Muscle jerks

It sounds like you are getting the first effects of serotonin syndrome. That's the way mine starts out all the time. And yes, I get it even with just a little too much tramadol.

No you don't have to go off it, just reduce the dose.

But are you taking something else with it, or even on the same day? That's where we usually get in trouble. If you look up serotonin syndrome there are nicelists of the meds not to mix. Wiki has a particularly good explanation and good list. But the lists are not all-inclusive. I've had problems with mising newer meds that aren't on the lists yet. Serotonin syndrome can be life-threatening if you let it get to the point of not being able to control your body temperature. I got that once with a mix of tram and Flexeril. At least I recognized it and stopped both meds. (I'm back on tramadol.)

---

Alcie

hi i just wanted to let you no, i was on tramadol slow release for about 8 months,the dose was gradually increased until i was on 400mg per day.i was still in a lot of pain and i noticed i started to get slight jerks in all different areas of my body.as the tramadol was increased the jerky movements did get worse but i never put it down to the meds.i did then start to pass out suddenly and without any warning.i got some nasty bumps on my head and hurted my shoulder very badly due to this. i thot it was another symptom of my fibro (as i im still learning about fibro ).when i told the dr at the pain clinic i was taken off the tramadol right away. the dr said ii shouldv told him about the jerky movements soon as they started as the tramadol was the def cause! the twiching started slightly in my face then my arms and so on,i just didnt even think for a min it could be the tramadol. the doc said some people got this with tramadol and its got to be stopped a.s.a.p when this happens. i dont mean to frighten you,but i dont want you to end up as bad as i was. ithink you should let your dr know about this. the jerky movements are quite scary arent they and also annoying.

i hope this helps you a little debbie,i think its worth getting it cheked out.
we all react different to meds, you may only have to reduce the dos as alcie says but please ask your dr first and dont just do it yourself.
when i stopped the tramadol the jerky movements stopped after about 2weeks and so did the blackouts. i wish you all the best ,
s.

Shana-
I react to tramadol alone in higher amounts, but I'm fine if I keep it to 100 - 150 mg/day.

Were you taking anything else at the time? Tramadol reacts with just about everything.

---

Alcie

hi alcie, yes i was also taking do-drydamol 30/500. 8 per day. i still take these with the butrans patch although not 8 most days 4-6 a day. the thing you mentioned - serotonin syndrom iv never heard of this. is it due to too many pain killers or is it a certain type of pain med, it does sound a frightening thing. thanks shanadine

Link to great info on serotonin-syndrome.  You will see in the info the many different drugs that may cause this syndrome.  Just click on the link. 

 

Debbie,

Glad you found the link helpful. It is good to understand serotonin-syndrome and I am  glad to read you are going to talk with your physician re your issues.

Keep us posted.

Kindly,
Kitt

---

~~Kitt~~
Moderator: Anxiety/Panic, Osteoarthritis, GERD/Heartburn and Heart/Cardiovascular Disease.
www.healingwell.com

"If you can't change the world, change your world"

Muscle twitches are NOT a normal reaction to tramadol. They are the first warning that you are getting serotonin syndrome. After that comes the whole body twitches/seizures, then you lose control of your body temperature and you need medical treatment fast.

If you start getting twitches you need to cut down the tramadol, or stop taking it or the snri or whatever you are taking with it. You can do a search easily for tramadol and X. Or go to drugs.com and search for drugs that don't go together there.

---

Alcie

Alcie,

The link I posted gives indepth info re serotonin syndrome.  Serotonin syndrome generally doesn't cause any problems once serotonin levels are back to normal. But if left untreated, severe serotonin syndrome can lead to unconsciousness and death.

Anyone with these sx should see their  physicians or present to the ER.  

Treatment of serotonin syndrome depends on the severity of your symptoms.

• If your symptoms are minor, a visit to the doctor and stopping the medication causing the problem may be enough.
• If you have symptoms that concern your doctor, you may need to go to the hospital. Your doctor may have you stay in the hospital for several hours to make sure you're OK.
• If you have severe serotonin syndrome, you may need additional medications and longer hospitalization. ^{reference Mayo Clinic}

Just my 2 cents for today.

