Hydrocodone (Vicodin) and Ultram

[webslave]

Are there any other ways besides coffee for controling the fatigue syndrome that often accompanies CPPS?

Interesting fact: I find Vicodin, when I occasionally take it for bowel pain related to my food problems, makes me amazingly alert and well in the evenings, when I am usually wilting, exhausted, tetchy and a little confused. It almost makes me feel like I used to when I was young! I have wondered why this is, and I'm not sure if it is helping by calming lots of useless and exhausting nervous activity in the body, or just by affecting the brain/CNS in the place where CFS and maybe chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome originate.

Anyway, I have to be very careful because this drug is terribly addictive. The day after I use it my body always seem to be saying "Gimme!" and I have treat it like a naughty child: "No, bad body, no more drug candy!" :icon1:

I should really use Ultram, which is much less addictive, but which affects sleep patterns.

[Ralph]

I'm glad to hear what you said about Vicodin's addictive properties. People underestimate this fact. This drug does make a person feel good and it becomes easy to crave it very quickly. It can make many people "jittery" and some have a hard time sleeping because of it. I use it only when absolutely neccessary during a flare up. 15 pills will easily last me a year. Ultram works very well, is less addictive, but not non-addicative. When you want the drug simply to feel good or "normal", then you should start to think about addiction. If you do, it's not the end of the world. Just don't take it.

[webslave]

I'm glad to hear what you said about Vicodin's addictive properties. People underestimate this fact. This drug does make a person feel good and it becomes easy to crave it very quickly. It can make many people "jittery" and some have a hard time sleeping because of it.

The "jittery, can't sleep" effect is more typical of Ultram than hydrocodone. Vicodin OTOH is supposed to have narcotic properties, yet with my very first dose I felt clear-headed and energetic. Go figure. The first dose has nothing to do with addiction.

I use it only when absolutely neccessary during a flare up. 15 pills will easily last me a year. Ultram works very well, is less addictive, but not non-addictive. When you want the drug simply to feel good or "normal", then you should start to think about addiction. If you do, it's not the end of the world. Just don't take it.

As I said, I'm not prone to addiction, but I can feel the mild undertow in that direction. Others may have a bigger "pull", so I recommend they ask their doctors for Ultram, which has a documented low addictive potential, if pain management is reqd.

[Ralph]

I wanted to point out that people on chronic pain management drugs need to stay smart about how they are treated. Some of these medications are "addictive". I put that in quotes because the additiction is in believing one cannot function normally without the drug. In my opinion, the goal is to someday be medication free and live a normal life even if the medication is not truely physically addictive. Vicodin is highly effective, but I also think it has a highly addictive effect.

[webslave]

I agree with everything you have said, but I think there is an important distinction between Vicodin and Ultram. Studies like this are supportive of my view.

[Ralph]

Yes, I agree, there is a big difference between Ultram and Vicodin. By the way, Vicodin has the same affect on me as it does you. I feel more energized and awake. It also gives a "euphoria" feeling. That's one of the things that makes it more dangerous for abuse.

[Desperato]

thank you for your replies.

However I am interested in some specific targeted treatment for CFS, as I do not have any/much pain, associated with CP and therefore believe that I should not take a pain management medication. I have slight discomfort in the area, but typically not pain.

[webslave]

CFS is a whole topic of its own. I have heard that there are a lot of novel therapies under trial. Try http://www.cfs-news.org/