Ultram-giving me a hard time | Arthritis Information

I just started Ultram and am having quite a hard time of it.

Monday my hands were swollen and painful... couldn't cut my pancakes with fork so hubby did it. I had requested a pain med between Tylenol and narcotics so RD researched what was safe with my severe med allergies and ordered Ultram. So, Monday 1pm, I took my first pill. I awoke later from my daily long nap feeling heavy-headed and that became dizziness with mild nausea and a vasovagal reaction of cardiac arrythmia so it all became very uncomfortable. When I woke up yesterday am, Tues, it continued to the point that I stumbled a couple times so had to hold the walls. I gave up by 10:30am and stayed in bed the rest of the day. I check every 1-2hours to see if it was better and I left message for RD. Hubby (day off work) brought me lunch in bed but I didn't last long sitting up. Dr finally called, I assurred her it was not an allergic reaction, that the same thing happened at home post-op shoulder surgery from too high a dose of vicodan. I'm not a tiny person like my mom, just average, at top of normal weight range; I'm just sensitive. I asked if there is a lower dose. Well, there isn't one under 100mg and I can't snap it in half because it is a time-release and must be taken whole. She said some people need to adjust so take it again and then watch what happens. So, now it's 24hrs later again. Today I am still feeling uncomfortable, but there is an improvement so I'll try it again. If this reaction keeps decreasing, I should eventually adjust and be ok. Oh and by the way, it has noticeably helped lessen my pain... so I want to take this rather than vicodan daily.

I really need to go to bed now. My head is still heavy, but I was able to check my email and a few of the postings here. Anyway, I'm so tired, I guess it's time to nap. I'll check back here later to read any replies of your experiences or advice.

Thanks, Cathy

So sorry that instead of relief you got more grief!

Ultram did absolutely nothing for me except suppress my appetite.

Hope you feel better soon!

wanttobeRAfree2009-04-15 12:39:10Cathy, I couldn't take ultram either... same thing, all dizzy and weird feeling. I never adjusted to it. It did help the pain, I just couldn't take the drug. I feel so bad for you ((((((Cathy)))))), I know how it feels to be where you are.

Take care and I hope it either works for you or you find something else soon!
Sounds like you're taking Ultram-ER, which is the extended-release formulation. There is also an immediate-release formulation, available in 50-mg tablets which you can divide if need be. Ultram (tramadol) can cause problems if you're taking an SSRI or any drug affecting serotonin. You may also have some effects left over from the meds they gave you during surgery. I felt like that after knee surgery. I am taking the same pain meds now and they do not effect me that way. Or else I just got used to them. I'm awake again. I appreciate your inputs. To answer some of your questions:

--I do not take any SSRI so I'm ok that way.

--My last surgeries were in March & September 08 so surgical meds are long gone out of my system. I didn't use all the vicodan so I could ration them out at bad times of RA, never more than 2-3 times/week. Now, we're trying the Ultram instead.

--My fatigue occurs every day and feels like I have a flu+fever with bad body pains, brain fog and need for sleep. Then, when I wake up, I feel restored and much better... flu is gone. That's one of my big adjustments in life. If I don't push it off and simply go to bed when it starts, I'm able to fall asleep easily, for 2 hours, and then feel better for the evening. If I try to push through it and delay my nap, I feel much worse and it takes longer to eventually fall asleep for the 2 hours. I will still wake up restored, but then I lost 3 hours of my day. So, I try to pay attention and deal with it, not fight it or deny it. I always sleep all night and wake up from that feeling better too. My 2 sleep periods have no effect on my joints one way or another, except for the inactivity then stiffness. But I'd rather have localized stiffness than the feeling of high fever ie 104F(40C)degrees.. I've had fevers that high, even in adulthood, so know how awful it feels. In fact, last July I had a fever that high that confirmed it is a perfect analogy to my daily RA Great Fatigue. This medication reaction of heavy-head-dizziness, mild nausea, arrythmia are never part of it. It is very different and sleep does not make it go away, or even improve. It is a little less today so maybe each day my body will adjust more and more. It took many many months for Mtx to even start working so I guess things just take longer for me.

It's good to know there is a not-time released version of Ultram. I actually hope this works though, because I'm one of those people who wait to take pain relief until it's pretty bad, which backfires because then it take much longer to kick it and help me. I won't mess up like that with a time release. Or, at least that's what's supposed to happen.

I forgot to ask dr... what if I get a headache or something ordinary? Can I still take Tylenol?

Is the generic, Tramadol, as effective? I'd sure like to spend less. My insurance paid a lot, but my part was still for one month. Add that to Mtx injections, and my other Rx, and I am spending a lot. And I'm not even on a biological-tnf inhibitor which are much worse.

Although I can read and write on here today for short bursts, I am still dizzy so must go. I'll check back later or tomorrow am to see if there are more replies. Thank you to all.