---

~~Kitt~~
Moderator: Anxiety/Panic, Osteoarthritis, GERD/Heartburn and Heart/Cardiovascular Disease.
www.healingwell.com

"If you can't change the world, change your world"

Kitt -
Right! I was unclear in recommending stopping the drug that one should call or visit the doctor. Of course you call the doctor! If you can't get hold of him, go to the ER if symptoms are really bad.

I think that we should all read about our medications, and a lot of us don't.

I just seem to keep getting the symptoms from even a little too much tramadol without anything else. For me that can be only 3 pills in a day sometimes, and I just cut back and am OK.

I like the explanation of serotonin syndrome on the wikipedia also.

---

Alcie

I realize I am resurrecting a really old post by commenting, so I hope you won't mind too badly! I am usually active on the Fibromyalgia forum here at HealingWell.

I am dumbfounded why my rheumatologist put me in Tramadol and Flexeril at the same time. She prescribed them together and never said that they should not be taken together.

Most of the time though, I do not take them together. Occasionally, I feel muscle pain so bad I will take both at night. They help me sleep pretty well -- usually -- but last night I awoke from jerking and twitching all through the night so that's how I ended up here.

I think I will read up more on Serotonin Syndrome now. Thanks for the good info!

I have been taking Ultram for about 10 years. I went from 1 a day to 2 then to 4 a day. If i miss one dose or get close to time for another dose, I will get the jerks. I missed 2 days of it and thought I was going to lose my mind. Impossible to sit still. I got into bed I was so tired and every part of me jerking, no way to sleep. I took the regular dose and calmed down. I have not had a natural feeling since I have been on this stuff. I always feel like I am high. I hate the feeling. What should I do? I talked to the doctor that is giving me this stuff and she says that it is not habit forming. I would say that was a lie.

Thank you stkitt
You seem to be very knowledgeable about meds. I thought maybe I should show you what all I am taking and maybe you can tell me why I have the shakes and tremors so bad. I wish I could get off all meds but i know that is not possible. I am 60 year old male with osteoarthritis, lupus and you can tell by the meds some other conditions.

Celebrex 200 mg
Voltaren Gel
Tramadol HCL 100 mg (50 mg X 2)
Metformin 500 mg
Benazepril HCTZ 20 12.5 mg
Ropinerol (Requip) 1 mg
Bystolic 20 mg
Potassium Citrate ER 10 meq
Lansoprazole (Prevacid) 30 mg
Venlafaxine HCL (Effexor) XR 150 mg
Osteo Bi-flex
Morphine
Amlodipine (Norvasc) 30mg
5mg
Testosterone 1 unit
Biotin 5000mg
Demerol 50mg
Cialis 5mg
Vitamin D 50000mg
Vitamin D3 2000iu
Methocarbamol (Robaxin 750mg
I have found out it is not good to mix tramadol with effexor.

Many times the meds we take are actually very dangerous when taken with other meds. I found out the hard way with xanax and gabapentin. I took xanax as needed and just a .05 mg worked fine. Usually didnt take over twice a week. When I started gabapentin I didnt have any problem at all, taking xanax very little. It was Xmas week and a house full of people, children to seniors for nearly a week. I HAD to take xanax every day, sometimes more than one. Well, I had swelling on my face, mainly my lips. I didnt feel any internal swelling. The week after I was just exhausted and hurting so bad. I took 1 xanax a day that week to help me take a nap. Well, on saturday my husband was away all day. When he got home I had swollen on my entire face. Eyes swelled shut, ears swollen, lips swelled at least 5 times normal size. My neck was swollen down to my shoulders. Had I swollen in my throat as quickly as my face did, I would have died. My tongue swelled just a little bit. I was VERY LUCKY. I was also very stupid because I should have gone to emergency room. It turned out that when I took the xanax so that I had a build up of it, then it and the gabapentin did not work together. I stopped the xanax for good, forever. My doctor then gave me valium. I take it 3 times a day, very low dose. It works well. I have never had any swelling at all.

Post Edited (neuropathy10) : 7/31/2012 10:52:33 AM (GMT-6)