Is it ok to taper off vicoden with tramadol?

Duncan

I need to get off vicoden, I've been on it for 2 years for chronic neck and lower back pain. Is it OK to take tramadol instead? I heard its not really a narcotic and it helps with the pain. I'm in pain most of the time and when I try to stop the vicoden I usually just give in to the pain. If anyone has any other suggestions, I would gladly try anything....



Aracely

Tramadol works wonderful for coming off of vicodin. I have done it myself. Tramadol is non- narcotic but it still acts on the opiate receptors. Therefore you will hav great pain relief and no withdrawal pains. Good luck!!



Adah

I like to start out with a Wikipedia definition.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TramadolI agree with the previous answer. Tramadol is misunderstood, and sad to say, it is addictive. I have taken several different pain medications, and Tramadol is one of the most unique. The transition to Tramadol would be a good discussion to have with your doctor, it involves weeks of transitioning, depending on the length of time you have taken opiates, in your case two years, which is a lengthy period, and this will require special attention. I personally love Tramadol for my pain. It is long lasting. It is not as popular among street users because large doses will cause seizures. It is also a wait for it,wait for it kind of pill. The effects of it are present, but the pain relief and mild euphoria takes a while to present itself. It will elevate your mood because of the SSRI properties that it contains. I am not sure why this drug was formulated this way, some research shows that it was supposed to be the ultimate happy pill. Consult your doc, and I wish you the best.



Ivette

Why don't you talk to a real expert. I am sure that none of the other answers have has 8-12 years of medical training. I am sure none of them have had any experience in anesthesiology. I haven't either, but I am sure your doctor has.If you try to do this on your own you take a big chance that your pain level goes up. You take a chance that any drug test you might have to take in the future you would fail unless all the meds are from legal prescriptions. I know that sometimes it gets real frustrating, especially with all of the bad press about drugs. I have been on narcotics for pain for 18 years. I presently have a pain pump installed under my skin, and it works great. am not saying you should get one, but you should talk to your doctor and follow his advice. If you think he is wrong, and he could be, find another doctor for a second opinion. Your entire future is resting on your decision. I hope you make the right one for you.pp



Rigoberto

Tramadol is a perfectly good pain med and it might be appropriate for your situation depending on the reason you're discontinuing the vicodin.There are plenty of good pain meds available and a good doctor will review the pros and cons with you. If you want to go completely non-narcotic there are medicines like diclofenac (a personal favorite) and celebrex. But don't think you're going to find one that doesn't have side effects, some being quite dangerous in certain situations. Tramadol is sometimes a good choice because it doesn't contain acetaminophen which can wreck your liver with long term use.



Angila

Tramadol is a synthetic opiate with SSRI properties. (It is a very misunderstood and understated medication).At any rate,.. you are in pain, and are in need of relief.You need to speak with your doctor and talk to him about managing chronic pain. Using short acting opiates, like hydrocodone, is *not* appropriate treatment for chronic pain. It is intended for short term, acute pain. In fact, using short term opiates often (over time) causes hyperalgesia -- (an increased sensitivity to pain) which then complicates matter more due to the individual not being able to accurately gauge their *true* level of pain.Ultram in place of hydrocodone is 'ok' -- but you need to keep it in the recommended dosages per day. However, be aware -- tramadol/ultram can and does cause dependence as well. It isn't like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.. it does have properties that can cause dependence and even addiction in susceptible individuals.As I mentioned above, this is really something you need to discuss with your doctor -- your treatment and management of your chronic pain should be much better handled. There are many varying methods to treat spinal pain.. look into the options available.



Byromville
Orosi
Marysville
South Holland
Glen Raven
Ypsilanti

How long to tramadol withdraw last?

Ammie

I have been taking tramadol for awhile now and I stopped. I am wondering if anyone knows how long the withdraws last and if there is anthing I can do to help with it.



Christoper

I feel for you. I have been there, done that. I understand different people have different withdraws. I felt itchy, dizzy at times, and a 'Whooshing' sound in my head. My Dr. told me it was my chemical mal-function causing this noise. Some things only lasted for a couple of days, others lasted for weeks. My sister had a different reaction. She got very sick, like she had the flu, couldn't leave the house for days. If you need to, like I had to, take one to help relieve the symptoms, and then go as long as you can again before taking another one. You will be able to go longer and longer without needing one, until you can bear the last bit. Hang in there, it will get better.



Garnavillo
Streetman
Mio
Lilburn
Columbus Junction
Breckenridge Hills

If ultramtramadol works by attaching to the opiate receptors how does lortab work?

