RSD Alert
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RSD Alert is a voluntary
organisation publishing RSD/CRPS
information, mostly provided by
our readers.
Every approved medical drug works for some people but not for others.
Don't be alarmed by what you read. If in doubt consult your medical
advisor.
To make personal contact with one of the RSD Alert Team click CONTACT.
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To pass on information for publication in "Drugs on RSD Alert"
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Drugs |
Drugs on RSD Alert
(notes and comments from correspondents) |
Tramadol |
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Description |
Tramadol is a centrally acting analgesic (pain reliever) that is readily soluble in water. It is used to relieve moderate to moderately severe pain. It affects chemicals and receptors in the body that are associated with pain and may be used to treat pain caused by surgery and chronic conditions such as RSD (CRPS). It works by decreasing the body's sense of pain. It comes in tablet form and may be taken with or without food. Also marketed as Ultram |
Side effects(Don't be unduly alarmed. All drugs cause side effects for some patients) |
Side effects reported for the drug include agitation, anxiety or nervousness, blurred vision, constipation, diarrhoea, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, flushing, headache, indigestion or heartburn, itching, mood changes, muscle tightness, sweating, uncontrollable shaking hands, upset stomach, vomiting, weakness. Occasional reports have been heard of more serious side effects such as difficulties with breathing or swallowing, flu-like symptoms, hallucinations, rapid heartbeat or seizures. If any of these symptoms appear you should call your doctor immediately. |
Warnings(These are standard cautions but may not apply in your case) |
While taking Tramadol do not drink alcohol, which may dangerously affect breathing or cause liver problems. Take care when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. This drug can be habit-forming. Do not increase the size or frequency of your dose unless so advised by your doctor - and call your doctor if you find that you want to take more Tramadol or notice unusual changes in your mood or behaviour. Do not suddenly stop taking the medication or you are likely to experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. |
Comments |
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| Tramadol
is called Ultram in the U.S, it appears on the site under that name,
but I've never heard it called that in England. I've been taking
Tramadol for three years, and although it helped with the pain initially
the side effects are dramatic. It now no longer helps the pain,
but my body is completely addicted, so I'm attempting to come off
them slowly. They make me tired a lot of the time, faint, nauseous,
very dehydrated, I have to sleep for much longer periods, sleep
is unpleasant and interrupted, and I get viruses very easily. I
think it could be advisable to take Tramadol in very acute periods
of RSD, but not long term. Lucy - Oxford, England
I have been taking Pregabelin (Lyrica) for a number of weeks now, along with Tramadol. I am very aware that when I take a full dose of both drugs together I feel a very strange almost "spaced out" feeling. I feel unsteady on my feet and find it difficult to walk a few yards without having to hold on to something to steady myself. If I reduce the Pregabelin dose it is a bit better. I would be interested to hear from anyone with similar experiences when using both drugs. Andy - Taunton, Somerset, UK Like Andy from Taunton I was given Tramadol on top of the highest
dose of Pregabalin and had the same symptoms. I have now come
off of Tramadol and am seeking a new pain killer to take over
from it. I was so bad at the start of taking both drugs I could
not move from a chair or open my eyes without a feeling my brain
was swimming, I have had chronic in my elbows for 6 years and
have forgotten what a pain free life is. MSB - UK Having had a traumatic amputation of my lower leg I was given Tramadol. 8 months on I am well and truly hooked. Any lower dose of Tramadol gives me sweats anxiousness, loss of temper, loss of patience, flu-like joint pain and hyper alertness. The pain specialists advised me at the time that it was not addictive but It most definitely is a dependancy inducing drug. I am going to try to come off again but I fear I will have to take a couple of weeks off work to try and come off without shouting at a customer or getting into trouble! Don - Scotland I start taking Tramadol in 1997 for fractures in my lower back
and was on it for 2 years. At the time the doctor said it was
not addictive. It slowly stopped working and the doctor kept trying
me on other painkillers, but every time I came off Tramadol and
started taking other drugs I would get ill with flu-like symptoms,
my bones would ache, I was nauseous and my head would feel it
was going to explode. After the 3rd attempt of coming off I realised
what was wrong: I was hooked. The doctor said it was not the Tramadol
and I just had a sensitive stomach. I stopped taking them and
was really ill for about 5 days, then I and had flu for a few
weeks, but after that I was fine. Next I went onto Vioxx until
it was banned. Now I have been put back on to Tramadol, which
I have been taking for the past 2 months. I am going to go and
see my doctor next week and ask to be put on something else. My
advice to anyone taking Tramadol is - yes it is good but don't
take it for any longer than necessary! Leander - Nottingham,
UK I was prescribed Tramadol 3 years ago. At first the pain relief
was great, but slowly the pain started to return. Everytime I
started to reduce the dose, the pain would increase. If I missed
a dose, I would start to suffer with I medicated myself with Tramadol which is easily accessable a few miles south of me in Tijuana, MX without prescription for around $20 for 50 tablets. I created an expensive habit but I have decided I don't like myself this way. My 4 hour habit makes me quick to irritation with my children, no motivation, constipation! I AM ADDICTED and I am smart enough to recognize it. I took my last 5 pills 48 hours ago and last night was the worst experience of my life. Sleeplessness, agitation, thoughts of suicide, diorrhrea, chills, skin crawls, heat flashes and sweats and that was just at night. During the day, I feel weak, tired, and truly fearful of another night like that. Natalie - San Diego, California, USA I starting taking Tramadol in December 05. It was great; immediately I no longer had any pain and on the plus side I actually felt really well. The side affect of constipation was a small price to pay and went when I decreased to just 1 tablet a day. Two days ago I decided to completely stop taking Tramadol. For the past two days I have felt like I have flu with hot sweats, chills, shakes and a general feeling that my mind is not in sinc with any movement my body makes. Worse, last night I paced the floor for hours anxious, shaking and unable to relax enough to sleep, I felt terrible. Today, feeling worse, I had to come home from work and searched the internet for informaton about Tramadol and thankfully found this website. I took a Tramadol three hours ago and already I'm starting to feel "normal" again. I'm off to the Doctors tomorrow to start slowly decreasing the dose to get off this drug before it takes over completely. I did not expect withdrawal symptons as I was told by the specialist who put me on it that I could take it as long as I wanted as it was not addictive. I disagree; there should be a warning about Tramadol! Carol - Chester, UK I was given Ultram initially, then changed to Tramadol. I was told the only difference is that tramadol does not contain acetaminophen. I was also told it wasn't addictive, but trying to leave it on my own has been difficult. The symptoms are similar to many of you: terrible headaches, skin crawls, sleeplessness. I'm planning to take a few weeks to enter a detox center and get rid of it once and for all. Richard - Chino, California, USA About four years ago, I was prescribed Tramadol for severe chronic
pain. Previous to taking this drug, I had taken other strong pain
medications and had never had any problems so I didn't expect
any complications with Tramadol. Within a week of taking this
drug, I noticed I felt despondent which progressed into depression
over the years. However, since I had no clue that the Tramadol
was the cause, I kept taking it. Thanks so much for putting this page on the internet. I recently
broke two bones in my hand and the Surgeon and GP both prescribed
Tramadol. At first it was great, no pain whatsoever after taking
it. I've been taking it the past two weeks and I realised that
it was likely Tramadol was a Heroin/Morphine derivative, if not
that it must have been in the same family of drugs. Last night
I stopped taking Tramadol since I felt there was little need for
it now. |
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