How strong is Tramadol (50mg) for pain compared to Percocet or Vicodin?

Tramadol may not seem to relieve pain as well or fast as Vicodin or Percocet, Loratab, etc. However since I have been taking it 2/50mg 4x a day and found that I was having withdrawals without it and I have done some research! I continued telling my doctor that I was addicted and that I wanted more and more it is never enough, I get a speed rush and they are like tic tacs! It isn't the same as any of the other opiates so it seemed like it was no big deal to take them. I explained to my doctor that it just made me feel so much better mentally and physically, I wasn't or haven't used it for pain in a long time anyhow but that is why I was prescribed it to begin with.

Expand this post...

The doctors and nurses all told me it was impossible to get addicted to it and there was no way I was having withdrawals from it! So I started looking into it because I know if something is making me feel good and if I am addicted & abusing it! Well Tramadol was not a narcotic until about 4 months ago! The FDA just classified it as a narcotic and you will now find that it is addictive and you will experience withdrawals in any article you read. However, it is less addictive in my opinion than most of the other pain medications. It is synthetic morphiene and was once upon a time non narcotic, now its a pain in the a$$ to fill the scripts early because it is so well monitored! Anyhow to answer the question yes it will relieve pain to an extent, it depends on the level of your pain but I would highly recommend this over the others only because it is less addictive! Opiate based pain killers are extremely addictive, trust me they are good and fun but they only mask the pain for a period of time and they actually cause your body to have more pain as you become addicted and you will need more, you will take more, you will abuse them and in most cases it will become a battle that you can't win... Also what you will find with tramadol is that it is made by 2 manufacturers that I know of, one of which is completely different than the other! If you see one that is round and bigger with DAN on it be ready to become psychotic, irritated, irrational, angry, and a danger to society! The other 50mg are small they have an M on them and are sooooo much better! Walmart carries the better kind, and Target carries the horrible kind at least in (Florida) ! Unfortunately I had to find all of this out the hard way and I am not the only person who has had them same effects with the different manufacturers! Its weird I would never have thought it would make such a difference but I was literally a walking time bomb on the bad kind! And just in case anyone out there has OCD aka "obsessive compulsive disorder" it now being treated with Tramadol in clinical studies! I swore to my doctor over and over that I loved it so much because it was making everything so much better, I feel that little high, energy, happiness, etc. and yes I am OCD so clearly that was the reason I was feeling so much better! The FDA is in the process of approving Tramadol for the treatment of OCD and not just for pain because it has a quick relief 30 minutes and can be taken more than once a day unlike other medications that are for OCD! It has very little side effects compared to the other pain medications, or OCD medications that have not only side effects but also alter your mind to a point where the drugs think for you and it controls other behaviors that may or may not be necessary. I personally have been the lab rat and have tried all of the anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, etc for many years and I honestly can't stand the feeling of any of it. I don't find it to be the best idea for anyone to take these "crazy meds" that will alter your mind in more ways than you even know. At least with pain medications, stimulants, or sedatives you pretty much know what to expect and it is usually taken as needed and not something you take every single day that is everlasting in your system. Opioids, such as hydrocodone and tramadol, may rapidly ameliorate OCD symptoms.Tramadol is an atypical opioid that appears to provide the anti-OCD effects of an opiate and inhibit the re-uptake of serotonin (in addition to norepinephrine)!

It all depends on what you are looking for, and how severe your pain is! Just keep in mind that Vicodin, Percocet, Oxycontin, etc. are all going to most likely cause you more problems in the future! Don't get me wrong if you need them you need them I just know from my own personal experience with all of these drugs I have developed major problems from what was supposed to be pain relieving for a short period of time became a lifetime of addiction. And for anyone out there taking any of these I am pretty sure you can agree. Also if you are taking any of these opiates and are experiencing skin problems, like adult acne, or "back acne" it is very common from the use of any opiate! As disgusting as this is going to sound it is the truth! Anyone using opiates I am sure already knows that they constipate you and sometimes (depending on how much you are taking) it is for a very lengthy period of time even when you use laxatives they won't work. So basically what happens is your body is full of toxic waste like a "septic tank" and it will start coming out through your skin. And as a result you can count on getting acne and these medications are the cause of it, even better they make you start picking at it so much that it worsens and you will have scars.

