Hi all. I've been on Tramadol for a couple of years now, and would like to find out how others who use it, find it.
I realise that there are those who cannot take it at all because of bad reactions to it, so this is addressed to those who are able to take it.
I take 50mg, and find it gives very good pain relief after an hour or so, for most pain, but not the really bad lower skull bump pain. For this I have to take a muscle relaxant as well as it is more like a tension headache.
When I first went on it I reported back to the doctor that on several occasions it seemed to keep me awake. He said that it usually makes people sleepy. I didn't always take it at night so it was hard to see a pattern. But eventually I noticed it was affecting my sleep, so asked the doctor again, and still he denied any knowledge of this effect. I asked what he thought was causing my fuzzy thinking, and he said lack of sleep, which i think was right. He suggested taking Tramadol throughout the night. Did this on a bad period as well as a good dose of Restavit, and was awake but feeling good all night.
Asked the chemist if the two could have been working against each other, but didn't know.
Did some web searching and found many instances where Tramadol has caused sleeplessness. So I now take it only during the day, and take other things for the evening and night.
Has anybody had a similar reaction, or has anything else to report?
I think for those that can tolerate it, it is a good drug. I'm not concerned about any withdrawal problems that there may be as I'll be staying on it until something better comes along.

Hi Peter. Ive been taking tramadol for 3 years. It used to effect me
like that but the last year or so this side effect has gone away. Other
stronger narcotics effect me the same way. My pcp said I have the
same side effects as a child would, you know how some decongestants
are supposed to make you sleepy but kids run around like crazy.

It seems to have gone away for me, but it is not uncommon to have
this reaction so I am surprised your doc didnt mention it.

Good luck, I hope this goes away so you can use this med at night.

Soxmom

I take Tramadol 400 mg a day and I get along fine , like the other poster said I had that not being able to sleep at first but now I can really rest good.

Hi Peter, I take tramadol, or I should say use to. I took 50mg, every 4 to 6 hours. It did not have an effect on me. Before that I was on the fentanyl patch, 50mg and then a month later went to 75mg. I have Peripheral Neuropathy caused by diabetes. I was on that for a month and then withdrew myself from that drug because I had an elephant sitting on my chest and it was hard for me to breathe........ my pcp wants me to stop taking tramadol all together, actually she wants me to not take any narcotics. She said people with chronic pain do not do well with narcotics. Yea right, she doesn't know what pain is like......... Anyways since tramadol does nothing for me, I am waiting to go to a pain management specialist at the end of this month.

Good Luck to you Peter,

Michele

Hi Peter~~ I take Tramadol only as needed, but if I take it B4 bed, it affects my sleep also. I have to be really careful as to what I take B4 bed... so many meds for colds, etc keep me awake.

I limit my Tramadol to daytime use only.

Thanks Soxmom, Michele and daisymay for sharing your Tramadol experience. I really appreciate it. I'll give it a while and then try it again at night.
What do any of you take to aid sleep?

Hi Peter~~ I take .50 mg Clonazepam (Klonipin) and 50 mg of Trazadone at bedtime. If I didn't, my legs & hips would ache all night long.

Hi Peter - I took it and had a severe allergic reaction to it. Ended up calling the Ambulance and spending the day in the ER. I was sick for a few days.... scary!

Hello Peter, I take Lunesta 3mg, that usually knocks me out for the night... which is a good thing because I wouldn't be able to sleep otherwise.

Michele

I also can't take it at night. I feel fine I just don't go to sleep. I take it earlier in the day but always try not to take it after about 4 pm.