Tramadol for Fibromyalgia User Reviews (Page 3)

• Tea...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 15, 2017

"I have had fibromyalgia for 14 years. My second doctor put me on tramadol 50 mg every six hours or so, and Ultram 300 mg slow release at night. I also take Celexa for depression. This combination gave me my life back. I would not have survived without these meds, the pain was too intense."

• Ric...
• April 2, 2017

"Twenty-plus years with fibromyalgia and depression. Pristiq works best as my antidepressant. Tramadol is very helpful for early morning stiffness and muscle pain. It takes about 30 minutes to work. Northstar manufacturer capsule does not allow me to nap in the afternoon for some reason, which I like and is my only (positive) side effect. Zydus manufacture pill makes me sleepy by afternoon and gives me a headache. I would advise trying different manufacturers, although the inactive ingredients don't seem to be very different. I wonder about that. I was four years on oxycodone 10 mg, and although I was able to work, it definitely had more of a 'narcotic' effect and was not as helpful as tramadol. I am not susceptible to addiction and had no trouble withdrawing from oxycodone."

• oxo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 11, 2012

"With irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia, I try to take as few medicines as possible. Tramadol works great for me. Sometimes I will only take 1/2 a (50 mg) pill, and it will make a difference - less pain, a slight mood elevator, and no irritable bowel problems."

• kfj...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 25, 2015

"I'm 19, and I have had fibromyalgia since Oct of 2014. I take 100 mg every night, and my rheumatologist said to take with 500 mg Tylenol. It helps so much, I also take 5 300 mg caps of gabapentin a day."

• myg...
• May 25, 2010

Tramadol "I have had fibromyalgia for 17 years, just diagnosed this year. I was prescribed Ultram for worst pain days. It almost completely takes the pain away with 100 mg. There are little to no side effects. The first couple of times I took it, I felt a little drowsy. I am very happy that my rheumatologist recommended this medication. To get some pain relief and still feel like myself is all I could have hoped for! I would recommend it."

• 123...
• January 9, 2017

"Switching to tramadol has given me my life back. My pain is not gone, but it no longer is a significant interference in my day-to-day life. I had previously been on about 100 mg of codeine/day for a year prior, and it had not even compared to the relief tramadol gives me. It also helps when I have tension headaches. I've been on 50-100 mg/day for about 9 months now, with minor tolerance buildup since the first month. No withdrawal effects if I go off of it for a few days, either. No noticeable side effects, though I'm lucky in that I don't frequently have bad side effects."

• Mik...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 16, 2018

"Tramadol is pretty useless unless you have an anti-inflammatory with it. You can't take ibuprofen for years, but you can for a while. I myself have found frankincense to be a magnificent anti-inflammatory. When it comes to not having any side effects at all, it reacts with the Tramadol just like Percocet has Tylenol in it. It actually works. I really didn't want Percocet or any other narcotics like that, I'm going to be forced to have a narcotic like Tramadol. Gabapentin and other nerve medications give me severe side effects. Try frankincense and tramadol together. I even make my own. I buy a bag of frankincense and put it in capsules so that there's no other ingredient in there. I take three capsules with the Tramadol. Now, with severe fibromyalgia, I can get away with 75 mg with frankincense."

• Ell...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 12, 2017

"2017 marks my 21st year on Ultram. Initially, it was prescribed for migraines. I was later diagnosed with fibromyalgia and continued on Ultram, as it eased the stiffness and difficulty of movement. Soon enough, I needed more than prescribed. My doctor took it away for 8 horrific months. Withdrawal never let up. Weakness, crying, vomiting, MDD. I used those 8 months for research, eventually coming up with proof that Ultram was the drug of choice for FMS. My doctor gave it back in a lower dose and a different medication to control withdrawal. The next step was bloodwork in a genetics lab. I metabolize Ultram 4x faster than average. Now I'm over 50, using Ultram as a mood stabilizer. It can be psychologically addictive; caveat emptor!"

• noc...
• April 17, 2009

Tramadol "I was taking Ultram ER 100 mg once a day along with Lyrica with no real relief. My doctor upped my Ultram to 200 mg once a day, and I feel much better. I can't believe the difference the dosage makes. Of course, being time-release, it does take a while to kick in, but I found I can work a longer day sometimes."

