Tramadol for Fibromyalgia User Reviews (Page 5)

• Mrs...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2019

"I have been quite newly diagnosed (in my first year), and I have had quite a few medication changes just to get me relief. I had previously had Tramadol due to a shoulder injury I sustained 9 years ago, and it was used for 18 months until I found out I was having my oldest son, and then I came off it. It worked for the first fortnight this time around, I could rest if I needed and actually sleep without too much pain. I felt like after several relapses that I found the key to trying to maintain my usual lifestyle as much as I could-for the sake of my children needing a 'fun' mommy and for myself to just feel a bit better about the whole of my life flipping upside down. But now it won't even move a minor headache. I am getting no relief at all, the pain can vary from stabbing to burning to twinges, all minor and severe on the pain spectrum, and it does nothing. Hoping there's something out there to make me feel 'normal' again."

• Dan...
• January 8, 2011

"I was prescribed 50 mg tramadol 3 to 4 times per day for the pain associated with fibromyalgia. I was pleased with the relief I got. One year later, and I am now addicted to it. In my opinion, this medicine should be for short-term use only, not for chronic pain."

• too...
• November 4, 2009

"I started having symptoms of degenerative disc disease at age 19, and was told I would have to learn to live with the pain; since then, it has become worse and I now have other areas of my back affected, my hips, and knees, and an injury to my ankle that will not heal due to the fibromyalgia, and I keep re-injuring it (they will not operate). In addition, I have arthritis and bone spurs in various places. Tramadol is one of the first medications to help with my chronic back pain, but it gave me the most intense headaches."

• Jus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 20, 2018

"I started taking Tramadol for chronic pain due to many years of fibromyalgia. It helped somewhat with pain, the true problem was the depression that started almost immediately. I tolerated the depression for as long as I could. I was not on a high dose, only up to 3 daily, but even at 1, the depression was constant... waking me at night with despairing thoughts. When I chose to stop taking it, I was miserable. Worse than coming off of oxycodone in higher amounts and worse than benzos. Restless leg syndrome was constant for a week, and then the psychosis that almost sent me to the emergency room. Stay away from this drug. If you don’t have issues with depression, DO NOT take Tramadol. It will screw up your brain. It’s been two weeks, and I’m starting to feel happy again."

• Les...
• May 4, 2009

Tramadol "Ultram was helpful for my muscle pain associated with fibromyalgia. It did not make me feel 'dopey' or 'high' or more tired, etc. However, I would have to eat a substantial meal before taking it and then eat an apple or something after I took it, or I feel on the verge of vomiting. It made me so nauseated if my stomach was not completely full."

• Anonymous
• October 15, 2010

"I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 13 years ago. One of the first medications I was put on was Ultram. I am so happy that it has helped so many fibromyalgia patients, however, I found very little relief with it for my fibro symptoms. I wish it had helped me because I had to be put on a stronger pain medicine, and it's hard to get off of. I am concerned for those who said that they do notice headaches on this medicine. Seems to be quite a few."

• eva...
• May 22, 2010

"I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and spondylosis a month ago. My general doctor prescribed Vicodin ES and Soma. But I was still in so much pain, she sent me to a rheumatologist who, after 5 months of tests, diagnosed me. Yesterday I told the doc that 2 Vicodin a day was not enough because I always run out at the end of the month, but he said I was immune to Vicodin, so he prescribed me tramadol. Today was my 2nd dose of tramadol, and I experienced serious side effects. I had facial twitches, a swollen throat, a terribly upset stomach, and flu-like symptoms. And it does nothing for my pain. I was so hoping this would work because I had read so many good things about it."

• Cat...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 31, 2022

"I have been taking just 50 mg (rarely sometimes two times a day) for about 14 years by now. I really can't do without it. I sometimes don't take it when I'm doing better, and after 2-3 days, I start feeling bad. I really try not to take it, but it helps me. It seems to help the brain fog on a bad pain day. I have bipolar disorder, so antidepressants are not for me. I worry that my provider will retire or pass away and someone will not give this to me. I don't know what I would do. I am in a lot of pain without it. With it, my pain is mostly manageable, though I am still really exhausted a lot of the time unless hypomanic."

