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

I have been on regular Ultracet/ Generic being Tramadol for several years with no problem. I am unable to take narcotics for my chronic pain. Recently my primary dr. left the practice :( and the dr. who took over her patients wouldn't give me that prescription but called in a rx for tramadol hcl 50 mg. I only took a half of one pill/ 25 mg... before going to bed... the next morning I was so dizzy I couldn't stand up... the dr said this could not have been the cause... however my pharmacy said it could have... and the worse part is the dr. refused to switch it to regular ultracet?? I now must switch dr.
s as I am in constant pain and this is all I can tolerate I need a dr. who will listen to me!!

I take tramadol and vicodin. Tramadol for arthritis pain and vicodin for back pain. Tramadol does not help with pain. It is mainly an anti-inflammatory medicine. The vicodin or codeine is for the back pain. Tramadol is a joke for pain. I work in the IT industry and that is why I have arthritis and years of spending time on a keyboard caused it. The back pain is from an accident so that is why I am on both medications. I use Tramadol when my hands are hurting usually at the end of the day after being on the keyboard all day. I don't get it when people say its addicting. One day I take it and then I can go a week or more without taking it based upon my arthritis pain.

Mspicerky, Tramadol is used to relieve moderate to moderately severe pain. Tramadol extended-release tablets are only used by people who are expected to need medication to relieve pain around-the-clock for a long time. Tramadol is in a class of medications called opiate agonists. It works by changing the way the body senses pain. Tramadol is an analgesic.

I agree, I've had Tramadol 50 and did not touch my pain. My pain management Dr now has me on Oxy 30's and it is so much better for my chronic pain.

I take tramadol.because I've kidney disease and on diasylsis. And in pain everyday of my life. Because I have kidney disease I can't take a lot of pain medicine. So I take tramadol which doesn't help me.So I don't take anything 'if I do take it I have two take plenty of them.

Very disappointed with tramadol . Taking 2 pills 2x a day still pain in my sciatic nerve. Stomach aches all the time

I can tell you that after taking narcotic pain medicine for years and years for chronic pain that I have been put on tramadol previously and it didn't touch my pain. With all of the new federal laws dictating how chronic pain is treated by narcotic pain medicine comma doctors love to throw tramadol at you on the off-chance that they can get away with not prescribing something stronger. I'm not at all surprised to see all the comments on here saying it didn't help the pain. Been there done that.

I see a pain Mgt dr for severe back pain & get cortisone shots every couple of months. I have been taking Dilauded for about 2 yrs but since last month,it's not helping & I have a terrible pain in my neck. Really ! Lol ! I am also a dialysis patient,so sitting in the chair for 4 hrs,3x a
wk just adds to the pain. I BEGGED the dr for something else to deal with the pain. A cat scan showed last month that it's a disc in my neck. So,what does he give me, ?? Tramadol ! I finally got him to give me Vicadon but my pain is too far gone. Hell, I'm 60 yrs,been through a kidney transplant,on dialysis for 8 yrs & I have to beg for something to help me with pain ??

Actually, I WAS taking Tramadol for a couple of years, along with Norco 10/325. The Tramadol did nothing for me, while the Norco removed a fair amount of my hip pain. I dropped the Tramadol, and am still taking the Norco.

I am a dialysis patient. I have a bulging disc in my back & neck. I have been through all the meds, Vicodin,Percocet, Lortab,Tramadol & prob others I can't remember. None of them helped, along with getting 4 Trigger shots in my back. Finally, they tried Dilauded !! Why did they make me suffer soo long ?? It works great unless I do something strenuous like washing a floor !! Ur ur own advocate & must speak up !!

any opaiod pain killer that makes you itch, and withdraw, (dhiarra, cold-shakes, runny nose... is addictive dummies... rationalize it how ever helps you sleep...

Tramadol is in the process of becoming a drug in the same class as vicodin or percoset. Dr.s' mistakenly prescribe trammys thinking they are doing you a favor by not giving you an addictive drug. Tramadol is addictive--please do more online research.

Quote from Drugs.com "Tramadol is a narcotic-like pain reliever. Tramadol is used to treat moderate to severe pain... You should not take this medication if you have ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol." Always do your research before starting a new medication!!!

