ultram, versus vicodin

[kl7]

I have been taken all my lfe the Vicodin 7.5, and to tell you the truth, they help the best! Now the doctor has put me on Ultram 300 Extended relief, and I took one this morning, and no relief.. and it didn't help... maybe it takes awhile to work... but i feel no relief... I don't see where people say they make you feel"energentic", it doesn't do that for me... like the vic's did....My back is very painful, I have a degenrated disc... and my doctor said these would help better, since that it is a Opiate... Hmm...I took it 1 hour ago, and have no relief.so please any one to tell me if this will help me be 'Speedy", as the vicodin's...cause I am not feeling that...and my  lower back is still in pain..I like the vicodin's ,but they are harder to get, with every one abusing them.... so i am stuck.... let me know about thsi Ultram? Thanks   KIMBERLY

[High Noon]

A couple of things...

Both Vicodin and Ultram are narcotic opiates.
The Ultram 300 ER is the most powerful dose but becasue it is ER may take more time to get into your system. And you will need to get used to it.

Did your Doctor presribe one per day?
How many Vicodin 7.5/750 were you taking per day and for how long?

If the vikes were working why did your Dr. change the presciption?

[Quietcook]

Contact your doc if your pain meds are not helping and let them know.  There are so many things out there, both oral and patches so something will help.  I take the Ultram, 2 ea 50 MG every 4-6 hours as needed and have for several years now.  Many people, including some doc's say they are opiates, but reading the PDR, they specifically say that they are NOT.  They do work like opiate narcotics thus many people believe that they are, and can even cause an addiction effect to people who have ever had a narcotic problem.  

I like them because they reduce my pain, although Ultracets, which are a lower dose with tylenol, does not work at all for me.  I use the Ultram along with Lidoderm patches.  The patches are expensive unless you have good insurance, and are essentially like having novacaine absorbed through the skin to the spot which is in pain.  You can cut them if you don't need a large patch and they do come in several strengths.  I use the 5% Lidoderm patch, and use 3 per day.  You wear them 12 hours and get up to 24 hours of relief.  Since I care for an ailing parent, I prefer to stay off the Lortab's of any strength, or anything that makes make drowsy.

For stronger patches there are the duragesic patches (Fentanyl), which you change only every 3 days and come from 12.5 MG up to 100 MG.  Now, those are really expensive, but again, are narcotic.

Hope you will let your doc know if you need to try a different pain med in order to find out what will work best for you.

[talyn777]

Ultram or tramadol is NOT an opiate, but it CAN be addictive. It is really like a muscle relaxant and happy pill with analgesic effects. It does take a while to get into your system, so take for a few days before you decide if it is working. People have lots of different results from this drug. Some people it helps sleep, some people it screws up their sleep.

There is also another possibility. The Vicodin, depending on how many you were taking and for how long, may have caused hyper-algesia. It can take 5-10 days to get over the effects of the Hydrocodone (in the Vicodin), so give things a while to settle out. The hydrocodone is fast-acting and my impression of the tramadol is that it is not.

Good luck,

Talyn