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Posted 8/29/2009 6:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all, just wanted your opinion. My pain doc wants me to change from hydrocondone to Tramadol. He claims in won't cause stomach upset. I have the touchiest stomach. Even Ibuprofen has me doubled over with pain if I take it. I'm not sure what to do. barb
Posted 8/29/2009 7:47 AM (GMT 0)
Barb,
I'm not sure how it is re: stomach sensitivity. I can't take it because it interferes with my seizure threshold (I also have a seizure disorder). I'd suggest going to the phamaceutical company's website and checking to see if it tends to cause GI problems. I also wonder whether anyone on the GERD forum would have experience with it.

Wish I could help more.

Hugs,

PaLady
Posted 8/29/2009 7:57 AM (GMT 0)
Tramadol can upset your stomach too. I've been taking it for a while and it doesn't bother me but I know a few people that couldn't take it because it bothered their stomachs.

You may be fine with it but you won't know until you try it.

Post Edited (Dagger) : 8/29/2009 2:03:54 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/29/2009 8:59 AM (GMT 0)
The bottom line is that any oral medication can cause stomach upset or other GI problems. Some are more prone to it than others.

Tramadol does list nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite as some of the potential side effects.

As mentioned though, you really are just going to have to give it a try and see how it effects you.
Posted 8/29/2009 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
I take the ER version of Tramadol. Ryzolt 300mg ER. I have fallen in love with it. I still take percocet 10's for breakthrough pain though. It causes my stomach to get upset on occasion. I have to eat something small when I take the pill. I also had the side effect of sweating and hot flashs. But the relief from the med is well worth the side effects. I NEVER thought it would of worked cuz off and on during the years they would prescribe Tramadol 50 mg IR and its was like candy. BUT the Ryzolt in one pill a day and I didn't think it was working till I missed a day and felt the pain come back in a flood.

If I were you I would just try it but still have your other pain meds on hand just in case it doesn't work with you.

Laurie
Posted 8/29/2009 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all your comments and advice. Here is an example of how touchy my stomach is in 06 I took Crestor(a statin) for one week and suffered 6 months of severe stomach pain to the point I had to take pain meds for it and ended up in the ER 2x with asthma attacks caused by all the stomach upset. It took 6 months to get both under control. I can't even take a 80mg aspirin for my heart and no statins at all not even niacin or even a multivitamin with it in it. I know for sure that the two meds that don't cause stomach upset in me are the hydrocodone and then oxycodone. I only took the oxycodone after my moped accident for the first month and then after my hysterectomy so it is just mainly the hydrocodone that I take when my back acts up so not on a regular basis. The doc is worried that when I need something stronger I will have built up a tolerance to those type of drugs and it will cause a problems dealing with the pain. I might try the tramadol and then at any sign of stomach upset discontinue and hope it doesn't cause major problems. Barb
Posted 8/29/2009 9:28 PM (GMT 0)

I have a very sensitive stomach too. I was on Tramadol for 2 years, but during that time I suffered very bad constipation, then once every few weeks, or more if I ate spicy or rich foods, I'd have the most horrendous diarrhoea [spelling?] - it would invariably leave me collapsed on the bathroom floor. I also lost my appetite for those two years and was nauseous 90% of the time. I only kept on taking it because it was the only thing that gave even the slightest pain relief.

I hope it works out for you though - good luck!

Posted 8/30/2009 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Barb,

I also have a very sensitive stomach. Usually if we know that something might be harsh on my stomach, my doctor puts me on a proton-pump inhibitor, like Protonix. I find that helpful, although it doesn't completely remedy the situation. You might think about asking your doctor about something like this if you haven't tried it before & are concerned about switching medications.

Skeye
Posted 8/30/2009 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
I think I will just stick with the hydrocodone for now at least until after my trip. I think I will talk to my regular doc since he is so well versed with meds. He found the combo of stomach meds to help my stomach problems when the specialists couldn't and he isn't even an md he's a nurse practitioner. He also came up with the combo to help my allergies. I am in awe of his knowledge of meds. He's the one that gave me my refills for the hydrocodone and my muscle relaxor so I really trust him. He's going to be off for a while though because he is having knee surgery so I'll just have to wait I guess. Have you taken tramadol yourself? I'll also have to ask my friend Denise over in the Gerd forum as she has a stomach exactly like mine. In fact I was able to help her find a antibiotic that doesn't bother her stomach. Barb
Posted 8/30/2009 5:46 AM (GMT 0)
In a way I find it "funny" that you can take hydrocodone and not have any stomach issues.

I can take most pain meds without problems, but hydrocodone is one that I simply can't tolerate. I can take about 1 a week without problems but any more than that I am in paying tribute to the porcelain god. The only other pain med that I have found that does the same thing to me is Naproxen Sodium (like Alieve). I can't even tolerate a single dose of that med.

So I guess it all goes to show how meds can mess with people in different ways.
Posted 8/30/2009 7:32 AM (GMT 0)
I know what you mean because I would have thought it would have bothered my stomach too but I was on it plus the oxycodone and cyclobenzaprine round the clock for a month straight after my accident. After that I was able to cut back to just at bedtime with the hydrocodone and the muscle relaxor for the next 7 months and now just take when my back acts up or I have surgery which is 2x so far this year. It has made a big difference in pain in the one area so far. Still waiting for the hand though to improve. Do you usually have a touchy stomach? Mine has been bad since age 14 and only gotten worse. It drives my poor heart doc nuts that I can't be on statins or aspirin, but the stomach and asthma were so bad from that I told him I would rather die of a heart attack than live like that. I am able to tolerate the plavix though so he keeps me on that.

Barb

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