Tramadol and Nausea: What Users Say

• gen...
• July 8, 2009

Tramadol for Pain "I am 29 years old. I have fibromyalgia and hypermobility disorder. Without this drug, I would be worthless. I used to be a grumpy person that could not accomplish anything without major difficulty. I have taken Ultram ER 300 for the last 3 years. I have never been without this medicine for more than 12 hours. I am now 3 days off this medicine because I ran out by accident. This has been the most miserable experience of my life. I am on the verge of getting written up at work. I cannot focus. I feel horrible. I can't go to sleep at night, and I can't wake up in the morning. This is truly miserable. I feel as if I am being hit by a truck several times a day."

• BBa...
• February 18, 2020

For Back Pain "I was prescribed tramadol for back pain due to a motorcycle accident. I was in agonizing pain, and I had tried all sorts of physiotherapy, and nothing was working, so my doctor gave me tramadol. It made a massive difference in my life, I was able to function again. I took 6 x 50 mg a day, so I took 100 mg morning, afternoon, and before bed. Tramadol helped me from going insane and allowed me to function and get on with my life. After 3 years, I decided to stop the tramadol as my back pain had gotten so much better. WARNING: it was the worst 3 weeks of my life. Withdrawal symptoms were horrendous: shakes, cravings, stomach cramps, nausea, body aching all over, constant sneezing, insomnia, and I have been left with restless legs. Some people say withdrawal from this drug is manageable, NOT FOR ME. I would never take tramadol again for this reason."

• Okl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2016

For Depression "Tramadol for me is a miracle drug. I suffered from depression and anxiety brought on by a catastrophic life event. A year after the event, I was not recovering emotionally. It's like the feelings took on a life of their own, and I wasn't shaking it (PTSD?). I took tramadol one day for a headache and noticed it lifted my mood. I tried it again another day and got the same results. It lifts my mood, shakes off the depression and hopelessness, and gives me a feeling of optimism. This is on 100mg first thing in the morning, that's all I need. Nausea at first if not taken with food, but now I prefer it on an empty stomach. I was on it for 2 solid months. Now, just as needed, not every day. No withdrawals. Not prescribed for depression."

• LTu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2020

For Chronic Pain "I’ve been using tramadol 50 mg for around 5 months for chronic low back pain and peripheral neuropathy in hands and feet. I have tried Palexia and oxycodone in the past, but they offer me minimal pain relief with lots of side effects. Tramadol is the only thing I’ve found to keep my pain levels down. I take both SR and IR forms. The only side effect is that they keep me awake at night, so I don’t take them near bedtime. I don’t experience any nausea, dizziness, etc., like with other pain meds. I can stop these and don’t experience any withdrawal. To work, these are dependent on you having specific liver function to process the breakdown of active ingredients. I’m lucky that these work well for me, but if you don’t have the right liver enzymes, then these may not work at all for you or cause nasty side effects, as some have noted. You won’t know though unless you try."

• Mis...
• November 9, 2012

For Fibromyalgia "Before taking Tramadol I was living off of ridiculous amounts of Vicodin and Aleve. I was still in considerable pain and I knew I was becoming addicted to the hydrocodone. I took Tramadol not expecting anything, and I was blown away. I can do my job again (waiting tables) without needing to collapse in pain by the end of the day, and my boyfriend no longer has to sleep on the couch because it hurts my back to be in the same bed! It does cause me some nausea, but that has gotten better as I take it regularly. The pain does come back if I miss a dose, but I now only need 1-2 pills to live a normal life, not 10 or more a day. The only downside to this medicine is it causes me awful constipation."

• Man...
• June 14, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "I was recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I take 50 mg of Tramadol when I'm having a 'bad pain day,' which is about 3 times per week. Tramadol seems to take the edge off the pain as well as increase my energy level and put me in a better mood. Downsides: it usually causes a mild upset stomach (for the first 30-60 minutes), it takes about an hour to kick in, and rarely it makes me a little nauseous. Overall, I'm pleased with this drug. My provider had told me that Hydrocodone/Oxycodone medications will worsen my Fibromyalgia syndrome in the long run, but that taking Tramadol as needed is a good method of treatment."

• Car...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 11, 2022

For Depression "Without tramadol, my treatment-resistant depression would keep me from getting out of bed each day. I'm able to just function - get up, feed, clothe myself, and take care of other normal responsibilities. Besides, when I am not on it, my thoughts are abjectly self-destructive and even suicidal. I have never taken this drug recreationally, never! I need it because all other medications made me feel worse or made me feel like a zombie, spaced out. Nothing else came close to helping me. For the help that it provides, I'd say that it'd be downright cruel to keep this and other drugs (mushrooms) from people who need them for health, not abuse."