You are very wrong on the addiction part!! I had a close friend that got very addicted to Tramadol and it was a very powerful addiction. He lost everything and damn near all his friend's for it. It is very addicting!!!

I see that this is an old post however there are a few details that are not correct. Tramadol is a highless addictive drug and was orginally labeled as a mild opoid. I confronted my doctor with this fact and he confermed what I already new. The drug company sold us on bad information. I took this drug for two years and at some point realized that I was withdrawing when I did not take it. And its worst that Vicoden and Percosets. I was taking a small dose of fifty mg 3 x's a day. It took me six months to ween down and get off.

Do not take this drug: other drug on my hit list is Lyrica. They claim its ok but just try and stop taking after six months of regular use.

Dawn I'm in need of some advice/info. I have been taking tramadol for 3 years and want to be off of them. But the withdrawals are so bad that I'm on the verge of suicide after only three days of quitting. Before the tramadol I was always an outgoing person and worked 14 hours a day. Now Im a recluse and don't have the energy to hardly get off the couch. I'm just lost. Any suggestions. Thanks

Needsadvice-I have been through the exact same thing you are going through. I was on tramadol for 4 years for back problems, then I got a shot in my back and I did not need the tramadol anymore. I am very active too working a lot. The second day off of it I could not sleep, shakes, restlessness, sick, sweating, could not function, and like you, could not get off the couch. I would wake with withdrawls. It is hard, but it does get better. It may not feel like it now, but it will get easier and you will be yourself again. It took me about a month to be completely rid of this drug. The doctors do not believe that it is this addictive. Anything is addictive if taken for long periods of time.

I'm not trying to start more trouble lol. I am sorry to say though that trams are HIGHLY addictive. I know several people, including my younger brother, who have become severely addicted to these monsters. However, I realize the replies were in 2006 so maybe this wasn't known then. They are very addictive though. So just be careful.

It is non narcotic and worthless for getting rid of pain! The only way it could get rid of pain is if you overdosed and died!

I had no idea trams were addictive. I thank everyone for this soon-to-be-applied information. It was prescribed to me for severe back pain, but i had an idea it was habit forming by reading an article on the web. So i had the bright idea to take it seldomly, and less that 2/50's daily, so i took it just once a day and only when really needed. It still gave me some withdraws. Unbelievable! Thanks, everyone!

Ultram or the generic name Tramadol is none narcotic medication. It is a strong synthetic drug that can be called in or faxed by your doctor. A narcotic can't be called in or faxed. Tramadol isn't a narcotic because it is a synthetic drug but it is just as strong and addictive then a narcotic. The reason some may feel that Tramadol isn't as strong as a narcotic is because they have a high tolerance from taking to many narcotics. I would say that a 100mg Tramadol is as strong as 5mg Vicodin. Every person’s body chemistry is different thus medications have a different effect. A 5mg Percocet may work person that is 6' 240lb but may not work for a 5' 125lb women.

Tramadol works better for me even post-op and chronic pain, than the others, but as a nurse I know that pain is subjective, and what works for one may not work for another.

I agree i have not either

I didn't think that tramadol did much for pain alone. I my case it worked great with hydrocodone

Lol well you lost all credibility after the first sentance... Tramadal IS a narcotic... just so u know

I've found no relief at all from Tramadol. I have scoliosis and so far, NOT GOOD!

It is a synthetic opiate. Very addictive and the withdrawals are very bad.

I asked the pharmacist about the trams and they said its controlled now

Doesn't even give me a happy feeling. Tramadol is a joke. No different than taking Excedrine. Might be OK for someone who has very little pain however not good for any daily major pain.

Hello I am on percocet for CLL an I have A big problem with my bowels they just are A jam one day after another. What do you take to eliminate this problem
ANYONE PLEASE REPLY

I also had severe bowel blockage from meds. My Rheumatologist has me using a cap full of Miralax twice daily. Works well, nothing like the laxatives I was trying. No discomfort or diarrhea.

I also had severe bowel blockage from meds. My Rheumatologist has me using a cap full of Miralax twice daily. Works well, nothing like the laxatives I was trying. No discomfort or diarrhea.