• Lau...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 7, 2022

"After back surgery healed, I was left with an overall feeling of fatigue and unexplained body aches that were debilitating. I woke up aching and stiff, and I couldn't function because of the fatigue. Taking 50 mg tramadol in the morning takes all the issues away, and I can function like a normal person. Sometimes the 'feelings' start creeping in during the evening if I have had a particularly stressful day, so I am prescribed to take another, and I do. I find if I take one before bed, I wake up feeling great. My primary care doctor does not approve of it, but I don't care. I tried over-the-counter. They don't work. Tramadol works and gives me quality of life. The fact that I have to be on a DEA watch list and can only get this drug from a pain management doctor ticks me off. I look at it as Aleve on steroids. I wonder what's better: taking 4 or 5 over-the-counter or one tramadol. I have no side effects. I just feel good."

• Anonymous
• August 6, 2009

"I have fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and have had two back surgeries, the second one 22 years ago. Tramadol did not reduce my neck, shoulder, or lower back pain noticeably. I hadn't recognized that my increased symptoms of nausea, headaches, lethargy, irritable bowels, or poor sleep might be related to the drug. I took myself off tramadol (no warnings from my doctor about side effects taking Ultram or going off Ultram) and felt worse. More nausea, pain, irritable bowels, headaches turning into migraines. Desperate, I changed my diet. Low carbs, lots of green veggies, high protein, healthy fats, small amounts of whole grain rice. Pain is still there, but I feel more in control. I still take Voltaren and Flexeril."

• Ded...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 24, 2021

"Been reading the comments. I can relate to mostly all of them. I have fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis. Neuropathy, it's at the point nothing anyone can do. I have tried many drugs which did nothing but set me in deep depression, so I finally got off of them. My doctor asked me to try tramadol and it has saved my life. I can get up and be productive and calmer. It has been 8 years. I hope that I can stay on them, but I'm up to a dose of 300 mg a day. I am just thankful that my pain manager doctor believes in it and not strong opiates for me. I do yoga, walking. I'm 69, not ready to sit and cry, I love these pills."

• Anonymous
• July 8, 2016

"This is miserable! Tramadol hasn't touched the pain or discomfort. I have many painkillers but not sure which to take now that I've taken 1 tramadol at 5 pm and another at 9 pm with no relief at all! HELP!"

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 28, 2022

"I have used tramadol for fibromyalgia for about six months now. It is genuinely effective with no side effects for me at a dosage of 100 mg instant release every 12 hours. However, I find that I often fall asleep before my second dose due to fatigue, and without fail, if I miss my 8 PM dose, I wake up at 1:30 AM in mild to moderate withdrawals, with cold sweats, stomach pain, diarrhea, and a general sense of discomfort. It's worth this risk to have my pain controlled well, as this is definitely my strongest pain medication, but it does suck every time it happens! If you are using this drug for chronic pain and you have an issue like me where you may accidentally go 16 hours between doses, set an alarm at the correct time and save yourself a lot of discomfort. I take it at this dosage and frequency so that each dose lasts at least 8 hours, with the aftereffects lasting the next four. Having my pain well managed for eight hours means the next four won't be nearly as painful."

• Tri...
• January 6, 2018

"I started with 50 mg 4x/day. Ended up taking more than that. I bought it online for 14 years until they scheduled it. The most terrible withdrawal in the world. I heard it's worse than heroin. Be careful. It's better for mood than pain. I can't imagine it for post-surgery. Not a great painkiller. Methadone for withdrawals, that's a whole new monster..."

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 23, 2024

"I am still getting used to the loss of appetite, but as far as pain goes, it is effective for my fibromyalgia. I have tried every medication but always had terrible side effects. I am taking it 30 minutes before activity. It does help to ease pain enough to manage through with fewer complaints about pain, which allowed me to enjoy activity better, thus creating a better quality of life."

• Mol...
• October 2, 2009

"Let me break it down really simply: Tramadol is an excellent pain reliever but is addictive! DO NOT take this medication during pregnancy. Wean off of it before you give birth and let your baby withdraw in utero. My son was in withdrawal for 10 weeks, and I never told the doctor I took the drug, so no one knew what was wrong with him. He didn't sleep, trembled, and cried for 8-10 weeks straight. He has no developmental delay or physical impairments, but the first 2 1/2 months of his life were brutal. Wean off, please!"