• GGa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 9, 2019

For Back Pain "Has transformed my life from constant pain and lack of sleep to normal! Been on Tramadol over 10 years now. The only downside is that if I forget to take it, I get withdrawn - very depressed, feel quite ill (nauseous, clammy). But since my back pain is incurable, this isn't an issue. I dread to think how I would live a normal life without the pain relief tramadol gives me."

• San...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 28, 2018

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I was diagnosed 5 years ago with RLS but suffered long before diagnosis. I just did not know what RLS was at the time. I had surgery on my wrist and was prescribed Percocet for my pain. I hated feeling out of touch with reality, and it made me nauseous. I went back to the surgeon and asked if he could prescribe me something lighter. He then prescribed me tramadol 50 mg. Not only did it relieve my post-op pain, but it calmed my legs enough to fall asleep quickly. I was amazed at this discovery, but my doctor refuses to prescribe it for RLS. So sad that junkies had to ruin it for the rest of us since now it’s a scheduled drug."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2016

For Anxiety "Doctor prescribed as an alternative to narcotics for pain from herniated disk in neck. Doesn't eliminate pain, but makes it tolerable. Best thing is I am not in some narcotic fog and life can continue. I was also taking Lexapro for some general anxiety. Lexapro and Tramadol are not recommended together, so with Dr. we decided to eliminate Lexapro. I was never a fan due to weight gain and if I missed a dose at night, I would have uncomfortable sweating and head zingers. It wasn't fun for the first week without Lexapro due to withdrawal! Didn't expect the nausea, sweats, feeling of extreme heat, head fog...feeling much more balanced and steady, and reduced pain with just Tramadol!"

• Lon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2013

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I've been on everything to control my restless legs syndrome-most recently switched from 2 mg of ropinirole (Requip) to 50 mg tramadol. So far, so good-the Requip had worked well for the restless legs syndrome, but left me feeling nauseous and just kind of icky all the time, and I never felt clear-headed the next day. So far, I've awakened feeling much more refreshed with the tramadol, but I don't believe the 50 mg dose will be adequate, as I've woken up each night around 3 a.m. with symptoms. For the past few nights, I've dosed at 100 mg and have slept great. Good stuff."

• jo ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 26, 2016

For Back Pain "I've been on Tramadol for 6 months for back pain. I can't take narcotics like codeine, oxycodone, etc., as they make me terribly dizzy and nauseous, as well as give me pounding headaches. But I can take Tramadol without any of those effects. Tramadol also doesn't give me a 'high' like many painkillers, so I'm never tempted to take extra just to get a buzz. I've been afraid to go beyond the 150 mg/day prescribed by my doc, but there are days when 150 just doesn't feel like enough, so I need to talk to my doc about an increase at times. Overall, this med does a fair job at controlling chronic pain without causing side effects. It's worth trying to see if it will work for you."

• Mun...
• October 26, 2015

For Restless Legs Syndrome "I have had RLS since I was a child, they didn't know what it was then and called it 'growing pains.' I would cry when it rained or was cold, my legs would hurt so bad. Then, 15 years ago, as an adult, I was given Ultram for a neck injury [three ruptured discs], and my RLS just vanished. I couldn't believe it! At first, I kept waiting for it to come back, but it didn't. Now I take tramadol 100 mg three times a day for nerve pain and RLS, and it completely controls the symptoms without obnoxious side effects [like nausea, vomiting, insomnia, and sinusitis from Requip, loss of coordination and falling from gabapentin, headaches, blurred vision, nausea, and flank pain from Lyrica-ugh, those drugs were awful!] I sleep well now and feel rested."

• jus...
• December 31, 2015

Tramadol for Chronic Pain "This medication is about as strong as aspirin or ibuprofen. If you take them longer than a few weeks, you will also end up with withdrawal worse than any other narcotic pain reliever. It can make you sick to your stomach, and if you're prescribed too much, it can cause severe seizures. If you've never been on any other opiate pain relievers, it may work for a bit, but I'd use extreme caution in doing so."

• Rai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2019

For Pain "My doctor prescribed Tramadol for my endometriosis pain. Typically, I use NSAIDs, but they've damaged the lining of my stomach, so while I'm waiting for that to heal, Tramadol is my painkiller. Overall, I have found it effective at decreasing pain levels, often to the point where I don't feel any pain at all. It's also fairly fast-acting, usually feel a difference between 30-60 minutes. However, I have also experienced blurred vision, brain fog, headache, severe sedation, slurred speech, nausea, and fainting while using this drug. (This last seems to settle if I eat something.) On the plus side, there's no itchiness, which I usually experience while taking a narcotic."