Hello
My doctor has me on percocet my problem is moving my bowels I am jammed up constipated what do you take to move your bowels I have tried everything but no luck
please reply

oh it sure did not give me any happy feeling , I took two of the things, and felt nothing , and I am in still in so much pain, can't stand it ...

Hi, I have a bulging disk as well as a herniated disk and "DDD" Degenerative Disk Disorder. I'm in pain 24/7 . My quality of like is hell. I couldn't help but notice that you mentioned you received tramadol from mail order.I don't have insurance , and I just don't know what to do anymore . I don't expect you to divulge this information on a public forum, but if you can reach out to me, you or anyone else who can help will be saving my life.
Thank You.

Someone asked about what to take to relieve constipation from pain meds... Magnesium, 250 to 500 ml per day. Works great!!!

@earlsfishing I take Miralax once a day everyday to avoid constipation issues. I have Crohns disease but also have chronic pain from bowel surgeries so I have used heavy high dose narcotics for almost 6yrs straight. The Miralax helps prevent an issue mist of the time. When I do find myself constipated and having trouble getting relief I take Miralax and mineral oil. Mineral oil is easy to get at the drug store and I take about 2Tbsp every night until it resolves. I do recommend chasing the mineral oil with orange juice cuz it breaks through the texture and gets it out of your mouth and throat, otgherwise I puke from the texture (it really doesn't taste bad just awful texture!)

But I promise you IT IS ADDICTIVE! Please research! You will be surprised.

Persons that do not experience lots of pain - do not know what it feels like and are very insensitive to others and think the persons with the pain is mental/not in pain - and that includes our doctors.

well i dont have legitimate pain but i do have a 3 inch cut in my head and it hurts like hell, and i have had both Percocet Vicodin and i am not on tramadol and i can tell you the only thing that has helped with the pain was the percocet, the vicodin only took any of the pain away and the tramadol has not helped at all, i also am taking 800mg of Ibuprofen and the only thing that helps is the swelling, and the doc said the he was giving me the tramadol because it is non drowse but it still makes me drowse. but i think he really gave it to me because if he gave me the percocet he would have to give me a limited hours of working.

I was jus prescribed Tramadol 50. Mg I must admit it does not help like the naproxen did but my doctors switched me because they did not want to cause kidney damage for me. My doctor did warn me that it did not help the inflammation as Naproxen did but I will see how this works. So far, not that great.

I have been having cronic pain for over a year now in my back, neck, shoulders, and hips. I have had injections with little to no help, I was given vicodin which made me sick, so they switched me to percocet, which helped did not take all the pain away, but it sure helped so I could walk, dress, stand without being in so much pain. Now the doc has switched me to tramadol, have not picked it up from pharmacy yet. I will give it a go and see what happens. Just wanted to let others know I would much rather not have this pain and be able to work, dance, bowl, down hill ski, play with my grandbabies, and just enjoy life. I have worked all my life, raised my children, go to college and now I everyday is racked with pain. So for all you out there thinking that people are taking these drugs for fun, get a life. Quit grouping everyone into some type of no good losers because they need meds for pain.

They gave me tramadol 50 mg for a car accident. And they don't stop pain.they are a joke.if u have medical with ssi.u have to go to a pain management Dr.for norco 10.and they do help. But they don't on nerve pain.

I agree, Tramadol has never help my pain!!!

I totally agree with you I feel these Doctors need to be to know the difference between a drug seeker and person that's dealing with chronic pain it don't take a rocket scientist to figure this out look at there damm medical history .I just experience a situation over some darn Tramadol! Now I have too take time out of my day to report this man to the Medical board because he was not educated to know the damm diffrence.

