Ultram an alternative to Hydrocodone?

[Lynchmob]

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??

[arno103]

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.

[Coolio Hernendez]

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.

[Lynchmob]

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.

[Soon2BMrsTurner]

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

[bleuskies]

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.

[EmilyPost]

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