I would highly recommend to anyone that you only use any of these medications for a short period of time and on an as needed basis. Tramadol doesn't cause all of those issues so it is the better solution in my opinion. But hey to each their own, we all have our "crutches", "preferences", or ways of dealing with issues! I just prefer to not have that "pill sick" feeling if I run out and I would rather avoid the disgusting acne! Hope all of that information helps ya!

My last comment about the tramadol being an antagonist is incorrect, I didn't mean to say that. What I meant to say was Tramadol possesses weak agonist actions at the μ-opioid receptor, releases serotonin, and inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine.The opioid agonistic effect of tramadol and its major metabolite(s) are almost exclusively mediated by the substance's action at the μ-opioid receptor. This characteristic distinguishes tramadol from many other substances (including morphine) of the opioid drug class, which generally do not possess tramadol's degree of subtype selectivity. Therefore The overall analgesic profile of tramadol supports intermediate pain, especially chronic states. It is slightly less effective for acute pain than hydrocodone, but more effective than codeine.

Expand this post...

It has a dosage ceiling similar to codeine, a risk of seizures when overdosed, and a relatively long half-life making its potential for abuse relatively low amongst intermediate strength analgesics.
Sorry for my mix up earlier, I hope this helps, if you have any other questions feel free to ask, I have alot of experience when it comes to pain medications, as I am an Oncologist.

Several commentators here argue that Tramadol is much safer than Vicodin (or Percocet, etc.) because it is so much less addictive than the others. Some commentators say that "Vicodin will eventually get you in trouble."

Well, not in MY experience. The keys to avoiding addiction to any drug are to not increase one's dose, and not increase frequency of use over time. I used 2-3 7.5/750s a week for 5 years (one a day when I traveled to China - travel always gives me headaches and backaches), and at the end of that period, I stopped "cold turkey," and never felt even a trace of withdrawal symptoms. I never came close to being addicted.

I'm using Tramadol HCl 50 now, and although they don't seem quite as effective as the Vicodins, they work well enough. I believe they ARE addictive, perhaps as addictive as the Vicodins, but there is no need to become addicted to them.

Expand this post...

I suffer from frequent severe headaches, and frequently severe backaches, perhaps not the MOST severe pain, but severe enough to want to kill it. I believe responsible adults should have reasonably free access to these early wonders of modern medicine. Used carefully, they improve quality of life significantly.

All that said, so what if someone DOES become addicted to one of these drugs? Is THAT really worse than the pain the drug was used to eliminate? Especially toward the end of one's life (by which I mean within 10-20 years), and provided the drug is available, addiction is a small price to pay for freedom from unnecessary pain.

But it CAN be successfully avoided.

I know this comes a lot later than your question, bot maybe someone else will read this. Tramadol 50 mg., IS 100% addictive. It WILL not get you the same "high" or "feeling" as a percocet. But, if you take this medication, YES it is addictive, with the exact same withdraws as percocet. I know this because I used to take percocet 10mg and was fortunate to get off them with some very unfortunate withdraws. As a person who was on them only 2 years for back pain, then having a nerve ablation procedure taking care of the pain, thought it would be wise to just quit cold turkey not knowing any better. Within the 2nd week in knew I COULD NOT do this without my Dr.'s help. You MUST have some type of anti depressant to help you through this. I was prescribed a lite Ativan 0.5 mg, taken EXACTLY as prescribed. A month and maybe a little over, (maybe a week), I was finally ok. But, was prescribed Tramadol, for excessive headaches some time after that. Guess what...

