Tramadol for Chronic Pain User Reviews (Page 4)

• Dan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 23, 2017

"I was given Tramadol after a knee replacement and for osteoarthritis. I had always had mild depression in life and anxiety in spite of an intense exercise schedule. Since taking 300 mg daily, most of the depression and anxiety have gone. Such a relief. My doctor did not know that Tramadol can be effective for depression. There are side effects like dry mouth, but benefits outweigh side effects in my experience."

• Ber...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 20, 2019

"In October 2016, I jumped from a 3-story parking garage due to psychiatric issues. I broke my right leg, right arm, and my back. With my leg, it was an open bone fracture. After fully recovering and being able to walk again, I still have chronic pain in my leg. It's always there and never goes away. It's a constant reminder that my leg is permanently damaged from the horrible decision to jump off a building. Anyway, I'm prescribed 50 mg tramadol every 4 hours as needed. If I take it continuously throughout the day (for example, 8 a.m., 12 p.m., 4 p.m., 8 p.m.), it works the best! My pain will be around a 5 or 6 on a scale of 1 to 10. It seems if I have a bit of a buildup of tramadol in my system, my pain decreases to a 1 or a 0 and I'm actually completely pain-free. And that's just from taking the 50 mg dose, nothing higher than that. This is excellent for me since other OTC pain relievers like Tylenol and Aspirin do nothing for me. I seriously recommend this drug for chronic pain."

• pig...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 19, 2015

"Suffer from fibromyalgia, two bulging discs, sciatica, restless leg syndrome. It usually takes me an hour or two to function in the morning. Have been on tramadol since it first became available. Will continue to use this amazing medicine as long as my doctor prescribes it."

• Ibz...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 7, 2016

Tramadol "I use Ultram/Tramadol 50 mg for breakthrough pain usually. Normally in that capacity, they work okay. Prefer them to having to use a second opioid that makes me drowsy or more constipated. Right now, it has become my only pain med, and taking max dose of 150/8 hrs is a joke. If you have real pain long term, I find a common opinion among chronic pain sufferers that this is true."

• Cry...
• March 29, 2017

"I was given Tramadol for multiple pain. I have some arthritis, a form of osteoporosis (cannot think of the name of the form I have), fibromyalgia, lower back pain. Tramadol in no way has helped me. My opinion of this drug is about as negative as you can have. Some of the comments are positive, and I am glad it works for them. In addition, I am also clinically depressed and take meds for that. However, Tramadol in no way helps me with my depression. As a matter of fact, until reading these comments, I had no idea it was even used for depression. Overall, I would never recommend this drug to anyone and would rate it a zero in terms of helping with chronic pain of any kind."

• Ind...
• August 24, 2013

Tramadol "I have been taking Tramadol for a while for endometriosis. It works okay. It makes me extremely restless, though, and after about 8 hours, I get really nauseated and end up vomiting. It does help with the pain, though. Not completely."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 11, 2016

"I suffer from severe chronic pain nearly 24/7. I have diabetic neuropathy, lymphedema, and no circulation in my legs, all combined are pain beyond belief. Tramadol relieves my pain better than any pain meds I have been on."

• Chr...
• October 28, 2016

"Had spine surgery, and Tramadol hasn't touched the pain. When Darvocet N-100 was available, my pain was managed, and it's not a narcotic! Yet, the FDA, because a few people had cardiac issues (probably had before taking the med), took Darvocet N-100 off the market! Now the government wants to limit the narcotics we get and keep us in constant pain, so our daily lives are spent trying different avenues to ease the pain. I've had so many complications from Tramadol that I can't read, I fall, I can't drive, and I'm greatly depressed. None of which I was having before. This is a sugar pill, and I have stopped taking it since it only causes me harm...thinking of going to a naturopathic physician since the government is involved in big pharma."

• gug...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2015

"I have chronic hip pain, this drug has helped. I am still aware of the pain, but it doesn't bother me. It is very strange, BUT!!! I have not slept this well in years. I feel fantastic. I don't care if my hip still hurts. I think I am having an antidepressant reaction, but I was not depressed. However, I do feel great. GOOD & BAD. It really helps sinus and breathing, but when you don't take the next dose, horrible tingling and sinus pressure return. I was only taking it at night. Today, I made the connection thanks to these reviews, so I will take one after lunch. I have only had it a week, but I love this drug so far."

