By Greg on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 10:43 am:

Posted by Greg on April 06, 2000 at 17:35:11:

hello everyone,

My prolotherapist came me a medication called "Ultram", for my post-prolo pain. Of course, I never took it, because like many of of, we find no relief from pain medications. I am having prolo on my neck, but during the past week my SI joints/hips began to seriously act up again to the point where I was almost bed-ridden. I was so desperate for relief that I took one of the pills (Ultram), and within a half an hour, I was almost pain free !!!!! I got up and did everything I needed to do. I hate the idea of taking a pill, but I have taken this medication for the past few days (one a day), and I feel better than I have in years. Now I know why my prolotherapist kept pushing me to give it a try. Check out Ultram.com for some info, and give it a try if you can!!!

Greg

By Gwen on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 10:44 am:

Ultram is Tramadol, also marketed as Tramol. I've heard good reports of it as an analgesic but you definitely need to be aware of side effects. The literature says the best way to take it is to build up the dosage slowly, rather than starting a therapeutic dosage from Day 1. Side effects are transient but can be very unpleasant. If you develop them, knock back the dosage for a couple of days until they resolve, then cautiously build up again.

By Beth Fairfield on Monday, June 05, 2000 - 10:45 am:

I have to agree. I have been using Ultram for sometime. One pill seems to do me for an entire day! That is the best that has happened to me. Occasionally I have to take 1.5 pills. I am allowed to take them every 4 hours but I don't think that I have ever had to.

By Jaine Riley on Friday, July 14, 2000 - 06:56 am:

What are the side effects and is it available in the UK?

Any further information welcomed

Thanks

Jaine

By Heather on Friday, July 14, 2000 - 02:00 pm:

Jaine

You can get Tramadol in the UK.I was given Tramadol pills 200mgs.I thought I was going to land in Space.The side effects were awful.I told the doctor to keep them.Then a friend told me about tramadol capsules 50mgs.I have been taken them for 8months now with great benifit.I sometimes take two at a time when things are bad.Other times one every four hours is enough.Ask your doctor for the capsules first. As they are much easier on you stomach.

Kind Regards Heather

By Beth on Friday, July 14, 2000 - 02:06 pm:

Here is info I found....

http://health.yahoo.com/health/Drugs_Tree/Medication_or_Drug/0571

Hugs Beth

By Gwen on Friday, July 14, 2000 - 02:07 pm:

Side effects of tramadol include Gastro-intestinal disturbances, Central Nervous system irritation, dry mouth, perspiration, headaches and sedation. They are said to mainly occur in the initial stages of taking Tramadol and to be avoidable by taking an initial low dose and gradually increasing it. It is one of the opioid family and thus related to morphine, dextropropoxyphene and pethidine but studies seem to indicate that opioid addiction doesn't occur when they are taken to control chronic pain.
Another opioid to look out for is Oxycontin which has been available in America since 1996 and needs only to be taken once every twelve hours to give sustained relief.
I don't know about the availability of either drug in UK but if Tramadol is available in a tin-pot little country like New Zealand I'm sure it is available in UK. Any chemist would be able to tell you if it is available. Next step is persuading your doctor to actually prescribe it for you. In my experience most seem stuck in the mindset that NSAIDs are the drug of choice and all opioids cause addiction except in terminal patients.

By Bianca on Sunday, July 16, 2000 - 05:55 am:

I can only support Gwen. Yes Opiates are very good piankillers also for HMS/EDS pain, also because we know that some uf us have no response to NSAIDs (like me).
And as you say addiction is very rarly when Opiates are taken as painkillers.
By the way I read from an interesting study, where they wanted to find out about Opiat addiction in people with chronic back pain. The most surprising thing for the researchers was that a year later about 30% of their patients had restarted to work because they could manage their situation and had enough power to work now.
I know it is sometimes not easy to get an Opiat. When I went to the Pharmacy to get Tramal for the first time , the woman there looked at me like I wanted to make a bad joke, but she had to give it to me because I had a receipt. And I am glad to have it.

