Tramadol | Arthritis Information

Well, it seems like I've been calling doc every week since I've seen him. Meds don't seem to be helping much, but I don't want to change completely because on Friday I'll be in the car for a 12 hour ride and I just wanted something to ease my pain a bit...not a complete change. Last week, he took me of pred to daypro and the side effects from the change lasted 2 long days. I felt awful, not to mention my dad was very sick in the hospital and driving back and forth just made me feel worse.

Anyway...has anyone taken Tramadol, and have you had good luck with it? He prescribed this for the pain in addition to the Daypro, hopefully I'll feel better by the end of the week for the drive. (I'm not driving, thank goodness!)

TIA!!

I've taken tramadol for years. IT's pretty mild but it does help me. It might make you sleepy; but it might not. You'll just have to see how it effects you.

I just take it at night. Try to take it as little as possible because you'll build a tolerance for it and it won't work as good after a while.

Good Luck. Hope it helps.

It worked for me pretty well. My only side effect was constipation. Just a heads up!! Enjoy your trip!!! Tramadol works great for me. It's not as effective as Vicodin, but then again it doesn't make me near as goofy as Vicodin does either!

My father can't take NSAIDs and he has severe arthritis in his back. His doctor was reluctant to keep prescribing Vicodin for his pain, so I told him to ask for tramadol instead. He did, and the doc gave it to him. Dad didn't really think it was going to work, but he was AMAZED!

It can be addictive, but doesn't seem to be nearly as addictive as hydrocodone (fun stuff in Vicodin) or codeine. It also affects serotonin levels, and scientists suspect its mode of action is not entirely at the opiate receptors. Narcotic antagonists will not reverse the effects of tramadol. It's not yet a controlled substance, though the DEA is looking to change that.

Give it a try!
Wow, thanks for the quick responses. I'm definately willing to give it a shot. I'm glad it didn't make you "goofy" as you say. LOL. I'm a hairdresser, that's all I need is to have a customer walk out looking like a clown! LOL. I'm happy to hear good reviews, thank you ladies. I'll let you know how I feel in a day or so.I have been taking Tramdol for about three weeks, and have found it pretty
effective against the pain in my back. I do have osteoarthritis in my back as
well as PMR, but the tramadol helps to make it almost bearable. Does seem
to make me a little shaky, but that can be from a number of things! It is
definately worth a try. Hope it works for you!

You guys speaking of back pain and Tramdol reminded me that the first time I was prescribed it was when i was having back problems. The doctor ended up giving me some muscle relaxers as well and that really helped a lot too.

I knwo the back probelms all too well!

Sounds like during this tough time with your Dad a small dose on a regular schedule will help you get through it.

You can always go back to 'as needed' when life calms down.

[QUOTE=marian]

Tramadol taken on a regular schedule like my doc prescribed it made it work much better for me than taking it 'as needed'.

Sounds like during this tough time with your Dad a small dose on a regular schedule will help you get through it.

You can always go back to 'as needed' when life calms down.

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There's an extended-release version as well - it allows once-a-day dosing.

I know that I'll be taking it twice a day, because his assistant told me, but she didn't tell me my dosage, and I haven't picked it up yet. She did tell me to take it on a reg basis for now, and to get me through my long weekend, then if I'm doing okay, I can take it as needed. So, we'll see how it works for me and how it makes me feel. I'm super sensative to medication, so I'm always a little nervous taking something new.

I feel so much more comfortable with all that is going on with me, having all of you to ask these questions to. Its so great to have people in similar situations give their two cents. I'll very grateful! Thank you!!!

Hope it helps you Deb

Hi,

I take tramadol, have done for a while. When things get really bad I take the modified release stuff 12 hours apart to give 24 hour pain relief. That way you have a constant amount in your bloodstream rather than taking some and having a peak of it in your blood then nothing until it's time to take the next one. For me taking modified release tablets also lessens the side effects again because it's a constant dose rather than peaks and troughs. The Dr drew me a diagram which was helpful - difficult to describe but here goes... imagine a base line which is zero dose and a line halfway up which is effective dose, if you take ordinary tablets you get a massive peak after about 15-30 mins as your body absorbs the drug, this peak will be way above the effective dose but quickly drops to below it and may even reach zero before it's time for the next dose. Modified release tablets may take a bit longer to reach effective dose (up to 6-12 hours) but then as long as you take them every 12 hours they stay at the effective dose. This means fewer side effects and better pain relief. Many people also find they take a lower dose over 24 hours this way too - I take either 2 x 50mg modified release tablets in 24 hours or 4-6 x 50mg ordinary ones... Ordinary ones are best for taking 'as and when' but for longer term use I always use the modified release.

I hope this helps!

one tramadol does me no good, I have to take two tablets before I get any relief. It makes a big difference. I started the week off in pain, I went 3 weeks without my embrel or mtx due to a viral infection, so the pain is back

You get cold sweats, shakes, ill feeling etc. for about a week or two, then you slowly feel better.

I've taken it for about 3 years.. 2 in the morning, 2 at bedtime, and 2 if I feel the need in the middle of the day. I figure I take the extra dose once a week or so.

What I like about it is there's no "high" you dont feel anything, then later realize..oh I'm not hurting..

Well, I've been taking the Tramadol for a whole day now and I have to say, I feel better. I worked a ten hour day today and I'm not in nearly as much pain as I usually am. I feel alot like my old self again. He's got me on 50mg, twice a day.

~~What I like about it is there's no "high" you dont feel anything, then later realize..oh I'm not hurting..~~Exactly!!!

I'm so glad it's helping...I'll feel much better for that 12hr car ride.

I've had no side effects from Tramadol, but I also haven't benefitted much from it. My pain seems to be increasing modestly, truth be told. For me, it's the first medicine I've taken, along with meloxicam, to treat this, and I'm not anxious to try something that's opiate-based as Tramadol is not.

From what I've read, some people do experience withdrawl, potentially severe, after long term use.

davidvc0439323.7981597222

I found Tramadol to be the best effective pain-reliever I have taken since dx of R/A in 1995 nd I have tried a few painkillers ( Co-Proxamol was the better drug for me, but as that was being withdrawn in th UK, I was told to come off that years ago). However, Tramadol it made me very tired and nauseous and I could not cope with the constipation and queasiness as I was losing weight dramatically due to an over active thyroid at the same time. It was probably the over active thyorid which worsened the tiredness anyhow. Think I got the Tramadol at the wrong time to be honest.

I am now on Co-Codamol but I don't find that as good but the nausea directly after taking the Tramadol was not for me.

Hope the Tramadol works for you.

Joolie

I was taking Ultracet (tramadl plus tylenol) for 9 months. Good pain relief. I didn't want to get 'hooked' so I didn't take as much as I should, tho. I saw my GP doc last week and she prescribed one Ultram ER 100mg every 24 hrs.

This stuff is mucho better!! Timed Released so I don't get that up and down like KT297 explained.

Meanwhile, blood tests show high liver numbers....I've been on MTX, (7 tabs wkly)for 15 months. My GP faxed a copy to my rheumy and the jerk didn't even CALL me!!! So this wk I went back to 5 tabs. I think I need a new rheumy............comments??

Quilter

[QUOTE=Quilter]

This stuff is mucho better!! Timed Released so I don't get that up and down like KT297 explained.

Quilter

[/QUOTE]

Maybe he/she is on vacation, or something happened to the paperwork. I'd call the office first and find out what was up. We're all human.
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