Tramadol?

Does anyone have experience with Tramadol?  I just got it yesterday.  Took my regular mobic (meloxicam) and still in a lot of pain today.  But not sure if I should take it.  I still have to teach and statistical analyses before I can go home today.  So, I need my brain. 

Sue

I had no side effects from Tramadol other than constipation and loss of appetite. I love it. I take the time-released once in the morning and never have to think about my pain again.

But everyone is different so perhaps try it another time than today.

I took the generic that wasn't time released. Told doc it didn't help and he said you have to take it just like perscribed, three times a day. That did'nt help either, I tried it for a month. Meds don't really affect me the way they do other people. I think it's different for everyone.

Hi folks, been a while since I posted but misery loves company.  I have been taking Tramadol for about 4 years.  I did not like it at first, had hallucinations, but since my Primary would not give me anything else and it did help, I stuck with it.  Started at 3 a day and now up to six and developing a resistance (and dependency), and major depression, so doc ordered Cymbalta even though it should not be taken with Tramadol!  I knew better but tried it anywy - SSRIs and SNRIs really mess up my brain.  Even cutting the starting dose in half was really bad.  Tramadol does not seem to mess with my brain since the early hallucinations.  But I am at a loss, since pain doc wants to treat the depression to see if that helps with pain/depression cycle.  I have even tried Lyrica, and it is not as bad as SSRIs but sure does increase brain fog and does little for pain.  So she wants me to try LDN, another med that should not be taken with Tramadol.  For some reason docs are willing to risk the dangerous side effects of "cocktails" rather than more simply address the pain and risk addiction.  When someone has chronic pain it's more of a dependency than addiction.  I still work full time and have to be able to think - be sharp - and it's getting harder every day with depression, the tramadol not being effective, and the roller coaster ride of medication changes.

I have noticed that tramadol can have very different effects for each person.  I get energized.  Some people get sleepy.  It is very addiciting and is really a synthetic narcotic, so once you take it for a while, watch out coming off of it!

Rose

Yes, I meant to say that Tramadol energizes me primarily because it does relieve the pain (less so now than in the past). I literally can barely move in the morning but once I have taken my morning meds (tramadol, soma and ativan) and wait an hour, I am able to move about and do most things that I need to do. Not totally pain-free, but at least I am not debilitated by pain.
Mornings that I have to drive to the office I don't take the soma until I am there, and I take the tramadol as soon as I wake up so that I can get myself dressed and be physically able to drive. Therein lies the dependency - without it, I do not think I could work.
Funny thing adding Lyrica to the mix, if I take it too late at night I sleep right through my alarm. It must work on the pain to a degree (probably by making me forget), since I don't have the need to take the tramadol right away. Maybe I just "forget". I don't take the Lyrica full time, only as an adjunct when necessary.
Rose

Regarding Tramadol, I do advise caution. It is a synthetic opiod, but acts very similar to any narcotic in that it binds to the mu opiod receptors. Thus the addicitive potential. Docs were told by drug companies that it is less addicitive, so they prescribe it instead of narcotic paid relievers because it is not a controlled substance. It's a shame in a way because the docs don't seem to understand the true facts. Just google ultram or tramadol withdrawal and you will find some horror stories. Even my new GP has warned that coming off tramadol will cause worse pain than I had before taking it.
The cocktail things bothers me, otherwise the pain management docs I see are really good. They are very much into natural ways to relieve fibro symtems. And this is their first line of attack. Last resort is more prescription paid meds.
I spend easily over $200 per month on supplements that tests say my body is short on, or that are supposed to help. Some do, some don't.
Rose
Rose

Very true K-9 . Google just about anything and you will find horror stories, especially if you Google it as "whatever withdrawal symptoms" and negative comments mixed in with a few this was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Okay, I was at a maximum dosage of Baclofen a day. Baclofen is supposed to be weaned or it can cause horrible seizures. I weaned it, no problem. Got up to 4 or 5 Percocets a day. I weaned them to 1 and a half without a problem and its a whole lot stronger on building up those opiod receptors then Tramadol. If it was not for morning pain and stiffness I know I could dump the rest of the Percocet no problem. I probably still will if I can find a good sleep replacement where I am not waking up at 4 am every morning and don't want to spend 4 hours pacing and smoking. The morning stiffness and pain I could actually deal with. Getting up and pacing and chain smoking until its time to do something and I feel like a truck hit me.

I am not discounting the fact that opiates and opiods are potentialy, highly addictive. Chronic pain sufferers tend to not get addicted nearly as much though because they take them for pain, not to get high, so they seem to be much more conscious of their dosing and want functionality, not drug induced escape, so they are doing a balancing act, not just swallowing anything that comes along in any amount it takes. We tend to be drug sensitive anyhow, so our functionality goes down the drain easier, making us more drug conscious.

Right now, my biggest challenge is the amount of Clonazapam I am taking. 4 milligrams a day due to the fact I have been on it so long for sleep I have become very resistant and highly dependent on it. I am not addicted to Clonazapam. I am dependent on it for sleep and the dosage is to high. I have got to wean off this high dosage. It does not take 4 milligrams a day to control panic attacks, even if you are resistant to it. A half milligram to 1 milligram twice a day would probably work just fine. But I have to now substitute something else to sleep to wean the Clonazapam.

The Internet is such a major advantage in most ways, but some things it just exaggerates circumstances by the sheer numbers of people responding to a given query. And it works in both directions. Do a query on MSM and Fibromyalgia and read through the testimonials. By the time your done you have found at least a hundred people with Fibro that are cured by this one substance.