My husband takes Tramadol (synthetic opiate) for his back (ruptured discs). From what he's told me, it helps him when combined with Vicodin.

However, if he misses a dose by 4-6 hours...he knows it. If you suddenly stop taking it, it will have withdrawal effects the same as any other opiate.

Also, I asked him if he thinks it would help my pain, and he said not to take it....ever. Maybe that's because of it's withdrawal symptoms.

That's all I got :-)

Pam

I use the new Ryzolt its a time released tramadol

2 tablets of 50 mg Tramadol along with 2 tablets of Tylenol Arthritis Extended Relief, every 8 hours, around the clock, helps my Fibro pain. Just remember if you drink alcohol, the Tylenol mixed with alcohol will kill your liver. I only drink alcohol one day a week, and not EVERY week, so I just take no Tylenol on the day I know I will be drinking any alcohol. I also get trigger point injections into 3 of the most knotted muscles about once a month. I would like more injections, but my Dr draws the line at 3 different spots at one time because of payment issues to him from the insurance. If I need more than 3 shots, I have to come back to his office anoterh time for another 3, and he won't inject the same spot for about a month. He uses Steroid injection, which is not without risks, so limits the amount he will give me. I am 58 years old and have the beginnings of a cataract caused by the steroid use over the past 23 years, but my eye Dr says most people my age have cataracts, regardless of Steroid use. But steroids can also cause steroid-induced diabetes, so they are very careful to limit its' use. My DR REFUSES narcotics, period. Sometimes i am begging for them, but he just shoots me up with steroids. I also take Baclofen, sometimes 5-10 mg up to three times a day when I need it. The tramadol will cause dependence (so do narcotis)in most people, but sometimes that is price we must pay.
My Dr seems to think that exercise id the answer to FM pain from FM seminars he has attended, and I just have too much osteoarthritis to exercise. I also had blood clots in my lungs in Sept '10 so because of the warfarin I must take for anticoagulation, I am severely limited in what drugs I can take for my FM and OA.

Hi Fifi Rose,

I have never had tramadol and can't help you with that. But taking percocet is a non event, it doesn't take the pain away but does take off the edge enabling me to get out of bed.

My functioning scale is improved to about 20% with the percocet, without it I don't think I can get out of bed. I have had no side effects from the percocet, which is unusual as I am sensitive to all of the usual FM meds. From debilitating nausea to suicidal thoughts which are symptoms I didn't have without the FM meds.

Wishing you the best result with whatever meds you try, and pray that you have some relief.

Blessing,
Alicia

Tramadol worked wonders with my ability to cope with the pain. Although i could still feel the pressure where my muscles were having a party, I could function and it did not exhaust me as much as usual. So the tramacdol absolutely helped. The down fall I developed hives, major itching and a horrible head and stomach ache, plus my vision got screwy...ER doc suspects pseudotumor cerebri...after I stopped taking it...the headache and nausea subsided, vision is still wacky and have to see specialist about it...I guess it can cause blindness if it messes up my optic nerve...
I was very disappointed...tramadol seemed to be the wonder drug...and the headaches only seemed to happen around 3 pm each day and last a few hours, plus the nausea just made me feel like I was gonna pass out then it went away after a few hours. I was almost willing to live with it...except for the hives.
My doctor doesn't like perocets and I can not tolerate any other drugs so now I am stuck on bed rest again expected to live my life this way in pain.
I really hope tramadol works for you

I take Tramadol for pain as needed. I have found that it helps me get through tough days. It doesn't make the pain go away, but it does make it bother me less. It's not debilitating pain anymore, you know what I mean? I can function through it. I DO find that it's less effective if I take it when I could have functioned without it. I wouldn't take it with other drugs if you're a person who is sensitive to side effects, because it already has the tylenol and the opiate, it's just a pretty small dose. I Also find that, if you work or need to be fully aware, that the first one I take during the day doesn't make me feel "drugged", but if I need a second one, that one does. I try to take one before work if I work that day and hold off til I get home for the second one. I couldn't wait once and that was a fun afternoon... :)

Also, I don't take it every day. I try to only take it if I just cannot stand the pain anymore...

