tramadol

is tramadol as effective for chronic pain as loratab

[mr.lucky66]

No,, not even close in Pain relief and worse to get off. Don't get started on it. all the best

[Steve12548]

Tramadol can have terrible side effects. It does for me anyway. And Loretab, which is hydrocodone based, is short acting and is not your best long term choice for chronic pain either.  

[IMAlive]

I have never been on loratab but tramadol does help the pain.  I have been on it for the past two years.  However it is very hard to get off of. I recently have been trying to cut back/quit taking them and have been having the hardest time.  If I new this before I ever took my first Tramadol pill I would have never ever taken them.  Please for you own sake do not consider Tramadol as a pain management solution.

[idlt]

Do not start Tramadol. I completely agree with IMAlive.  My docotor intially wanted me on vicodin but I refused and asked for a less harsh option... that's when she introduced Tramadol. She claimed it was non-narcotic. A year later I'm up to 13 pills a day. The withdrawal symptons are awful.  I take enough just to avoid the withdrawal. I don't smoke or drink. I have never done illegal drugs. Now I'm hooked on these pills...I'm so ashamed on what I have done to myself. On a postive note, I'm going to start tapering off the pills. You don't want to be in my position. If the pain is unbearable...do not take more than the recommended dosage because that's how it starts. You convince yourself that it's for the pain and in reality its not. Tramadol is underestimated in the medical community. I wish I had never started.

[KatieCares]

I noticed this is an older post, is it still accurate?  IF so, There are some things you can do to help  you to get off this medicine.  I was on a medicine and was also told it was not only NOT addictive but also not a narcotic.  It turned out, neither case was true. Regardless, to quit taking it was horrific and I had been on it for almost 10 years.  The doctor that prescribe the medicine just continued to add more and more and more, and the more I objected, the more he told me it was necc and I would have to take for rest of life...NOT TRUE!!!!  Have been off the medicine for over 3 months now, but I assure you, it was difficult to get off, especially without help from a detox center or hospital or even a doctor.   But I did it and so CAN YOU!  I promise, the pain does not last, nor does the sickness associated with it and the rewards to being off it are great!  Ironically, as soon as I went to another doctor to find a NON addictive, NON narcotic way to relieve pain, they wanted to put me back on another medicine, with similar long term consequences!!!!!!! I was yolf same thing, non addictive, non narcotic.  THIS time, I had access to internet and looked it up when I got home.  WOW,  the "new" medicine was just as addictive and just a form of a narcotic. Needless to say, the script went into the garbage and the doctor was never seen by me again.   I don’t know how these doctors are getting away with it, but I do know WHY they are doing it.  Some folks, and doctors are no exception, SOME are just greedy and want to line their pockets or pay back outrageous student loans. The doctor tried to blame the drug company- come on, he looks at a medicine interaction site every day!  And he does not know narcotics or addictive medicine???  Well, either way, it's wrong, yet the DEA goes after the patients, not the legal drug pushers.  Please feel free to write back, I'll help you any way I can to get off this crappy medicine.  I really feel for you and completely understand your situation.  One more thing. LET GO OF THE SHAME!!!!!! It makes it more difficult.  You just need help from a chemical prescribed for you.  And, you WILL get off it!  If anything, maybe it helps people be more compassionate and understanding for those that find themselves dealing with addictions.  And, you are wise to question the doctors, but that is NOT enogh.  You MUST research these meds further!!!!!!!  These doctors are NOT listening, and if they are, then they cannot possibly care.  BEST of luck and SUCCESS for you.