I've been using Tramadol for 8 years. It's never given me any side effects. It worked pretty well until the last year. I now take 8 per day on my lightest pain days. The majority of the time I use tramadol in the morning and hydromorphone later in the day as my pain increases.

I understand your concern about taking any new medication. For me, though, it worked pretty well for a long time.

Good luck,
Kelly