By Ron on Monday, September 04, 2000 - 06:13 pm:

I was asked to participate in a study using Tramadol. About 45 minutes after the first dose I was very surprised that the pain in my lower back (ostioarthritis) was almost gone. I have hardly no stiffness when I wake up in the morning and only a fraction of the pain that I was experiencing.

By andre on Tuesday, October 24, 2000 - 01:37 pm:

My name is Andre.
To all those people that TRASH the drug Tramadol
I have been very well trained on the drug tramadol. In my country the product is marketed as tramal. FACT- those people who say tramadol is addictive,go do your homework and get your facts straight,secondly find out the mode of action of tramadol,lastly find out how pain works and then give your opinion.PS! go take your products that contain codeine,propoxyfene etc,then we'll talk in a few years time.

By Patrina on Tuesday, October 24, 2000 - 02:27 pm:

Again, results depend on the individual. Ultram, sorry to say, did absolutely nothing for me. So it's back to the Darvocet till I see my rheumatologist again next week . . . .

By Claudia on Thursday, November 30, 2000 - 07:26 pm:

I have to say I absolutey loved Ultram. But I am having a hard time getting it now as I have changed doctors. I got it for migraines a few years ago and my joint pain went away. I have only recently gotton a diagnosis for EDS type 3 and my doctor is kind of inexperienced but willing to listen to me so I am hopefull. As far as addiction goes, I never felt the addictive urges on ultram like I do when I have 90 codeine sulfate. Those are hard not to take even when I'm not in excruciating pain. I understand the fear of addiction because I will say I have felt it with other pain drugs, but not this one.

By Linda on Sunday, December 31, 2000 - 09:08 am:

I have a lot of joint and muscle pain. This is the first time I've ever heard of Ultram. I have Type III, as well as Type I. Is this drug commonly used for EDS victims?

By Bianca on Sunday, December 31, 2000 - 01:11 pm:

Ultrsam is one of the most common starter opiates, when NSAIIDs like Aspirin, Voltaren, Diclofenac, Naproxen and so don't work. It is not especially for EDS people, but as far as I can see, most of the people with EDS have some pain killing effect by it. When you ask for it, don't be asthonished when you maybe are looked at a bit strange. It is a light opiate but it is an opiate and there are still a lot of myths and unnecessary fears about opiates in the medical world.

By Kimberly on Sunday, December 31, 2000 - 01:46 pm:

Ultram never worked for me neither did Vioxx and Naproxen. The only meds that have given me any relief are Oxycontin and Plaquanil (sp?). I also take a handful of vitamins every day, which I think, helps keep my energy level up.

By TJ on Monday, January 01, 2001 - 07:47 pm:

I started with Vioxx, which worked okay. My doctor then tried Ultram by itself, and there was some relief. Then he put the two together, and it works very well on all except the worst days. I've had many different narcotic painkillers since I was little, and I do know what addiction feels like. I haven't felt the slightest addictive urge with Ultram. As a matter of fact, when I have a really good day, I may skip one of them and never even think about it until bedtime. After my doc upped my dose, I felt a little dopey for a couple of days, but now I hardly notice it. I know some people don't get much relief from it, but those that do really seem to like it. I take Plaquenil as well, but I am still waiting to see the effects. Kimberly, what do you take it for? I take it for lupus.

By Kimberly on Wednesday, January 03, 2001 - 03:49 pm:

Hi TJ, I use Plaquenil for EDS III or HMS. It cuts my joint pain to almost nothing. The only draw back that I have found is it makes my stomach gergle. It took about three months for me to get the real affect of the drug. I hope it works for you. Take care,
Kimberly

By Traci on Thursday, April 12, 2001 - 12:40 pm:

I use Ultram 50 mgs. I usually only need 1 per day but it really takes the edge off. I never get complete relief from pain, but it kills about 50% of it. I have suffered a horrible torsion injury to my pelvis which was misdiagnosed (for 4 months)as Fibromyalgia. Now I have hypermobility of both SI joints and sacrum. Which could have been corrected easily if I was diagnosed correctly in the very beginning. I'm practically disabled. What a lifestyle switch. I used to be very active. As far as Ultram being addictive, I really don't care if itis or not, as long as it gets me out of bed. I think that it depends on why one takes the drug. for chronic pain? or for escape? If a healthy person is abusing the drug, then they are at a higher risk for developing an addiction. What is exactly EDS? I assume HMS is hypermobility syndrome. What can be done about it and how do you get diagnosed? Thank you! Traci

By Eppie on Friday, April 13, 2001 - 11:04 am:

Traci,

Park Griffin posts here frequently and really knows his stuff when it comes to torsion inuries of the SI. His wife had a similar eaperience. DO a search to find his posts and what has worked for them (i.e., prolotherapy, manual therapy, exercises, etc.).

