Anyone have a bad experience on Tramadol?

[CTyankee]

My rheumatologist prescribed a small amount of it for my arthritis pain. It did nothing and I reported to the doc. He looked at my chart and said I could take two. I did so next time I had pain that Tylenol didn't help. Well, I became extremely dizzy, so much so that I couldn't stand up. I had to sit. It was a frightening and unpleasant experience to say the least. It did wear off (I just went to bed early since I couldn't read or watch TV) but I am reporting this to him at my next appointment and getting rid of the rest of the prescription.

I've never had such a bad experience with a drug. I like the doctor but he needs to know how this affected me. I can take some prescription painkillers on occasion with no problem. I certainly don't need them regularly.

No other prescription medicine has affected me so adversely. Right now I'm sticking with Tylenol and regular stretches/exercises. This experience scared the hell out of me.

[Worried senior]

1. I know everyone reacts

differently, Tramadol does nothing for me, I have taken three when I was really hurting and it helped but I'm only suppose to take three/day.

My sister-in-law is like me, I have a cousin that has a bad reaction to it.

[unblock]

2. dizziness is listed as one of the potential side effects.

obviously, as you note, you should discuss with your doctor. i wouldn't wait for the next appointment, go ahead and call, even if you just talk to a physician's assistant.

also i wouldn't throw out the tramadol just yet. i gather that this was not an extended release tablet, so i would think that you could split these. if you and your doctor think it's worth trying, and one is too little and two is too much, then maybe one and one-half is just right.

i'm not a doctor but i'm not aware of any other pain relievers that are neither over-the-counter nor narcotics.

[CTyankee]

3. If I am in severe pain, I would prefer to take hydracodone. It works very well for me and

doesn't make me dizzy or make me feel funny the next day (of course, I wouldn't drive or drink alcohol while taking it). It works very well, but I doubt if he would prescribe it. I have a few left over from a surgery which I didn't need because my post op pain wasn't bad. I know the rap with hydracodone about being so addictive, but I was on painkillers for a longer hospital stay a few years ago and didn't get addicted. I was also able to stop smoking without any problems at all.

My preference is to take tylenol and do my prescribed exercises. I would really like to go back to my physical therapist who got me out of pain initially when I was first diagnosed but my insurance won't pay for any more. I was pain free and drug free and I felt wonderful...

[WhiteTara]

28. I was taking 3 5-325 at a time or 2 10-325 several times a day

for almost 4 months before my lumbar lomectomy to relieve pressuer on the sciatic nerve. I had surgery 4 weeks ago and except for ngiht time pain(I sleep on the side that was worked on) I haven't wanted to take one. I know the rap, but if you are in pain, it doesn't really count...only when you continue on after you need it does it have the addictive effects (This is just my experience and the words of my pain doctors.)

Tramadol didn't do a thing for me.

[CTyankee]

24. see my update with a family friend who is an anesthesiologist. He says the same thing you said....

there are myriad issues involved because tramadol is neither OTC nor narcotics. So there are lots of problems that patients can experience, depending on their health and body circumstance. He says that is why he doesn't like the recent explosion of patients receiving the drug.

He also said I should ask my rheumatologist for a referral to a pain specialist. I intend to do so at my next appointment, coming up next Wednesday...

[Warpy]

4. Dizziness is a side effect that's well known

A lot of people can't tolerate tramadol because of it. It even progresses to nausea and vomiting in some people.

Stick with mild narcotics if Tylenol doesn't do the trick. Just keep your eye on how much Tylenol you're taking if you get the combination pills, it's damaging to both liver and kidneys.

I'm lucky, I do really well on tramadol because it pushes the pain into the background with no buzz. I really grew to hate the buzz.

[CTyankee]

6. I wonder if even a mild dose of hydrocodone would pass muster...the doc may be very hesitant to

prescribe it...but it's a good bet for me.

My doc has warned me against aspirin and naproxin because they cause stomach bleeding and that scared me.

I'll ask him about how much tylenol is safe to take. I only take one each day that I have pain...I'm pretty wary at this point...