Cathy

Tramadol immediate-release is quite cheap - costco.com lists its price as .40 for 30 tablets, though I don't know if that's "member-only" pricing. Drugstore.com lists it at for 30 tabs. In contrast, Ultram-ER (extended-release tramadol - the form you have) costs 0 for 30 tablets at Costco.

Definitely ask your doctor about the immediate-release tramadol tablets. I've never had a problem with them. My father uses it too (he has severe back pain after a work injury and spinal fusion) and it works wonderfully for him as well. Hi Cathy,

I take the what they call "retard" tramadol tablets here, retard means extended relief

I have not had any problems with them I take 1-2 per day depending on what kind of a day I am having. Jasmine is right maybe the immediate release lower dose tramadol would be better. This way you can work up to a dose that your body will tolerate.

Sorry you are having troubles with this. Hope you find a solution.

Cathy - so sorry you are having such a hard time. Ultram has worked for me, except if my back goes bad. I hope you got some rest and today will be better. Big huggles ~~ CathyFL

Update....

I started Ultram Monday afternoon, by evening and all through Tues was dizzy+nauseated. RD said to try one day at a time, but if no improvement at all, to call her. Yesterday, Wed, I was a little less dizzy, no nausea, so took it again. Today, Thurs, a little less dizzy, no nausea, so I took it again. Still not safe to drive, but I am thinking positive that maybe for church on Sunday I can (hubby works).

Tues-today... the Ultram has decreased my pain, so that's a good thing!

Thanks for your concern and advice. You all are my only support coming from firsthand experience. My family is all great, but they do not have RA, in fact, my 88yr old mom is in perfect health...thank God!

Cathy

I take Tramadol but I only take it as needed and only at night. I won't work or drive taking anything other than Mobic. I was just taking 4 advil at a time; but I finally gave in and took the prescription for Mobic with I've been pretty happy with.

Have you tried a prescription anti-inflammatory? That's probable a dumb question; but I couldn't stand that druged up feeling all the time. I've got too much to do for that....and I do know what you're talking about.

Hope you're feeling better soon. It's probable likely that once you adjust to the new med you'll be fine. I hope so.

Lovie..........I cannot take any anti-inflammatory med at all- ever again. I went into full-blown anaphylactic shock twice, when I first was diagnosed with RA; once with 1 pill of Celebrex then with first pill of Prednisone. I did fine with Prednisone for years during my worst years of Ulcerative Colitis. I did fine with Celebrex for 2 years the last time I had severe plantar fascitis with achilles tendonitis. Then when RA started, I suddenly developed life threatening allergies. All doctors, emergency room docs, RD, surgeons, anesthesiologists, pharmacists... all say that I may not be allergic to every single anti-inflammatory drug, but it is not worth the risk of dying since each episode is worse than the one before (I found that was true) so to not take even an Advil.. ever. My gastroenterologist even took me off the med I was on to keep my Ulcerative Colitis in remission because there is aspirin in it. Luckily, I have kept in remission without it. So, I'm stuck. Heaven forbid I get a bad lung reaction to an RA Rx or a bad head injury or other really serious thing. Thanks for the thought anyway; you were trying to help.

Snow...... since today's reaction is less, I think I am adjusting to it! I too like the decrease in pain. Keep your fingers crossed,

Cathy

Yicks; tha tis scary. I'm sure you're starting to adjust to it. In another week you'll be just fine. I react a simular way to Lyrica and with every increase I go tthrough it again. It's aggrevating for a week or even two but it's always worth the adjustment period.

Good Luck. Let us know how it goes.

Call the pharmacy and ask the tylonol question. Because I do not know if there is tylonol already in your medication. I think but am not sure that ultram does not have tylonol in it and that ultracet does have tylonol in it. So call your pharmacy and ask them the question.

thanks everybody...

Guess what... each day is a little better so at this rate, I should be dizzy-free in a couple days! And I'm happy to report my pain is less than it's been for years. I called my dr to let her know and to thank her.

Cathy

CathyMarie2009-04-18 17:22:06Woohoo! Ultram is a wonderful drug when it works! Today I am dizzy-free and no more heavy-headedness or nausea and the pain continues to be decreased too! I was able to pack 2 boxes of books from my shelves. The empty shelves are sad, but somehow satisfying that I got at least something done towards this awful move. Now, mounting fatigue is making me notice aches and pains but I know all that will be gone after my nap... it's my daily cure until later in evening. I see Ultram doesn't help with that, but hey, I'll take whatever help I can get.

CathyMarie

Cathy, it is great to hear things working out for you! There is something so sad about an empty shelf when you are moving. Please don't let things stress you too much, as we all know this makes the RA so much worse. I know how hard that will be for you right now... you are in my thoughts.
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