Good Luck

By MichelleT on Sunday, April 15, 2001 - 07:59 pm:

Traci, I have a question. You said that the hypermobility of your SI joints and sacrum could have been corrected easily if properly diagnosed at the beginning. What could have been done? I'm asking because I have that, and I haven't found a solution to the pain and my lack of ability to do many things. I am wearing a hip brace most of the time, yet still experience pain and mobility problems. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

By MichelleT on Sunday, April 15, 2001 - 08:04 pm:

Oops, sorry Traci.I just re-read your message and realized that I misunderstood what you said. Please diregard my last message and accept my apologies.
Michelle

By Patty on Thursday, April 19, 2001 - 12:23 am:

I have a question for you all: Does Ultram make you unable to sleep? If so, what do you do about it? Also, have you found that it doesn't work as well after several months? I only take it about 10 times a month, but I am finding that I cannot sleep for 12 hours after I take 50 mgs and then I can't stay awake. I have to take the Ultram in the AM and something else in the PM. It didn't used to be this way. Thanks for your response.

By Beth on Sunday, April 22, 2001 - 05:00 pm:

I cut my dose in half when taking it before bed. It did make it difficult to sleep, but then I didn't sleep much to begin with.

By Carla on Wednesday, April 25, 2001 - 12:15 pm:

Can upper chronic back pain be caused by hypermobility syndrome?
Carla234@webtv.net

By Mickey on Thursday, April 26, 2001 - 03:37 am:

Hello Carla, there is no reason why hms can not cause upper back pain. I have hms in my shoulders and upper back and neck, this at times does cause me pain. However this can be minimesed with correct posture and a good friend who can give you correct massage. Failing that try using aromatherapy oils in a warm bath, beware when using oils for the first time that you dont use too many drops, or have the water too hot as this will cause the oil to evaperate too fast and therefore reduce any help that they can give. If necessary see your doctor for some pain relief.

By Margareth on Thursday, January 03, 2002 - 05:00 pm:

I first started taking Tramadol today and I now feel like I am seriously drunk or something. My head is spinning and I find it difficult to keep my eyes straight. Feels like I might pass out. Is this just my body/brain having some trouble getting used to the tramadol, will it get better in a couple of days? Hardly any pain by the way! Wish I wasn't too stoned to enjoy it. :-D

By Sharon on Thursday, January 03, 2002 - 06:31 pm:

Margareth,
If in doubt about your side effect then talk to your doctor or pharmacist. I am actually allergic to Tramadol (I get an altered state of consciousness (can't think, can't act on my thoughts) and I scratch my entire skin until it is red and raw (This is after taking only 1 tablet once)I was told by my pharmicist to NEVER take it again as my reaction would get worse each time I took it and the reaction that I did have was a serious allergic reaction.
The reaction you are having could be nothing but your body getting used to the medication or it could be something a little more serious such as an allergic reaction whether major or minor. But if I was you I would phone or otherwise contact your treating doctor or pharmisist (Chemist/Drug store) or what ever you call it in your country :D. Here in Australia it is Chemist or Pharmacist :D
Hope this Helps

By Margareth on Friday, January 04, 2002 - 01:46 am:

Thanks for your reply Sharon, maybe I will call my pharmacist... I was quite alright this morning when I woke up, but since an hour after taking my morning dose I have been feeling totally druged again.

