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

[shan1978]

Read your post.  I've been taking Norco on and off for years.  I've gotten a prescription, only to find out that it's never enough.  I always want to go back and ask for more, but get scared my Dr. is going to start bringing up addiction.  So many people don't look far enough into their future until one day it's staring you in the face.  You people don't realize you are getting older and this pain triangle you are stuck in with the opiates will not work.  Why do we want to take a pill in the morning?  We don't, but we are addicted if we have to take something first thing in the morning to get moving.  I have a 12 year old who will one day start having kids of his own.  I don't want him to look at his parents as addicts, but what else would you call it?  I find the older I get, the less likely coming off the meds it seems.  Tramadol is what I was looking at getting back into.  I took myself off all pills before by doing this.  Brian, sorry for the long story not related to you, but can you tell me more about the shot you had mentioned?  I'm in pain right now, just ran out of my last Norco, and I'm feeling nervous because I'm a single mother who cannot afford to miss a day of work.  I need all my pay.

[lvinglifeonrightside]

Hi Tam.  First, I pray for your strength and that God would give you wisdom as you seek to navigate through a very trying and tough circumstance.
I want to tell you some very truthful yet difficult things and hope that it will help in some way.  I speak only out of my own life and experience and can only tell you how things progressed for myself and my beautiful wife and children. I no longer live in the same house as them and My wife filed legal papers to divorce me.  I want to assure you that Tramadol is addictive. It is much less potent than Vicodin or oxy type drugs. But it is still very addictive. I was addicted to vicodin and used Tramadol to bridge the time between scripts of opiates. The major issue is seeking to find a way to get your husband to be honest about the extent of his use. How long have you been struggling along with him in his addiction?  Does he have the desire to change?  The Tramadol is much less in strength and will keep him from going into withdrawls.  Just that fact alone is confirmation that Tramadol is addictive and an opiate.  It just is.  The Tramadol also known as Ultram, can be used to take the level of addiction down a notch but the truth to face is this: If he stops tramadol and is not taking any other opiate..He will go into withdrawls.  I have gone through Tramadol withdrawls 2 times.  It is a very difficult 3 to 4 days with all normal withdrawl systems. They are no less then the symptoms faced with coming off of Vicodin.  
Here is what I suggest.  I know that each families and people are dfferent so my advice, although saved my life, may not be exactly the right plan for him and you.YOu need to google suboxone Dr.'s in your area.  Suboxone is a temporary treatment that will allow him to come off of the opiates.  Suboxone if an under the tongue medicine that melts and dissolved into your system. When starting it He will have no withdrawl symptoms and will fin that he can function normally. It truly is a miracle drug that gave me back my life, my job, my self=confidence and my stability that allows me to take care of my family financially. Unfortunately my wife, after going through this with me 4 times..(detox and rehab) on the last time, which happened to be Rock bottom for me and that has brought complete live change..she saw the 4th time as the last time. She isn't willing to deal with it ever again.  I can understand her position from a very elementary understanding but from the Spiritual side of this...I just wish that we could have worked through it knowing that God truly has delivered me.  After 4 times...she still thinks that I am finding ways to sneak drugs... Just not the case.  I am done with all of that and have moved on.  Please please ask God to grant you the wisdom to know how to deal with this situation without giving up on each other of the marriage.  It is so very hard to to look thing.  To answer your question. Yes it is addictive no matter what story him or others try to make you think.  Lastly, Please dont give up on him.  The hope is there and right around the corner. I know that I felt helpless and like I would ever find a way out. When I found the suboxone clinic, I found a way to quit and get back to my life and this specific medicene gives hope in a hopeless sitution. He can use the medicine as a bridge to walk between hardcore opiates and complete sobriety and normal living.  He must be commited to quiting and to be sick of wasting the funds that you need to care for the family. The worst thing you can do is give him room to remain addicted.  I am sure that you love him so this will be the most difficult thing you may have to do right now.  Addicts can be very convincing, they will find any and all excuses to stay addicted.   I have said too much probably in answer to your simple question.  Tramadol is addictive...very.  Take care and God bless you.        

[tam050809]

My husband was addicted to Oxycontin and Percocet and has been slowly going down in doses over the last year or so. He has been completely off the Oxycontin for a while now. He is down to five 15mg Percocet a day. He went to the doctors yesterday and he didn't tell me, but there's a Rx in his pocket for Ultram. 300mg, 30 tablets. Is this really something he needs?

[Paul523]

In 2004, my twin brother died of an Oxycontin overdose while in the hospital. He had been using (and abusing) it for years for chronic back pain. The day he was to have back surgery to install a morphine drip into his back, he injested 100mg of Phentinel (?) because he was afraid of being in pain after the surgery. He did not tell the doctors as he didn't want to appear weak. After the surgery, he was administered Oxy via drip. Not knowing the amount already in his system, he stopped breathing and immediately went into a coma. He was on life support for 3 weeks before we pulled him off of it. I wish I could bring my brother back more than anything. Whoever you are, whereever you are - please be careful with pain meds such as these. Is it the pain or the fear of pain which drives your dependancy? Once you answer that question, you may be on the road to redemption.

- Paul

[cybertech]

I have heard that kratom helps with opioid addiction (research it online, but make sure the seller is credible), it is legal in most areas and helps with certain types of pain - it is natural. I have used it for pain and it does take the edge off. I currently take Ultram as needed for pain, but I don't really like the way they make me feel so no chance of addiction for me. I also don't like hydrocodone and it doesn't really help my back, the Ultram does, but I only take it when I absolutely "have" to.

If you are dependent on opioid and want to get off, please check out kratom. I have heard of many use it with great success and no withdrawal symptoms.

[rainydaynursingstudent]

There are many people who can take Tramadol for their pain and have relief. One thing about Tramadol that I have not seen mentioned here, is that it does have SSRI properties to it, so it can be rx'd to have A/D relief as well. Many people including myself have been able to take this medication without abusing or misusing it because of it's A/D and pain relief.
I am fearful yes of becoming addicted, however I'll be honest, I feel much better taking this over any Hydrocodone combo, any morphine, Oxy, Fentanyl, etc. I know it might seem odd, but it's not just about the "high" that the others would potentially give, but Tramadol for me just makes me feel better. The pain is treated enough for me to have a relatively productive day. My overall quality of life has increased in such a positive way and I am thankful that I have found a med that doesn't tear up my liver or require me to misuse it in order to find any relief.
The problem with chronic pain is, many people feel that they should be able to go through their day with zero pain. That's not always the case, there will always be pain, but being able to control or subdue it enough to live, is what's important.

I think everyone is different, I think posts telling anyone to stay away from it "because it sux" is non productive. Each person reactes differently to it, just like any other medication. It might not work for others, while it works great for some. I've helped treat people who were severe drug addicts and are able to use this for their pain without misusing, or abusing it, which is very rare and very positive to share.

I do believe it has addictive properties to it, but any and I mean ANY true opiod that others preach of and any SSRIs all have the potential to cause someone to become addicted to them as well as having withdrawals from them.