How bad is Tramadol withdrawal?

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Tramadol is highly addictive. Normally your doctor would reduce intake slowly. Various withdrawal effects may include shakes, shivers, diarrhea, nausea, and possible flu-like symptoms. Not all people experience will all withdrawal symptoms, and some people may experience others not listed here.
The length of time withdrawal symptoms occur can range from a couple of days to weeks depending on how high your dose was and how long you were on the drug. Withdrawal symptoms can be reduced by discontinuing use of the drug slowly (i.e., gradually reducing the daily dose).
Tramadol is more complex than other opiate and opiate-like medications because it also appears to have actions on the GABAergic, noradrenergic, and serotonergic systems in the brain. This may cause some people feel additional withdrawal symptoms or intensified psychological withdrawal symptoms when discontinuing tramadol.
It is always advised to talk with your doctor before and while discontinuing this medication.
Coming from an addict, I beg you to stay away from this drug. The withdrawal effects are extremely horrible and painful. Please Please Please do not use it long term. I wouldn't wish the withdrawal effects on my worst enemy.

Due to a spinal injury I was placed on Tramadol as it was supposed to be far less addictive than traditional opiate based pain relief. I was on 150SR (slow release)
twice daily for a period of close to 3 years. I had spinal surgery late 2009 and decided
to stop taking the Tramadol. With the help of my GP we reduced my intake slowly over
a month or so. I have to admit every time we lowered the dose, the first few days were quite bad. I felt quite ill, didn't want to eat and had problems sleeping. I think the worst
was a symptom common to all opiate withdrawal, it felt like my skin was crawling with lice or something. It was a terrible feeling! Happily it would settle after a day or so.
I'm glad I chose to come off it, it had done it's job and having pain relief was more important than not having it. You may suffer some form of withdrawal but do it slowly
and it's not too bad.

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First answer by Shazbo. Last edit by Karen Splettstoesser. Contributor trust: 0 [recommend contributorrecommended]. Question popularity: 47 [recommend question].