I'm off the oxycodone and now have 50 mg Tramadol for BT pain. Since I'm in pain all the time I'm trying not to use the Tramadol until my pain is high.

I've realized it's making me grouchy and sleepy. And not sleepy in a good way. I wonder if it has anything to do with me being on 40 mgs of Paxil a day. I know the 2 have contradictions.

I'm frustrated and down wondering if there is anything else out there that my PM might let me try.

He keeps mentioning methadone but I really don't want to try that at this time. I think I've been on the ER Morphine 30 mg 2 x's a day since April or May and it works about as well as the 20 mcg/hr BuTrans patch I was on before that. But he won't let me take oxycodone with the morphine.

I never realized how much the oxycodone was helping me until I quit taking it


I can't go back to the BuTrans patch because of the cost.

Anyone have any suggestions on a medicine that I could ask for to replace the Tramadol ? I know there are so many meds out there but how do I look one up that might replace the Tramadol and not be oxycodone or hydrocodone ?

I'm not sure I'm even making any sense writing this so I'm going to close.

Thanks,

Debi from Georgia

Yes, there is a major interaction between Paxil and tramadol:

Drug Interaction Report - Drugs.com

partial quote:
see link above for full information.

Tramadol has some actions involving serotonin, and so does Paxil.

I would think your pharmacy would tell you this. They should call your doctor also....most insurances would flag this combination, but pharmacies do override most of these drugs and don't do anything.

I find tramadol does cause some nausea for me. I don't take any RX pain meds. When I have my seldom tramadol, I can also get a mild dizziness from it. It does not make me sleepy however. So I often only take 1/2 of a 50mg tablet and that works for me for bad nights/flares. I only use Tylenol or Aleve liquigels for pain. Sometimes AlkaSeltzer if my arthritis is acting up and that only for a maximum of 7 days or less.

I know none of us walk in other's pain but I don't think I'm ever pain free, but I guess I have a higher pain threshold and I don't want to take hard core pain meds. I am pain free when I sleep so that is a good thing. It's when I get up and start my day.

I'm seeing a new D.O. for bodywork and prolotherapy injections and he pushed me off ibuprofen as it was keeping my blood pressure elevated. I'm happy to be off it and my BP has gotten so much better, no spikes.

I tried Tramadol years ago and it did nothing, probably constipated me more than anything. Same with the opiates. He wrote me scripts for both these and I am not filling them. I can get thru my 24 hrs with Pain-RX and 2 arthritis tylenol for sleep.

Pain-RX - Cox 2 Inhibitor

I also know MSM powder reduces pain and I take it a few times a day in a good glass of water. Been taking it for years.

Pain makes one grouchy. I know I've changed a lot, but still try to laugh.

When my Pain Dr. had me try Lyrica they also gave me Tramadol for the bad days.

All Tramadol did for me was make me really really high. I mean really really high like scared the hell out me high the 2X I tried it. I also experienced really shallow breathing to the point I was afraid to fall asleep.

I wish I had a suggestion for you to try, I hope you find relief from your pain.

Tramadol will take time for you body to adapt just like most meds. The first pill got me high and then went slowly up to 400mg/day and barely got a buzz but very effective for burning

Debi,

I'm sorry you're going through a rough time with your meds. Tramadol also makes me dizzy, groggy and nauseated. Bleh! No one wants to feel like that. I pretty much don't take it unless I really, really have to.

I'm wondering about a different approach entirely and this may be unrealistic but I thought I'd mention it. I got quite a bit of relief of stinging/burning nerve pain from a low dose of nortriptyline. It also boosted my mood and helped me sleep. We had to adjust my dose down because it too made me dizzy but once we found the sweet spot my pain overall was better managed and I had less breakthrough.

Just a thought if you haven't tried it already. With your paxil it would require kind of a whole regime change and may not be something you want to mess with but you never know.

I hope you get better relief soon,

Debi,

I'm so sorry you're having a hard time. Pain tends to make us impatient and grouchy....at least it does me.

I got a prescription for Tramadol when my spasticity from MS was at an all time high. 50 mg tablets. It was like taking nothing. I still have all but 2 pills from the rx.

I really don't have a lot of meds for pain....I mostly rely on Baclofen and Advil.

Maybe your doctor could take you off of the Morphine and put you back on the patch.

I know it's frustrating trying to get the right meds and dosages just so you can be comfortable. I hope your doctor can help you.

I'm back on Inosine in hopes of Nerve Restoring. I bought 2 bottles and we'll see if I notice a change. 80% of my thigh is still numb, and it's 6 yrs since surgery. I took Inosine and Sphingolin for 3 months, last year, and pretty much got rid of the BURN. I've read where some MS patients take Sphingolin.

Debi,
don't know if you have ever seen these treatment guidelines from a famous pain doc, dr forest tennant. it has been helpful to me. he updates it periodically( don't know why this one has silly cartoonish characters...have a feeling a grandkid or someone did it for him.)
http://www.foresttennant.com/pdfs/In...free-hours.pdf

I have been on and off gabapentin and Lyrica for neuropathy....currently on low dose lyrica which is the only med that seems to help soften neuropathy pain.
My doc gave me Nucynta last year but, I generally stay on Norco ( 10 mg hydrocodone and 325mg tylenol), soma( muscle relaxer ). I also generally take an anti inflammatory...currently it is mobic.

Have you tried Fentanyl? Anti depression meds for pain like Elavil or Cymbalta? Ketamine or lidocaine?

Best of luck, I know how dispiriting it can be when we take pain meds and are still in pain.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
D.

Debi,
Not sure why he took you off the Oxycontin and Oxycondone for break thru.
I thing many of the guidelines you mention the doctor says seem to be very much his own.

I remember how difficult it was for him to even increase your meds. You were taking a very low dose and your children went with you for support with increasing pain meds to level you would be able to function.

I would think the Paxil would have some effect with the sleepy feeling. It's been several years since I tried it; and did not like the drowsiness. I do take a small dose of Elavil (Amitriptyline)l before bedtime.

Hope you and he can get to a place where he can manage your pain to a tolerable level.


Gerry