Expand this post...

yep, same feelings as the percs, when I tried to stop. I now will have to do the same thing to get past this. Uhg. I hate it. But, it's not the Dr.'s fault or even a person who is really having real pain. It's just a natural toleration the body builds up to any pain meds (any meds for that part). You are prescribed 3 a day , the body builds up a tolerance for it, so you turn it into 4 a day without sometimes realizing the results. I am 38 and never before this drank, smoked cigarettes, or ever did drugs. I was a part time car sales person, substitute teacher, and ran an in home day care. So it really can happen to anyone. It did cause changes in my life. It never caused me to not do my jobs great, because luckily enough it was during my summer break that I had the "want" to lay the percs down and quit, because I no longer needed them. For anyone that starts a withdraw to pain killers I am so sorry and hope God has mercy on you. It was an extremely dark time in my life and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. But, you can do it. The hardest part I found was telling people, but you have to to get the support you WILL need. You will have to have help, simply sometimes just to have someone to talk to. A brother, sister, mom, dad, spouse, or maybe just a really good friend, but you will make it through. I did! I had the anxiety, and even at times thought I had done some type of permanent damage to my self. But, I promise with the will power and the support... it will be fine! Good luck to any and all people who must go through this.

I agree with you not everyone is seeking drugs.There are those of us who are in chronic pain everyday of our lives and because of theise addicts out there searching for a high we have to suffer and be degraded and looked at like we are ones. Its so furstrating its not fun taking pain meds I hate it.Its expensive and worse now then ever .I would rather be out of pain and fixed.This will be something I have to live with the rest of my life and eventually may not be able to get around at all.

Expand this post...

These doctors make us come in once a month pay a visit then go get our meds which are alot of money with all the other meds it adds up.And then they blood test you to make sure your taking your meds.Like really what else would I be doing I never like pain medication but since my falls and problems i have to take them turst me if they can fix me and I dont have to take pain meds amen to the Lord I would be one happy camper .The doctors need to me more confident in what they are doing and stop being afraid.Run a DEA on the patient.Drug test them you see they have been on this med for a long time due to problems that will only get worse not better and are disabled you know their liget have some freaking guts to stand firm and be a doctor take care of your patients i worked in the medical field for six years and our doctors doint do this crap but they are good and know what to look for shame on the doctors that treat all patients like that so so sad

Also, if Tramadol is the first drug given to you for pain... see how it works for you and only take when needed. What doctors don't tell you is how bad you will feel when coming off any of the pain meds mentioned on this page if you take them long enough. ITS THE WORST FLU YOU'VE EVER HAD! You will do almost ANYTHING to make the pain go away that the lack of pain meds causes you!

Expand this post...

It should be put into law that doctors who prescripe these meds take them (like cops who go through the torture of the stun guns and pepper sprays) to see how it feels! It should also be a law that they describe these feelings and sensations you will eventually have BEFORE you decide to take them for your pain. One more thing... (if you are one of the unlucky ones who needs chronic pain management) it should be made law that these same doctors assist you to come off the pain meds at anytime you feel it healthy-using the same doctors to prescribe suboxine to give your body and mind a rest every so often! ... a break, so the pain meds will work better when you start taking them again. Instead of taking more pain meds due to tolerance... you can continue the same relief at lower doses.

Just to give you a background... I have two brain tumors that cause unbelievable pain to the center of my head when they swell. They are wrapped around my facial nerve and ear canal on my left side and around the top of my spinal cord (My tumors are sacs with poison oak attached, and I am the Oak!) I have also had uterine cancer, which ended with a complete hysterectomy. I suffer from head and neck pains, from the tumors. I suffer from depression, because I am stuck in this pain relief vs. financial ruin cycle (costing 800.00 plus/ per month for meds and dr. visits to get them). I NEED the pain medications, but I also need a break from them! So, I don't feel that its very fair for doctors to tell me they won't help me if I take suboxone for a short break from the pain meds.

I feel worthless, because I can't work 8 hours a day and I'm spending all of our money on doctors and pain pills. They cause more problems than they help! Don't be like me - get off the things as soon as you don't need them anymore! Take them only as needed or at best just as prescribed.

Don't let your tolerance build up to have to take more meds to feel the same relief - it's too late then!