• Fib...
• April 30, 2018

"As far as I'm concerned, Tramadol should be put on the market as yet another OTC medication. It is only helpful to get another ulcer. I have never received any helpful pain relief from it. 25 years ago or since, my doctor will no longer prescribe me any opioid medications, he's put me back on useless Tramadol/Ultram. So much for compassion."

• Kha...
• May 6, 2009

"This drug did absolutely nothing for the level of pain I've been experiencing. The doctor's 'group' would not allow him to prescribe anything stronger or more effective. This, unfortunately, is not the magic bullet for chronic pain."

• AFa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 28, 2021

"I have many combinations of treatment. This was the one that actually worked at all. Every treatment was a very strict regimen, and with this one, if I was having a good day, I didn't need to take it unless I needed to."

• so ...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 13, 2025

"Tramadol is a lifesaver for my fibromyalgia pain. I take 1 50 mg pill, and the effects often last 48 hours. So, I take it every other day or every third day. Extremely helpful in reducing pain, extremely helpful in giving me my energy back. Lifts my mood entirely because it’s such a relief not to be exhausted and in pain all the time. The only downside for me is that it does dehydrate me quite a bit, so if I don’t drink a ton of water, I will get a headache by the next morning. But that headache is worth the pain relief in the body."

• aus...
• December 30, 2016

"I would not recommend it for a sick animal, much less a human being. After a back and neck surgery, I was given tramadol for the pain by the specialist, but within 5 days, I had a massive decrease in movement, muscle mass, and strength in my left arm and shoulder, e.g., my biceps went from 17 in to just under 7 in. I lost nearly all movement in that arm. Instead of a decrease in pain, I now suffer chronic muscle and nerve pain. I immediately notified the specialist (quack), and his reply was, oh, there's nothing to worry about. Even my GP said he couldn't help (needless to say, I've changed specialists and GP). Slowly, over the last 4 years, and with the help of my new GP, through exercising, my left arm is almost back to normal and I've learned to cope with the pain."

• Mic...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 8, 2023

"I was taking tramadol and prolonged-release tramadol for many years for fibromyalgia, but very recently I stood back, reviewed my medical history, and realized it was causing my fibromyalgia to be much, much worse by creating dehydration, confusion, and inflammation. I was going to have surgery to release trapped nerves, but giving these up, I have been able to exercise with not much fallout. I no longer need surgery as the inflammation disappeared, and I was then able to pull out those trapped nerves naturally. While taking them, I could no longer hear certain sounds from inflammation in my ears, and certain sounds triggered pain, that no longer happens. I cannot explain my experience. I was disabled for roughly 15 years, I now can run 2 months after taking this step. The pain clinic advised this last year, and I took the steps this year."

• Zip...
• August 18, 2015

"My doctor put me on this for a nerve condition, which typically leaves me in dull pain, with occasional fierce spikes in pain. He noted that it is a 'very powerful painkiller,' so be careful. I took one, waited an hour or so, nothing. Took the second one, and again now, almost 3 hours later, I feel 100% the same, the pain has not been reduced at all. I took 1 200 mg Advil and felt a minor amount of relief, so this is about the power of maybe a baby aspirin. Hardly a 'powerful painkiller.' I thought maybe it was just me, but after some research, I see I am not alone. I think this medicine is nothing short of pharmaceutical-grade snake oil. I will be going back to my doctor to rid this hoax in a bottle."

• SoS...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 29, 2022

"Worst drug I'd ever been on! My pain doctor forced me to take it or he wouldn't help me at all. The hardest drug to get off of for me, and if I ever missed one dose, I'd have extreme withdrawals. Ever since I took it for four years, I can't absorb any pain meds even after knee replacement surgery. I tossed it in the trash and went to edibles. Best thing I ever did after 20 years of narcotics. Never had this kind of trouble with any other pain pill. A year off, and my body is still not right after this synthetic drug. DON'T DO IT! It's all a scam of big pharma."

• Bet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2019

"Severe whole body pain coupled with osteoarthritis. Cannot take NSAIDs! Percocet stopped working. Won’t use Schedule IV drugs due to no driving, no gun permit, and terrible stigma. Tramadol never even worked for my dog!"