You answered your own question in your last sentence... not everyone is out there drug seeking... but in today's world there's more drug seekers then ppl that are in pain. I was injured in 2005 I live everyday in horrible pain but they have put my meds down to 4 a day of oxycodone-325apap just because the ppl that don't need it. It hurts the ppl that do need it.

just wanted to know if Tramadol was the equivalent of Vicodin

No you're right, not everyone is drug seeking. But there are so many drug seekers out there! I work for an urologist as a nurse. At first I was like "that poor lady" or "that poor man you must be going through hell" Then when they all started coming back with lost prescriptions, and stolen prescriptions, and they all had police reports. I started to realize that they were drug seeking. And there are just so many drug seekers probably 25% of everyone who comes to see us is drug seeking. (Who knows maybe even more.) Now that is a private physician the emergency room is worse… Oh so much worse. More than half the patients that show up in an ER request pain medication. In most cases the doctor already written a prescription for pain medication Vicodin Percocet something like that, but after the patient requests pain medication... nope give'em tramadol.

I have had an L5 issue for 20 years and have managed after traction and PT earlier to take it easy. Fast forward today and moving from one state to another WOW!! I hurt my L5,dang it, after 3 months of ER, Dr... and MORE PT and 2 spinal Epidurals, I still have NO quality of life with this Tramidol CRAP!!! Dr... absolutely will not get off his script pad to allow me more than that. I'm going to see him for my follow up soon and I'm breaking up with him, SCREW THAT! I couldn't walk into the office so I was helped into a wheel chair and he saw me and callously laughed and said "no way"! I am NOT a Dr. shopper all I needed was help to get through this horrible SCIATICA now. I must do life and he DID NOT CARE! Tramidol sucks it's baby aspirin that constipates you and that's it! I hope other medical professionals read this and know that are people out there GENUINELY in pain and NOT DR. #%*?ing shopping!

I think the government has them all afraid to give narcotics.

Due to a RISK for psychological dependence/abuse, it is now considered a "Controlled Substance" by the DEA but it IS NOT a narcotic! It is an anti-inflammatory med! THOSE are the facts! Some people do take excessive dlses for the "messed up" way it makes them feel but it is possible to OD on them, so there in lies the danger.

It is NOT a full-on narcotic! This is documented elsewhere on this site! It was classified as a "Controlled Substance" which is not always the same thing, so get YOUR facts straight! It has the potential for abuse, that's why its classification was changed.

No its not. I live in Oregon. Narcotics can't be prescribed over the phone or called in by a physician. You must pick up a paper prescription like the old days. Tramadol can be called in to your local pharmacy but Percocet can not.

FDA made tramadol controlled now i asked my dr

Tramadol is a synthetic opiate. It is a controlled IV narcotic and has the tendency to be abused. It is considered a weak opiate but it can be abused just like other opiates and can be just as deadly. Those who are prescribed Tramadol should never be stop abruptly.

Tramadol is Ultracet

Yes, I was recently prescribed it and they made it a schedule 4 narcotic in 2014. It used to not be considered a narcotic but is now. I only post replies that I know are true also. Nothing worse than being misinformed. Especially if u had these and they werent prescribed and u thought they weren't a narcotic then next thing u know ur sitting in jail because u read a false comment on here. If u aren't 100% on your answers it's better to not reply at all in my opinoin.

Meant to say on my comment that it was classified as a schedule 4 controlled substance. I have the paper work that came with the prescription from the pharmacy. It also says that it "contains a opioid (narcotic). I'm going off the paperwork that comes with the prescription thar I am reading as I am typing this. So if anyone post a different answer then I'd say call a pharmacy and you will see that I am only posting strictly what the paperwork says. Other than my previous comment where I said it was moved to a controlled substance in 2014 I revealed this information via another website and that is true also. Hope this helps somone.

Tramadol IS considered a narcotic now. I literally just left the ER and my doctor in his words stated "I am giving you tramadol, it is a narcotic. No driving for 8-10 hours. You will need to take the prescription paper in to have it filled". As stated above, narcotics can not be called in, you have to have the paper prescription (just as i was given).

I am a general surgeon, and I honestly feel tramadol is not a good medication. It has a high risk of seizure if the medication is used regular. And the medication is weak, not good for anything more than a minor injury. There is NOT a medication at the moment that can help manage real pain without addiction. Not all doctor's think every patient is a seeking addict. Noone should have to live with pain, but sadly because of actual addict we are strictly regulated and chronic pain patients suffer because of it.

