 

Did you get it out of a sealed bottle?

Was there any other ingredient other than acetaminophen?

Could it have been an allergy-tylenol? They have combination medications.

 

[cmm1180]

@Colonial  Sealed package of Tylenol. I have not had any alchohol whatsoever. I have a heart arrhythmia. I could not have alcohol before the Tramadol either. I have tried low histamine foods....reaction. Low salicylate...reaction. Low glutamate....reaction. But the highest reaction to glutamate (which is found in everything). After 2 years off the tylenol I was still having issues with DR/DP, stress tolerance, food issues (in the sense that sugar would give me burning in my feet and tremors). I just mostly avoided it. I am truly out of answers. Wondering if fasting would help with food intolerance. Not that I am far from that already.

[Colonial]

11 minutes ago, cmm1180 said:

. After 2 years off the tylenol

 

2 years off the tramadol or the tylenol?

did you get the tooth issue looked at and have any dental work?

 

The children's tylenol I see come in 80 or 160 mg pills.  An adult dose would be 1,000.

Did it have any other ingredient?  Like a color or flavor if chewable?

 

It does seem odd that 50 days out it would still be the issue.

You could be having a reaction to an "A Symptomatic" Corona Virus infection.

Meaning your not manifesting any viral symptoms but the illness is still affecting you

Many Corona Virus people are reporting Histamine like reactions.

 

[cmm1180]

@Colonial the tylenol dosage was 160 mg, but when I say a tiny dosage I mean a micro dose. Like 2mg. I have been scared senselessly for 2 years to try anything and this is why. Additives I am sure, probably a preservative and a die. 

 

If it were just physical histmaine/food issues I might say it could be a virus of some sort, however there are multiple psychiatric symptoms as well. Increased DP/DR, crushing depression, mania, crying at nothing, ungodly fear and anxiety. As well as the physical symptoms that are way worse than what I dealt with 2 years ago. 

 

I have a theory that the upregulated seratonin receptors paired with an already sensitive nervous system could not tolerate the seratonin/norepinephrine effects of the tylenol. It doesn't really matter about the theory because I will never know but I just don't know where to go from here. I have thought about a benzodiazepine to calm the anxiety and such but that could have a bad response in my case as well. But what do I do?

[cmm1180]

2 years off the Tramadol to clear that up, now 57 days since the Tylenol and getting worse every day. Although the response was not immediate. It took about 10 day to start feeling adverse symptoms....derealization, food intolerance, etc.

[Altostrata]

My guess is the Tylenol is a red herring.

[Colonial]

5 minutes ago, cmm1180 said:

but when I say a tiny dosage I mean a micro dose. Like 2mg.

 

How did you take that much tylenol?  And why?

how could you even measure that much?

 

Im just not understanding the story line

[Colonial]

4 minutes ago, cmm1180 said:

Although the response was not immediate. It took about 10 day to start feeling adverse symptoms....derealization, food intolerance, etc.

 

First you said it hit you within a minute, now your saying 10 days.

I think I have to agree with Alto, I think the answer is elsewhere

 

[cmm1180]

@Colonial the efficacy was within a minute...pain relief, tired. The aftermath took 10 days (derealization, depersonalization, crushing depression, etc). 

 

The amount of medicine exactly was an educated guess. I literally scraped a tiny bit off the top. It def was no where near the 100 mg (not even close). 

 

@Altostrata it could be but I have not had any other health issues up until the tylenol. I guess I will have to see an MD and have tests done to see of there are other causes. At this point I cannot wait it out anymore. I am losing too much weight and the food issues get worse each passing day. 

 

 

 

 

[Colonial]

 

I hope you get some answers soon! 💖

[cmm1180]

Writing again as an outlet. Severely agitated inside and out. DP and DR so bad. Nothing is helping. I ate a piece of an egg last night at 9PM and still feel the effects of the agitation and organic fear from it. I have tried to walk, take a shower, distract, etc. Nothing is working at all. It's an anxiety and agitation beyond words. Hard to concentrate or read. Hard to talk to anyone. Cannot relax at all. I cannot believe people live like this for extended periods of time. I cannot even remember how it felt to think normally. Sorry to be so negative. I am just suffering. 

[cmm1180]

Lots of fear, DR/DP today. So much nausea every time I eat or drink anything. Still reacting to foods. Cognitive decline. Tired all the time. Hard to read or do anything at all. Depression heavy all day today.

[cmm1180]

64 days exactly from taking the tylenol. I have had some tests run waiting on results but I think this is further damage from the tylenol to my still sensitive nervous system. Still struggling with food and digestion. Cognitive function is not great. Tired all the time. Often nasuaes and not feeling well in general. Hopefully some small improvements will be made soon. 

[cmm1180]

In the hospital with severe metabolic issues, kidney function bad, electrolytes all low and have to be brought up to normal. Still many symptoms of DP/DR, anxiety, cognitive issues, depression, feel like I am going crazy, still reacting to food but eating it anyway. So much worse since taking that Tylenol. Can barely write this or even think about how to write it.