Strange/scary reaction; could it have been the tramadol?

[avcpl]

Our usual, once a week schedule goes like this (been doing it for a couple years with no incidence):

00:00 150mg tramadol (taken on full stomach)
+2hrs 25mg hydrocodone + 300mg chelated magnesium + a glass or two of wine spread out over a few hours

This week I made a small change, and upped the magnesium to 400mg and took a very, very small amount of Cialis (~1mg sublingual) in case of sexytimes!

At +8hrs, after dinner, I started feeling very odd. I had a difficult time walking and was feeling "shaky". I went in the bedroom to lie down and my pulse was racing. I tried to meditate to calm down but it just kept getting faster and was pounding in my head and chest. My jaw was trembling as were my hands. I seriously considered having my wife call for an ambulance, I was that scared.

I managed to check my BP and it was 168/92 and my pulse was 128bpm; not really dangerous levels, but high. It was start to go down and then go back up. I was extremely nauseous--I didn't feel overheated or anything but I went out in the cold air and that helped. I took half a Xanax bar to stop the shaking and when it finally kicked in, I felt better.

After much research, the closest thing that matched my symptoms was Serotonin Syndrome, but that just seems unlikely, since I hadn't taken any kind of MAOI or anti-depressant and I took the tramadol a full 8 hours earlier! The magnesium and cialis should lower blood pressure if anything, so I don't think it was that; and I can't find any interactions between any of these things.

In the interest of harm reduction, I'm certainly going to modify my behavior. I'm inclined to think it's just the tramadol, but if anyone has any information on how this could be possible I would appreciate it!

 

[Escapedysphoria]

Tramadol gives me anxiety and/or attacks due to the jittery SNRI properties even at dosages at low as 100mg.

 

[Violenza666]

Tramadol does that to me and worse. The shit is garbage.

 

[Escapedysphoria]

Last time I took 150mg of tram and was twitching uncontrollably; basically felt like I was gonna have a seizure. My heart was pounding and even due to tramadol's opioid metabolite my pupils were dilaed. I also have a physical dependency to benzos and anxiety disorders as it is.

 

[avcpl]

doing some more research it looks like all my symptoms are also typical of norepinephrine reuptake inhibition, a property that tramadol exhibits; so it may not have been serotonin syndrome, but could still have been dangerous.

I'm still puzzled as to why this reaction happened so late. Usually the edginess of tramadol happens for me in the first few hours and then becomes mellow.

Either way, it really sucked!

 

[KAYLA2010]

These as are the side effects of to much SNRI serotonin norepinephrine Reuptake inhibitors in your body. Drink a lot of water and try to flush your system out.

Hope u feel better and good luck

 

[Oxide]

Sounds like a bit of a bad reaction to tramadol. I know this feeling you're describing pretty well...the unpleasant side effects are much more common when you take the entire dosage at once. You can cut out of a lot of the side effects by "ramping" the dosage up slowly.

I wouldn't recommend mixing tramadol and Cialis, either. I don't know of any specific dangers/interactions, but it's best to avoid mixing pretty much anything with tramadol, in my opinion.

I'm still puzzled as to why this reaction happened so late. Usually the edginess of tramadol happens for me in the first few hours and then becomes mellow.

It does seem a little strange, I usually experience all the 'edginess' during the beginning as well. If you take the tramadol in 50mg increments, building up to your desired dosage in intervals, I'd be willing to bet that you'll get much better results.

 

[Pjkt2501]

I have an Rx for Tramadol, 50mg. I take them 4x per day, spaced out 2-3 hours (mornings are tough, I wake up in a lot of pain). By the end of the day, my whole body feels GOOD instead of like arse had I not taken anything at all. The thing for me, is that as Oxide said, compounding it throughout the day works better at bringing out the opiate effects (analgesia), rather than having too prominent of an SNRI effect.

