Ultram Question

droopydog · 03-30-2007, 07:07 PM

I had previously been taking ultracet (which is tramadol w/acetominophen) averaging about 9 pills a day for about 1 1/2 years. I didn't like how I was feeling taking all the pills and being so dependent upon them so I quit a little over 2 weeks ago c/t. I have been physically fine....mentally not so fine but definitely getting better.

Starting last weekend my back was getting very sore. Well I played tennis yesterday for the first time since I quit taking pills. And I am supposed to start playing golf next week. I was in agony last night and all of today. I called my doc and told him exactly what has happened and I told him that I will not go back to ultracet....that I don't want to take that many pills in a day. He recommended Ultram. He told me to start out at 100 mg and if that does nothing increase to 200 mg and that I can go up to 300 mg a day.

So my question is this, if I legitimately need the medication, should I take it? I guess if I needed to take 1 pill everyday to alleviate back pain, I would be ok with that. But there are no guarantees that it will even work.

I don't know what to do. I won't abuse it but I am afraid because I am someone that enjoys taking opiates even though I haven't used them for close to 2 years. I have access to percocet but 1/2 of a 5 mg does the trick for me. I am very confused. I would love some input from others.

flushed · 03-30-2007, 08:17 PM

When I stopped taking Tramadol (which is Ultram), I got bad back aches and leg cramps and achy muscles. From what I read, after you stop taking these drugs, your brain does whatever it can to make you start taking them again--including causing pain. I didn't give into the pain and it subsided after about 1 week.

Can't you take something that isn't an opiate? If you take the Ultram you will be right back where you were before and all of the hard work through withdrawals will be for nothing. If you ever want to get off of the Ultram, you will have to go through this entire process all over again. You need to think about how you felt when you were taking these and ask yourself if you want to go back living that way.

Personally, I think that you are looking for an excuse to go back on them. I will never take these evil pills again because there is no way I will ever go through the hell of withdrawals again and I am so happy to have my life back again-- even if it isn't entirely pain free.

droopydog · 03-30-2007, 08:37 PM

I didn't have any pain until yesterday....a full 2 weeks after I quit. I hadn't played tennis in 4 weeks so my body was stiff. I was at dinner with friends last night and couldn't stand up because I was so stiff. I am going to look into physical therapy and try to do some core strenghthening. I am looking for a way to manage my pain and I don't know how else to do it. I have young children so I have to be active from the time I get out of bed in the morning.

I do feel there is a small part of me that is looking to go back but I remember clearly how awful I felt the first week and never want to go thru that ever again.

How do people manage their pain long term without medication?

kandr73 · 03-30-2007, 11:57 PM

Ultram and Ultracet are the same thing, in fact ultram is stonger because it has no acitomitphim and only has the trmadol, 50mg, the ultracet are the tylonal and 37.5 mg of tramadol. So if your are steering clear of tramadal, steer clear.

droopydog · 03-31-2007, 08:12 AM

I completely understand what everyone is saying. Let me be clear. I stopped taking the Ultracet because I didn't like the fact that I was becoming addicted/dependent on taking 8-9 pills everyday. I felt as if my life was being ruled by popping pills and I associated every activity by popping pills.

Well the last week has been difficult pain wise for me. I am taking Motrin everyday. I even took percocet (only 1 pill) for 2 days because I couldn't move. I can't imagine that it is that good to be taking 2-3 Motrins everyday either.

So I called my doc and told him that I would not go back on narcotics (I had been taking Vicodin when he first started treating me about 2 years ago) and I didn't want to taking that many pills in a single day. His suggestion was for me to try Ultram ER. It's an extended release tablet so one lasts the entire day. He started me at 100 mg and told me that if one didn't work I could increase to two per day.

So my question is this, do you see a danger in this type of treatment? My problem mainly fell in the fact that I felt as if I was popping pills. If I can get my pain under control by taking 1-2 pills a day, is that an addiction?