And yeah, I felt a little nausea with the tramadol dose...sheesh...

[Warpy]

8. We used to double dose Tylenol in the hospital in post op patients

who couldn't take narcotics, usually because of a substance abuse history. We'd also use NSAIDs.

Something like once a day Celebrex could also work, the cardiac complications being reduced greatly with once a day dosage instead of two or three times a day.

My own problem is that I'm allergic to NSAIDs and my kidneys won't handle a lot of aspirin or Tylenol. I'm kind of stuck for pain relief and tramadol is the easiest to cope with.

[leftyladyfrommo]

12. I was taking Naproxin and it caused my lever enzymes to be elevated.

I am more careful with it now.

My doctor said the safest one is Tylenol as long as you don't have liver problems.

Tramadol does nothing for me.

[CTyankee]

14. Oh, geez, my blood tests have been great...I don't want to screw them up...

I know it is crazy but I think the barometric pressure has something to do with my pain...I hope there is some medical science to back this up...

[Mosby]

5. the only time I use tramadol

Is for my dogs. Didn't even know they were still giving this to people

Can you tolerate nsaids?

Tylenol is bad for your liver.

[CTyankee]

7. I don't know what a nsaid is...is it naproxin, because he told me not to take it because it

would make my stomach bleed and that scared me...

[Warpy]

9. NSAIDs are a whole class of drugs like Motrin, Naprosyn, and a host of others

that are now over the counter. They've been linked to cardiac complications, mostly, in people with chronic pain who try to manage it with enough NSAID drugs to cover it.

They can also prolong clotting time and have been associated with GI bleeding. Aspirin is loosely classified as an NSAID and has the same potential.

[CTyankee]

10. Doc told me no Motrin either, same reason...

I wish I could take my aspirin. I loved it. It was my go-to drug for simple headache but docs are just down on it now so...oh well...but I don't have chronic pain...

[MannyGoldstein]

11. Consider ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Motrin) instead of Tylenol?

Tylenol does very little for pain relief, and is pretty dangerous - I believe it's the number one killer among all legal drugs:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/24/tylenol-overdose_n_3976991.html

I recommend that you listen to the This American Life piece.

Ibuprofen and naproxen are NSAIDs that are not risk-free, but much better at relieving pain than Tylenol is and are safer to boot. Small risk of GI bleeding with both, but that's rarely fatal. Naproxen isn't as good as ibuprofen for pain relief, but it's a better bet if taking more than a couple times a week as ibuprofen can raise risk of cardiac issues while naproxen does not IIRC.

Of course, check with your doctor in case I'm totally full of bull.

[CTyankee]

13. Doc doesn't recommend ibuprofen or naproxenfor my specific problem. Ymmv...

I'll ask my doc about that program. I like him because he is so damn thorough and he speaks both fluent Italian and French and....

he's adorable...

[dixiegrrrrl]

15. I have tried several things for joint pain.

Many many folks say tylonel does not work for joint pain. I have found that to be true.
Tramadol....tried it for 3 days, it did nothing for pain, but I got too dizzy on it.

My doc suggested Meloxicam, one of the older meds, which is generic for something, I forget, but they do not make the brand name anymore.
It works a treat, because it goes to the inflammation in the joints, and I feel I am moving with so much ease on it.
Downside...for me, water retention. Sigh.
So I switch between 2 aspirin in the am and Meloxicam at bedtime, which keeps the pain from waking me up.

but the very very best thing I learned in the last few years about having to deal with joint pain is
ALWAYS TAKE PAIN RELIEF MEDS ON A FULL STOMACH.
Always.

The 2nd best thing I have learned is....a lot of our generic drugs come from India.
My pharmacy gave me a Meloxicam refill which had ZERO effect on my pain.
After 2 days, I thought to check the old bottle and the new bottle.
Guess what?
The new bottle was from a different generic maker than the old bottle.
had a talk with the pharmacist, now we make sure I get the old generic. Luckily the stuff costs a few bucks, very cheap.
Was an interesting few days in internet education on various generic makers.

