tramadol tablets

My D has been prescribed them at various times for knee pain (Osgood Shlaters) she gets really itchy skin and what she calls 'brain fog' but they are the only thing that helps when she needs them and she's never taken them for more than a couple of weeks at a time.

I was prescribed Tramadol for serious wrist pain and took the maximum amount of tablets each day for about two weeks. In this time, I had really bad nightmares so came off them (all of them) at once. I had terrible withdrawal symptoms, lost half a stone in a week. Really wished I had cut them down slowly.

My youngest daughter was prescribed tramadol for knee pain. She was on an antidepressant and this was not picked up by the GP or pharmacist and she had a seizure. After CT scan, MRI scan and EEG it was put down to the combination of tramadol and antidepressant by her neurologist. She was not allowed to drive for a year - I had to take her to work as her nursing shifts at weekends started before bus services. Occupational Health are still faffing about despite not having any more and being off medication altogether. Tramadol is quite a dangerous drug to take.

DH normally takes one in the morning and one at night.Sometimes more if he needs them. When he told his consultant he was worried about becoming addicted the consultant said "Do they make you feel better?" "Yes" "Then what's the problem? You want quality of life"

I have been taking tramadol for several years. I have osteo and rheumatoid arthritis,plus fibromyalgia and can't take NSAIDs as they give me awful stomach ache and make me sick. I got on fine with tramadol from the start. I usually take 2 in the morning,2 in the evening, and sometimes 2 in the afternoon,depending on my pain levels. They have certainly helped me manage better. But,I will say that they ARE addictive. If I have forgotten to take my morning dose,which has happened a few times if I have got up and had to go out in a bit of a rush,I feel ABSOLUTELY AWFUL within a couple of hours. Not just physically,but mentally. So they do affect your mind,as well as your body. My GP was not overly concerned when I asked about being addicted to them. He said as long as they were making me feel better and in less pain,not to worry,as I'm not even taking the maximum daily dose,let alone exceeding it.

I take them for arthritis pain and I used to get nightmares and 'see' people and have conversations with them! However all that stoppped after a while and only bad thing now is increased hot flushes. There not as good for nerve pain as gabapentin and pregabalin though - the latter in newer than gabapentin and you don't need as much of it so you could try that. I was one pregabalin as well as tramadol when my sciatica was at its height- I couldn't stand upright or walk without help. All of these drugs seem to have some side effects but sometimes you have no choice - drugs or no life!

DF had them prescribed when suffering from an acute back problem. Within 3 days he was in hospital and I was left with a weeks supply of Tramadol. I considered keeping them, I do, occasionally have severe attacks of migraine, but decided that as Tramadol was prescription only, the safest thing to do was to dispose of them

After reading this thread I know, even more, that I made the right decision

I was prescribed Tramadol years ago when I had a slipped disc. They completely knocked me off my feet (more off my feet than I already was!!) and I couldn't function. I remember my sister coming round to see me and I couldn't even hold a sensible conversation, so I stopped taking them.

for all you folk wih pain issues ACTI PATCH they do a trial version of it and different types for different areas and pain.My daughter uses it for Fibromyalgia and she has found she can half the amount of pain mediication she's on....was on.It's almoost like a tens m/c but has no sensation or noise from it and you wear it all the time ,my daughter wears hers at waist level and for 30 days before it needs changed . There are loads of good reviews on it

My daughter had a seizure with tramadol as she was on antidepressants and it was not spotted. She was not allowed to drive for a year which meant I had to take her to work and sometimes collect as she was on shifts and no buses. It was for knee pain for which she has now had surgery. She was given dihydrocodeine after the seizure. CT and MRI were normal as was EEG. We discovered the connection with seizures and discussed with her GP then neurologist. It is a drug to take with caution.

I had a kidney stone about 4 years ago, they struggled to get it out so I had to have a stent in for six weeks before they could operate again. I was in agony the whole time. I took Tramadol along with goodness knows how many other things at the same time. I was pretty spaced out, but because of the pain I didn't care too much. I found them to be very good on the pain relief though, and apart from making me a bit zombie like they didn't make me feel ill or anything.

They are addictive though so one has to take care.

Just watched gp behind closed door tv programme. Patient taking tramadol reported increased aggression and irritation as side effects.

I know from where I used to work that a lot of people have side effects of feeling spaced out, upset stomach or sleeping a lot from most strong painkillers. The only answer I think is to find a balance between taking strong medication with side effects and taking enough pain relief to take the edge off the pain.

DH takes them for his back. No problems.

I was given them for pain in my hip , first night I slept but woke with the pain , took one at 8am as instructed , every time I sat down I fell asleep . I tried for aweek as I was told it would take a week for the pain to lessen ,but when I could not remember what day it was I stopped taking them , and I was only on 2 tablets a day ! the pain was not helped in any way

I had them for sciatica with no problems whatsoever

I cant even remember the 12 months i was on Tramadol ! my DH when he had to have them was bouncing off the walls and a dear friend when she was on them was found in the woods by her DH trying to commit suicide, she remembers nothing of it other than having her stomach pumped.I would rather suffer the pain than take them again and my Doctor still tries to give me them !

MargaretX I don't think that tramadol is high dose codeine, as mentioned in your post. I understand that Tramadol is a synthetic opiate.

Anyone taking an antidepressant has to be careful when taking Tramadol in higher doses for fear of seizures.

Anything. And on silly phone.

Thankyou everyone for your comments. I have to have some form of pain relief as the nerve pain ie numbness tingling cramp is24/7 and I wasn't able to sleep. I kind of sleep in-between the nightmares so out is better than no sleep. Think I will go back in cocodamol. Tried 8 paracetamol a day but made me feel ill.

Tramadol did not work for me at all...I might just as well have downed a tube of smarties!

I have been on Tramadol for donkeys years and have a prescription for up to 8 tablets a day. I do not find taking it much of a problem to be honest.

I have over a period of time learnt to take Tramadol as and when I am at my worst but this has been helped by another tablet that was prescribed for me a few years ago. Meloxicam. One tablet is a muscle relaxant, the other pain control. I have found the 'combination' works very well for my pain and I have cut down the amount I take severely.

I definitely cannot take Tramadol without food even after such a long period of taking them. It is better to live with a little discomfort than take 8 a day but I will if and when the pain is too bad, 'a flair up'.

I was given Tramadol after my knee replacement. I had no side effects but it did not take away the pain that I had. I took them for 2-3 weeks and then stopped, no problems. Like others, the staff could not work out what was best for my pain- they just shrugged their shoulders and walked away.

Absolutely luckygirl! I was so surprised to be asked which drugs I'd prefer. As I then had no experience at all of any of them I really couldn't say. I learned quick enough though! I'm managing on the odd paracetamol so far. Its not pain free but its OK. Can't ask more. Pain has a function!

It is good(?) to know that others cannot tolerate all these supposed painkillers - I thought it was just me. The hospital staff at the Nuffield where I had my hip done treated me as if I was putting it on when the tablets made me ill. One sister came in and said, in a huffy tone of voice:" Well what DO you want us to give you?" - how the would I know!!!!

When I got home I used a combination of paracetamol and half a codeine. It is a catch 22, as they want you up and mobile but give you stuff that renders you unconscious or unsafely giddy.