• Too...
• December 1, 2018

"I have a complex history of autoimmune problems and fibromyalgia. I had tried multiple different medications, including NSAIDs, tricyclics, SSRIs, Lyrica, and Cymbalta. What worked best for years was low-dose OxyContin 5-10 mg twice a day. My doctor suggested long-acting tramadol because she knew I was worried about the anti-OxyContin push by government agencies and misinformed doctors and worried OxyContin would be made illegal (other Schedule II narcotics like fentanyl and methadone made me too tired to function). Tramadol worked even better than OxyContin. Both agents caused constipation, Ultram at 300 mg a day caused twice as much (based on how many senna pills I needed to take). Both agents caused insomnia, tramadol caused more (I needed 5 mg Ambien to sleep with low-dose OxyContin, but I needed 10 mg with tramadol 300 mg long-acting). Now I am told there is a manufacturer shortage of tramadol and hope I will not have to go back to OxyContin."

• Bz5...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 8, 2024

"Like most of the other comments, it’s a wonder drug. But I’d like to add that it clears my sinuses and removes swelling in my joints and hands after two hours. I love this drug. I’ve been on it for more than 5 years. I take 150 mg a day. When very bad and I have to do a lot of running around and visiting, I take 2. I’m 73 years old, and it works great."

• Anonymous
• June 1, 2011

Tramadol "Fourteen years on Ultram, initially prescribed for migraine relief. As a painkiller, it has never worked for me. However, there is a little rider attached to the medicine information when I pick it up from the pharmacy about how it may be used for purposes other than pain relief. For me, it keeps my joints fluid (I now have arthritis as well as fibromyalgia), and most definitely acts as a mood elevator. No high or buzz, but a feeling of stability. Because I metabolize ALL medicines at a high rate, it takes more 50 mg tablets than the FDA recommends to get relief. Wears off fast, but one dose in the morning seems to keep me stable. Also, I cannot sleep without it. So many, many different reactions to the same medicine."

• Pol...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 2, 2019

"Tramadol seems to be the only medication so far that helps with my fibro pain. I do get side effects (feeling 'dopey', difficulties concentrating, and difficulties with sleeping), but through trial and error, I have worked out that a daily dose of 50 mg taken in the evening (often combined with paracetamol) works reasonably well and keeps side effects to a minimum. When I have a serious flare, I go up to 3 x 50 mg per day, but then I cannot work as I feel too stoned. I am reluctant to take it permanently due to the risk of dependency, but for the moment, I am just glad that it exists. I do not want to take duloxetine due to the common withdrawal problems and problematic long-term effects, and unfortunately, I cannot tolerate pregabalin; I will try amitriptyline soon. Lidocaine patches seem to help only with superficial pain. I find alternative treatments (supplements, TENS, acupuncture, massages, yoga, and mindfulness) helpful, but they are just not effective enough."

• The...
• June 20, 2011

Tramadol "I take 100 mg of Ultram as soon as I get up in the morning. It really does help in a prophylactic way. If I don't take it for some reason, I can tell within a couple of hours because my nerves start tingling. I also take 100 mg later on during the day, and I have found Ultram to be the best help that I can take on a regular basis."

• tye...
• March 12, 2009

Tramadol "I have been taking Ultram for 5 years now. I take it to help with the chronic pain caused by fibromyalgia. It is the only drug that I have taken that allows me to perform tasks without experiencing extremely intrusive pain. I am 27 years old, and without this medication, I do not believe I could have reached the goals that I have today."

• Col...
• June 21, 2009

Tramadol "I just thought that I'd add this comment for you. I have recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, hepatitis, and lupus. But before my diagnoses, with no insurance, I went to the hospital when I couldn't take the pain anymore and was prescribed Ultram 50mg 2x a day. At first, I took 1 and then another and so on until I reached six in a 4-hour period. When it finally started working, it hit me like a ton of bricks. Needless to say, I was pain-free. So my advice is to start with 2 and wait, it's just not an instant relief like codeine. Unfortunately, your body does become immune to its effects within about 3 months. Now I am taking 4 roxicodone a day and also adjusting to that quickly too. Good luck to all of you."