By Margareth on Saturday, January 19, 2002 - 08:31 am:

Update on the tramadol... It really is strange stuff and I am not sure whether I want to keep taking it or not.
After spending the first few days on tramadol feeling 'sky-high' I had some pretty good days, I woke up early and felt good, hardly any pain. Then the pain started coming back untill I hardly even noticed the tramadol anymore. Especially the nights where terrible again.
So my doc put me on a higher dose for the nights. I started this two days ago. I took 50mg at 9:00AM, 50mg at 5:00PM and 100mg at midnight. I didn't wake up untill 4:00PM the next day. I took my 50mg dose right away. About an hour or so later I got a terrible headache and my stomac started turning upside down.
My head and my stomac are better now, after another night on 100mg, I even woke up very early today (6:30am), but I still feel pretty drugged, like I could pass out any time. Hope this will clear soon but that most of the pain will stay away.
Perhaps I should just be patient and see how things go. It is just that I put all my hopes on the tramadol. I really want this to work out for me.

By Gwen Nelson on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 06:29 pm:

I saw a new specialist about a year ago, who decided to play around and experiment with my analgesics. Took me off Digesic (paradex) which had been relatively successful for years and instead prescribed Vioxx. The result was fantastic until about five days down the track when I started to get GI upsets so was switched to Tramadol which had absolutely no effect either on pain or side effects. As I cannot take Cerebrex because of allergies it's back to the Digesic but with a more regular dosage than just at night. The rheumatologist said to take it 4 hourly and just not let the pain get a hold rather than leaving it until I was in tears because of the pain. It seems to be a reasonable approach and I haven't noticed any addictive behaviour or withdrawal symptoms if I don't take it for a while.

By Margareth on Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 09:38 am:

Addiction to Tramadol?

Hard, very hard to decide if I should be taking this Tramadol or not. It makes me feel a whole lot better than before. I am in a lot less pain and I feel very calm.
But...
After going trough a couple of weeks with some heavy side-effects (see above) I was pretty content with the way things where going.
Then a week ago I was out of Tramadol but I had an appointment with my doctor 2 days later so I didn't really take the time to call her for a follow-up recipe. I had before not taken any Tramadol for like 24hrs because I forgot to bring it when I went to visit a friend and stayed overnight. Like that time I was in a lot of pain after not taking the Tramadol for 24 hrs. Then I started to feel ill. Hot and cold rushes, stomac ache a little diarhoea. I also was very irritable and I cried over al lot of stupid things, a taxi being late, the dishes needing to be done, being out of milk... I thought I had the flu. I went to my doctors appointment anyway, got the follow-up recipe but didn't pick it up because I felt to ill to go out again. After a long night of tossing and turning, waking up every 30 minutes, a lot of pain and feeling totaly miserable I got up early and drove to the drugstore in my pmv to pick up the Tramadol I then hadn't taken for 48hrs. I took one dose of a 100 mg and two hours later I was completely cured of my 'flu'. I was still a bit tired because of the sleep I had missed and I was still a bit sore as usual but I felt great.
I am quite sure my feeling ill had to do with not taking the tramadol. The only conclusion I can draw from this is that after taking 200mg a day for two months I am now physically addicted to Tramadol.
How can this be? I thought this was fairly impossible! I know I am very sensitive when it comes to stuff like alcohol but still...
I want to keep taking it because it is the first painkiller that really does anything for me but I don't like the idea of being addicted to it. Advice anyone?

By bree on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 08:07 pm:

Hi Margareth,
I've been taking tramadol for 18mths. I also get really sick when I forget to take a dose, but I'm not sure if the sickness is 'withdrawal' or if it is just what my body would feel like everyday if I didn't take painkillers. I've also had problems with tolerence to the drug, and have had to up my dose. As for the addiction thing, I just don't know. I think the lack of information might be to do with the relative 'newness' of the drug. In my country (Australia) the drug has only come onto the Government Subsidy list in Nov 2000, and is technically supposed to be decribed only for 'acute' 'once-only' pain. So, my doctor hasn't had any experience with long-term use of the drug, and says he doesn't know how it'll work out. For me, addiction is not a big worry, because if HMS is permanent, then I'll have to take painkillers permanently to have any life at all. But you might be much better at coping with the pain without drugs than I am. For me it's a really personal choice about what I can cope with - but a hard choice to make, because I'm making it without much information to go on.

