Anyone ever use Ultram for chronic pain?

So the epidural injection I got in March 2005 in my neck for my bulged cervical discs is unfortunately wearing off and things are starting to hurt and go numb again.

I'm most likely going to get another injection in the coming weeks so that I can ski, but needed something to control the spasming and pain that starts up in my upper/mid back (I was on Flexeril for that). The doc wanted to try something new to control the pain itself and wrote a script for Ultram (tramadol, 50 mg). I took it the first evening a couple hours before bedtime, got tired and a bit dizzy, and went to bed. Woke up the next morning nauseous as hell and with an insanely intense headache, and proceeded to get back in bed, then to the bathroom, shat, and vomitted a bunch. Joy. Slept till 1 pm and then felt better.

The doc said that nausea, headache, and vomiting are quite common side effects that usually dissipate after the first few doses. I'm hesitant to try it again. Anyone have similar experiences or any experience with taking Ultram for pain?

My dog has been on that before. But since she isn't talking much these days I can't ask her how it was for her. But the tired and dizzy parts fit pretty good as well as the pooping.

My doc switched me from Percocet to Ultram, and I wanted to die. I took it for a couple weeks or so, and the nausea never got better. Hopefully it will be different for you. Otherwise, see if you can try a different painkiller.

This is a very timely post as I took my first dose of Ultram (same dosage) this am, about 5 hours ago. Just took one pill.


I feel fine, no more tired than normal, no stomach problems/pooping/vomiting and am actually quite hungary now at 1:15 PM.

No dizzyness like I get with Loritab, which I kind miss. I like the euphoric feeling.

Taking 2 pills when I am home after work for my ankle. See what happens then.

It seems to be helping the pain though very well. As in no pain right now, a first in 10 days.

buzz sorry to hear about that ankle. I partially tore my peroneal tendon and the collateral lig on an inversion sprain playing soccer over the summer and the thing is still bothering me when I push off. Take it easy on that thing.

Thanks for the timely update on the ultram! Let me know how your next couple days go!

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Originally Posted by peterslovo

buzz sorry to hear about that ankle. I partially tore my peroneal tendon and the collateral lig on an inversion sprain playing soccer over the summer and the thing is still bothering me when I push off. Take it easy on that thing.

Thanks for the timely update on the ultram! Let me know how your next couple days go!

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Ah, shit happens, not a whole lot of snow anyway. I got 4-6 weeks to wait for the pow now. It could be worse.


I normally am not on the net over weekends, but I will post if I have any problems with the Ultram. If you see nothing from me, means I am still fine. But I may post from my phone or something.


I have a high tolerance for pain meds apparently. I am now getting pains in my stomach, but they are hunger pains. What to eat??? Should I get Taco Bell and see what happens? :eek: ;)

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Originally Posted by Buzzworthy

What to eat??? Should I get Taco Bell and see what happens? :eek: ;)

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Dude, do NOT make a run for the border!

Never take pain pills before you go to bed, 90% of the time you will wake up with a headache from hell. Its like taking a couple shot of whiskey and going to bed, your gonna feel it when you wake up, if your not use to it. Give it time to wear off a bit before going to bed.

I have taken many things for my back in the past, i had a disc L4-L5 that was bulged out and pressing against my sciatic nerve in my R leg, and had to have surgery and a couple years rehab. I am as good as new now. I had to many different meds for my back, each doctor/surgeon/pain management doctor/physical therapist wanted me on something else, so i was getting tons of different scrips. To be honest the thing that made my back feel the best was ibuprofen. 800 milligram tablets twice a day, kept the inflammation down, and had no side effects.

One other thing, refuse to take any meds that stop the signal that the nerves sends to the brain telling it your in pain, I.E. Nortriptalin, Neuron-tin It really messes with your nerves and makes for some very bad long term side effects.

To much cortisone will deteriorate your discs, so be careful on the amount of injections you get.

The best thing you can do is lift weights to strengthen the muscles around the area.

Hope your back/neck gets better.

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Originally Posted by skilife

Never take pain pills before you go to bed, 90% of the time you will wake up with a headache from hell. Give it time to wear off a bit before going to bed.

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Specifically asked the doc for something for pain to sleep through the night. Got Ultram. Works well.

Even Loritab or Percocet does not give me a drugged hangover.

Doc said to time doses for one right before bed. Had great sleep last night all the way through.

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Originally Posted by Buzzworthy

Specifically asked the doc for something for pain to sleep through the night. Got Ultram. Works well.

Even Loritab or Percocet does not give me a drugged hangover.

Doc said to time doses for one right before bed. Had great sleep last night all the way through.

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Thats because you must be use to taking it, i was refering to someone that was just starting to get use to the medication.

If its been in your system for awhile youll have no to minimal effects from taking before sleep, but when your systems not use to it, most people, most of the time, get hung over.

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Originally Posted by skilife

Thats because you must be use to taking it, i was refering to someone that was just starting to get use to the medication.

If its been in your system for awhile youll have no to minimal effects from taking before sleep, but when your systems not use to it, most people, most of the time, get hung over.

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Negative ghostrider. Totally new to this med as of the 5th of Jan 2007.

It works really well for me and taking it right before bed is great.


Now, where are you getting your stats? Most people most of the time get hungover? Are you a pharm, doc, in the med field? How many times have you hurt yourself and what pain meds have you tried and researched? Unfortunately I am getting to be a pro at this.:nonono2:

I have another med I take daily (for over a decade) that I have to watch for any interactions that can be harmful. So I research all pain med and when the doc gave me a script of Ultram, he got about 18 questions from me right away. Then I came home to reseach it on the net as I did not want to take anything that will be detrimental.


That said, I am digging Ultram.

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Originally Posted by Buzzworthy

Now, where are you getting your stats?

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Personal experience, expericnces of friends, and reserch on http://www.injurytalk.com/ and other sites. This site is good it has different forums for tons of differnt drugs, with many users posting experiences.

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Originally Posted by Buzzworthy

Most people most of the time get hungover?

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Yep

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Originally Posted by Buzzworthy

Are you a pharm, doc, in the med field?

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Nope

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Originally Posted by Buzzworthy

How many times have you hurt yourself and what pain meds have you tried and researched?

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Too many to list, i was hurt for over 5 years, and had a lamanektamy on my l4-l5.

Ultram is bad on your glands and also causes long term anxiety/depression, but there is no drug without side effects, so its all up to each individuals bodies, as far at what medicine is best.

Well I did take 1/2 an Ultram yesterday at around 3:30 pm so that I could enjoy the Eagles game (GO EAGLES) without pain as the back acted up a lot after cleaning the basement. Back pain definitely went away, and the nausea level was quite low. I could not, however, sleep well at all last night and was very restless in what sleep I did get. Don't know if that had anything to do with the med or not. May keep the Ultram around to use on the days when the neck/back pain is really bad, otherwise, I do not plan on taking it on a daily basis and just sticking with vitamin i.

Ultram ER is one of the drugs she pushes. This is what she said:

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Originally Posted by Drugpusher Girlfriend

The symptoms make sense...you can have insomnia and nausea...about 15-20% of people have insomnia and 25% have nausea...symptoms though are usually transient and a lot of times will go away as the body adjusts to the medication. Also, depending on the dose, you can lower your daily amount and see if that alleviates the side effects while still controlling the pain. Max dose per day is 400mg on short acting tramadol. There is also a long acting version, Ultram ER (extended release), which has a 300mg/day max dose. Most people on long acting though take either 100 or 200mg.

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She had some questions about dosage & other crap. If you have specific questions I'll forward to her.

Thanks for that info...pm sent.