Tramadol Helps with Exhaustion

@vibert22 Hi I'm still on Tramadol 50 mg. In 2005 I fractured my back ,after the heavy narcotics was done the Dr put me on 4Tramadol a day gradually he took me down to 2a day at this point I'm On 1@day 2if needed for pain I have energy when on it, pain is relieved and take 1 @ night so I can sleep without pain and I do all night I will say I use a Tens unit to relax muscles or take a hot shower if I hurt this all helps me.Besides the Tramadol at night I take a Melatonin .Good luck Linda

@vibert22

I remembered that I did have 2 side effects from Tramadol. I was constipated and I had difficulty urinating. I didn't realize my urine problem was from Tramadol until I stopped taking it. I had to use a stool softener nearly all the time for constipation. Also, my gastroenterologist recommended Ortho Dolphilas from Life Balance. It really helped me. Gail, Volunteer Mentor

@vibert22 I did forget till reading gail,s post I did have constipation but started eating 2prunes at night this solved the problem and a cranberry pill thanks for reminder .

@gailb - thank you so much for your post!!! I am on Tramadol - taking mostly in the evenings, along with gabapentin and requip - and mostly I've been worried that I will become addicted to Tramadol. But it sounds like you got off it fairly easily. Not ready to give it up yet - perhaps the CBD will help. Did you take the CBD twice a day? Under tongue? I'm 80 - and figure - what the heck - being without pain is good.

@barbarn

I'm glad you found my post helpful. You know, if I was 80 years old and Tramadol was helping my pain, I would continue taking it as long as my doctor was able to prescribe it. The one medication I would withdraw from is the Gabapentin, but perhaps it is helping you. After I stopped taking it I had less pain, and I got my memory back. I had lost huge chunks of memory because of the Gabapentin. I thought I was having early onset Alzheimers it got so bad. I don't know why you're taking Gabapentin and you should talk to your doctor about stopping it if you decide to. It was actually harder to get off than the Tramadol.

Part of the reason I wanted to stop Tramadol is that my Pain doctor said he could not treat me if I took or tested positive for marijuana. Since its legal in California, I had wanted to try it for pain relief. I have tried marijuana and CBD now that I'm not taking Tramadol, and I find CBD mixture with 1/4 THC to be very helpful. I don't like marijuana because it's much too strong for me, and I don't like being high/stoned. I use CBD when I need it, so usually once a day. It takes 1 - 2 hours to feel the effects, so usually midafternoon or early evening works best for me. That's when my back is getting tired and I'm concerned about how it will feel later in the evening. I use a tincture under my tongue. You'll have to experiment to determine how much to take. I suggest you start at 3 squirts. Please know that if you use marijuana or anything with THC in it, your doctor may not continue to prescribe Gabapentin or Tramadol due to federal law.

Good luck with your decision about Tramadol and Gabapentin. I think, if it's working and you can continue it, why change it. Talk to your doctor before making any changes.

Gail
Volunteer Mentor

@barbarn

I forgot to say, I don't use CBD everyday. I only use it for moderate pain and I no longer have that daily. It's usually when I have done too much or lifted something over 10 pounds. I'm still changing my habits about my back. The good thing about no longer taking pain pills is that I am more careful about what I do as I feel the pain immediately and I stop what I'm doing. I hope you are doing well today.

Gail
Volunteer Mentor

@gailb - thank you again! There is so much negative to read about gabapentin - and everyone says how hard it is to stop taking it. What are the symptoms you have when trying to get off gabapentin?I have to admit, I worry about my memory-that should be a good enough reason to get off it! Glad to hear you no longer have daily pain...

@ghalib you are so right about gabapentin. I took it after surgery too and l stopped because l was watching the show the doctors and one of the doctors also had surgery and was put on gabapentin and he got off. When l was taking it l also had brain fog now l an off that l am allergic to so many meds l have to always beware because l am allergic to meds with acetaminophen and the pharmacy gave it to me twice and it wasn't on the prescription so l have to watch out.

ive been taking tramadol for years, as needed. for me it is minimal help on the pain and i get a 48 hour hangover from it. due to bad stomach it is about the only strong pain reliever i can tolerate. i take 100mg 3 times per day sometimes. i hate the hangover. im also on methotrexate maximum injection weekly and celebrex 200mg twice a day, and gabapenton 300mg four times a day.

@pjbjdr sounds like all those meds are interacting tell yojr PCP about all yoir taking or talk to pharmacist