[CTyankee]

16. I tried the Meloxicam. I'd take it with crackers and milk if I missed the meal time dose...

it made me dizzy...I'm ready to give up...

[dixiegrrrrl]

17. Do you live in a medicinal marijuana state?

That would be my very first go to choice if I could.
but...sigh...alas...down here in Regessiville.....

[CTyankee]

18. I think the question is still in debate in the lege...I live in CT and we have a very liberal

legislature...Dem controlled... but this has been a bit in limbo...hoping we can get this rolling once and for all for all of us...thanks for asking...I did think of it earlier only to find out it wasn't really resolved in the state...awww,

[cbayer]

19. Tramadol is sold without a prescription in Mexico.

I don't think it's for everyone, but it's worth a try. Some of the drawbacks associated with opiates for chronic pain are not big problems with tramadol.

That doesn't mean it doesn't have side effects, as you discovered, but it may be a matter of dose adjustment to give you pain relief without dizziness.

Chronic pain is a terrible thing and often requires a lot of experimenting to hit the right solution. Don't give up.

[CTyankee]

20. I am convinced that the barometric pressure has something to do with the occurrence of

my pain. Changes in weather seem to accompany (or precede) it. I don't know if there is medical science to back that up...

[cbayer]

21. Lot of arthritis patients report that and it probably has some

evidence to back it up, but I am not familiar with the literature on this.

Hope you are feeling well soon and that the weather is your friend.

[CTyankee]

22. Thanks. It's good today!

[CTyankee]

23. A litle update on tramadol.

I talked with a family friend, an anesthesiaologist, about tramadol. It was interesting. He thinks it is not a good drug for general use right now and explained (in more length than I can report accurately) basically that it interacts so differently with different people because of intricacies of its make-up. Therefore, a doc doesn't always know what the patient's reaction might be, even based on a judgment of what is listed in the patient's chart. He doesn't like the trend to prescribing tramadol. Hallelujah. I liked that answer.

P.S. I am seeing my rheumatologist this coming Wednesday. I am taking only tylenol (as needed) at this point.

I was encouraged by the information from my family friend doc that he agrees wholeheartedly with the barometric pressure thing and arthritis. He explained to me helpfully that it was the extreme drop in barometric pressure that was the problem. No wonder one day I can feel fine and the next day I am in pain...now I am going to contact my local TV weather guy and asking whether he can highlight the barometric pressure on the station's website...

[unblock]

25. thanks for the update. hope you find some good relief!

[Warpy]

26. Dizziness is a well known side effect.

I get a little dizzy on two but I only take two in the mornings because my mornings are horrible and I don't do much moving around.

The best thing about Tramadol (for me) is that the pain just fades into the background and I get no buzz from it. I feel more normal, which is the point of taking pain medication for chronic pain.

If you can't tolerate Tramadol, there is likely an oipiate or other synthetic medication out there that will help you. I felt great on Celebrex, unfortunately it had an extremely rare side effect that I got so I had to stop it.

ETA: the update you got from the anesthesiologist was a great one. I've seen people like me who have good luck with the stuff and other people who think Satan shat it out. There is just no way to tell what group you're going to be in until you try it. Fortunately, the really bad adverse effects show up quickly.

[CTyankee]

29. It shouldn't have been, tho. We elderly are at risk for falls...as such, we should

Last edited Mon Jun 16, 2014, 08:42 AM - Edit history (1)

avoid any meds that could make us dizzy. I don't get this....why prescribe meds for seniors if you think they can't handle them? Please, we all have at least some brains left....

[Warpy]

30. Everything makes me dizzy or makes me puke or both

I take the least horrible of a lot of bad alternatives.

Since I know I'm dizzy on it, I take precautions and remain at home until it goes away.

Untreated pain is fatal.

[Myrina]

27. It makes me dizzy also & gives me a "rebound headache"

But I'm a weenie & can't handle meds hardly at all.

Try taking a lower dosage. By all means talk to your dr.

[CTyankee]

31. low dosage did nothing...hence my problem when my doc prescribed a higher dose....

I am totally spooked at this point,,,