Tramadol/Ultram- anyone using these?

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RedGlitter
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Tramadol/Ultram- anyone using these?

Post by RedGlitter »

My new doctor just put me on 50 mg (once every 6 hours) of Ultram (generic Tramadol) for severe arthritis. I looked up this drug online and I see many complaints of seizures resulting, including Grand Mal. Needless to say Iam afraid of using this yet I have been as I am out of my usual Lortab. I'm not even sure this Ultram is helping the pain. Does anyone here have any experiences good or bad or neutral with this drug?? :confused:
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CARLA
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Post by CARLA »

No I haven't taken it, just be careful if you notice anything strange call the doctor all medication have side affects some worse than other.

Was your other medication not working anymore???

Isn't there a new one out now that you only take once a day..??
ALOHA!!

MOTTO TO LIVE BY:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming.

WOO HOO!!, what a ride!!!"

RedGlitter
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Post by RedGlitter »

Hi Carla,



I'm not sure what new arthritis meds they have now, will have to check. Used to use Vioxx which did nothing for the pain. I've used various forms of hydrocodone (ie vicodin, lortab, etc) for about two years now. It doesn't kill the pain but it takes off the edge and makes it tolerable. I was hoping though to find something I could take routinely for everyday pain, saving the hydro for extreme cases. I know I can become tolerant to hydro and I also worry about all the acetominophen in it so I asked new doctor for something else. On top of the Tylenol in the vicodin, I was taking between 6 and twelve Tylenols a day. I don't want to lose my liver.



I've tried everything and I mean everything over the counter in all possible combos to no avail. Closest I got was Tylenol and aspirin mixed. :(
Patsy Warnick
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Post by Patsy Warnick »

Most of these drugs could and do cause seizures. Infact trying to stop, you'd have to ween yourself off these drugs. New drugs are risky - I believe a drug should out on the market for over 5 years before I'll try one.

Remember - anti inflammatory - pain relievers etc., when taken anything - it goes thru out your system, - kidneys need to flush it - liver needs to cope with it - your heart needs to be able to handle the downs & ups. Medication doesn't just go to the knee that hurts or the ankle etc..

Drs, are practicing medicine - we are their guinne pigs..

Be careful - try to live without this medication - nothing can stop arthritis - and nothing can cure or stop the pain.

Patsy
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CARLA
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Post by CARLA »

Boy you have to watch the Tylenol for sure they will screw your liver up for sure.

Maybe this new medication will work and you can stop taking Tylenol period. There are many arthritis medicaiton go to WEBMD and search medication for rhemotoid arthritis and see which one might be best suited for you.

I have taken Vioxx, Celebrix, Naprosen and a few others Celebrix works well for me and only had to take it 2 times a day.
ALOHA!!

MOTTO TO LIVE BY:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming.

WOO HOO!!, what a ride!!!"

Patsy Warnick
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Post by Patsy Warnick »

RED

I don't know about the worst pain for you - but mine is terrible in the A.M..

Its terrible - I've given up on percocet - oxy - vicodon- I've had them all and now refuse to take them.

Everyone's concerned about Tylenol - that ingredient - well its in all meds ALL..

I looked it up when Cat died - I was very surprised, then read ingredients to others and its there, so if your taking 6-9 percocets, oxys a day - its a risk, no pain or OD..

RED - when is your pain the worst? A.M. ??

Have you thought about having a Bloody Mary or a Screw Driver to take the edge off.?? I'm not at all suggesting to get drunk - or drink full time - just a cocktail to ease the pain.??

Patsy
RedGlitter
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Post by RedGlitter »

Thanks for the link, Carla. I'll look it up.



I have osteoarthritis as I was born with clubfoot. Both feet. Two operations, last one almost botched. They thought I'd be in a wheelchair by 30 but I'm now 40 and no chair. I'm limited in my standing and walking which made me give up my hairdresser career. I don't enjoy drinking too much but I like the occasional margarita. Havn't noticed it helping with pain though. I'm more a pill person I guess.



I did discover Crocs shoes last summer. They're wonderful. Comfiest shoes I ever had and I can walk and stand twice as long with them. www.crocs.com



New Dr. put me on Lortab as I was taking vicodin 10/650 about 4 pills a day.

Lortab I'm taking is 10.500.

