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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

Tramadol use fresh off a benzo taper

Snake_Eyes

Bluelighter
Joined
Aug 14, 2011
Messages
1,522
Bad idea? I took my last benzo a week ago after about a 2 month taper. I've got pregabalin to help with the possible seizures but I'm not sure how much it would actually help. In the past I would usually combine the tramadol with the benzo for the added safety.
 
How many tramadol you planning to dose? I would keep it low simply because of a seizure threat.

Pregablin, Lyrica, is prescribed as an anticonvulsant for epileptic seizures. But I don't know if epileptic seizures are the same as the type that tramadol can cause. Though I guess that a seizure is a seizure no matter what causes it.

Anyway have fun. I found that tramadol and lyrica can give an awesome time!
 
I would warn against it; tramadol is a very iffy sort of drug, and though I have had a lot personal experience with dosing it both here and there and dosing it chronically, and at doses that are quite high with respect to the seizure risks it carries, I have heard too much anecdotal evidence suggesting it is a drug with pro-epileptic risks that are not to be laughed at. For me, I have always been on a solid dose of benzodiazepines, and usually other drugs with anti-convulsant activity, while using tramadol. It is, to me, a frightening drug in that regard, particularly, and even I have felt certain side-effects on account of the tramadol which made me very aware it was acting on serotonin and norepinephrine, the latter particularly, in a fashion that made me aware and even more certain of the seizure risks attached with it. I do not look at it as an opioid, any longer, really, rather more of a serotonergic and noradrenergic drug with what I once considered subjectively 'nice opioid effects', but which have dissipated for a long time now with my dependence on it; yet the effects on serotonin and norepinephrine are still apparent. And, tramadol was once a drug which I felt everyone else underrated, but how things change!

Seriously, I wouldn't touch tramadol if I were you, whatever the dose, if you completed a two-month long taper of benzodiazepines only a week ago. It is just unsafe, on the whole, and almost asking for danger to ensue. And, like I said I would strongly advise against it at any dose, but I feel I should point out 200 mg is a particularly very risky dose. Honestly, I'd say just stay away. I get that can be hard to do - believe me. But, it would just be wantonly and explicitly in bad judgment to touch tramadol, now, or in the near future, even.
 
Sould be okay. Tramadol seizures usually happen (especially with SSRIs) at the 250+ threshold. As long as you don't over abuse them you should be okay. But should you start to seize or start feeling the symptoms, eat that pregabalin right away. Otherwise, have someone close by. Seizures....are not fun.

EDIT: Tramadol is a very "dirty" drug and has many scary interactions with other drugs. Works very well for some people but you really REALLY need to watch out for it. I promise it's not a drug that's worth the symptoms in the higher doses. I was on effexor and took a normal dose of tramadol and had a full blown seizure. It's an SSRI/SNRI, and stimulates light activity in the opiod receptors.
 
Thanks, I figured it would probably be a bad idea to take them this soon after my taper so I'll hold off for awhile or at least until I can take them with my temazepam again. It kinda sucks as I'm one of those freaks who can process tramadol very well and I've looked forward to having them again for a long time. :(
 
Speaking for myself, I have found the serotenergic properties of tramadol to increase my anxiety levels. This of course may be exacerbated by rebound-anxiety from benzo wd's/PAWS. I tapered from several years of 6mg/day clonaz over 6ish months, and when I started my taper I was forced back to tramadol from hydrocodone by my doctor. Sort of settling into non-benzo'd life again, PAWS are definitely diminishing in the past month, but I am more sensitive to the side-effects of tramadol.

I kind of like my tramadol again, too. It has taken some recreational full-agonist use to show me how much more functional I am with tramadol rather than more tradional opiods. I don't feel like I build tolerance to tramadol as quickly, and I am more motivated throughout my day than when I was faded.
 
My benzo habit was pretty small (15mg temazepam) and only for a little over a year in a half (taper included) and not everyday. I'm not too worried about an increase in anxiety, I'm a semi-daily to daily weed and kratom user and even large amounts of caffeine (400-500mg) in the morning doesn't have much of an effect on me. I'm also prescribed up to 300mg of pregabalin a day and have lots of mirtazapine and hydroxyzine if needed.

Kratom and tramadol feel really similar to me and like you I like the functional energetic buzz they provide and tramadol lasts all day.
 
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