Hello, Peter.

My mother takes tramadol and I took it for awhile, until I started some anti-depressants. I can't take it anymore because the combination could cause serious, if not fatal, side-effects. It worked quite well for me and exceptionally well for my mother. It made me sleepy, at first, but after awhile, it kept me awake. My mother has always been kept wide awake from it. There are many days when I really miss it because it dulled the pain enough for me to be functional. I hope you can take it at night soon and that otherwise it is working well for you.

Hi mennayriu, it's one of those drugs that is really good if you can tolerate it. There's a trial in australia on pain medication from centipedes-a walking chemical laboratory. Said to have no side effects, so would be a winner. Fingers crossed.
i won't take Tramadol after 6pm. Trying valerian tablets, Vitamin B12 tabs too.
going to see a phsio today as my trapezius muscle causes me a lot of neck pain.

Peter,

I took Tramadol for quite a while and it was a huge blessing for me. It really helped control the pain. However, I started having some issues with depression and I needed to go back on my Wellbutrin. Well, Wellbutrin and Tramadol apparently don't mix due to the risk of seizures. So my doctor said I had to come off the Tramadol in order to take the Wellbutrin. Let me tell you, I had THE worst withdrawal symptoms of my life! I had withdrawn from narcotics before and it wasn't pleasant but this was 100X worse than anything I have ever withdrawn from before. I went into the worst depression I've ever experienced and even had thoughts of suicide. I've never felt like that before, or since, in my life. There was also significant physical pain, not just in the areas where I generally have pain.

Tramadol is touted as being a non-narcotic pain reliever. I have worked in family medicine for many years and I have seen it given out like candy because of that fact. But I am here to tell you that it is dangerous stuff...in some cases. I understand that some people can take it and stop it without any problems and I am very glad that it works well for some. But I just want to caution you about it. I never took more than the recommended dosage. In fact, I never took more than 50mg twice a day. I weaned off of it like my doctor instructed me to, but I still experienced significant w/d symptoms.

So, I just encourage you to be careful with how you take it and be prepared if you decide to stop it. Good luck to you.

That is very scary my dr has added it to my oxy three x aday 50 to 100 mg!! I have been taking it because i'm in so much pain and it has helped some with the oxy. Now I'm a little scared to keep taking it. Were you taking any other opiod with the ultram? I'm just wondering if you quit all of the pain meds when you had the w/d from the ultram.

No, I was not taking any other pain med at the time. My doctor had my stop the Tramadol due to the seizure risk associated with taking it with Wellbutrin, which is the only antidepressant the works well for me....and I needed to start back on it after being off it for a couple of years. He tried giving me Darvocet to help with my pain and the withdrawals but it did not help. I eventually just suffered through the withdrawals. It was a very horrible experience.

Then in July, I had an infection around my heart and was eventually diagnosed with a rare illness. (It is a long story and a I won't bore you with the long details!) This illness causes a lot of pain and I'm now on Oxycontin 20mg 3X daily. I'm also on Topamax 200 mg daily. We're still trying to get all of my pain issues figured out because I have some pain that is neuropathic and some that is not. The neuropathic pain does not respond well to narcotics. I tried Lyrica but it makes me feel like I am extremely drunk. So, we are still working on it.

I have learned that Tramadol does not affect everyone the same but I would hate for anyone to experience what I did. If you are going to continue your Oxy, then it probably wouldn't affect you negatively since you will continue to have a pretty high dose of narcotics in your system. But I can't tell you that with absolute certainty. Just be careful! Do your research and know the facts. (Google Tramadol and/or Ultram and read about it.) A lot of doctors do not even know there is a problem with dependence and withdrawal from this medication. Just be educated. Good luck and I hope you get your pain under control.

Blessings,

I have been having unknown issues due to my back, sciatica and I think its called maybe a digenerated disc. I havnt been for my results yet but will know this thursday. However I have a history of abuse esp to opiates and just kicked a 3 year lortab addiction and told the doc I couldnt take narcotics. I couldnt even walk at the time so he gave me Ultram because they call it non narcotic. But the second I put it in my body I distinctly felt the opiate buzz. Well Ive taken it for only ten days and do not plan to ever take it again because for me I dont care what they call it my body liked it a little too much! And it did work for the pain unbelievably! WEll I cant believe it but I think I am starting to feel what I think is withdrawl and I only took it for ten days!. Is it possible for me to have gotten addicted that quick ? I thought the rule of thumb (from Dr Drue Pinsky in one of his books) is that it takes about 14- 15 days to start addiction.And i did not abuse it. Anyone have any insite on this? I just cant believe if it is that doctor started hell for me all over again, I just got off narcotics a year ago and it is so ironic! Thanks for any help, Im just frustrated! Dont know how they dont know its addictive, its pretty easy to see it is!

Hi addyson, I was aware of some of the problems experienced by Tramadol users, and thought it would be a good idea to let others know of their experiences with it, so I started this thread.
Sometimes I take none, then 2 or 3 or more, then back to one, and I don't seem to have any adverse effects from this daily variation.
My wife took one and had hallucinations, and as a nurse she has seen many bad reactions to it, especially with older patients.

Hi Peter,

Thanks so much for your response. I'm so glad you are one that can take Tramadol without any problems. I wish I were one as well. It truly is wonderful for pain.

So your wife had hallucinations? Wow, I had those with Ambien and it scared my husband to death! It just goes to show we are all different and react differently to various medications.

Thanks for starting this thread so others can be well informed.

Blessings,

I was just browsing, and wanted to say that I also take tramadol. When I first started taking it, I was in so much pain that I wasn't sure if it worked. Now after almost 2 yrs, I guess it helps. When I did try to wean myself off, my pain was so extreme, I felt like jumping off a bridge. I'm wondering (after reading the thread), if the withdrawl symptoms caused the severe pain. I am so glad to have found this site, because I now see I am not the only one battling chronic pain. Do any of you know the long term affects?

I wish I could answer your question but unfortunately I can't, as didn't take them long enough before the hallucinations cut in to know about any of the other side effects!

Were the pains worse after stopping the Tramadol than before you started taking it? I was just trying to work out what you said here......


From what you've written, it sounds like your pain was actually worse after you stopped than before you started taking them. Have you spoken to the doctor who ordered them about this? Maybe you could ask your pharmacist if you haven't asked your doctor, but I think you'd be better off checking with the person who started you on them.

Something doesn't sound right to me!