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Avatar universal

Tramadol Hydrochloride

I took Tramadol Hydrochloride for 6 months due to joint pain from my work.  It worked wonders.  I had energy, no pain, and happiness.  But I began to notice that I had to take almost 8 pills a day to feel good.  So I tried to stop.  I cut dosage down little by little.  I felt like ****.  My body had this 'rushing' sensation of anxiety and aches.  So now I have to take at least 1 pill a day just to feel normal.  I stopped for 2 weeks altogether, but everyday I felt terrible, more so than I did before I started taking the meds.  The only way to feel 'normal' was to take at least 1 pill every 18-24 hours.  At least i don't have to take 8 anymore.  I just wanted everyone to know that even though the medical industry denies the addiction possibility, it is really there.  I'm afraid I will have to take one pill a day forever.  Anyways, just wanted to share my feelings with ya.  And my question is, why?  How can I get off this stuff?  2 weeks doesn't even do it.  
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Avatar universal
Well if you are taking Tramadol the injury couldnt have been to bad thats the good news.It is a low narcotic but if y are taking 1 pill every 18 to 24 hours the rest is all upstairs my friend.First of all its adictive but not that bad usually most people have no probable at all.It sounds like to me there is something else that you arent mentioning.Thats the addictive part of narcotics or pain meds that is it makes y happy so y forget about the pain.Some do give y allittle boost ,but y should have only taking them for a week or less.Why did y have to keep taking them for longer.Ok sorry I dont know any doctor that would precribe that crap to any CRONIC pain paients he probable gave it to you because of your emoitional problems.Im a Cronic pain paitent myself and have been since 1997.I am still on my meds and doing well,but this crazy new dumb law is turning other people to the real epedemic Herion and Fentanal pills from china.Its Gov Scotts same thing he did in 2010 with eforse good program but thats why the herion epedemic took off and he knew the results so now lets take out the old and week that are on disablity and thats there goal nothing else.They are saying its oxycotton well thats been out since 1995 and yes there where 200 to 300 deaths a year untill 2010 when efose went into efect.O and offcoase because certain Radicals are giving it to young people so they have a lowwer chance of reproducing children,smart but hurtfull to people like me that really need them.My doctor after 16 years is retireing at the end of the year because all the BS.So I am scrababling to get in somewhere else.Not fair to people who never abused or never doctorer shoped and am maintaining a decent life.
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Avatar universal
I've been taking Ultram (Tramadol) for six years for chronic pain. I get the Rx through the VA. It is not unusual for the VA to be up to two weeks late with refills. I have yet to notice any problems , other than an increase in pain while I await the VA Rx. Reactions to medications varies highly from person to person. Blanket statements about drug effects are foolish. Follow your Dr's advice. The neurologist/pain management specialist I see is OK with my use of Ultram/Tramadol.
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1855076 tn?1337115303
This is a very old post and the people commenting are no longer active in the Pain Management forum (at least most of them.)  To get a response to your question, post a new question.  I would encourage you to give a bit more information so you will get the answers you need.  My understanding of your question is that you aren't sleeping.  Are you not sleeping because your pain isn't well controlled?  Or are you not sleeping because you're having a side effect from the medication?  Or are you concerned because there seems to be a lot of negativity regarding Tramadol?

Tramadol does seem to have a lot of problems associated with it.  You should talk with your doctor about any concerns.  As for sleeping, again, it's best to talk to your doctor as he/she knows your medical history and what medications you're on.  In general, Melatonin and Alteril both help with sleep and are not habit-forming.  There are other prescription medications you can get if your doctor feels you need them.  Not sleeping is a big part of dealing with chronic pain.
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Avatar universal
had knee replaced about 3 months ago.
taking
tramadol and hydrocodon but cant
sleep.what do i do?

quasar tom
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Avatar universal
Just FYI...but this particular thread is back from 2010.....

It would be great if you could copy/paste your introduction and story in a new thread so that if you have any questions or suggestions for people...

If you were only specifically answering the OP of this thread...it was nice of you, but it won't likely get read with the post being a few years old.....

As well as with the duplicate posts....it's best to just hit the "Post a comment" then submit button once...and then use the button on the upper left to 'Return to Forum'.....wait a minute or two and your post should show up..