Kali

If Ultram/Tramadol works by attaching to the opiate receptors how does lortab work?



Becky

Lortab is the brand name for the combination of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and hydrocodone. Lortab is prescribed for moderate to moderately severe pain. Hydrocodone binds to the pain receptors in the brain so that the sensation of pain is reduced. Acetaminophen halts the production of prostaglandins which otherwise cause pain.Lortab is one of the brand names for Hydrocodone...Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic opiate....so it's binding to the same pain-relieving receptors as the drugs Ultram/Tramadol (even though Ultram/Tramadol is a synthetically produced drug and it's not chemically related to opiates.)



Roberto

I know of other meds that my DR has give me to EASE off of other meds.. Plz just ask your DR TO HELP YOU- DO not TRY AND DO IT YOURSELF.



Imogene

The human brain has several different types of opiate receptors. Tramadol mainly affects the MU receptors. Lortab (hydrocodone) affects additional opiate receptors besides the MU receptors. This is why Lortab is more addictive than tramadol.www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/tramadwww.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/hydroc



Pine Bluffs
Onyx
Elburn
Neosho
Valley Grove
Valley Grove

What happens if im taking theses meds with tramadol?

Hollis

im taking wellbutin xl 300mg and lamictal 150mg ,,, so now i want to know, if i take tramadol for pain every once in while ,what are the risks? and to avoid health risks i was thinking of skipping my well dose in the mornin if that day im taking tramadol and maybe skipping the lamictal at night too so there would be no interaction between the meds. I want to know whats the safest way to take tramadol while on these meds , btw tramadol was prescribed for me recently for pain but i couldnt reach my psych to ask her if im okay taking them or not. because the doc that gave the tram presciption didn't seem to care if i was on other meds or not and he didnt explain to me anything



Lucilla

There are no known interactions between any of those drugs. So I don't think there is anything you need to worry about if you use tramadol for occasional pain.However, hormone levels and the such in each individual can cause other effects.So, I would suggest you take your meds as normal, and if you experience anything abnormal after a tramadol dose, then contact a doctor.Or, if you want a professional answer, call a pharmacist and ask. You can either ask your regular pharmacist, or go somewhere like walgreens.com and search for a store with a pharmacy, call them and ask.



McCordsville
Ector
Hillsdale
Wekiwa Springs
Robesonia
Great River

Bleeding gums any alternate ideas other than gum disease? tramadol use? ibuprofen use?

Doretha

I was taking the medication Tramadol for hip pain, and before that I was taking ibuprofen regularly. My gums are bleeding, but I don't think that it is gum disease or gingivitis since I brush regularly. Anyone have any ideas? Thank you.



Alton

Bleeding is the single most indicating sign of gum inflammation. and could be a result of periodontal disease. Brushing regularly would not help reducing bleeding or relieving inflammation if periodontal disease is already present. the contributing factors like (subginigival calculus) or under the gum tartal build up cannot be removed by brushing alone, and needs professional help, what's called deep cleaning.Tramadol can cause dry mouth if used for prolonged periods, and dry mouth can certainly cause gingival (gum) inflammation, you need to know that a very high number of population have periodontal disease, and not even aware of it. the best is to visit your dentist to make sure of the diagnosis, and get the proper treatment if needed.



Juliane

bleeding gums are warning signs that you are under attack gum disease. be wary that signs of gum disease often appears in the advanced state. the best course of action is to seek the help of a dentist. be able to keep and pay attention to a good program of oral habits. if gum disease is left without any treatment, tooth loss will eventually happen. water can keep bad bacteria at bay, so better keep the mouth hydrated by drinking adequate amount of water. visit www.oramd.com for more gum care tips.



Chun

Tramadol can cause dry mouth - this can cause your gums to bleed.You can try a toothpaste for dry mouth, Orajel makes one:www.orajel.com/products/adult/dryThere are also several oral solutions you can use - your doctor or dentist will need to prescribe them for you.Otherwise, up your water intake, chew on sugarless gum or suck on sugarless candies to help stimulate saliva flow.



Brigid

you might have an infection somewhere



Classie

You can assess whether your brushing is effective using disclosing tablets. They are like little pieces of candy ... you chew them up for 30 seconds and the dye in them will stain your plaque. Do one of those after brushing and have a good look around. If your flossing and brushing are effective, the only discoloration will be on your teeth and gums.



Pilar

floss regularly, it will bleed at lot at first, but if you keep it up it will stop.



Bent Creek
Tilton
Cushing
Valley Center
Kingstown
Ariton