• lin...
• January 14, 2015

For Pain "I was diagnosed with tendonitis and arthritis in the neck and was prescribed tramadol. It has really worked for me. I mostly take it at night, 1 tablet, to get some relief and some sleep for a few hours without pain. I used to take Percocet when I had a herniated disc in my back, and although I got some relief, I was severely constipated, which I never am because I have colitis. After 2 bottles of stool softeners and a bottle of Metamucil, I was finally able to go. I got an intestinal infection because I couldn't go, and I swore I'd never take Percocet again. Tramadol is strong and can have side effects such as stomach cramps and nausea, but only if taken on an empty stomach. It has to be taken with food to avoid the side effects."

• Amp...
• August 16, 2015

For Pain "My experience with this drug is not a good one. I was taking tramadol for years, and every few months, I had to up the dose. When I would run out because my body became used to the drug, I would take more and more to help with my joint pain. I would take 4 50 MG at a time, 3 times a day. Which is not okay and experienced horrible side effects. I now have seizures at night and have been off the medicine for a while. The shakiness and nausea from not having the medication is sometimes unbearable. I also have tremors and moodiness, as well as a zapping feeling in my brain. I would call this drug the devil. When you come off of it, your pain is ten times worse than it was before. It's like it mimics the pain. It is very addictive and would not recommend it."

• Aar...
• September 10, 2015

Tramadol for Chronic Pain "It's a great alternative for people with stomach issues, as it causes no GI upset. You do have to eat, it can make you nauseous if you don't, but I can't tolerate antidepressants or strong opiates, so this does the trick for moderate chronic pain. Not a good choice for severe pain or post-surgery."

• Ksa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2017

Tramadol for Pain "Took severe pain away. Hand and neck arthritis. Take with 2 Tylenol or ibuprofen every other dose for best relief. Brand name Ultram 50 mg every 5-6 hours if needed. For me, took most pain away! Better than Vicodin and not sure why, but so happy I have it. Cons: occasional nausea and big-time constipation-take with laxative or Colace. I started the pill slowly-two 25 mg per day over a period of a week and worked up to 50 3 times per day over 3 weeks."

• Nan...
• August 17, 2015

For Chronic Pain "I have used tramadol for over a year now and can honestly say it has helped me get my life back. I suffer from chronic back pain, which restricted me every day. Even just to walk around the shops in pain. I was warned about the side effects and stayed in bed ready for them. Yes, I talked rubbish. Had sweats. Knocked me out and made me feel nauseous, but I stuck with it, and after 3 days, I began to feel better and could feel relief in my back. I am so grateful I actually have found a good doctor who prescribed me tramadol SR 150 mg twice a day. For me, it had worked, and I even went back to full-time work. Very happy. I do stick to the same brand. I did get a different brand from another chemist, and they did nothing, I was in pain all day."

• Maj...
• July 9, 2015

Tramadol for Pain "I just started this med yesterday for osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. After reading the other comments, my experience is pretty normal. I'm itching like crazy, had a bad night-no rest, nausea, and mild headache. With all those side effects, it appears to have knocked off the edge of the pain. I will continue using it for a few days if I can handle the itching. I want to give it some time because I cannot use narcotics. I end up in the hospital with dehydration from vomiting when I use any narcotics."

• All...
• November 17, 2015

For Pain "Worst prescription medication I have ever taken. First, it barely works. You would be better off taking over-the-counter medicine. But the worst part of this drug is the day after. It literally feels like a hangover every time! I get migraines, nausea, hot flashes, and sometimes I throw up. The whole day after is like this. It's not worth it."

• lab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2016

For Pain "Is it the most random drug in the universe or what? Until I was given a prescription that didn't play well with tramadol, I had a fairly high dose RX for a pain disorder, and my spouse had also been on it for an injury. We joked that tramadol seems to roll a six-sided die when you take it. 1-no effect at all. 2-no effect on pain, but nausea and feeling icky. 3-no effect on pain, but you're too stoned out to care. 4-too stoned out to do anything, but pain is gone. 5-no pain, but you feel awful. 6-no pain, and also not stoned. We both tried a pain tracker app to see if there was any rhyme or reason to the randomness. Nope. The food you eat, time you take it, etc., seems to have no effect...how it will affect you is random."

• Tif...
• February 13, 2017

For Pain "Been on Tramadol off and on for minor headaches and issues with iliotibial band syndrome and arthritis. Basically, since it is controlled, it is a lot harder to obtain from a doctor and is also considered the new 'painkiller' in ERs or doctor's offices unless you have a broken bone. In all honesty, it helps my leg and lets me focus at work. I've tried Norco and Vicodin ES, also Lyrica and gabapentin, but I'm not a fan. I dislike the nausea feeling and the grogginess. But at the same time, everyone is different, some people can stand this medication, and some people cannot. I would recommend it to those who have less major pain and don't need it all the time."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 31, 2012

Tramadol for Pain "Personally, the medicine worked well for chronic pleurisy pain (bad stabbing sensation in side with flu or pneumonia), but I had horrible side effects. Dazed constantly, hallucinations, cold sweats, nausea."