Sometimes people can have a slower computer or slower IP that may take a minute to show that you have posted...

This way...it will keep you from hitting submit twice which ends up with a double post as yours did..

Just some tips...and welcome to the boards...
Helpful - 0
1982543 tn?1326375706

My opinion mirrors yours to the letter. In 2004, I took a job as a business analyst with the state of Kentucky. Several months later, Kentucky was the first state in the nation to develop and release an online controlled substance prescription reporting system (KASPER). The system allows prescribers, pharmacists, law enforcement, etc to obtain a report which lists all the controlled substances that a person fills written in Kentucky. The objective is to cut down on unethical prescribers and stop the doctor shoppers and drug diversion that has been such an epidemic in this state. Tramadol became a controlled substance in Kentucky in 2008. Here's the kicker.......

In 2006, I was involved in a car accident due to the inattentiveness of another driver. The short story is that I suffered injury to my lower back which led to years of chiropractors, pain management, law suits and lost work. I get the flack from doctors when I have to get pain medication...which is funny considering that I am one that worked so hard to stop the abuse of these drugs. I am also a medication technician and have studied pharmacology in nursing. Here I am promoting and working to catch the druggies out there and being the victim of the negativity their abuse has created. I need these medications to live my life and function. Without it, I can't even get off the bed. At one time, I was even confined to a wheelchair.


I whole heartedly feel that these medications were developed for a reason and, if used for that reason, TAKE THEM! My family does the same thing........"You’re addicted!". NO! I'm "dependent". Totally different. To qualify as addiction, you must have abuse. Addiction INVOLVES dependence. Dependence simply means that your body requires the substance to maintain a certain level of being.......in the same way your body is dependent on water. You must maintain a certain level of this or live with the consequences.


So, for those out there who want to go off the drug, that's great........but if you need chronic pain relief, do NOT feel that you have to. The one reason I may go off Tramadol is simply that at some point, I have begun to develop a tolerance for it. In a nutshell, if it doesn't work, I need something else. This is when I will have to deal with the dependence withdrawal. (Note that I didn't say withdrawal from an 'addiction')
Helpful - 0
1982543 tn?1326375706

My opinion mirrors yours to the letter. In 2004, I took a job as a business analyst with the state of Kentucky. Several months later, Kentucky was the first state in the nation to develop and release an online controlled substance prescription reporting system (KASPER). The system allows prescribers, pharmacists, law enforcement, etc to obtain a report which lists all the controlled substances that a person fills written in Kentucky. The objective is to cut down on unethical prescribers and stop the doctor shoppers and drug diversion that has been such an epidemic in this state. Tramadol became a controlled substance in Kentucky in 2008. Here's the kicker.......

In 2006, I was involved in a car accident due to the inattentiveness of another driver. The short story is that I suffered injury to my lower back which led to years of chiropractors, pain management, law suits and lost work. I get the flack from doctors when I have to get pain medication...which is funny considering that I am one that worked so hard to stop the abuse of these drugs. I am also a medication technician and have studied pharmacology in nursing. Here I am promoting and working to catch the druggies out there and being the victim of the negativity their abuse has created. I need these medications to live my life and function. Without it, I can't even get off the bed. At one time, I was even confined to a wheelchair.


I whole heartedly feel that these medications were developed for a reason and, if used for that reason, TAKE THEM! My family does the same thing........"You’re addicted!". NO! I'm "dependent". Totally different. To qualify as addiction, you must have abuse. Addiction INVOLVES dependence. Dependence simply means that your body requires the substance to maintain a certain level of being.......in the same way your body is dependent on water. You must maintain a certain level of this or live with the consequences.