The pain, Patsy, isn't really at a given time, it's more like all the time, a chronic pain.
Patsy Warnick
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Post by Patsy Warnick »

Red

Those shoes are cute & comfy - you probably don't wear a size 10 - thats not cute.

I saw alot of those shoes while in Hawaii - they've made flip flops now - very cool, not in 10..

This cold weather elevates our pain - crippling at times - I moved to AZ for the sun and now will and can't leave. My body would never tolerate the real cold (snow).

Try to get thru this cold the best you can - be careful with the meds..

Patsy
RedGlitter
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Post by RedGlitter »

Thanks, Patsy, I will.

I'll look around for 10's if you like. I know several Croc sites. I take an 8 myself.



The cold is the worst isn't it!! Evenw ith Icy Hot and socks on *and* slippers as well, sometimes the pain is still there. I use a hot water bottle or a heating pad to sleep at night.
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CARLA
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Post by CARLA »

Red my Granddaughter was born with both feet clubed and one hand as well. She had 4 surgeries before the age of 2 to correct them and her feet are normal now except for the scar that runs back to front on both feet.

She had the surgery here is San Diego at our world famous Children's Hospital by a doctor who also was born with club feet. I must say if it is corrected early enough the outcome is dramatically improved. She was in a wheelchair for almost a year then off she went walking normal and her feet have grown as they were suppose to. Her toes are a bit short but not causing any problems with her standing.

They tried to correct the hand but that was unsucessful she is double jointed in her left and and the palm is not the same size as her right had or the fingers, but she has adapted well and doesn't seem to be a problem for her.
ALOHA!!

MOTTO TO LIVE BY:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming.

WOO HOO!!, what a ride!!!"

Patsy Warnick
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Post by Patsy Warnick »

Every surgery will develope arthritis and scar tissue.

Carla sorry to hear about your granddaughter - in time as RED will have pain/discomfort with arthritis - the more movement the better - I would suggest massaging the foot/ankle all the time. It's better then meds..

Patsy
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CARLA
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Post by CARLA »

Good point Patsy massaging the foot is excellent therapy for sure. A pedicure with massage is great as well. Heck Red should have her new doctor prescribe PT that has massage a part of it. I use heat a lot on my joints I live on a heating pad works great instead of drugs.. You can only take so many drugs and then none of them do any good. :-5

[QUOTE]Carla sorry to hear about your granddaughter - in time as RED will have pain/discomfort with arthritis - the more movement the better - I would suggest massaging the foot/ankle all the time. It's better then meds..

Patsy[/QUOTE]
ALOHA!!

MOTTO TO LIVE BY:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming.

WOO HOO!!, what a ride!!!"

RedGlitter
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Post by RedGlitter »

Carla, that's good news about your grand daughter. :)



I was born with bilateral clubfoot. That was in 1966 and a year later was in casts after heelcord splicing. Had to wear that uhh....what's i called, I want to say Dennis Brownbar but that's not it. It's the steel bar with shoes attached that are rotated out. I remember beinga baby and screaming to get out of those things, I hated them.



You might would think that by today we'd have better methods for correction or at least for mobility and pain treatments but when I went in to get my one foot fixed (botched) about 15 years ago no one knew what to do with me! They had doctors and medical staff who had never come across clubfoot. Good that it's not prevalent but bad for when it occurs.
Patsy Warnick
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Post by Patsy Warnick »

Carla

Your grandaughter sounds fairly young - start or make her move as much as possible.

My nephew was diagnosed with Rhuematory Arthiritis at the age of 2. Pronounced dead over 4 times at the University of Seattle Hospital. He is now 34 years old - beautiful handsom young man.

I quit my job - I was all of 18 yrs old and bought him a Big Wheel - made him pedal and pedal - I devoted my life to him while his parents worked their butt off to pay the bills..

I also had him drink clam necter. My mom had a beach place, and clams were everywhere - he started to love the necter.

I truely believe clam juice/necter was his cure.

Patsy
RedGlitter
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Post by RedGlitter »

Patsy, I don't know about the clams, bu I don't doubt your concern and care for him helped to heal him. :)



That's great!
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Peg
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Post by Peg »

RedGlitter;500192 wrote: My new doctor just put me on 50 mg (once every 6 hours) of Ultram (generic Tramadol) for severe arthritis. I looked up this drug online and I see many complaints of seizures resulting, including Grand Mal. Needless to say Iam afraid of using this yet I have been as I am out of my usual Lortab. I'm not even sure this Ultram is helping the pain. Does anyone here have any experiences good or bad or neutral with this drug?? :confused:


I have rheumatoid arthritis. For me, Ultram did no more than a baby aspirin would.

