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

[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.

[trinity0723]

Just tried Ultram - not too worried about the addictive part, but it didn't seem to do anything. ER doc prescribed it for my migraines. I already take everything else. I was pretty excited to try something new. Is it like morphine, it either works for you or it doesn't ( in my case, it doesn't)? I'm just so sick of taking vicodin and stadol and having to go to the hospital and getting shots. Even if the doc actually gives me something I am so immune to it I could drive myself home (I don't). Dolobid, Demerol, etc. I miss when the shots actually knocked me out.

[uniqueflower]

Summary:

Ultram:

Pros:
- Lasts up to 12 hours
- Less addictive
- Pretty much identical euphoria to Vicodin (although not experienced by everyone)
- Can still function normally

Cons:
- Irritability
- Takes longer to kick in
- Occasional "nodding out" between hours 8 and 12
- Possible seizures if prone to them

Vicodin:

Pros:
- Kicks in quickly
- A more "drunken" euphoria
- Works for everyone

Cons:
- Lasts 4-6 hours
- Larger strain on liver with high amounts of acetaminophen
- Very addictive
- Can't function as well

Taken both over 5 years recreationally.  I like Ultram more than oxy's.  The only thing better than Ultram that I've had was something intravenous that was 8x stronger than morphine in the hospital.  Don't get me wrong, all opiates are great :)    

[homeschool_winner]

I've taken Ultram since I was 16 years old because I have Lupus and chronic pain in my muscles and joints because of it.  My doctor said it wasn't addicting, and if you are RESPONSIBLE, it isn't.  Until I moved out of my mother's house she monitored my doses so I always took the correct amount (6 times daily, 50mg) and if I had to miss a few days due to not being able to get to the pharmacy, and I just had my normal aches and pains --not withdrawals.  I know what withdrawal feels like, I've had surgery & had to come off of hydrocodone and it was a *****, but after a week you're fine.

So here it is from BOTH sides:  I take it responsibly.  It CAN be abused.  I did that a couple of times and I don't intend on doing it again because it affects my IBS a LOT.  Unfortunately the FDA has just scheduled this drug right along with things like Lortab and Oxycontin which is CRAZY.  It is not nearly as addicting.  The people that become addicted to this stuff are the people who want to try it out for fun, then keep doing it for fun, and realize "Oh ****, I've done this for 2 weeks and it doesn't feel good coming down!"  LOTS of drugs are like that.  Yeah, they can be "fun," I learned that the first time I took my doses too close together lol, but nothing to freak out about.

The people who become "addicted" to these things more-than-likely have had some history of abuse or have other psychological issues that make it easier for them to become addicted to certain drugs.  If these are taken CORRECTLY, you won't get high, unlike Lortab, Oxycontin, etc...  People with NO prior problems with addiction become addicted to those medications every day.  Tramadol is a great alternative to these medications and should not be considered so evil as it has been.

I normally don't get so radical about defending something, but this stuff changed my life.  I wouldn't be able to sit here long enough to type this out because of my joint pain and back pain.  Being as young as I am and being FROZEN with pain was no life to live.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Just be careful. Ultram is addictive, as is Vicodin. You are fortunate to have a Dr that recognized the need to taper off the Ultram. Most seem to think that Trams are not addictive. The symptoms you described, sound like withdrawal. Could be you tapered too quickly before quitting the Ultram.

[KevinT376]

Ok I see alot of comments about ultram vs Hydrocodone or Vicodin and here is my experience and a Question as well. I took ultram for 1 year and ultimately ended up on Ultram 300mg ER (Extended Release)
and I must admit that I didnt mind it, I would on occasions feel sort of cold chills but not often but more amazingly it completely altered my thoughts, I have always been ADD and I often suffer from anxiety. Ultram really helped with it, period. It did help more then any other drug I tried from therepist. I called the PRI CARA the manufactuer and they said a lot of folks reported the same thing. However about six to eight months into the drug I would go through mood swings, and often
wouldnt realize it. Once I realized it, I was able to stop them but that is
probably more of my body chemistry reacting to the drug then the normal reaction. So I finally quit taking Ultram a week ago, I spent 20 days dosing down from 300mg to 200mg ect.. as per my Dr. Having seen people have problems when they would stop cold turkey. The first two days of not taking it were pure HELL for me, I felt Flu symptoms, aches all over my body and ringing in my ear that would pulse to the point of being really scary sometimes, very weird symptoms, hard to
describe. So I began taking vicodin just to get relief from the symptoms at night before bed, otherwise go ahead and start the coffee its an all nighter. Now 4 days later I still have symptoms, does anyone know if thats normal? How long should detox and symptoms last? Whatever the answer I will never take the **** again, if I have a problem I will go for VICODIN. by the way I suffered from an Intramuscular Hemengeome
which would cause moderate to severe pain above my Knee, I had surgery four months ago and the condition has subsided.