Ultram versus Vicodin

[William]

Has anyone had any experience with Ultram for lower back pain?
I've been trying to find information on Ultram.  
Does anyone know anything about the drup Ultram?
I am suffering from servere lower back pain caused by multiple colasped and bulging disks.
I have had four epedural injections in the past year still without relief.
I've been taking 30 Vicodin HPs a week for a year now, but I am still suffering and I am finding it difficult to concentrate after taking Vicodin. I want to stop taking Vicodin before I become more dependant on it than I already am.
My Dr. has suggested switching to Ultram in the past.
Some pharmacist say that Ultram is addictive while others say it is not.
Before I switch to another medication I would like to know what I am getting myself into.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
William

[pharma9]

Ultram is tramadol and very highly addictive.It also has antidepressant properties similar to effexor which is a cousin drug.It is very difficult to stop this drug and it causes a lot of rebound pain,I do not think it is wise to take tramadol because it is a sneaky drug that grabs you and is hard to stop.I know the medical profession says it is not addicting,but it is.

[Chantel1975]

I have severe chronic low back and hip pain. I also have severe nerve damage in my back/spine which creates severe pain also. My doctor has had me on Darvecot for about 5 months, and it now doesnt work unless I take a full day to day and half of them, which then shorts me at the end of the week. I will admit I love the high I get from them, but it also does help with my pain to a moderate level. It does allow me to live a somewhat normal life while I take them, and belive me my quality of life has drasticlly changed since my pain has increased the past year.
However, I told my doctor yesterday that I was having a flare up, and that the Darvecot is not working as well, so he prescibed me Ultriam......
Im very unsure about this medicine. Its not a narcotic, will it help wth the pain? And I will be honest, I wonder if I will get the same high..... I have been told by 3 seprate specialists that I am unfixable until medical techonolgy catches up...... so my pain is forever, no surgery will fix me at this moment. I am worried the doctor just assumes i am abusing the med and that is why he put me ont Ultaraim..... im afarid to ask him... it mite make him more suspicious.  Also, should I tell him if it does work as well, hoping he wont just think im trying to get drugs...not for my severe pain but for fun of it? Should I tell him? Should I take the chance? Does Ultraim give you "extra energy" like Darvacet or Vicoden?

[AvenueConsulting]

From reading these posts, I now realize how radically different both Vicadin and Ultram effect different people, so please keep in mind that this is only my personal experience.  I survived a bad plane crash that caused severe damage to my neck, ribs and low back.  The past 6 years have gotten worse every year.  2 years ago I slept 3 hours a night on a good night, waking up every time I moved from the pain.  I could barely form full sentences, the pain was so bad during the day.  I finally sought help from an internal medicine doctor to help manage my situation.  I have addiction both in my past and heavily in my family, so I was extremely nervous about using pain medication and avoided it for years while trying alternative medicine, physical therapy and injections.  Ultimately, I chose to just suffer with the pain....until it was finally on the verge of destroying every aspect of my life.  When I met with the doctor, we settled on a course of medication that has me using (2)-50mg of Ultram every 4 hours during the day but then switching to (2)-10/500 of Vicadin at bedtime to help me get some sort of sleep.  Although the Ultram only takes the edge off, it is enough that I have been able to be steady at work and home.  I also average about 6 hours sleep at night now which is a great improvement.  I still have some bad days but I have made it now 2 years of mixing these two medications and have zero side effects from either medication.  My wife also meets with my doctor (which I highly recommend) to help keep me accountable of how much I use and any change in my behavior or health that I might try and hide.  I admit that I have not tried to come off the medication so I can't speak to withdrawl, but I encourage anyone with chronic pain to talk with their doctor about using this approach.

[mattersnot]

I have been taking 20-25 , 10MG. Vicodan for 10 years.
Most I get perscribed.  
However, out of nowhere, my doctor is switching me to Ultram.
From reding these post, it appears Ultram is very nasty to wthdraw from. Much worse then Opiates.
  I cannot tell my doctor I do not want Ultram. because I fear the doctor will get susoicious and cut me off. He may anyway.
  I know people who get Methadone to controll pain. because they cannot find a doctor to perscribe either enough Opiates, or simply do not perscribe them, from fear of the DEA.

[nomorepainz]

Has anyone thought to try thr fentanyl patch?  Time release over 72 hours, no pills to take, no risk of taking too much... It is a very strong narcotic but it works very well for chronic pain.

[BlahsNmoreBlahs]

I have been taking "Ultram" for eleven years and the saying "You cannot become addicted if you truly have pain," is VERY TRUE. The thing is I believe because I have taken these for so many years that in a sense I have become addicted. I can think of three times over the last eleven years when I thought wow, I don't need to take this today I feel good! But then I became depressed and agitated so in my opinion I believe after a number of YEARS of taking the same medication(s) you can become addicted. I take 8 per day of 50 MG. I feel it is just too many but I have a doctor who is educated in stupidity and that's where it ends.
I have Hep C, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Fibromyalgia, DDD and CDD plus four bulging disks. I have been suffering since 1994 at age of 34. I'm sick of these doctors who'd rather see you commit suicide than give you something that will actually help you. I am a hermit from my pain and diseases and most of them just do not care. Well, anyway good luck to all you who suffer, contact the National Pain Society and get something going so the ones who truly DO have and suffer daily from chronic pain (not just addicts- scoffing). can have a better life.