Getting Doctor to switch from Tramadol

[sghouston5]

Hello again. I do not have very many posts, but I would like to ask anyone a question they may or may not know the answer to.

So I take Effexor and Xanax for my anxiety (and I am by no means addicted, I just take the Xanax on the occasion).

These are the only two drugs I do since I had an episode a few months ago with more serious drugs (MDMA, DMT, Hash, Shrooms...rather it was a combination of all those in a single night...stupid I know...) but that combination I suppose "brought out" my psycological illness, which is panic disorder. Anyways...

My lower back started hurting a few weeks ago and I just sort of ignored this and attributed it to anxiety or the xanax side effects, maybe even growing pains. But pain was starting to "shoot" down my leg. So I go to the doctor finally, and they diagnose me with sciatica, and tell me to take tramadol as needed. the tramadol was only 50mg.

So the next day, I get the tramadol, take 2 in the evening in hopes that it will help me sleep. Boy was I wrong as hell.

Within a couple of hours, my neck and head were twitching rapidly and my eyes were starting to roll back!! I could somewhat control this sensation or "snap out" of it but I had a great deal of difficulty doing so. My heart began to race and I would have these stomach cramps...I thought I was going to die (due to my annoying anxiety problems) so I caved and took a bar, then passed out in like 20 minutes. I woke up fine the next day...

So I am wondering...did I have an allergic reaction to tramadol? Did it interact with Effexor? I am scared to call my doctor and tell them this, they might think I made it up and am a drug seeker. What do I do?

thanks

 

[downerhead]

Ah yes,the fear of being labled a drug seeker when you have legitimate needs.I know it well.I constantly under-rate my pain level out of fear of getting nothing but a script of motrin.However,if the tramadol is causing negative side effects you should stop taking it and tell your doctor immediately.Especially if it had this effect more than once and you're pretty sure it it the tramadol.Negative side effects can be life threatening.My girfriend was given some type of anti-depressant or something and it gave her uncontrollable facial ticks.She later learned that had she not stopped the med it could have become permanent.Be honest with your doc and if he's not compassionate enough to switch your meds find another doctor

 

[sghouston5]

Awesome, thanks for the expedient reply. So I called them left a VM, then they called me back and the nurse told me the doctor said it was "just my anxiety". Um lol. I do not get head jerks and eyes rolling in the back of my head with anxiety? I had read that there is bad effects when mixing tramdol (that acts as an SSRI) and Effexor (which is an SSRI/SNRI). WebMD says combining the two can even cause serotonin syndrome, although I am positive that's probably not what happened.

I have read about Tramadol (or other synthetic opiods) causing seizures. Synth opes have never worked for me, they make me feel just...weird, like something isn't natural about them lol.

They say they will call me back, but I haven't heard anything yet. May call back and say "Guess you will just have to deal with the pain". Haha

 

[sghouston5]

Just as a shocking update....

The doctor gave me 30 x 7.5/325 Lortabs. Wow, I really didn't think he would give that many.

So problem solved I guess. Time to take one and prepare a hot shower and some comfy clothes...no more pain!

 

[pasha]

what you described there is serotonin syndrome which can be lethal. you can get that from combining certain serotonergic drugs such as effexor and tramadol. what you've done is halted the over activation of neurons that's associated with the cell death in serotonin syndrome.

so you pretty much potentially saved your own life.

homeless -> basic

 

[sghouston5]

what you described there is serotonin syndrome which can be lethal. you can get that from combining certain serotonergic drugs such as effexor and tramadol. what you've done is halted the over activation of neurons that's associated with the cell death in serotonin syndrome.

so you pretty much potentially saved your own life.

homeless -> basic

Wow. That's really good to know lol. Um...I am reading about this serotonin syndrome....why would the doctor prescribe that to me KNOWING that I am prescribed effexor..? Seems like I could "sue" for that...

 

[downerhead]

Thank you baooozs.Now I know an actual medical reason why I have had bad reactions to every SSRI/SNRI I've been prescribed in the past.I knew it wasn't just me!That's another great thing about this site,learning from others more knowledgeable than myself.Now I can make a more informed argument the next time some quack tries to give me that shit.Thanks again bud.