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Tramadol...any harm is taking it everyday, 2-3 at a time instead of the advised 1?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 6/17/2011 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
So, last year I was ridiculously sick.  Humira failed.  Since October when I switched to Remicade I've been tons better, yay.

The problem is I still have pain nearly everyday.  Not too major I suppose, compared to where I was this time last year, and over the summer, but still hard to be a productive member of society with.  When I'm at home, I don't care if I'm in pain, or if I need to run to the bathroom tons of times, it's no big deal.  But if I'm working, especially since I work in a front dest position where I greet people, I'm on my feet all day yadah yadah, I don't have time to be in pain.

I was taking percocet nearly everyday but now that I'm better my doc doesn't want me taking it so much anymore and didn't even want to refil my rx last time.  But she's right.  If I do go out of remission again it's not going to work on me anymore since I have such a high tolerance to painkillers now...I used to take half of a small dose a few years ago and now I need 2-3 pills of a much higher dose to do anything for me.

Suprsingly, the tramadol has been working.  I tried it once or twice in the past, along with some other ones, and nothing had worked but the painkillers or so I thought.  The tramdol has done pretty well.  It gave me dizzy spells the first few times I took it but luckily that went away.

My question is, I take them nearly everyday.  Well at least working days anyway.  Usually in the morning, or after lunch after eating something.  It's definitely making it a lot more manageable.  Yesterday I realized I didnt take any all day and was excited but then the pain and bathroom stuff kicked in. 

Is it bad to take it everyday?  Especially since I'm taking it two (sometimes three, but usually just two) at a time even though it says to take one at a time.  Are there potential bad side effects I should look out for? 

I mean it's good I'm not taking the painkillers as much anymore but I don't know if this is just the lesser of two evils...

Thanks!

Posted 6/17/2011 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
i'm not sure about the tramadol, but i see a pain doc as well as GI bc my GI would not prescribe ANY pain meds whatsoever and i was to the point where it hurt so bad when i pooped that i'd be puking at the same time! i take up to 6 percs a day for the pain 10/325 and for the time being they are working great! i really don't get any of the narcotic feeling so i'm good at work etc. i couldn't get through the day without them.
Posted 6/18/2011 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Tramadol is an opioid painkiller. It is very addictive.
Posted 6/18/2011 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Yes while Tramadol is a opiod painkiller, and can cause you to become "dependent" on it, when you suffer with chronic pain as Sara and I do, it sometimes becomes a necessity.

I take 1/2 tab of Percoset 3 x's a day. I suffer with osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia also related to my Crohns. I like mtgman do not get any high from them, just pain relief. While I am dependent on my meds, its very different that addicted. I do not use these meds to get high, I need them to control my pain and there is a big difference between the two.

Sara you should ask for a referral to a Rheumatologist. Its sounds like you might have Fibromyalgia. Many of us with Crohns have developed it related to our Crohns. My daughter has Fibro and she used Tramadol for quite awhile with success. If you find you don't need it don't take it, but do use it to control your pain. And if your doctor gives you grief prescribing it, ask for a referral to a pain mgmt clinic. No need to suffer. Hugs and good luck!
Posted 6/19/2011 5:34 AM (GMT 0)
Once you start taking tramadol every day, it can be difficult to stop it. If I missed more than one day, I would get D and a lot of stomach/intestinal pain plus other fun symptoms. Some people are more sensitive to it than others.

I was only taking up to 150 mg (3 pills) a day and stopping was awful. I followed my doc's instructions for tapering off but it I was still miserable for the first week.

You need to be careful with tramadol. Combining it with other prescriptions or even over the counter meds can cause problems. When you take 3 at a time, how any times a day do you do this? The max recommended dose is 400 mg/day or 8 - 50 mg pills/day. Higher doses increase the risk of serotonin syndrome or seizures.
Posted 6/19/2011 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
I usually only do 2 a day, its only when I feel really sick and hopeless that I do the 3... and usually if I take the 2, thats all I take for the day. Just once during work. Like I said, I don't care if I'm in pain or have bathroom issues when Im at home by myself.

At first I was really frustrated with my doctor because she didnt want me taking the percs anymore and the first week of trying the Tramadol it made me get crazy dizzy spells where as the narcotics dont give me any sort of high because I just have a high tolerance to things nowadays.

The only thing I worry about is Ive been getting migranes lately. Not everyday but when theyre bad, theyre really bad. Yesterday I even threw up but I think thats cause I had lunch around 1, went to the gym after work around 5, and didnt get home til 7-8 so I think my body was just nausous from being hungry? I don't know. Need to remember a granola bar for post/pre workouts I guess. Or the migranes could be nothing, someone said the barametric pressure and the weather is causeing people headaches.

The painkiller thing always infuriates me with doctors. I cant stand that because I'm the stereotypical abuser...a women in my 20s, they are afraid to give it to me, and blablabla addiction. I see friends who are addicted to it and it sucks. And I although I have that slight fear in the back of my mind, I know the days that I'm not in pain, I can go days, weeks, etc without it. I've thought about trying a pain management specialist again. But I tried one years ago and had a bad experience with them.

It can be frustrating sometimes. I dont want to be ungrateful, because I am tons better compated to sick and dying, hair falling out, moving like an 80 year old woman, Sara from last year. And my doctor thinks hey, look at this, bloodword, weight gain (not that im happy about that! lol, but to docs that means youre healthy!) shes better! But it is frustrating to still have almost daily pain. And I'm sorry, but ya know what would be fantastic? To have normal poop! Sheesh! Its the little things in life!

The Fibro theory is interesting...never thought about that since my pain is basically just concentrated in my stomach area, sometimes back area. But maybe when my new insurance hits ill do some checking with doctors....

Do you think the tramadol can be the cause of the headaches?

The problem I feel with percocet/vicodin/etc is I feel those mess with digestive stuff more. Like if I go and sleepover a dates house, I usually take it 'cause besides pain, I'm self conscious about having to go to the bathroom and I know it will slow down my digestive system (New York apartments are really small, and you can hear EVERYTHING! I personally think it should be a law that everyone's bathroom have that noise/fan switch haha)

I don't even know what I'm talking about anymore, I'm rambling too much lol
Posted 6/20/2011 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Tramadol can definitely be causing headaches/migraines. That is one of the reasons people can't take it.
Posted 6/20/2011 5:05 AM (GMT 0)
is it stronger/more addictive than percocets? i think i'm getting it conused with something they have given me in the ER when i have kidney stones that they said was basically just a massive dose of acetominophen- caused me to have a huge flare.
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