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Ultram an alternative to Hydrocodone?

My husband has been battling with serious back problems (three surgerys) and has been taking Lortab 10s and Percocet along with Soma for pain.  He is still having pain and does not want to get addicted to pain meds..So the doctor has prescribed Ultram. Did he just trade one evil for another??
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Avatar universal
KaptainM,

Ok, you have done every drug under the sun. Good for you. You snorted Tramadol and didn't get high off of it. Again, GOOD for you. I have to tell you, however, you are talking out of your 'where the sun doesnt shine' on this one. A physical dependence develops over time , so you snorting ONCE and saying its not addictive and doesn't cause W/D's is ludicrous at best. You need to STFU and go see if your Mommy needs you to take the garbage out.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Your all talking massive Sh*t! I've smoked, popped, snorted and ingested tons of pills ranging from oxycodones, morphine tabs, lorotabs, vicodens, percs, Ecstacy, ambiens, prozacs, methadone and others I can't remember! Including smoking pot and meth and snorting cocaine sometimes all at once! Including snorting atleast 500mg of tramadol at a time thinking it would get me high like the rest. it never did anything.  Maybe because i had a high tolerance but i doubt it.  Tramadol in MY experiance is like taking baking soda up the nose or however else you want to get it in your body.  It never did anything.  Like i never took them.  Never got addicted, actually got frustrated cause there was no high therefore no addiction obviously.  To me it would seem like a very legit alternative to hydrocodone just from a users point of view on the high factor and the narcotic factor... it's all in your heads
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Avatar universal
Anything Synthetic is usually worse than the real thing, including opiate.I have learned that from much experience on street  drugs.Tramadol is really bad
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am surprised to hear people resond so harsh to Ultram.  I take ultracet (37.5mg dose of Tramadol) and have been for 5 years.  I have Lupus and arthritis and it has worked well for me.  I am not addicted.

I was REALLY surprised that someone was taking 20 a day and didn't get violently ill!  The most I take is two, sometimes three when things are tougher than normal.  The max dose of Tramadol is 400mg a day anything more will can make you sick.  Taking 20 a day, I am surprised you have a stomach.

In short, everyone reacts differently to various drugs.  I read that Trazadone has had negative effects on others as well.  I have been taking 150mg dose for chronic insomnia for 7 years and not had any negative experiences.  My friend took 25mg of trazadone and had delusions.  

I wanted to share my experiences because they are not full of addiction. It's been very helpful for me to get out of bed and actually be a member of society.  To me, this is not the WORST drug or satan in pill form.

If you are concerned about addiction talk to your doctor and discuss the signs and symptoms.  If you had a problem with addiction in the past, DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG, because it can be addictive...it's a synthetic opiod, not an asprin.  Do your research and make educated decisions.  
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Avatar universal
I have tried MANY times to quit this drug, and I am actually again TRYING, but the withdrawals are terrible.  Insomnia, restless legs, nausea, diarrhea, bodyaches, flu like symptoms, etc but the most awful symptom is the depression that comes along with it.  I already had problems with depression before this drug but Ultram seems to intensify these feelings 100%.   IT IS AN AWFUL DRUG!!!!!  Good luck to you and please wish me luck!  Hopefully, this will be "the time" for me!
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Avatar universal
I was taking 20 a day.Its taken me 2yrs. to slowly reduce my intake to 3-4 a day.Stay away from this drug.It being advertised as non-addictive is perhaps the biggest lie put forth from a major drug company.God help them if they designed it knowing how hard it is to get off.I pray for everyone going through what i did.God bless!
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Avatar universal
Please be careful when considering taking higher doses of Ultram. My husband was in the prescribed dosage, and had a massive seizure. He nearly died. We used to think Ultram was a wonderful drug, as it finally did something for his pain. Now I'm terrified of him taking just a simple Tylenol.
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175734 tn?1225134440
I hear people say Tramadol is just as bad or worse...but i dont think thats true...I mean they are addictive but no where as bad and can be used to get off pain meds...

I dont want to make anyone mad b/c i know alot of people have made themselves very clear on the issue.
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Avatar universal
Thank you all so much.. We will look more into this medication as you recommended.  As far as taking it goes...well... he already has started. However, he has an appointment with his physician this week and we will address our concerns with him as well.  I'm interested to see what he has to say.  I will confront him with all of the testimonies I have been given and see what comes of it?  But if not Tramadol? What?  Ibuprophen, Naproxin or any OTCs do not touch the pain.  I think we are in a no win situation. Pain or addiction what a lovely choice.
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554880 tn?1222458740
Have you ever taken tis medicine? I was told three years ago that it was safe to take and I was never an addict ans was able to take meds while I needed them and stop with no problem. After being on this medicine I ran out one day and I use a small pharmacy and they were closed, I couldnt get them till monday and I thought that I would die, I called my doctor and he said that they are concidered a NON NARCOTIC but they are just the same they work just like one, Sometimes we need to read about the meds and not tell people that something isnt a big deal to take. That is insane, This drug is awful and the depression is unbearable. People have died from the WD's from this med and people should really read about it before even telling someone to take it or that because it says its non narcotic its ok. I would flush them before that demon gets started, I would rather go through any other WD other than TRAMADOL. After my surgery I am going to work with my doctor and he said it can take months to get off , Here is some info about it so that those that dont know will. I feel that anyone that I can keep from it is a wonderful thing, to many of us here know what a hell it is .