I know it's not good for you, but a cortisone shot every now and then makes life so much better. It's nice to be relatively pain free if only for a short time. Has your doctor tried you on Methotrexate? It's original use was for cancer, but in smaller doses help arthritis. I'm not sure if it is only used for RA or not. If you ever find something that works really well, let me know, will you?
RedGlitter
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Post by RedGlitter »

Peg;500322 wrote: I have rheumatoid arthritis. For me, Ultram did no more than a baby aspirin would.

I know it's not good for you, but a cortisone shot every now and then makes life so much better. It's nice to be relatively pain free if only for a short time. Has your doctor tried you on Methotrexate? It's original use was for cancer, but in smaller doses help arthritis. I'm not sure if it is only used for RA or not. If you ever find something that works really well, let me know, will you?


Hi Peg,



How long does a cortisone shot usually last and how painful is it to get?



I have never heard of that cancer drug...I'm sure I haven't tried all the arthritis drugs out there. I got so disgusted that I gave up and sucked it up. If I do find something, I certainly will let you know, absolutely. :)
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Post by Patsy Warnick »

RED

I know it did. There was nothing else to explain to his DRs. The DRs were amazed at my nephews condition. University of WA Hosp. then started to explore the evidence/ issue with sea food.

My nephew was deformed - every joint was deformed - and now nothing.

He's a healthy 34 yr old young man - owns his own construstion Co. plays in a band - we are very close - I'm his 2nd mother. He had a brother - my nephews are my kids.

Patsy
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Peg
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Post by Peg »

Sometimes it doesn't seem to work at all, other times a week, 2 weeks, to a month. You are only supposed to get them a few times a year. I go to a new specialist in June (the soonest he could get me in). My last RA doctor had me on prednisone, weaned me off, then had me on metho starting at 4 pills, eventually up to 7 once a week. He also had me on folic acid. The guy freaked me out when he yelled at me for getting bloodwork every 3 months like he told me, and insisted he told me every other month. Al was there when he told me every 3 months. If he can't remember that and doesn't have it in his notes, I can't feel safe with going to him. My doctor now has me on Naproxen and I live on tylenol arthritis.

Why on earth do they make arthritis medicines with lids so hard to get off? :wah:

I have it in almost every joint in my body.
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CARLA
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Post by CARLA »

Red my granddaughter had a specialized surgery they do now for club feet. They no longer cut the heel cord. They filet the foot (not pretty but thats what they do). They then reshape the bones and the foot itself and cast them for 6 months. They then remove the cast and reshape them again 2 surgeries per foot. She had it all done before the age of 2 when her bones were pliable. Now with children born with club feet the sooner the better as far as correcting them.
ALOHA!!

MOTTO TO LIVE BY:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming.

WOO HOO!!, what a ride!!!"

Patsy Warnick
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Post by Patsy Warnick »

RED

If your considering cordisone shot - its a thick goop injected into your joint.

Painful - ?? Depends on pain tolerance - remember cordisone will not leave your system. It will deposit into your kidney/liver and never leaves.

Relieve pain - yes

If your considering it - discuss it with your DR - yes it will relieve your pain - its temporary - like a band aid, the pain will come back and that junk will not be absorbed / disbursed within your system. it will go somewhere ??

Patsy
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anastrophe
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Post by anastrophe »

a significant concern with tramadol is if it's taken with SSRI's - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. the combination can cause serotonin syndrome, which is extremely serious and can cause death.
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Tater Tazz
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Post by Tater Tazz »

I can help you on this. I was on ultram, it does not work made me lose alot of weight though. They put me back on vicodian. I was taking the ultram every 4 hours and it did not help. hope this helps you. tazz:-6
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Post by Elvira »

RedGlitter;500192 wrote: My new doctor just put me on 50 mg (once every 6 hours) of Ultram (generic Tramadol) for severe arthritis. I looked up this drug online and I see many complaints of seizures resulting, including Grand Mal. Needless to say Iam afraid of using this yet I have been as I am out of my usual Lortab. I'm not even sure this Ultram is helping the pain. Does anyone here have any experiences good or bad or neutral with this drug?? :confused:


Yes - I've taken Tramadol - made me feel very sick, and retained lots of water. Not good. Kept me too zonked to function. Does relieve pain though

I personally would stay away from anything that reports grand mal as a side effect.
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cherandbuster
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Post by cherandbuster »

anastrophe;500415 wrote: a significant concern with tramadol is if it's taken with SSRI's - selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. the combination can cause serotonin syndrome, which is extremely serious and can cause death.