• New...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 13, 2015

"Pain management physician will prescribe this, but not anything stronger. I have had degenerative disc disease for 17 years. I have had three back surgeries, without success. I have been on many medications in the past, with methadone working the best. I weaned myself off methadone because of side effects several years ago. Physicians won't prescribe narcotics anymore because so many people abused them. Tramadol will take the edge off my intense pain, but not enough to be considered a success."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 1, 2024

"I take 100mg in the morning and another at night. I'm just wondering, has anyone's weight been affected by this drug? I've tried dieting and counting calories, but my weight won't shift. Because of this, I'm ready to come off them and stick to co-codamol. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks."

• WIT...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 23, 2015

"Given this a few years ago for pain. Dosage had to be increased to keep effect. Wasn't providing the relief as in the beginning. Then to 300 mg a day after 2 years, and I decided I wasn't benefitting from it. Took myself off by slowly reducing dosage over two months. What a NIGHTMARE, chills, twitches, CRAVING for it. For 4 MONTHS, I was getting what I describe as electrical BRAIN ZAPS as I turned my head to look at something. When my head turned, my brain would do a slideshow with electrical zaps trying to catch up. It was a MONSTEROUS FEELING of no longer being in control. 4 months of agony, and all I had to do to stop it was to just take a pill, but no way on earth was I going to throw away more 4 months. It is addictive! I know from my experience."

• dal...
• March 5, 2019

"I have had extreme shoulder joint pain. Tramadol relieves pain for 24 hours a day. Take only two 50 mg tablets. No side effects at all. Have had two shoulder operations and was about to have shoulder replacement surgery. Now hopeful that will not be an option."

• gru...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 15, 2019

"I have severe pain issues with RA, OA, and spinal canal narrowing from the base of my skull to my lumbar region. I've been taking this for 6 years. I am awakened every single night from pain, and I must get up and go take my next dose, wait for the pain to dull enough that I can lay back down. It's exhausting. I was given Percocet for kidney stones and actually felt normal for the week I had them, then it was back to the tramadol, 2 tabs, 4 times a day routine with constant exhaustion and pain spikes. Dr. won't switch me to something better, the whole addictive speech. Problem is, my condition will never get better, but only worse."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2017

"I was prescribed tramadol in the early treatment of my autoimmune disease when my pain was so intense I was bedridden. It was a complete joke. It did nothing! Taking 4 Advil gave me more relief than tramadol (took my pain down from a 10+ to an 8). Luckily, I was switched to a Schedule II med and now I am a fully functioning person. I think the drug company needs to do additional human research on this drug and not on mice/animals. In reading the reviews, I see that it does work for some people, but for others, it's basically a tic tac with the side effects of addiction."

• wom...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 24, 2025

"It works great for me. At least it helps me walk and function without too much pain. I have osteoporosis and broke vertebrae and lower bones in my spine. Ended up having kyphoplasty on my spine. I still have pain, and I use tramadol. It helps me tremendously. It beats sitting on the couch all day. I sleep on the couch at night because of the pain, it's easier for me to get up off the couch than trying to roll off my bed. At least I can do dishes and walk with a walker."

• Zan...
• December 13, 2019

"The doc said this was not addictive and that I could take up to 6 pills a day. I built up a tolerance and always ran out early. I also found out that I may have anxiety and depression because I felt like I was on cloud 9 on this stuff. But running out... running out is like plunging from heaven and falling to the depths of the ocean. Even reducing my dosage or waiting 2 hours from my regular schedule, I would start feeling the withdrawals... sweating, terrible diarrhea, body zaps, and restless legs. Constant wishing that I had just one more pill... sleepy during the day and cannot sleep at night. Feeling like I would do anything to relieve the pain. This stuff is more addictive than hydrocodone, but it is also an SNRI, so the taper has to be no more than 10% each week. Now I am currently taking hydrocodone again as well as Cymbalta... I wish I had never heard of tramadol... if you have an addictive personality and run out of your meds early, DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG."

