Ultram (Tramadol) and Flexeril at the same time???

Cheers, everyone.  I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a week ago by a chronic pain management specialist who specializes in fibro.  I unfortunately also have celiac and know that there is a correlation between the two.

The specialist prescribed Ultram (Tramadol) up to 400 mg per day and told me to continue taking Flexeril at night.  However, I have read many times there is a MAJOR interaction between these drugs.  The Ultram is not working whatsoever - at this point I am taking 50 mg in the morning and 100 mg early afternoon.  My goal is to titrate up to 100 mg in the morning in a few days and continue 100 mg early afternoon and 50 mg when needed.  It just makes me nauseous and sort of weepy.  Absolutely no pain control at this point. 

My husband and I are flying long-haul on vacation in a week and I am worried as I was hoping Tramadol would help.  Maybe if I continue titrating it will???!!  I have so much pain all over plus a previous back injury (herniated discs and so on) that I just do not know how I will do this.  We travel to Europe regularly but my pain is definitely at its worst over the past couple of months.

I have read that some people take acetaminophen with Tramadol so am trying that.  Because I have celiac I cannot take NSAIDs.  Have tried 15 other kinds of meds but absolutely nothing has helped yet (including Percocet, Oxycontin, Lyrica and so on).

Questions:

1.  Can I indeed take Tramadol and Flexeril together?  My pharmacist is leary.

2.  At what point did you notice Tramadol working?

3.  Did the side effects of Tramadol diminish fairly quickly?

Welcome, Chanterelle! I'm glad you found us. We really are a friendly bunch.

Remember that drugs work so differently in different people. My doctor always says that actually, any drug can cause ANY reaction in somebody. If your pharmacist is leary, I would be too. I'm sorry you have to wonder and worry about this on top of everything else!

I take Tramadol and it worked for me right away, at very small doses (25 mg, occasionally 50.) Not that it takes the pain completely away, of course - I don't expect anything to do that - but it puts it into the background. If I don't take it with food, though, it sometimes makes me nauseous. I ususally just take it once in the late afternoon, and once a week or so I go without. But if I really aggravated my body (I have disc problems too) I'm sure I'd need more.

Flexeril just made me dizzy...go figure.

Debbie

Yes, I have read that drug interaction information and it really makes me wonder. To be on the safe side I will not take these two together. I really hope I find the right combination soon! Perhaps once I have been off gluten for an extended time it will make a difference as well.

2 Tim 1:7 is indeed a great reminder for me!

I've had major serotonin syndrome after taking 1 Flexeril the evening of the same day as my 50 mg tramadol, about 6-8 hours apart. First I had mild, non-painful twitches, spasms in my legs. The next morning, after taking only the tramadol, I started turning beet red and felt horribly hot. I knew what was happening! I was losing control of my body temperture. Fortunately I had Valium available and I took 2 mg (smallest dose), after consulting with my doc, of course. I had to take it again a few hours later. I couldn't take either the tramadol or the flexeril for a few days and suffered a lot of pain.

If you should happen to get to the overheated stage you must go to the ER and tell them exactly what's happening. A lot of docs aren't very knowledgeable about serotonin syndrome, even pain docs. It's not really that common. So those of us who know we are sensitive must research our meds and learn to treat ourselves. I'm pretty sure several of the common benzodiazepines will stop the syndrome. There are other treatments, but I had this one on hand and avoided an ER trip - just barely!

I am very sensitive, carry around a page and a half of my reactions to meds I have tried. I can even get SS from just taking too much tramadol (4 x 50 mg) in a day, or taking it plus one vicodin the same day, although those haven't been as bad as tramadol plus Flexeril. I wish I could take Flexeril because alone, it does help me. But tramadol helps me best with my fibro, so I take that and am just careful, write down the times I take it, and research all new prescriptions.

I hope so, too. Good luck and keep us posted!

Debbie

I know our bodies react different to medications. I usually will have a lot of side effects for some reason. Even my Dr.s are scared to order medicaton now. I took ultram many years ago at high doses for pain with an anitidepressent. I had a major seizure on it. It was my first one. My neorologist says it was the ultram that caused it. Ultram at hight doses are known to cause seizures and other drug side effect is seizures also. Not a good combination he said. He told me he has had several people have seizures on ultram. It is listed as an side effect. I am very limited on taking medications now. I aslo suffer from serotonin syndrom.

Hi, Ultram didn't help me, but I was on the 2 together. Maybe ask your doctor is they can switch the Ultram or the Flexeril? They can both be called into the pharmacy, not like a schedule 2 medication. I don't remember them working for me at all, and I was switched to Nucynta which is schedule 2 medication "big brother" of Ultram (did not work either)

Ultram in general seems to work for certain people, but not for others.

I would add that if your pharmacist thought there would be a HUGE interaction they would not fill the medication, but call the physician for a substitute, at least that has been my experience. Maybe ask for SOMA? That's a pain medication and muscle relaxer in one.

Just be honest and tell them that- you don't want to be stuck in pain heading to the ER, or just miserable. Some drugs just don't work.