Sorry about that everybody, didn't mean to cause any worries or
whatever.  I'm sure it is like all drugs, side effects hit different
people in different ways.  If you've been on a drug for some time,
you already know how it affects you.  But when you are starting out,
ya gotta watch.

The concern comes from the prescribing info:
"Geriatric Use
Nine-hundred-one elderly (65 years of age or older) subjects were
exposed to ULTRAM ER in clinical trials. Of those subjects, 156 were
75 years of age and older. In general, higher incidence rates of
adverse events were observed for patients older than 65 years of age
compared with patients 65 years and younger, particularly for the
following adverse events: constipation, fatigue, weakness, postural
hypotension and dyspepsia. For this reason, ULTRAM ER should be used
with great caution in patients older than 75 years of age."

My Mom was started at the lowest end, 100mg tabs.  And, while I'm
asking stupid questions, she said she has been splitting tabs which
the prescribing info also says is a NO-NO.  I'm sure that has to do
with the drug abuse angle, but....??