I agree with all you've written. However, I've discovered a possible way to nullify at least some of these symptoms: ULTRAM! It, just like all opiods, metabolizes into several metabolites; its primary metabolite binds to the opioid receptors throughout the nerves responsible for pain (called nosicepters). If that metabolite is competing against true opiates, it will lose every time; however, in the absence of those opiods, it binds quite well with the now "vacant" pain receptors. It will (for everyone??) absolutely reduce or even nearly completely remove most of the painfull physical withdrawal sequence that has and often is used as a reason not to take any opiate

Expand this post...

Its binding "power" is much weaker than that of morphine or oxycodone, but if its the only opoid present it will rush to fill the vacancies. Therefore, though it's not considered to be a scheduled drug, it is still an opiate; however, its capacity to fill any pathological addiction is, for many, not an issue. I know many people may argue this, but atleast in my case it was true: after 6 years of oxyconton and phentanyl it worked for me. When you are well beyond the physical withdrawal, slowly taper off the tramadol (with the guidance of a physician) off if you wish or don't taper: simply reduce the amount you're taking if you are feeling "something" odd or bad. Also, for me, it squashed any psychological urge to take oxy. After 6 years of continual use, I was not left with a desire to find opiates.

Many will shout that tramadol is addictive, and given its action it might well be considered as such. But most people I know (of course based on a very small sample size), plus myself today, feel in no way "fuzzy" or highly satisfied from the tramadol. Of course, as always, IMHO.

The quote provided to "prove" that tramadol is a narcotic has not been repeated word for word and is therefore dishonest in what it claims. The author wrote "it is a narcotic analgesic". What the author should have mentioned but failed to do so... (Narcotic like analgesic)... the like part referring to the fact that the medication does not contain naturally occurring portions of opioid in it's chemical make up. It does however bind with opioid receptors. Tramadol is meant for use with moderate to moderately severe pain. It is said to be non-addictive or have less addictive qualities but consumers have many different physical reactions to medications. While my brother is a valium addict, he says it makes him high and is a drug seeker, I occasionally (once every three weeks or so) take it for anxiety panic attacks associated with PTSD and I have no feeling of being high or stoned.

Expand this post...

When people talk about the ability to have an addiction to vallium i laugh in my head and think these people are only repeating what medical school tells them. If I took more of this medication than I'm suppose to, I assure you that I would not feel high, I would simply become very drowsy and fall asleep for a while. If anyone like my brother does get high I want to know about your experience because I hear it all the time and have no clue what everyone is talking about. Nothing fun about this medication for me. If i'm completely panicked, the medication makes the heartattack feeling and the vomit and hot flash feelings to go away. thats it. and like i said, over doing it makes me go to sleep which is why it can be used for night tares with people who have ptsd.
Remember, it is in the tramadol description, "an opioid like" that "binds to opioid receptors but does not contain any naturally occuring opioid substances in it's chemical composition.

I think the important thing here is 'narcotic-like' pain reliever. It isn't a narcotic but ranks somewhere among them and acts somewhat like them as a pain reliever. I know that Ultracet and Ultram have two different additives, however I think that either additive wouldn't change the drug base in question into a true narcotic.

Expand this post...

And I would like to reiterate (my apologies if I annoy you with this but..) that I find that people don't really seperate 'addiction' from 'physical dependency'. Addiction is when you are taking a drug that is either harmful, or not useful and still take it despite the problems it causes. The worst case scenario is a drug that is useful but taken in more doses than perscribed or some other deviation from the doctor's orders that makes a person addicted. (usually there are side effects: throwing up, trembling, irritability-kind of like withdrawl symptoms) Physical depedency starts when an individual needs a certain drug at a certain dose to maintain function and help with pain, stiffness, or what have you. These people don't want to stop the drug, guess why? They are afraid the pain or whatever will come back. A reasonable fear in my opinion, because I've had it, I still have it. I have a physical dependency on my drugs to help me sleep, to help the pain, to help the fatigue, to help the fainting. I need those drugsto help me and so I take them everyday according to the doctor's wishes. That doesn't mean that I don't feel uneasy using them, it just means that these drugs help me and I am dependent on them to make it through the day.

