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Tramadol or ??????

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Posted 7/21/2014 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
Just wondering if any one else had this happen to them .
I have been on 300mg of Tramadol for about 5 months now and one of the things that works for me no more feeling stoned and most of the pain gone.
My question is . Is there another drug that does the same thing?
As my Ins company will not cover it at all even thou it works.
And Tramadol is not cheap.
I,m in Canada if that changes any thing.
Please let me know if you know of I different drug so I can ask my Doctor about it.
Thanks
Tom
Posted 7/21/2014 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum, Tom.

Tramadol (generic) is cheap here (US). I only get 1/2 what you take, but it's only $9/month. Insurance doesn't pay anything here either. Are you taking the extended release? Brand name? That would be the difference. Can you survive with just the instant release?

I've been taking it for years, same dose. It's quite mild, but it raises serotonin level which helps in a different way from other opioids. (It's a synthetic opioid, sometimes not called an opioid, although it hits mu receptors.) I get grumpy when I don't take it, but outside of that and pain returning, I haven't had withdrawal symptoms.

What are you taking it for? I mostly take it for fibromyalgia. It doesn't do anything for my severe nerve pain, except it improves mood, which I guess is worth something. Nothing else helps my kind of nerve pain either.

There are lots of other drugs that raise serotonin. Muscle relaxants, antidepressants ... There are other opioids for pain, but they're way more addicting. Have you brought the problem up to your prescribing doctor? You'll need a prescription for anything else and the price will probably be higher than the generic tramadol IR. There are some studies about using bright lights, exercise and psychotherapy instead of drugs to raise serotonin.

Caveat: Don't demand a specific drug. It raises a red flag. Think about that. Ask the doctor what he thinks.
Posted 7/21/2014 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
piker6ca, I have a question. I don't know if this is true or not, although I seriously doubt if it is. Can you buy Tylenol #3 over the counter in Canada. Tylenol # 3 is 30 mgs Codiene & Acetaminiophen. It is prescription only in the US and a Schedule III med.
Posted 7/22/2014 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
Mercy we can not buy it over the counter at all #2 or #3

My tramadol is the slow release and it cost me $175.00 per month it works but the price is killing me.
WOW only 18 a month send it here lol

Post Edited (piker6ca) : 7/21/2014 8:31:47 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/22/2014 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
piker6ca, Thanks ! I thought it sounded very strange. I just haven't asked anyone before.

Do you have different health plans in Canada ? If you do maybe another health plan would be better.
Posted 7/22/2014 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
We can buy into other plans but if i switched now they will not cover me or the cost would be so high.
I am a native Canadian so most of my drugs are covered but not the Tramadol .
I can,t believe how cheap your drugs are down there .
I got some 50mg tablets of Tramadol for break through pain and they cost me $80.00 for 60 pills .
And here all this time I thought are drugs where cheaper guess not.
All of our medical for doctors and test are covered by the gov and we don,t pay at all for that.
Posted 7/22/2014 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
We can buy into other plans but if i switched now they will not cover me or the cost would be so high.
I am a native Canadian so most of my drugs are covered but not the Tramadol .
I can,t believe how cheap your drugs are down there .
I got some 50mg tablets of Tramadol for break through pain and they cost me $80.00 for 60 pills .
And here all this time I thought are drugs where cheaper guess not.
All of our medical for doctors and test are covered by the gov and we don,t pay at all for that.
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