Tramadol and Constipation: What Users Say (Page 3)

• tke...
• January 5, 2009

For Pain "I use Tramadol for bad abdominal pains. It works well for pain, but recently I have had to stop taking them as I suffer from the following side effects: agitation, constipation, itching, mood changes, sweating, and vertigo."

• Swe...
• July 15, 2021

For Chronic Pain "I was prescribed tramadol for chronic pain. I have a large tarlov cyst with communicating spinal fluid in my lower spine. Tramadol has given me hope, and even when I don't take it, I know it is there, and that calms me. I've also noticed that it helps my constipation. I can go to the loo far more easily when I take it, even though it is supposed to cause constipation, it has the opposite effect on me. I feel calmer and clear in my head when I take it on time. Sometimes, if the pain overwhelms me and I can't walk or move very well, I know I should have taken tramadol earlier, then it's bed for hours or days. It's a fine line because the pain is too intense for tramadol to soften it. I don't want to lose its benefits, so I try to not take it sometimes. It is a balancing act. I am very grateful that my doctor prescribed tramadol for my pain, mainly because I can be less of a burden to my family, and sometimes I can do things that I had given up because of pain. Hope is wonderful."

• Anonymous
• January 4, 2011

For Pain "I have DDD and DJD in my hips. I don't tolerate many medications very well, but tramadol's side effects are more manageable for me. Codeine gives me an upset stomach and vomiting. The big issue I have with tramadol is severe constipation. I did have severe itchiness at first too, but that went away. It is the only pain reliever that actually works for my back pain, and it has also lifted my depression. Withdrawal after trying to wean myself off was diarrhea, irritability, and mood swings. Then my back pain returned, so I have decided to go back to taking 100 mg twice a day while I do PT. 9 out of 10 due to side effects."

• Anonymous
• February 12, 2010

For Pain "I have used tramadol for about 2 weeks for knee, lower back, leg, and foot pain. It has been of slight to moderate help, but nothing to brag about. The main side effects were constipation and dry mouth. I had nausea the first 2 times, but didn't take it with food. I have no nausea or lightheadedness when taken with food since then."

• Ran...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 8, 2018

For Chronic Pain "Caused constipation, bloating, gas, diarrhea buildup, pain in extremities, back pain, near migraines, severe headaches, twitching in hands like a palsy, shaking leg pains, et cetera, i.e., almost every side effect listed in 10% up categories."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2018

For Pain "Prescribed tramadol for pain in the sternum, ribs, and intense breast pain from the seatbelt during a minor car accident. Took spasmodically. I always suffer from chronic constipation, and this became much worse. I have an advanced lung condition (fibrosing alveolitis) with continuous difficulty breathing, and the doctor didn't say it can cause breathing problems. I just found out from your website."

• Bet...
• July 4, 2017

For Back Pain "100 mg twice a day. Horrible constipation, but pain in my back and idiopathic neuropathy was dulled. Stopped cold turkey after 6 months and finally no longer gastrically a mess! I would rather have the pain."

• Bra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 4, 2021

For Chronic Pain "30 years ago an accident smashed me up big time, 22 breaks in 1 leg, broken back, wrist, pelvis, etc. etc., never been a person to take meds I just accepted this was my life. Somehow I heard about tramadol and thought, why not? A 100 mg changed my life. It didn’t take all the pain, but it stopped me thinking about the pain 24/7. Side effects are constipation, small headache, and bad feet pain. I'll stay on it though, 3 x 100 mg every day, I feel I deserve a rest after 30 years of severe pain."

• Jan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 21, 2021

For Pain "Time released: I got a prescription for chronic pain and suddenly I felt so much better. It should be taken time released. Capsules: The advantage with capsules is that you can take different dosages. It will still be time released. There are small globules inside. No effect: It might be ineffective for about 30% of people. This could be due to a mutation of an enzyme: CYP2D6. Tapering off: It should be tapered off carefully in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms. 400mg: Taking more than 2 x 200mg in 24h (each lasting 12h) is very dangerous. Tolerance: Some experience tolerance. It helps to play with the dosage and to take breaks (slowly tapering off). Zinc: Taking it 24h for a longer while might reduce zinc levels. Possible side effects: constipation, less appetite, insomnia, reduces hormone levels (estrogen, testosterone...). Me on 2 x 200mg: irreversible hair loss."

• Con...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 15, 2025

For Pain "Taking tramadol is something I will never do again. I was prescribed tramadol as pain relief after an operation. The drug had no effect whatsoever on the pain, however, the side effects of the drug ended up being worse than the pain I was trying to relieve in the first place (I guess in some sense it relieved the pain by causing such extreme discomfort that I was no longer focusing on the pain). I started out with a painful hand and ended up spending 15 hours a day on the toilet, vomiting, being severely constipated, having horrible mood swings. I cannot stress enough how much I regret ever using this drug."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 2, 2021

For Pain "If you are getting stomach issues on tramadol, as a few of you seem to be, you need to ask your doctor for a proton pump inhibitor such as omeprazole. With regard to constipation, use an oral solution powder such as Laxido (sorry, don't know what this is called in the States) every day. It works a treat, as we say in the UK."

• joh...
• December 18, 2011

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I love this medicine. It makes my joint pain tolerable. Side effects are minor. Little sweating and minor constipation. Nothing else worked for me."

• sug...
• November 23, 2014

For Back Pain "I had severe constipation using tramadol once before, so I'm using a stool softener this time. It works great for pain and moods."

• Anonymous
• November 25, 2008

Tramadol for Pain "For a severely abscessed tooth, this painkiller worked great. The side effects were sweats, nagging headache, and constipation."

• Anonymous
• May 4, 2010

For Pain "Effective against pain, but such a wide variety of side effects (dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite, shakiness, difficulty swallowing, constipation, fatigue) in my 88-year-old mother."

• Abb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2018

For Pain "Hallucinations, weird dreams, answering someone who is not there, extreme bloating, constipation, and did not take away my pain."

• csh...
• August 22, 2009

For Pain "I like this medication, but get some constipation."

• Anonymous
• August 20, 2009

For Pain "Although it does relieve some of my pain, I get constipation. I take 100 mg every 4 to 6 hours. My pain is relieved for approximately 2 hours, then gradually comes back."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2017

For Pain "dry eyes, runny nose, cramps, both forearms into hands, neck cramps, right arm going numb on and off, constipation, 'loopy' thoughts, slow reaction"