By Sharon on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 12:14 am:

LAdies,
technically addiction is the incorrect word someone who is addicted to a drug takes it for a feeling of getting"high" as apposed to a person such as us who takes a drug to reduce/remove pain. You can have withdrawal but you are not "addicted" you maybe be dependant on it to get through the day, but most people in chronic pain are dependant on some drug to get through the day. So unless you are taking you painkiller to get high you are not addicted technically. and you proved this by not taking it for a few days and addicted person the 1st thing on there mind would have been " i have to get more" not I think I have the flu". I hope this helps. i know I am being pedantic but chronic pain sufferers are accused of being addicts regularly and we ARE NOT addicts we are somewhat dependant on painkillers to have a more normalised life.
Bree Like you I to live in Australia, but I am allergic to Tramal/tramadol/ultam what ever you want to call it

By bree on Tuesday, April 02, 2002 - 05:59 pm:

Hi Sharon,
It must be annoying having us go on about how tramadol works when you can't take it! Have you found anything else that works for the pain? I'm wanting to take a 'drug-holiday' from the tramadol, just to decrease my tolerence to it, but I haven't come across anything I can use as a substitute as yet.

By Sharon on Wednesday, April 03, 2002 - 02:27 am:

No I haven't found anything that really helps Bree. I have been taking Panadine forte Daily for over 6 years and take Endone when bad (but the panadine forte is not really affective anymore). I have tried others such as Torodol, digesic, etc but haven't had much luck (torodol was very expensive and I couldn't afford to stay on it long enough to see if it would work for me. I have had torodol injections in casualty and they have worked really well) but the tablets were costing me like $30 a week/fourtnight and I simply can't afford it.
I am hoping when I see the professor in Sydney on the 15th that he can help me. I also take an anti-convolsant for my RSD (Rivotril) which helps with the muscle spasms etc and maybe with the pain a bit too.

By Margareth on Wednesday, April 10, 2002 - 02:51 am:

Hi Sharon, there is actually a difference between physical and mental addiction. I, obviously, meant physical addiction. Sure my body depends on the tramadol to get me trough the day with the pain I am in. But things like diarrhoea, shivers, headache, emotional instability, restlessness, nearly hallucinating are neither symptoms of mental addiction nor of simply my pain coming back. I know very well how I felt before I started taking the tramadol but now, when I don't take it, that is not how I feel. I feel the pain, but there is more, I think those are symptoms of physical addiction.

By Margareth on Wednesday, April 10, 2002 - 02:51 am:

Hi Sharon, there is actually a difference between physical and mental addiction. I, obviously, meant physical addiction. Sure my body depends on the tramadol to get me trough the day with the pain I am in. But things like diarrhoea, shivers, headache, emotional instability, restlessness, nearly hallucinating are neither symptoms of mental addiction nor of simply my pain coming back. I know very well how I felt before I started taking the tramadol but now, when I don't take it, that is not how I feel. I feel the pain, but there is more, I think those are symptoms of physical addiction.

By Lin on Thursday, September 19, 2002 - 08:41 pm:

Hey all, I know there hasnt been much activity in the conversation for a while, but I didnt want to start a new one. I recently got started on Tramadol, I take 50-100 mg every 6 hours for pain. I was extremely disapointed when taking the samples, I had such high hope and I felt it was barely working. Then, after taking it for 2 weeks, I went off it for a few days waiting to get an actual prescription filled (It didnt do a whole lot, but It had taken off the edge) But then, being without it, I finaly understood the immense difference it made! those 2 days were miserable. Everything ached, and hurt sometimes sharp stabbing pains. It was wonderful to take the tramadol again, so it works a lot better than I thought it did at first!! Well, one of the reans why I am posting is because I am 17, anyone else out there young and on this medication? I am worried about becomming immune to the effects over the years, etc.
Lin

By bree on Monday, September 23, 2002 - 05:23 am:

Hi Lin
I'm 27, and I've been taking tramal since late 2000. I am having troubles with tolerence to it, and I've gone up to the 150mg tablet. My chemist says it'd take a month or so to lose my tolerence to tramal, but unfortunately I get exactly the same thing you describe when I stop taking it - I may know notice the benefits when I take it, but I sure notice the difference when I don't. I do ask any doctor I go to about the tolerence problem, but as with most things they don't give me answers.