• ugl...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 11, 2021

Tramadol "I take 300 mg tramadol ER daily, with low-dose Norco 500 mg/750 mg as needed, usually twice daily. I have fibromyalgia and other undiagnosed conditions, extreme pain untreated, but I can live with these drugs, otherwise, it's torture. I am so drugged out like a zombie, but anything to ease the pain. Life is short, enjoy what you can now."

• pep...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 21, 2018

"I've been taking tramadol 50 mg since I had a back operation for when I get pain. I don't always have the pain, but when the pain is severe, I take 3 or 4 pills a day, and I get 4 refills every 6 months with an appointment with the doctor. I've been on them for almost 7 years now, and I get no side effects. It works perfectly for me. I gave it 10/10."

• Dre...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 31, 2016

"I started taking tramadol for spinal stenosis and peripheral neuropathy about 11 years ago along with Lyrica. It seemed to help the pain for several years, but I started noticing the sweating if I was late on a dose. After several years, I wondered if it was the pain I felt or withdrawal symptoms. This last weekend, we left town and I forgot my pills. I am cold turkey now only because I want off. It is not pleasant, but doable, I hope. I was prescribed 400 mg/day, but usually only took 300 unless the pain got real bad. And yes, it did help my pain. I was told I would be on both meds for life. I want off the tramadol, but I can't get off the Lyrica. I tried."

• sta...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 15, 2016

"I take tramadol for RA. Early on, I would take too many in an 8-hour shift as a CNA and find no relief. After a reevaluation of meds, my pain is moderate to severe, depending on what I've done that day. Otherwise, I'm finding my use of tramadol is to keep withdrawals at bay. They are harsh. More noticeable when I'm trying to sleep. I get extremely tired, there is no fighting the urge-except when you try to sleep. Uncontrollable yawning, my whole body becomes hot, sleep is not an option. Uncontrollable jerking of my arms and legs. Pains in my head, unbelievable gas. Did I mention how hot I get, like I'm in an oven? Sensitivity to cool air, like your nerves are exposed, but you're hot at the same time. Down to 2 to 4 a day, though."

• ann...
• March 9, 2013

"It works for migraine headaches, back pain, and osteoarthritis pain. Using Ultram 50 mg to 300 mg daily. When I had surgery, I took Ultram 100 mg four times a day, and my pain was controlled. Great medication."

• Tel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2013

"I'm lucky. I got Tramadol 150 mg (super strong) after breaking my tibia. With an external fixator, some nights are trouble-free, others I don't sleep at all for the chronic pain. The only effective pain relief 'til now has been the Tramadol. I only use it when nothing else works, and nothing else works quite like Tramadol. Luckily, I don't suffer from too many side effects (except drowsiness), but 150 mg is a strong dose, knocks me right out. Some people also need antiemetics to tolerate it as they commonly cause nausea. As far as I know, Tramadol is one level down from morphine in the treatment of chronic pain."

• Liz...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 17, 2017

"I was initially prescribed tramadol for chronic pain from rheumatoid arthritis about 8 years ago, specifically because the doc said it was non-narcotic. It worked for me and all was good until I forgot to call in a refill one day, and I had withdrawal symptoms worse than I have ever experienced from any stronger narcotic. I have been on the drug for the past 8 years, and now that they've realized it's incredibly addictive and often abused, they've made it a schedule 4. Now it's difficult for me to get my prescription if my doctor is out of town, or if I take one or two more than I'm supposed to due to increased pain, and I run out a day or two early. I'm a former opiate abuser and so angry that I was misled and am on this roller coaster again."

• art...
• January 14, 2016

"While this drug may work for pain (worked great for that), coming off it was a diff. story. I was on it for 6 months, and it worked alright beside some depression issues. Tried talking to my doctor and basically got told all people who come to his office are addicts, and he swears there are no side effects. When I stopped taking it, ohh boy. My girlfriend noticed I was short-tempered, depressed (severely), and just all around unpleasant. I was crazy, almost checked myself on a 48-hour hold. Now a week out, and I feel a lot better. No tramadol and no craziness."