Ultracet vs. Ultram

[tacoma13]

Are these the same thing and just made by different companies? My doc gave me some samples to try of Ultracet. Just like Vicodin, it kills my stomach...which sucks. I used to be able to take either one with just mild stomach irritation. But now? I've tried with food, with LOTS of food, with zantac, with tums. Why exactly do these drugs irritate the stomach? Is it an acid thing, or it is something else that causes stomach upset? I'm wondering if anyone else who has IBS and CP/CPPS has dealt with this issue before. Right now I can either have painful nuts and prostate, or I can take the ultracet or vicodin and have my stomach hurt like hell for half a day. I only use these drugs when the pain get's to be too much...like this past week. Luckily, I haven't ever noticed myself getting dependant on them. My stomach sure makes that hard to do.

[webslave]

Try Ultram (Tramadol) though your doctor. Unlike Ultracet, it has no acetaminophen. BTW, Ultracet has no mention of stomach pain in its side effect or AR profile....

[ddarcher]

Why exactly do these drugs irritate the stomach? Is it an acid thing, or it is something else that causes stomach upset?

Narcotics slow gastric and intestinal motility, hence delay gastric emptying. Thus all the stomach contents just sit there and in some people cause severe pain or problems. Narcotics with aspirin are the worst but in some people a tylenol combo can also be a problem. Ultracet is usually not a problem but Ultram (no tylenol) has a better side effect profile from this perspective and it also doesn't cause histamine release which may worsen CP.

[mach5]

The acet added to the tramadol (or Ultram in the US), is believed to help control pain through different nerve pathways. It is not really understood how this works exactly, but this is similar to Tylenol 3, which uses Acetaminophen and Codeine (with caffeine to strengthen the effect).

Codeine may not bother your stomach as much as the tramadol. On a low dose of codeine, it really isn't that much more addictive than tramadol.

I personally, use Emtec. Emtec is codeine and acet without the caffeine. Caffeine is not great for my CPPS. I use Emtec instead of tramadol for 2 reasons.

1. I use Celexa the antidepressant on a half dose. This helps to control my pain. However, you cannot take any SSRI type antidepressant and tramadol. They both work on serotonin and the combination can be fatal.

2. I have IBS like yourself. I am not sure if you are IBS D or C. But I am D. So the codeine is enough to slow down my diarrhea. That means I can eat mostly normal meals out and have almost no more diarrhea (at least when I am medicated). It is amazing. It has really changed my life. I refused to take pain killers for so long, but when I finally did, I found it help it helped my diarrhea more than my pain. But it helps both.

Let me know if this works out for you.

I hope this helps,

[NTD]

you cannot take any SSRI type antidepressant and tramadol

But I assume a tricyclic antidepressant like Elavil is OK to take with tramadol? My doc just prescribed me Elavil, and she knows I'm already taking Ultracet.

Also, does anyone think it's worth switching from Ultracet to Ultram? I'm a little concerned about what I've read pertaining to the acetominophen in Ultracet...perhaps Ultram (pure tramadol) is safer in the long run? More effective even?

[webslave]

But I assume a tricyclic antidepressant like Elavil is OK to take with tramadol?

Answer here.

Also, does anyone think it's worth switching from Ultracet to Ultram?

Yes, I would.