[snickerho]

I got a prescription for Ultracet, but am used to taking hydrocodone(Vicodin,Lorotab). Are the effects similar? I know Ultracet is an analgesic with acetominophen, but is it a narcotc at all?

[Jessi25]

If you are use to taking hydrocodone then you will not like ultracet. Ultracet is good for true pain. what ultracet does is blocks the "pain nerve" that creates your pain. once you start taking pain killers such as lorcet, lortab, and so on it will be tough for u to switch over. ultracet is not a narcotic.

[SiestaKeys]

Sorry, but ultracet/ultram doesnt "block" the pain nerve. The way opiates(i.e. hydrocodone) work is by interfering with the nerves that send pain to the brain, some stronger than others. Ultram is not an opiate but does increase serotonin in the brain, similar to tricylcic antidepressants, and both relieve pain in certain people due to that function.
Yes, ultram will not provide any pain relief like hydro will. I know because I've been on both and ultram did nothing for me except make me sick the first time I took it and then extremely sick when I stopped 4 weeks later. Dont listen to anyone say it isnt a "narcotic" so it cant be mentally or physically addicting. Just Google "ultram and withdrawal" and you will see how many people have had to suffer because so many Dr's are idiots.

[theguest688]

No I believe tramadol is chemically related to the various opiates and opioids (I believe it is classified as a synthetic opioid) but it just doesn't work the same way hydrocodone works. That said, I have to agree, Ultram doesn't seem to work very well. Really banged up my knee and back, was put on taking 2 tylenol 3s every so often which managed the pain pretty well. Long story short (rash...), doc switched me to Ultram ER. Works alrite for the pain under normal loads but for a long day or high activity (basically anything that bothers my knee and back), the pain gets right through and theres no way to redose. Almost no side effects compared with codeine and even fewer than hydrocodone (though tussionex and vicodin both made me have extended visits to the mens room).

[SiestaKeys]

theguest, you are certainly correct in that ultram is techinically and opiate(and so is immodium). It is a synthetic analogue of codeine equivalent to 1/10 of morphine; however, I believe its pain reliever properties come from the way it acts on serotonin production, and not due to the way opiates work. It is essentially similar to tricyclic antidepressants, which have been used to treat certain types of pain.