Well, I am wondering how many here have had this side effect?

I went to the doctor on Thurs, and we decided to try tramadol at night when I have more pain than usual. Most of my pain is arthritic and also revolves around my left hip (since my injury 3 yrs ago).

So I took the first one last night. Suffice it to say, it was some TRIP! I don't use drugs much, just for blood pressure and thyroid. I've had codeine in the past some, and once I had Vicodin Tuss for a severe cough. Opiates tend to depress me so I don't favor them, except for extreme situations.

First off with the tramadol, I had a wave of nausea that was considerable an hour after taking. But it tapered off, when I laid down. Then I couldn't fall asleep, my mind starting tripping around. Not exactly hallucinating but very strange. My middle cat sensed this somehow and slept ON me most of the night (this is not typical of her--she will sleep on me on vacation tho sometimes). Finally around 2 am I fell asleep and woke up at 8:30. The pain IS better, but the side effects! I don't know if can can endure these. All this from 50mg!

I feel like I've been on a major TRIP outside of my normal existence! Totally weird! And I am totally surprised.
This morning I have a bit of a vague hangover, but not like a typical hangover.

I was hoping to use the Ultram for bad days, when Tylenol doesn't seem strong enough. But now I don't know! I have 29 left to last until my next doctor visit, in Oct.

I wonder if this is safe to use in the woods where we live on vacation? We are very remote on an island there! Can't see myself stumbling around in the dark in the woods with a flashlight, to go to the outhouse?

one of the side effects is lowering of seizure threholds....and i think an issue with migraneurs....perhaps cutting in half?

Mrs D,
I've been taking Tramadol for many years, 100mg 4x/day (400mg/day).
It takes a week or so, with daily use, for the side effects to subside.
If they don't, stop the med & try another.
I do have to say that Tramadol has made my life much more livable, I really am
thankful that it works for me. The high doses are to be expected- I have a very high drug tolerance and am on the max of just about every med that has ever been Rx'd for me.
My Lyrica, same - 600mg/day.

I don't have migraines.

In fact some of the smaller side effects (I just looked up), I did have.
tingling like you get with Niacin flush --only less so
I do have a mild headache today too, but not a migraine type.
I think it is due to the stiff neck I had yesterday in fact.

Rxlist.com lists euphoria 7%.. that is what I must have had...it didn't come on until about 2 hrs into the dose. Since I don't use recreational drugs, I am not familiar with euphoria in myself!

No one has ever reported this to me at my job, or here. So I was wondering if others here had this type of CNS reaction?

I will definitely not be taking this often. But then, the side effects will never really go away...probably. A catch-22.

I am less stiff today, and my limp almost gone. So the pain effects are working.

Hello,
Tramadol and Lyrica helped my PN pain a great deal for 2 years until the increased dosages created some breathing problems (gasping for breath). I now take 5mg methadone and 50mg Lyrica twice a day and get the same amout of pain relief also I haven't fallen like I use too. MrsD you might try cutting the pill in half, I think in your case less is best since you are new to this drug. The patient information leaflet the VA sends me states the side effects you have described. Wishing everyone the very best.
Lanny

I tried this with little success though I want to again and also the slow release. Did you take this with food? I can't remember if I did but usually with all my meds I do and that helps with the nausea. Is there another med you could try or call your doc about? How about a muscle relaxer? I know you don't like meds but just till you get over this flare up.
I am sorry you are hurting more. I hope you feel better. By the way thank you for thr aleve gel pills advice. They are better then the tablets. Thanks

I took it after dinner..around 8pm. Then I stayed up and read for a while, then came on computer til around 10:30...that is when the nausea hit. And it was a doozy. I had some tingling all over... sort of like PN or a niacin flush, but that stopped around midnight. I remember looking at the clock and it said 2:30...and my cat was totally all over me. When I rolled over she moved and then got right back on top of me. Then I fell asleep finally with fragmented dreams. My aching and leg are better today too. The drug information says take with or without food.

But I do think, I will try 1/2 tablet next time. It won't be tonight that is for sure!

I am so conservative about drugs, for myself. I expected some light headed feelings --like I got from codeine, but that is certainly not what happened!

I have used Flexeril in the past... one of those knocks me out for 2 days! Also I've done Robaxin (not a great effect) and Valium long ago..which was nice for muscle pain.

At least I know what to expect now! What is ironic is that I took 3 Rxs to the Kroger's to get filled on Fri. My BP med was $2.98 for 90 days supply. The tramadol was .80 cents for 30.. And the albuterol inhaler was FREE...some promotion being done by TEVA. It was kind of a shock how inexpensive it all was!

I did used to see people get "hooked" on tramadol...there is a small subset who forge RXs for it. Maybe now this is why...those who get the euphoria?

All the chronic pain specialists are using tramadol now for Fibro people. And those doctors never mentioned euphoria risk either at the lectures I attended. So I guess it is just ME...I must have some metabolic difference with it.

I have to admit that I believe I am dependent on it.
Missed doses cause unwanted reactions similar to withdrawal.
Tough to tell whether its the Tramadol or the Lyrica, tho.
Maybe its both.
I feel like Dr House, chomping down his Vicodin, sometimes.
But never get high or lightheaded, just pain relief.

Hi Mrs D, I wonder if the slow release form of tramadol might be kinder to you, I was on 300 mg slow release twice a day with no problems, actually worked very well for me.

Mrs D, If I take 100mg of Tramadol at anytime during the evening I cannot get to sleep. I've tried it many times with the same result. It helps with the pain but I'm up most of the night. My back doctor suggested taking some Tylenol PM with the tramadol and that helped with getting to sleep.