• Anonymous
• February 1, 2010

Tramadol "I started taking Tramadol for undiagnosed knee pain about ten years ago. It was a miracle. I was actually able to walk for most of the day without pain. I finally had knee surgery, so I only had to take it a couple of times a week. Then, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 5 years ago and had brain surgery, from which I have had many bad effects. The Tramadol and also Percocet get me through my days. I want to kiss whoever created the Tramadol."

• JAC...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 27, 2017

"I have tried most prescriptions for fibromyalgia since diagnosed almost 20 years ago without much success. My current regime includes Cymbalta, Nucynta, and tramadol with oxycodone as needed for BTP. This combination has proven very effective."

• Urs...
• November 18, 2008

Tramadol "I have been in pain for more than 18 years and used to live on ibuprofen when I wasn't diagnosed. Finally, 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and prescribed Tramadol (Ultram). It was wonderful. I could move so much better than ever before. My pain seemed to be controlled. However, I quickly realized that the medication only lasted for 4 hours every time. Then the pain would creep back stronger than before."

• tru...
• June 3, 2010

"I have fibromyalgia. As one of the other people commented, sometimes the pain is so bad I wouldn't be able to function. I take 1-2 tramadol per day most days, and on really bad days, I take 4 spaced throughout the day. The pain isn't entirely gone, but I think it also helps my mood too, so I can deal with the pain. With it, I am able to function well and keep a physically demanding job. Vicodin has no effect on me. I don't have any side effects from the tramadol. I'm pretty bulletproof."

• Anonymous
• March 22, 2009

Tramadol "This medicine was useful at first, then your body adjusts and you need more to make it work. Well, they gave me more, and I was also taking Prozac for anxiety and Trazodone to help with sleeping. Turns out, this combination of antidepressants and Tramadol can cause serious drug interactions, so if you feel that something is just not right, speak to your doctor as I did. It saved my life."

• Anonymous
• December 16, 2010

Tramadol "Today I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I've had this since I was 12 years old, and my family doctor never would believe me that I have pain everywhere. I've lost 38 pounds, and he finally woke up and sent me to a lovely rheumatologist. He gave me 50 mg Ultram 3 times a day, Lyrica 50 mg twice daily, and amitriptyline 25 mg once at bedtime. All that said, I have found tramadol works like a charm. It helps me cope with the pain, and I feel young again instead of 98 years old."

• tro...
• March 22, 2009

Tramadol "I have had fibromyalgia for years and have been prescribed many different pain medicines. I have also been seeking less pharmaceutical ways of dealing with my pain. One doctor prescribed tryptophan to me, and I thought it was great and have had to use less pain medicines because of it. However, I did not know that it was classified as an SSRI, so when my new doctor prescribed tramadol to me and bumped me right up to the highest dose, and I took it with my tryptophan, I got really, really sick. It took me a few days to figure out what was going on, but I was having a major drug interaction called serotonin syndrome. Be careful. Yes, this drug works wonders on pain, but can be dangerous with many other drugs."

• MEM...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 15, 2024

"Have lived half my life with chronic pain, and 'undiagnosed' and untreated Fibromyalgia. I have been miserable for most of 30 years. I am mid-60s and an active person in good health, not on any prescribed medications. Ten years ago, I had multiple shoulder surgeries on both arms. I was prescribed (low dose) Dilaudid and Morphine, but it did little to resolve pain. In titration off of those meds, 'they' did the (high dose) Gabapentin / Cymbalta, and it was wretched and horrible. Finally, I was introduced to (low dose) Tramadol, even at a low dose, a perfect medication. No side effects for me, even transitioning on or off, no physiological avalanche. Really, the only pain medication I would care to take."

• Anonymous
• February 4, 2012

"I've tried so many non-narcotic pain meds and muscle relaxers for chronic pain, and Ultram is the only one that has helped! I do get extreme headaches sometimes from withdrawal, and if I've taken more than prescribed, I get nauseous and itchy."