But Please be very careful when taking Tramadol 50mg I was taking this med because I have real bad back pain I was on this medication for 2months and started having very bad Seizures I had never had a Seizure in my life and when I went to the Hospital they told me Tramadol will make you have Seizures so I don't take them anymore your doctor will not tell you that now I have Seizures all the time..

I've just read the entirety of your post "intuit", but I don't believe you can just generally put ALL pain meds in your category; if you do build an addiction to tramadol, taper it down and off. Many, and I include my self, do not even get pain-relief with tramadol!

I do agree with the ferocity of physical withdrawal you describe; I've been there and it is hell. I'm just asking you to stop being so GENERAL about these and all "classes" of meds, if for no other reason than the differing individual responses to all meds. Look at the drug as it is, not as to its category. Generalization is right up there with assumtion- often wrong!

Tramadol also does something else: it biochemically has an action in the mechanism of serotonon receptors; in other words, it is not at all bad to take it with other meds for depression. However, it may be removed by your physician because it interracts with other, labeled serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as citalopram.You have to be careful about too much serotonin availability.

Tramadol and ultra are not just a physical dependence i would take them to get high and would feel high for longer than vicodin would after taken em so many days i was then physically addicted and if i didnt have any tramadol i would pawn in jewelry or anything to get money to buy some or find a wat to fool a diff dr into giving em to me. It does cause drug seeking behavior. I also know other people who have had the same feelings and problems as me its still under a contoled substance it was a
drug addiction just as bad as other drugs

yes they are very addictive i know many people who will buy them off the streets, they start out taking four to five a day to effectively kill pain and work there way up to ten aday.They are very hard to get off of.They get flu like symptoms sneezing cough and knee or leg pain and and overall just feel terible trust me I know . very addictive

I am a recovering alcoholic and I also have MS and many other health problems. I do not find them addicting or very powerful. I was given them to re leave pain in my legs I suffer from daily and I take them when needed. I'v had my 50mg. for over a month now and still have the majority left. Now seriously... all drugs affect others differently. You can not go by what other people say. Listen to your Doctor.

Just got Tramadol for neck pain (osteoarthritis). Took one 50 mg last night and now have a hell of a hangover. Didn't do much for the pain either. I'm very sensitive to these drugs. Can't believe how lousy I feel today. Throwing out the rest of the RX! I'll stick to Tylenol!

I have taken four 50mg Tramadol tablets a day for six years for my headaches from Occipital Neuralgia. I have never felt any kind of side effect. It's just like taking two aspirin to me, and they knock the headaches out.

I agree with you I have same problem with tramadol

I only use it because I have chronic myeloid luekemia and the only over the counter pain reliever I can use is Tylenol. And with my leukemia meds, it's not good for my liver. Honestly I've never had a problem with it. But I don't always take it daily

I'm currently taking Tramadol 50 mg., 4-6 pills/day. I've been on this drug for 6 months now, and I consider myself "hooked". I don't know if they are narcotic or not, as I cannot get a straight answer on this question. I DO know that without these pills, I get physically ill, and feel really strange. I also know that I have to take more and more for the pain. Im seriously considering about asking to go back to narcotics for awhile, as these don't seem to work-is there any advice anyone can give me???

Tramadol is a pain medication prescribed to my Dog. I didn't even know that people were prescribed this medication!

Try Actiq
It's an instant relief fentanyl lozenge(lollipop) that dissolves in ur saliva glands. Relief is unbelievable.

Hi I was recently prescribed transform for some serious pain from my workers comp doctor and hearing from all of you I don't want to take them because I am already taking 800 Motrin for lower back and abdomen on my right side which I'm not getting properly diagnose. Please help me if anyone know or have had this experience.

Ultracet is not the same as tramadol, it is the same as tramadol hydrochloride. Very different. Just regular tramadol is categorized as a non-narcotic.

Ultram- ibuprophen Ultracet- acetamenophen (very different) still categorized as a non-narcotic, though there have been 'addiction' stories. Without knowing their certain circumstances, I think that it is fair game between: physical dependency and addiction.

Do the chemical compounds in Ultracet change the tramodol? Because it clearly states that tramodol is a narcotic.

I'm speaking only of Ultracet.

Please explain the above info I copied directly from the Drugs A to Z on this site.