So, for those out there who want to go off the drug, that's great........but if you need chronic pain relief, do NOT feel that you have to. The one reason I may go off Tramadol is simply that at some point, I have begun to develop a tolerance for it. In a nutshell, if it doesn't work, I need something else. This is when I will have to deal with the dependence withdrawal. (Note that I didn't say withdrawal from an 'addiction')
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2 Comments
Thank you for explaining the difference between dependence and addiction. I am at the point where I am developing a tolerance for Tramadol. I have been on Fentanyl Patches since the 90's. Going from 75mcg to 50mcg to 25mcg and now am on Bustran 10mcg along with Tramadol 1-2 50mg 3x daily as needed. They do not help the pain anymore after 12 mo. I would love to go back on Percocet but am scared to even mention it after the new guidelines. After years of being with this PM and they were handing out MS Contin along with Percocet 5-10 4X day. They act afraid to give you ASA.
Tramadol is addicting, it's a synthetic opioid, meaning it's not derived from poppies. Although doctors first claimed it wasn't addicting, it is, just as any other opiate as is any other opiate/opioid med, along with other types of meds.
We, as patients need to follow the dosing directions exactly AS written, and avoid taking an extra dose , which only creates and speeds up tolerance issues.
If you want to get off the tramadol, talk to your provider about reducing the dosage to 25 mg, and then let him guide you through the weaning process.
Avatar universal
I would like to add one important factor to my obove post on Tramadol. Even though this medication does have some negative side effects. If people in the community are useing it on a regular basis, and your blood work always looks good, and you have healthy Liver, Stomach, and Kidneys then it might be a very benifitial medication. So as long as your Dr. is ok with it, (then its probably safe for some people) Good luck everyone, and as always best of health to all.  Paingotago
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1323549 tn?1276178147
I agree about the addiction thing.. My doctor when i was in highschool prescribed this and it worked really well for a long time but for me it was a gateway drug to stronger pain meds.. It *****.. and the withdrawls are really close to that of something stronger
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Avatar universal
I am very sorry, and concerned for all people in the community having these problems from the effects,  and side effects of Ultram- (tramadol). With all these concerns, and the fact that I personally have never taken the drug I have been studing the PDR on Tramadol for a coulple of hours now. The results of the written studies done have me abit concerned.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The first thing that struck me was the amount of people in the trials that had vomiting, and seizures, and had to quit the study  altogether. You have to understand the print is very small, and I wanted to read the information a coulple of times to make sure I did not miss something important. It says It definitely increases the risk in Seizures to patiants that take MEDICATIONS for Seritonin reuptake  inhibitors, Tricyclic antidepressants, cyclobenziprines, promethazines, and opiods. It states that opoid dependant people should not take Ultram?  It doesn't say why?  It goes on to say that patiants taking sedative hypnotic, or tranquilizers should not take Ultram.                                                                                                                                    Also if Ultram is stopped suddenly withdraw will occure: (anxiety, sweats, riggors, pain diarrehoea, and treamors). Says slow taperring is recomended.  I am not a Dr. nor do I have al the answers by any means, but this drug now has my attention.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              I have been on opiods for 16 years due to being on the other end of a terrible automobile accident that caused my motor to push my steering wheel through my pelvis,  and then multiple hip sugeries, and ankle surgeries. In my opinion this is  one of those medications where an enormous amount of thought has to be weighed in before useing this medication. For me I tend to agree with the notion that it maybe would be safer just to use a regular Opiate for pain.  It appears there would be a lot less side effects on the organs. I would deffinately discuss this with my Dr.  Its just my opinion, but I think the negatives out weigh the possitives here?  I have come to find in my journey of chronic pain controll.   I'v learned to accept,and to cope with dependance. With that said,  a cleaner opiod just fits my situation better. I do want to emphasize that we all have different situations, and what works for me might not work the same for others.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                I would like to end with I wish the best of health to all ,Sincerely, Paingotago
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Avatar universal
i had a motorcycle accident where i broke my right femur. A week after my accident my doctor prescribed me TRAMACET, which contains TRAMADOL HYDROCLORIDE AND ACETAMINOPHEN. Two months into it, having 3 to four pills aday i was happy pain free. slowly i started to cut down and eventually went down to 1 to 2 pill at night to get some sleep

After doing some research, knowing it can be addictive i stopped taking it.
it was a night mare for me at night, i could not sleep and if i did i would fall asleep for couple hours and then would have weird dreams, about the pill wanting me to use it badly.

