Ultram Users

[treynor33]

Been in a bad flare for about 10 days now, first one like this in a year. Doc gave me some Ultram. I'd avoided the pain killers for the duration of my time with this crap cause I want to know how I feel not mask it. Plus for the last 3 months or so I'd been running at about 90%. However, this flare is brutal and brought on some new pains I'd never had before so I had to do something. I took a 50mg pill about an hour ago and it does seem to help with the perineum and lower abdominal pain so far. Little dizzy and edgy so far.

I know there are a lot of post on this site dealing with this drug and I've read about all of them but my question is a little more speficic. To those of you that use this drug or have, what kind of side effects have you had? I see some people have trouble sleeping, peeing etc, any of that?

Appreciate any of your experiences....postive or negative.

[scotsman]

I've been using Ultram for 18 months now - ranging from 50-200mgs a day and I've never had any side effects (luckily).

Drug has been a godsend for me. I find in the morning that 50mg by itself doesn't take away all the pain - I need 100mgs to do that.

I spent a fair time putting up with the pain and taking as little Ultram as I could - but my quality of life was suffering, and I knew I was in this for the long haul so I decided to up my dosage. I know it might take a little longer to come back off them - but tappering down over 3 months or so won't be a big issue after being on it for so long.

Every month I usually have a Saturday or Sunday when I don't take anything in the morning - just to judge were I am painwise without the drugs.

Richard.

[treynor33]

Thanks for the reply scotsman. This morning when I took the 50mg, it seemed to deaden things for about an hour, then wore off. So if I want to really get any relief I probably will have to take 100mg. The side effects were mostly like any other new drug...a little dizzy and dazed but I believe it will not do that after a while.

I also understand that there is an added benefit as the drug acts somewhat like an anti-depressant too. I need that also. I haven't had any luck with the others. I know the effect is small but anything will help in that department. This flare has me really down. I thought the worst was behind me after 17 months. I've even had some mild testicle pain that was NEVER there before.

Also, anybody takign Ultram and an anti-depressant? My doctor gave me Wellbutrin XL too and I want to give it a shot but saw something about maybe these two having problems together?? Seizures?

I've gotten back to some breathing exercises in the AM and some mild stretching. Hopefully I can get out of this flare soon, I don't want to start the benzos.

[scotsman]

Getting a flare-up is a real downer. I had a urine infection last month - and whilst the antibiotics cleared up the infection, I've been left with the old frequency and pain when urinating symptoms I had got rid of 12 months ago

However, I know they will disappear again but it's still a hit on the old morale.

Personal opinion, but I'd be pretty relaxed about the Ultram usage - I think the added stress of being in pain perpetuates the underlying condition.

I've found with Ultram that it works best after it starts building up in your system. 100 mgs in the morning and 50mg at lunchtime pretty much keeps me pain free the whole day.

Richard.

[MastCells]

I see some people have trouble sleeping, peeing etc, any of that?

Look for "Adverse Reactions" in the following document:
http://www.ortho-mcneil.com/products/pi/pdfs/ultram.pdf

[treynor33]

Thanks MastCells.....I know you take Effexor, did you ever take Ultram at the same time? If so any problems? I really want to give this Wellbutrin a shot but don't want any interaction problems. I mean my new doctor (who is outstanding for a change) gave me both but they don't always take the time to look at everything. Couldn't find much on google.

[MastCells]

Also, anybody takign Ultram and an anti-depressant? My doctor gave me Wellbutrin XL too and I want to give it a shot but saw something about maybe these two having problems together?? Seizures?

Scott,

I'm really sorry you're suffering from this major flare-up. You should bring up the seizure concern with your doctor. What antidepressants have you tried so far?

Here is the PI for Wellbutrin: http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_wellbutrinXL.pdf

Hang in there!

[MastCells]

Thanks MastCells.....I know you take Effexor, did you ever take Ultram at the same time? If so any problems? I really want to give this Wellbutrin a shot but don't want any interaction problems. I mean my new doctor (who is outstanding for a change) gave me both but they don't always take the time to look at everything. Couldn't find much on google.

From my reading, there shouldn't be a problem taking the two meds at the same time. I would speak to your pharmacist about your concerns. Pharmacists are very well-educated about medication interactions.

