when i FINALLY got done with the last run of migraines i went to mdoc for meds refill and also........

i told him the codeine only worked so-so. he'd given it last month and i tried it again this time. i couldn't take higher doses as i'd hit safety limits on the stupid (useless on me) acetaminophen content.

he gave me tramadol ... also in combo with useless acetaminophen, but this combo lets me have up to two pills per dose over a 24 hour period, w/o safety issues.)

there are 37.5 mg tramadol per pill.

anyone ever use this for migraine?

... what sorts of dosages do you use?
... do you take another analgesic or NSAID alongside?
... any side effects? sleepy? nausea?
... what about "activation" - agitation, restlessness?

... any other observations?

it warns about addiction like the codeine. i was not scared of the codeine, perhaps because it was not new, even if i'd only had itty bitty doses before. this drug is new and makes me nervous. i thought i'd ask questions now... before i need to use it (maybe in a couple weeks-ish).

~ waves ~

Hi, Waves,

I am not familiar with tramadol.

I found four things that might be helpful:

http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/1997-43523-020

http://neuro.psychiatryonline.org/ar...me=19&page=449
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...omisedMessage=
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19180260
Abstract
M

Dear Mari,

i do appreciate the time you took looking this up. i am aware of the technical stuff. i'm nervous and ...

i'd like to hear from anyone who has taken this drug for migraine?

... what sorts of dosages do you use?
... do you take another analgesic or NSAID alongside?
... any side effects? sleepy? nausea?
... what about "activation" - agitation, restlessness?
... any other observations?

oh and one thing i forgot before...

--- how effective was it for you, pain-wise?

~ waves ~

Waves, the son takes it for pain, cluster headaches and a host of other chronic pain. He uses Vicodoprofin for pain too. THe Ultram he used a year ago and was a new add on from Primary before he saw the neuro.

He took it, but pain was to severe to be covered. He alse started Topomax to help with fibromyalgia pain. Just not enough, I think some pain or injuries are too much to touch with the newer types of med treatments available.

It was not a bad experiance, but just not worth any relief to manage his pain w/o an opiate.

On the other hand, I was taking Lexapro and doctor mistakenly ordered Tramadol (ultram) instead of Toradol. With the Lexapro I had side affects to the heart that were very serious. I thought I was having a heart attack. CLammy sweats, chest pain, anxiety out the roof.

I would read the material that Mari found and see if it is contraindicated with any mood meds or psych's.
Hope you feel better.
PS he has had help with O2. They supplier bring a tank a month for him.
di

Dear Di,

I appreciate the account of personal experience, that is more what I was looking for. I don't guess you remember what dose he prescribed, since you thought it was Toradol (the dosage of that would not be relevant).

As I said i'm aware of the "tech stuff" on the med and I sure don't want to go there nor go read more or less the same things in different words and put myself into a useless tizzy. Fwiw, I will add that I expressed my concerns re concomitant use and side-effects to my pdoc - he has had some pts take it with SSRIs without incident.

Nonetheless your reaction with Lexapro does not surprise me, especially if you were taking it for Toradol - you may have taken too much. That is especially true if you used Toradol daily or often. Not to mention that, for chronic use of tramadol, there is supposed to be an initial titration period.

I think your son's chronic pain condition cannot be compared to 2-3 days of migraine. Even cluster headaches tend to have very severe pain even if duration is short. Also I realize pain is too subjective - so probably I'll just have to find out for myself if it helps me with this. I am glad your son found relief with the O2! wow, i did not know that could help!

I am fine for now - it should be about 2 weeksish now before next major breakthrough episode.

Thanks very much again for the personal feedback Di.

~ waves ~

Waves

I took Tramodol for pain with my elbow when I had the surgery way back
in 2001. But I can relate one interesting fact that I didn't think about
till you asked about migraines.

I didn't have any while I was on the tramodol. I have no clue what the
dosage was. But I do know it wasn't considered a high dosage by the
doctor the ortho that ordered it. He told me not to take anything with
it though. But that two hours later if I needed something I could
take tylenol. But I also took something for swelling? Can't remember
what its called. So I took a combination of two pills. But don't know
the other ones name.

But I do remember that migraines were very slim in the time period
I took the tramodol, which was a surprise.

Donna

boy am i late and i'm so sorry Donna,

thank you, that was very helpful feedback --

and also a very very encouraging information!!!

hopefully then it will work when the "big monthly" hits ... unless the neuro gives me something to try.

with all the warnings, i was tempted not to even use it - and to eat as much codeine as possible instead - unless i got some sort of feedback that it would help with migraine pain...

thanks so much and i'm so sorry for my late reply!

i hope YOU are doing ok... i haven't really been keeping up with the threads either...



~ waves ~

Waves

I'm glad it was helpful. Your asking was helpful for me too.

I am going to ask my doctor to switch the tylenol with codeine
to the tramodol I believe. I hadn't thought about this being
something to help the migraines.

I don't do well on the tylenol with codeine. Because it upsets
my stomach.

So I only take it as a last resort. So not near as much as I should.

Donna

donna if you are taking cymbalta still tramadol is not something you'll be able to take often... it has serotonin syndrome warnings same as triptans cep a triptan you just take once or twice if first dose doesn't work - it is an abortive... the tramadol you hae ot take for the duration of the migraine it only kills the pain, same as the codeine/tylenol. well anyway talk to your doctor about it but if you are taking or may take cymbalta again, make sure and tell him that.

the codeine i have also has a lot of tylenol in it which is probably why it is useless to me - tylenol does nothing for me other than make the pills hepatotoxic in the amount i'd have to take to get enough codeine for that to work grr.

waves hoping to get a triptan... i'd sooner not take the tramadol if i can avoid it but it sure is good to know it will probably work if i need it... day after tomorrow i see neuro, see what he says tho. i have an old mri, i hope i don't have to have another one.

I will probably not be going back on cymbalta. I have no hope that
my husband will be working fulltime, for me to keep on insurance.

He has been laid off again since June 1st. And even though he has
things to be done, he is ignoring them. But that will either change
or he will be back looking for work in my opinion.

Ugh, I have enough bills on my plate as it is.

Donna