so i decided to stay awake and watch couple movies till morning and then i would go to sleep in morning. it helped and i am 4 days into not using it i feel less pain at night and sleep better. thanks to everyone that has shared their experience it saved me from an addiction.
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Avatar universal
The reason to care if you are addicted is becuase in my case, and I am not alone, someday you will have a need to switch to a different doctor and despite no good reason, you wont be accepted. That is where I am at. Despite volouous records, MRI's, etc. two PM docs turned my down flat AFTER I broke off with my previous PM doc, and gave no reason. The old guy wouldnt take me back. The new ones both complained about my insurance and wanted to reduce my meds which was fine with me, but tehy still would not take me. They of course both took my $75 copay but then, Good bye. I was afraid I would get charged iwth Doctor shopping, especially here in FL where it is a Felony so I dropped the old PM doc first never expecting this could happen. So now I cant work due to pain and my insurance compnay has no one in my area left to try. Even so I could maybe get someone two hours away, like my last one, but I shouldnt have to drive taht far when I was paying $700 a month for insurance. So now I cant get meds, am broke, cant work, lost my insurance and despite the Advil commmercials, two a day doesnt stop my pain. So be careful out there, especially Floridians, if you are on narcotics and have to have them, tread carefully thru the system.
DH
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441382 tn?1452810569
"give me back my loratabs, etc. at least they help with the pain, and yes I rather be addited and pain free than in constant pain. "

Sometimes, that is exactly the way I feel!!!!

There are, of course, many MANY different reasons for people being in pain management.  For some people it is a temporary situation.  For me, it's not.  I will be in pain management for as long as I live.  Unless someone discovers a way to separate nerves that have welded themselves to each other and formed a mass of scar tissue, there will never again be a day when I don't have to take pain meds in order to have a halfway decent quality of life.  

I take oxycodone 15mg, 2 tablets every 4 hours, and for breakthrough pain I use ETH-Oxydose 20mg/ml, which is a liquid version of oxycodone, 1 to 1 1/2 droppersful every four hours.  They work WONDERFULLY to control the pain.  So far.  I hold down a full time job and the only thing I can't do while I'm taking the medication is drink.  I don't drink ANYWAY.  

As far as becoming addicted to my meds, WHO CARES??  If there was a chance of me not needing them someday, it would be different.  But there's not a chance of that, in fact, as time goes on, I will need my meds to be stronger.  I would rather have a good quality of life and be able to do things without the hideous pain that accompanies adhesive arachnoiditis than be clean and free of pain meds but unable to get out of bed and even just stand up because the nerve pain makes it feel like there are shards of broken glass in the soles of my feet.

Of course, everyone might not feel this way about themselves, but I do, and I also fully support anyone else who feels this way about themselves.  I'm so tired of friends and family telling me "I worry about you taking all those drugs".  Tell you what - live one day - just ONE DAY - in my body, and then tell me that you want to live like this without anything to mitigate the pain, and if you can do that and still do all the things you like to do and HAVE to do each day, then I'll consider going it without the meds.  Until then, you live in your body and I'll live in mine.

Ghilly
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Avatar universal
Ultram works on a chemical in the brain GABA, the same chemical that anti-anxiety meds work with. It might help to try using a small dose of ativan or xanax to help with the withdrawl symptoms. Just a thought.
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Avatar universal
I was on tramadol for yrs i didnt have any iddiction. They worked for  my pain well then didnt Now on gabinpentin Ibrufen 600mgs and stong cocomol and 200mgs amitripiline at night SOMETIMES i cant get out of pain so i try and fight it by dragging my selve up town or on pc etc to take my mind off it from Dorothy.
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Avatar universal
Hi, The comments made from AnonDH56 on right on.

     I am allergic to Ultram (tramodol), allergic to codeine also.
    
     Serotonin effects in SSRIs/SSNRIs
     actually increase my pain and give me panic attacks.
    
     It is called an Oppositional Medication Response/Reaction.

     So sometime the medication your taking can make you feel worse than
     the pain.

pattir727
    


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Avatar universal
There is at least one other set of posts that talk of Utram and they say it interferes with the Serotonin levels in your brain. I dont know in what way but they seemed sure of it and that might explain why Effexor worked for that one person. Antidepressants either mess wtih Serotonin, Norepeneprhine, Dopamine or one other. The Serotonin ones gives males erection problems I think and that would be Prozac. Now I didnt hear it said what dose you are on so if it is 100mg's, suggest you break them in half and see if a half a day is sufficient. If 50's try the same. Almost all drugs can be titrated off of eventually but I dont think they even know how Ultram works yet. Drugs that have unknown mechanisms should nto be sold IMHO. The only Antidepressant I can take that doesnt make me worse and feel crazy is Wellbutrin and that doesnt mess wth Serotonin.