BTW, I have never taken Ultram. However, I have not had any problems taking Norco/Vicodin with a high dose of Effexor XR.

[treynor33]

Again, Thanks....appreciate the responses and the experience with the Effexor and Vicodin....my new GP is outstanding...first one I've had that spent nearly an hour just talking the situation over with me, refreshing to finally find a doctor to help. First thing I told him was "No Uros, that is not my problem" He understood. So since he gave them to me I'm sure it's alright....just kind of shell shocked and anxious over this flare. As soon as my IBS symtpoms subsided this crap kicked back in, nearly as bad as when it first came on last May.

The Ultram puts my mind in a better state that is for sure. And when these damn flares happen I think that may be more important than killing pain which it appears to help with too.

Thank god for this board and you mods....you don't realize how much you need it and you guys till the old flare comes knocking ....

[timberdoodle]

I went on Ultram for about a month, and it helped some, but it wasn't the complete panacea I hoped it would be. In fact, the warnings of previous posters came true for me. I was masking the symptoms and all the while, my trigger points were getting worse. I weaned myself off the ultram, and did some Theracane work on my abdomen, and things are much worse there now. I feel like I'm back to square one on my Theracane work!

[treynor33]

So Far I've only take it 2 days out of 6. If things aren't too bad I'm going to live thorugh it. I can tell it is some what addictive. It makes you feel good, normal I guess for people who aren't living with anxiety and pain. But again, mentally feeling better IMO is key to getting through this crap. So it definitely has it's uses.

I don't want to use it everyday, although like scotsman said, it probably would work better if I did, but I want to see how things are on a regular basis. Today, so far, things aren't too bad so I am not taking any. But there are days when you can just feel it from the time you take that first piss.

In may case even without pain killers my situation got worse, not sure why. I held off on Ultram or any other pain killers long enough. I had to find something to at least give me the peace of mind that I could take something to help me through it.

[scotsman]

....In fact, the warnings of previous posters came true for me. I was masking the symptoms and all the while, my trigger points were getting worse.....

This is something that people do have to be aware of and understand that Ultram just masks the pain. That certainly applies to those who are on the full daily dosage.

However, everyone's symptoms and levels of pain are different and it's needed for some.

I spent months putting up with the pain and for me taking Ultram has made the long term recovery workable. However, I'm always looking to reduce my dosage and I do stretching, triggerpoint and relaxation work every day so I feel I'm pretty much in tune with my body and where my triggerpoints are (for example, I do my triggerpoint work at night - around 9 hours after my last dose of Ultram so I'm pretty pain-relief free at the time).

Using monitored pain relief in conjunction with a routine of stretching, physio and relaxtion is a decent workable solution if the pain is impacting heavily on quality of life.

Richard.

[treynor33]

Your post is right on scotsman. I put it off for along time and quality of life was suffering big time. I now know that I have something that can help me on those bad days. That in itself is reassuring and also I think, helpful in breaking the mental anguish of this crap.

I do notice that if taken too late in the day it can effect sleep. Maybe I just ned to get used to it but Saturday I took one at about 4:30 and it was weird sleep if sleep at all. I tends to make me drowsy but then the sleep is very weird and not very efffective. I think the latest in the day I should take it is probably 1:00 or so.

[scotsman]

Hopefully though the side effects should wear off for you Scott over the next couple of weeks.

Richard.

[CppsDad]

I can tell it is some what addictive. It makes you feel good, normal I guess for people who aren't living with anxiety and pain

Kind of off topic, but I wonder if those of us suffering with chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome are more at risk for psychological dependency than people taking these pain drugs for other, less debilitating, conditions. For me, the mental anguish of being in pain from chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome is often times worse than the pain itself. When I am out of pain, I feel FREE, and my mood is SO MUCH better. I don't know if I am physically addicted to any pain medications (I'm not), but the extreme alteration of my mental state when the medication kicks in has a serious potential for psychological addiction. I've always been EXTREMELY careful using my meds, so I've been lucky to avoid any addiction (the Xanax was actually a tougher one for me), but I do wonder if the psychological aspect of our pain makes us more susceptible to addiction.

Mike