YMMV, and everyone's body is different. If you're going for an opiate buzz, try using codeine. It responds well to CWE (cold water extraction), and doesn't have any other actions than as an analgesic pain killer. (AKA no SNRI component). Codeine is equally weak as Tramadol's opiate nature as well (in my eyes / use anyhow).

Best of luck!

 

[avcpl]

Sounds like a bit of a bad reaction to tramadol. I know this feeling you're describing pretty well...the unpleasant side effects are much more common when you take the entire dosage at once. You can cut out of a lot of the side effects by "ramping" the dosage up slowly.

It does seem a little strange, I usually experience all the 'edginess' during the beginning as well. If you take the tramadol in 50mg increments, building up to your desired dosage in intervals, I'd be willing to bet that you'll get much better results.

I used to space them out every half hour, but found if I took them all on a full stomach it gave me the same results since the food seemed to dilute it entering my system all at once. But perhaps even 30min is too soon.

How much space between each 50mg pill would you recommend?

 

[avcpl]

I have an Rx for Tramadol, 50mg. I take them 4x per day, spaced out 2-3 hours (mornings are tough, I wake up in a lot of pain). By the end of the day, my whole body feels GOOD instead of like arse had I not taken anything at all. The thing for me, is that as Oxide said, compounding it throughout the day works better at bringing out the opiate effects (analgesia), rather than having too prominent of an SNRI effect.

YMMV, and everyone's body is different. If you're going for an opiate buzz, try using codeine. It responds well to CWE (cold water extraction), and doesn't have any other actions than as an analgesic pain killer. (AKA no SNRI component). Codeine is equally weak as Tramadol's opiate nature as well (in my eyes / use anyhow).

Best of luck!

Thanks so much for the info! Perhaps 2-3 hrs is a better idea for me as well; I don't have access to codeine, but do have a script for norco 10/325s so I get the opiate feelings from that without too much apap; combined with the mood elevating effects of the tramadol it is a nice blend; I would hate to give up the trams since they've worked so well in the past; I guess I might just need to adjust my scheduling.

 

[Pjkt2501]

Thanks so much for the info! Perhaps 2-3 hrs is a better idea for me as well; I don't have access to codeine, but do have a script for norco 10/325s so I get the opiate feelings from that without too much apap; combined with the mood elevating effects of the tramadol it is a nice blend; I would hate to give up the trams since they've worked so well in the past; I guess I might just need to adjust my scheduling.

I've read a lot of posts from different members on here that the metabolite of Tramadol - o-desmethyltramadol - is better metabolized after each consecutive dose. Meaning that after your body process the 1st 50mg, the second 50mg will have more effect, and by the time (~6-9 hours later) you take the final 50mg, it'll have that much more of an effect (on opioid receptors), and less SNRI effect.

Cheers!

Also: for the purpose of catching a buzz - leave the Trams alone. They do combine excellently w/ (in my case) oxycodone for a lovely synergistic happiness, but again, I don't use the Trams more than 50mg at a time (have taken 100mg at once, one time - didn't notice anything different really). Just eat a Norco or two and enjoy that. Just munching them is only 650mg APAP - not too much if you aren't taxing your liver in other ways (drinking, other drugs, etc).

 

[SunflowerCake]

I had a similar reaction to my first dose of MDMA and only later realized that I had a Vasovagal Episode. It may be completely unrelated, but it's something to consider.

Symptoms: "lightheadedness, nausea, the feeling of being hot, ringing in the ears, uncomfortable feeling in the heart, fuzzy thoughts, a slight inability to speak/form words (sometimes combined with mild stuttering), weakness and visual disturbances such as lights seeming too bright, fuzzy or tunnel vision, and sometimes a feeling of nervousness can occur as well. In short of fainting a person may experience an almost indescribable weak and tired feeling resulting from a lack of oxygen to the brain due to a sudden drop in blood pressure... Often described as 'the feeling of impending death'"

It can be brought on by arousal, stimulants, strong onset of emotions, etc.

If it happens again I would definitely call up a doctor and see what they think. Definitely a weird experience to say the least!