I have taken tramadol before and find it to be effective for what it is. Feels like a narcotic comparable to codeine phosphate. However, in my situation, I have severe chronic pain and require meds that are stronger unfortunately. With a lot of back, disc problems as well as peripheral neuropathy which is a very painful nerve disorder caused by as well as HIV(undetectable and normal T-cells-993) and have undetectable HCV(hepatitis C) after extensive and long term treatment with the chemo drug Interferon. Had to take for a total of over 3 years. My doctors(after asking for my usual Lorcet or Vicodin), gave me a script(in 1998) for OxyContin. I had no idea what it was, figured it was an NSAID. I was started out of 40mg 4 times a day. This went on until I started the Interferon. Gradually, titrated my dose, my neurologist got me up to four 80mg OxyContin tablets (320mg twice a day) plus Percocet 10/325. By now, I had tried epidurals, physical therapy and it was the year 2005.

Expand this post...

With no warning, my insurance company took OxyContin off their formulary. Well, I knew the withdrawal would be hell, so I called my doctor and he prescribed Duragesic(fentanyl) 100mcg and Percocet 10/325. In 2008, I was struck by a car while on my bicycle and was in the trauma unit, then ICU and finally in a regular room. I was on IV morphine, fentanyl and began to wean me off those with Percocet. I was already in Pain Management for over 12 years. When things got a little better, I was placed on 80mg OxyContin (b.i.d) every 12 hours and oxycodone 30mg every 4 hours ( 6 a day). All I can say is, tramodol does help with minor pain or you need some help until you can get to the doctor to get the "big guns." I am also on tons of other medications but the only controlled medications are the two opiates, Xanax, Ambien or Restoril, Adderall, Marinol and Lyrica. Over the years, my body had become dependent on these medications especially oxycodone. Did I mention chronic constipation? I am gearing up for my 4th hernia repair which (I read) can be caused by chronic constipation, Right now, since I am seeing a new doctor and have had one epidural supplemented by an injection of fentanyl 100mcg. After a long time, the pain meds do not seem to work anymore. So I get switched to other ones, like Dilaudid, morphine, etc. Today I wear a fentanyl patch 100mcg(strongest available) and 15mg oxycodone q.i.d(4 times a day or every 6 hours). Going from 30mg 6 times a day to 15mg, i.e, from 180mg a day to 60mg. I have an appointment this week with my doctor. I wished I had sought a different Pain Management clinic. Florida has a reputation now as a "pill mill" state and a lot of clinics have been shut down, so at one point, my old clinic was not giving out oxycodone tablets because there was a major shortage and that's when I was on Dilaudid which doesn't work as well as IV Dilaudid(hydromorphone). As for Heroin withdrawal, tramodol should help to a degree. I think Suboxone would be better, but I have't been addicted to Heroin but I know that OxyContin(oxycodone) is extremely uncomfortable as far as withdrawal. The company that makes OxyContin has had to pay billions of $$$ for lying and training their staff to lie to doctors about how OxyContin has low addictive potential to saying it has no addictive properties at all. When I looked up Oxy in the PDR when it was first prescribed to me, I realized that one tablet is equal to 8 Percodan or Percocet. Times four equals 32 Percodan/Percocet a day. When I was
on eight 80mg tablets a day, that comes to 128 "Percs" a day. But, going through the
Interferon treatment caused more pain and I needed the medicine. So good luck to everybody on your goal. I found that Ultracet is pretty helpful if you do not have access to proper withdrawal medications. Usually, Vistaril, clonidine and a benzo help. I have heard that Suboxone or Subutex work very well for withdrawal as to what I have heard. Methadone is addictive and dangerous when mixed with certain meds like Valium which can be deadly. There have been several overdoses in the complex where I live methadone being the most recent. So be very careful what you take, listen to your doctor! Good luck everybody!!