Keep us informed.

DH
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422104 tn?1209763904
Ultram and Tramadol are the same drug.  It did nothing to relieve my pain and the side effect I experienced was the inability to urinate, not a good thing for the kidneys.  Good luck everyone.
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Avatar universal
GET OFF THIS STUFF. I've posted a couple messages, here and on other boards about this addiction. My wife has had 4 seizures now b/c of this stuff. My messages on this board was asking people about the w/d syptoms and if people could just quit w/o any w/d as my wife claims to have done. Couldn't get any real answers b/c each person has different syptoms. I trusted her yet again, for the 4th or 5th time. She took more this past Sat w/o my knowledge, and had another seizure shortly after taking them. Just don't know how/why this stuff is easily purchased over the internet. The ER doc told her that approx 70% of people that take this drug experience seizures once you reach a certain point in your own system.
Just fair warning b/c people here started in on me for not trusting her and trying to control her so I eased up on serching the house for her hidden stashes, big mistake. Don't know where to go from here.
Good luck to us all.
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228936 tn?1249094248
tamadol, ultram, it's all the same and bad news. A lot of these uniformed docs don't even know how bad this stuff is. I would much rather see people take real opiates than tramadol . all the best
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Avatar universal
"
I have beem taking tramadol for 13 months, and im scared of the effect it has been having on my body. Has any heard if it effects your menstral cycle? i havent had a period for 10 months now."

Did you ever find out the answer to your question.  If so i would love to know.  I have been taking Tramadol 50mg for the past year or so...i transitioned from hydrocodone to tramadol partly because my dr was pushing me off the meds so i figured that since "tramadol is the answer to a non-habit forming drug" that tramadol would be my answer.  It has actually helped my back pain tremendously.  My surgeon has pushed me to a pain management specialist whom has put me on Ultram Er 200 mg since i take around 7 a day of the Tramadol.  Since being on the Ultram my Menstrual Cycle has been crazy.  I missed a month and now i can't stop spotting (i know this is gross), but i didnt know if anyone could answer this question, i am concerned because i have never had this problem before. Does Ultram Er effect your menstrual cycle?  Thanks!
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Avatar universal
After a car accident in 2006 I was scripted vicodin in the highest dose that is made. Two lower back surgeries later, one in 2006 and one in 2007, I finally weaned off of vicodin (what hell I went thru to do that). Still dealing with alot of lower back pain at this time I was scripted tramadol
taking 2 every 6 hours. I have decreased the dosage to 2 a day. By doing alternative methods such as Pilates,yoga,and rolfing, to build my strength in my lower back and deal with the pain. Being an avid golfer this has helped my well being and gave me strength and hope to one day be pain and drug free.
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Avatar universal
No one wants to become addicted to this ****.  However, what do we do.  Isn't tramadol, Ultram, if it is it's weak.  My pain management dr felt 3 Vicodin a day was too much because of the potential tylenol poisoning instead of too much hydrocodone, so he changed me to Norco 3 x's.  They both make me very anxious and I think they don't work until I wait to take any.  I take soma when I am home, in severe times I take both with 1mg lorazepam because the pain makes me shake so much, but so does the hydrocodone.  He has given me the Patch which seemed okay but when you have to drive to far to work and back and do not know when where or how you will react at any given time, it is not safe, then he gave me Methadone.  Sometimes I think drs think that for us with severe pain don't have a life we have to live.  I have not had surgery because they want me jumping the hoops of all conservative treatment for the last 4 yrs and in the mean time I get worse (degenative disk and bulging disk)  In the mean time I feel if they can not or won't do surgery soon I will have to retire which will stink!  It's hard to stay upbeat,  anyway pain is not normal and untreated, I feel can lead to worse mental issues
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Avatar universal
"give me back my loratabs, etc. at least they help with the pain, and yes I rather be addited and pain free than in constant pain. "

Sometimes, that is exactly the way I feel!!!!


lexi468
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