Yikes, I hope not :)

I've been on tramadol and Lexapro for years now.

Red Glitter, I take two 50 mg tablets twice a day. It has worked very well for me -- I have absolutely no complaints about the drug. After my three back surgeries, I have chronic, but not terrible, back pain. The tramadol has been wonderful for me; it really takes the 'edge' off.

I think I started with Ultram when it first came out several years ago. Since my doctor doesn't want me taking a narcotic (Percocet) regularly, this medication really fit the bill for me :)
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anastrophe
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Post by anastrophe »

cherandbuster;500526 wrote: Yikes, I hope not :)



I've been on tramadol and Lexapro for years now.




it can, but it depends on the SSRI, and the amounts. i take citalopram ('celexa') and that combined with tramadol can induce serotonin syndrome. lexapro is escitalopram - nothing more than the 'left-handed' molecule of citalopram - but i'm not finding any mention of serotonin syndrome associated with it. which is a good thing! however, it's worthy of caution. although rare, serotonin syndrome is a pretty dramatic form of poisoning, and it can kill pretty quickly. the exact balances of drugs, and circumstances, that can cause serotonin syndrome are not known. drugs that can contribute to serotonin syndrome (in combination with SSRI's of course) include dextromethorphan - the main ingredient in most cough syrups - and chlorpheneramine, which is in many allergy medications.



in general, just be prudent, which is good advice for life in general.
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RedGlitter
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Post by RedGlitter »

Thanks you guys for all your advice and input, you've given me lots of things to consider. I'll let you know how it ends up. :)
Delilah
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Post by Delilah »

Hi there, I'm new..but I saw this thread and had to reply. :)

I've been taking Tramadol for Osteoarthritis for I guess about 8 months now maybe. It used to help more, I was wondering if I am getting a tolerance for it? Is it possible to get a tolerance to it?

My rheumatologist has me on 2 pills four times a day..8 a day.

In the beginning, she had me on something called Nortryptaline first, and when she started me on tramadol she told me to keep taking nortryptaline..well, apparently that is one of the drugs that causes serontonin syndrome someone was mentioning. Within only one to two days I was having major hallucinations. I mean serious ones. Almost got into a car accident because of it. So we went to the drug store and they said...omg..why are you taking those two?? Stop taking them immediately, because apparently what happens is first you get the hallucinations..and within a week you are in a coma, and than death. So if I had kept taking them a few more days it could have been ...well, not good.

Anyway, once I stopped taking the Nortryptaline and it got out of my system, I went on just the tramadol and have not had anything like that happen again. Except my pain seems to be getting worse..but as osteo is degenerative..that's supposed to happen anyway I guess..

Anyway, I wanted to wish you well and hope that this can drug can be helpful for you. :)
spiritglow
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Post by spiritglow »

I don't react well to pain meds. I stick with Tylenol (brand name only) the generics don't work as well. I've tried many pain meds over the years and don't really get that much relief.
Heather43
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Post by Heather43 »

Tater Tazz;500437 wrote: I can help you on this. I was on ultram, it does not work made me lose alot of weight though. They put me back on vicodian. I was taking the ultram every 4 hours and it did not help. hope this helps you. tazz:-6


I have been trying to find out if anyone else has lost alot of weight to.. When I was taking Ultram the weight was melting off and I felt great. With Tramadol I do not lose weight and I thought they were the same?? I'm confused if they are or not. Tramadol is sapposed to be the generic of Ultram but why sell straight ultram then? I was thinking of paying the extra price for ultram to get this weight off again... I tell you what I have been racking my brain trying to figure out what I did different then than I am doing now and the only thing is that Im taking Tramadol and not Ultram. Any insight on this?

Also to let you know I take the medication for depression SSRs do not work for me they have the oposite effect so while on the Ultram not only did it help with my moods but I lost three dress sizes.

Would love to hear back

Heather
pantoandy
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Post by pantoandy »

hi red

when i ended up in hospital i was given tramadol by the doctor for pain relief and it doesnt half knock you out
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