ULTRAM
Ultram is a potentially addicting medication used for chronic /acute pain. When it first came out, the potential addicting possibilities were less appreciated. Now it's pretty clear that it is mildly addicting .

This drug was advertised by McNeil as not being addictive, but usage has demonstrated otherwise.

Well, it is semi-synthetic centrally acting analgesic that appears to work at the opioid receptors in some fashing currently not completely understood. The initial information from the company showed no dependence;but, clinically, we see patients who have physical dependence on this drug. It is not currently classed as a narcotic.

http://druginfonet.com/index.php?pageID=faq/new/DRUG_FAQ/Ultram.htm

This is a great site to read the awful stories that people have gone through and also google it and it will tell you that in several places they have changed the class and it is concidered a narcotic, its nothing to be played with ,
Good luck to you and I hope that you get the info that you need but please tell your loved one to be careful and not to start the medication if there is anyway around it
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Avatar universal
You are insane to make such a broad statement like that - Everyone is different and medications react differently to everyone.  I have happened to take both, hydrocodone, and ultram, both for years and never had an issue comiing off of either one of them. I am lucky, but I have litterally seen the impacy ultram has had on some people, with non-addictive behavior like patterns. I was told the same thing when my doc gave me trazadone for sleep and was told it was non-addictive. For me it was like taking acid (back inthe days) and I threw them away- 1 week of that **** and i sunk for weeks and detoxed to get the sludge out of me. I then went on to read abut all the trazadone addicts, so how a doctor can make a statement like so is insane. I now will only use old school medicine and when and if I ever get this lyme out of me  which too many years  went by before anyone catching it , I will stop taking the narcotics I have for when I need them. I only use them when I need them and it has been at least 10 years. I can go days without them and have no withdrawl.  It is all individual reactions and calling something physological is not what smart people need to have embedded in their heads- it does really happen.

Emily- hang in there. Try detoxing  like activated charcoal or other means  to speed things along a bit. And make sure you eat real healthy for some good solid days- veggies, some less sugary fruit and a good yougurt like stoney field, and good proteins.
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544292 tn?1268882668
No!

Please. Don't take Tramadol or Ultram. It's a synethic opiate with a side dish of very old antidepressant in it. Which is why it makes some people suididal. It's two synethic drugs together. I'm on Day 49 off it and it was harder for me to get off this than anything I have used ever, Including Benzos.

Sorry it isn't what the Doctors say it is. Tramadol/Ultram is a huge lie. I'd rather be on any of the "real" opiates now that I am 40 days off a five year tramadol experience.

Love and healing,
Emily
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Avatar universal
WTF I'm day 6 WD now the phisical just starting to go away. But serious depression after reading this I feel like Kickin some A$$
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Avatar universal
thanks for all of your input nice too know there is cool people out there too share their input . that has gone thru it and didnt read about addiction in a text book.i will tread lightly with ulltram.thanks much .
Helpful - 0
199177 tn?1490498534
ohhh  the depression coming off of ultram is overwhelming bad another good reason not not take it
Helpful - 0
199177 tn?1490498534
Lynch I will repeat this again its highly addicting .I was addicted to it for years it hell to come off of it can cause sezuires if you abuse it .I would suggest you have him read posts on here there are MANY threads about how addictive it is .  


here is some of the pharmacy  insert info

Tramadol may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Tramadol should never be given to another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.
  Tramadol can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
  Do not stop using tramadol suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, sweating, nausea, diarrhea, tremors, chills, hallucinations, trouble sleeping, or breathing problems. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication.
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Avatar universal
One more thing the whole depression withdrawl thing really ***** because he already very depressed from being in so much pain for so long.  He feels helpless... =(
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Avatar universal
WOW!  I'm speechless.... I am truly scared now... I hope you are right johnnykelly.  I'm scared to show my husband these posts when he gets home from work. He was hoping that Ultram would help the pain and not be addictive. The withdrawls he had even as slight as they were, coming off of the LorTab and Percos was bad enough. He wasn't even a heavy user from what I can tell..only 4 to 6 10s a day with the Soma and that was at it's worst. Now he is taking 50mg Ultram 4 to 6 times a day with 3 325mg Somas.  Problem is, that he still is having significant pain and may need another surgery!  What can he take? He has an addictive personality and has fought other addictions in the past now he is trying to be proactive and it pretty much sounds like he is SCR**ED!  Any suggestions??? Thank you all for your input.
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521742 tn?1255107015
U have NO idea what ur talking about. I took 1 of those nasty pills a day 1 200mg ultram cr i was NOT addicted to them PSYCHOLOGICALLY at all. I didnt think anything of it when I ran out and didnt realize I even had w/d's until it was almost over.
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199177 tn?1490498534
They are physically addictive as well and hell to come off of. I know I have done it several times it made hydro wd seem like a picnic . Making your own assessment on this could put you in a worse spot then when you started. I would think twice
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Avatar universal
Hi these are non-narcotic,its possible to become PSYCHOLOGICALLY addicted,as you can tell from some of your responses.Addicts are cady ***** in a lot of ways,they drop a pill or two and complain their in massive withdrawl,although they are still taking 8 .the same goes for people on methadone their a 60mgs and drop 10 and start crying. I think you should make your own assessments as your experienced.
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521742 tn?1255107015
Ohh I meant to say wasnt addicted to them sorry lol.
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199177 tn?1490498534
tram is very addicting plz stay away from it
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521742 tn?1255107015
ULTRAM IS EVIL!!! Stay away from it I was even addicted to it and had w/d coming off it.
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