Ultracet is a completely different drug than Ultram. Ultram's generic name is tramadol...

You are so right!!! I confronted my doctor and he admitted that the medical profession were duped.

Not legally its not a narcotic. First lets define what a narcotic is. A narcotic is (in legal terms) defined as "a drug or other substance affecting mood or behavior and sold for nonmedical purposes," narcotic actually means a drug or other compound that creates a stupor effect. By that definition Alcohol is a narcotic. So is Tramadol a narcotic... legally no but in technical terms yes it is.

bullsh*#

Please don't comment if you don't know the correct answer. Tramadol in NOT a narcotic !! Call your local pharmacy

You are not lying! That is definitely the truth

This helped me thank u..

I agree with you. There are many misconceptions about this drug. Does Tramodol change in to a narcotic pain reliever when added with acetaminophen? Because that is what Ultracet is... Tramodol + acetaminophen. Is the above information I copied directly from this site, wrong??

i have been given tramadol for endometriosis & adenomiosis several times. it does not work 4 me. The doc. Has switched me from that to hydrovodone than percocet. The secret to pain meds are that once your body has been introduced to a stronger drug and than switched down to something weaker it's not gonna work. tramadol is not a narcotic. It works the same way in your brain and spinal cord just w/o the narcotic. You can become dependent to tramadol but not addicted. many people dont know the difference. stopping tramadol can make u feel shitty and depressed. Stopping a narcotic after being on it for sometime will make u physically sick. If u r dependent upon a drug u will only have physical withdrawls. If u r addicted u also get very depressed and your pain becomes more in ur head than actually located. if u find yourself taking to many meds or lying to get meds u need help. its out there. they have meds to help if u should ever need them.

You've made some important points, and one in particular that I would like to touch on as well. Drug tolerance and drug maintenance are the two I would like to talk about. You said that switching down from a stronger drug to a weaker drug is difficult and the weaker drug does very little to releave the pain. (I might be paraphrasing quite a bit here, my apologies!) I also want to say that this is the reason the doctors watch their pain patients very closely and start out with the utmost minimum dosage that has enough relief. They want to minimize the use of powerful drugs that could hurt the body and in some cases keep people from doing anything but lying on the couch with side effects taking over. This is also a reason why rapport between doctor and patient are crucial. If the drug isn't enough, say so! Your doctor doesn't want you to hurt, but also doesn't want the drug to hurt you.

Tramadol or Ultram ONLY works on 50% of the population. I am not one of those people, some people I know say it helps with their pain.Tynelnol #3 is a step down.

Yes, it's addicting more so then percoent because it has a helf life.

I have been taking about 6. 30 mg roxicodones a day and is having a very hard time coming off of them. I was wondering if taking tremedol would help with the withdrawals of not taking the roxis.
Thank you

I just wanted to apologize to everyone here... I realize i wrote my comments a very long time ago, i think, and it seems i was way off. I may been to far gone at the time, or in a bad state of mind lets just say. Plz do not refer to my opinion or think it was a right answer. I see u have had many upon many comments on this subject... Most other were def right... Hope all is well and things are still getting better for you. Best of luck and many wishes to you and yours... Take care...

No, do not take Tramadol. It's just as addictive.

I am a Redhead and have a very high tolerance to any medication. I told this to the doctor who did my first colonoscophy but he didn't listen. I am sure I left indentations on the metal rails of his chair. Anyway, I am prescribed the 50 mg of Tramadol and I can't tell the difference. My dentist did listen to me when I told him. He was the voice of experience.

I have ankylosing spondylitis which causes me constant pain I take hydroacet every 4 hours as needed and 50 mg Tramadol between times as needed. I have taken these for several years now (I am 66 years old) and will until I die... it takes both to control my pain.

dstamps1 has the best comment of all. After reding through countless posts he nailed it better than anybody. I've been taking just 10mg per day after work for terrible chronic thoracic back pain and it's worked great. I'm 53. I took 100mg of tramodol about an hour and half ago and it did nothing. I might as well have taken air.

I've been taking just 10mg of oxycodone per day after work is what I meant, and it works great. Tramadol is a joke.