To shutupndance: You might be misinformed about that. Tramadol (brand name Ultram) does NOT already contain acetaminophen. There is also a drug called Ultracet, which is a combination of tramadol and acetaminophen (Tylenol), but that is an entirely different drug. Ultracet (brandname) is too expensive for me, and I think the tramadol dose in it might not be 50 mg. but maybe a smaller anount, like 37 mg.
Tramadol and Tylenol Arthritis Ext Relief does not eliminate the pain, but sure cuts it down to a manageable amount that I can live with and still be able to function at work and in my life. I do NOT do anything strenuous without paying for it dearly in pain and muscle spasm, and if I do that, the tramadol/tylenol arthritis does not help. So I stay away from strenuous activities. I work about 50 to 60 hours a week, so have little time for strenous activities anyway, spending hour upon hour at the computer desk.

thank you s
some of you mentioned TYLENOL W/CODEINE

AM I CORRECT TO SAY THAT IF I HAVE THE TYLENOL THAN IA PERSON SHOULD NOT TAKE THE TRAMADOL?

IN SHORT AS YOU CAN TELL I AM HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH MY DOCTOR AND THATS WHY I ASKING SO ANY QUESTIONS HERE PLUS, YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND OUR PAIN AND HOW IT CAN MAKE YOU NEED BED REST AS WELL

THANK YOU 4 HELPING ME
XXX

FRAN

Hi I take tramadol,as I cant tolerate the stroner meds such as percocet etc. t helps calm my pain to abput a 3, but never takes it away. I have been using aleve in between because I tried another tramadol before the 4 hours and I got sick. I ended up the hospiatl with a migraine that was a least a twelve and they gave me an IV coctail, which calmed it down, but I had the migraine for a few more days still. Not being able to take narcotics henders me, but I do get shots occionally, when I can find a doc that wll do it. I have had a lot of pain in the last two weeks in my neck and arm on the right side, it ends up in my wrist and my fingers. I use muscle rub, mosit heat, tramadol and a lot of rest.

yes i am too having the pain in right shoulder, my neck down to waise and sopine

i have a spinal bedsore- pressure ulcer which isnt helping fibro

i use to use DARVACET pain med until the darn thing was just taken off the market and that what causing a prob between me and my doctor

i have tylenol w/ codeine #3 but i use to use it strickly for the migraines- i dont want 2 use it as primary pain med which i use DARVACET

he wont use the vicodin and arguing over the tramadol and percacet
than there was the suggestion of the med- ZYBAN

i feel like i am about 2 climb the walls-
and as you guys know with fibro pain you cant basically do anything else- i am so frustrated right now
thank you guys 4 helping me

xxxx

fran

SUe- u might have something going on in your spine-neck area that needs medical or surgical attention ASAP. Many FM sufferers have degenerative cervical spinal disease as well as FM. I have had 2 surgical fusion operations in my neck since 1987. The arm or shoulder pain you are having could be a pinched nerve in your neck. Please get it checked. Your arm muscles will atrophy and get weak if you have a pinched nerve that you don't treat adequately. I knew I was in trouble when I couldn't lift a drink to my mouth or a pan off the stove. I quickly got the point where I couldn't even button my own clothes because my arm was too weak. Catch it early and recovery takes less time. Please have it checked soon!

Just tried the percocet tonight...the hives that are still on me from the reaction to Tramadol just got much worse...now I don't know if I am allergic to the percocet or if my antihistamine has run out so my hives are coming back.
Doctor said it could take 6 weeks for the hives to go away from taking two doses of Tramadol.
Some days you just can't win...looks like it is going to be a long night....think I will get my income taxes done....still haven't filed my 2009 return...might as well use the time wisely...although I am not sure it is wise to do my taxes while taking percocets...lol

I have been on both - Tramadol cannot be taken with SSRI's (antidepressants) and I'm on Cymbalta for my fibro so cannot use tramadol. However when I did take it in the past it worked quite well for me.

Percocet is much stronger. that always worked for me too, but no doctor will prescribe it for me (unless I'm post op) . I have a rheumy that doesn't rx narcotics (lucky huh?), but I do get a supply every couple of months of tylenol with codeine as that works better for me than vicodin (itchy) and percocet (nausea).

Good luck!

A closer look at my bottle confirms that I'm taking the generic form of Ultracet, its tramadol plus tylenol :)