I've been on it for about 8 years.  It dulls my fibro, OA and RA pain so I
can live with it plus helps with the post polio syndrome nerve pains.  The
down side is that it will mask the pain of an abscessed tooth or of a kidney
infection and they often get away from me because of it.  I get better pain
control with stronger pain meds, but I'm saving those for some future time
when I really need it.  (I can't take NSAIDS or DMARDS due to kidney damage
from Celebrex and Tylenol.)  I am prescribed (right from the start) 6-8  50
mg. tablets per day, but never take more than 4-6.  If I take the afternoon
dose after 4 p.m. it gives me insomnia.  I'm grateful that it still works
for me.

Leslie

It was good with the pain, but I couldn't handle the severe nausea it
caused for me :(

Ari

I started with Ultracet originally, which is tylenol & tramadol combined in
one pill.  I took two pills several times/day, but i forget what the dosage
was!  Now I was primarily taking it for fibro pain, but it certainly helps
with the joints as well.

Then I talked the doc (this was my bozo RD down in Bay City) into writing for
tamadol as it was generic, therefore more affordable in our lousy insurance
days.  He was weird about me asking for that, as they *would* give me samples
of the other, but only a week's worth at a time.  Well, as I say, he was a
bozo.  But tylenol with tramadol supposedly works better than either alone,
i.e. they complement each other well.  So what I ended up on was 50 of
tramadol & 500 of tylenol 3-4 times/day.  I found that allowd me to be more
active, but if I took more than that, I tended to overdo things and really
paid afterwards.

Last fall, after the biopsy-from-hell, once i was down to this combo rather
than the stronger stuff I was on for a while (i forget which it was that time
- vicodin or tylox), my PCP told me I could take two tramadol, or 100 mg,
together if I needed it.  As a rule I avoid that with for my arthritis &
fibro pain, because of the overdoing it issue, but knowing that has freed me
to take more on the nights that pain interferes with my sleep.

YMMV, but I find that lower combination is safer for me not only in how well
I function on stronger meds, but also for the overdoing issue.  When i've had
stronger stuff around to take during bad times, I find i still will work to
the limits of reasonable pain.  Then the med wears off and it takes me 2 days
to recover!  Tramadol & tylenol usual;ly dull the pain enough to gt through
and i figure if that doesn't do it, I shouldn't be doing anything anyway!  
I'll only take more when I need it to get through the mildest of activities.

Start slow that is my advice.  For most people it is fine - my father in law
got right out of it - really confused.  I am allergic and although I tried
it for the doctor eventually I broke into hives and got really out of it.
But that is par for the course with me with painkillers.

Kelly

I'd be happy to share my own experience.  I believe there are just 2 different
dosage numbers:  50 mg. & 100 Mg.  I have thus far been prescribed the 50
mg. but am allowed by my doctor to take 2 at a time when needed.  My
doctor prescribed it as "take for pain as needed ev. 6 hours".  It's an
important medicine to me, and here's why:  Oftentimes "combinations" of 2 or
3 meds together have more effect than just one by itself.  So, my daily
regime is 2 ES or Migraine Excedrin, 2 Tramadol (Ultram), and 1 Doxepin
(either 50 or 75 mg.)  Doxepin is a tricyclic antidepressant.  Within a short
time, the pain in the muscles and my neck/headache diminish.  Then, early
evening, I take 1 more tramadol, 1 Excedrin (ES), and 1 Excedrin PM, and one
Soma (muscle relaxer).  So far, my body has tolerated all of the above and in
the combinations stated.  Nanny

On 7/17/2008 1:27 AM, DKGBeeker@webtv.net wrote to All:

->
->
->
-> I know some of you are on this and we have talked about this, but of
-> course, I wasn't on it, so guess I didn't pay as much attention to the
-> previous discussions.
->
-> What is the usual starting dose for this and how high of a dose can you
-> go up to?
->
-> Does it do a decent job for most of you who use this?
->
-> Any pros or cons you'd like to share?
->
->
-> thanks,
->
-> ..
-> ..
-> ..
-> ..
->
-> Donna
-> ..
-> ..
-> ..
-> ..
-> 1.)   ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we
-> call them FRIENDS......
->
->
-> 2.)    J.K.M.A.
->

Here's another example, as I stated in my reply to the original poster, where
2 meds in combination work better than each alone.  In this case, loujean
takes Tylenol with Tramadol, while I take Excedrin with Tramadol, primarily for
the caffeine in Excedrin to handle my daily muscle tension headaches.  Nanny

On 7/17/2008 7:28 AM, hanbellGOGATORS@earthlink.net wrote to All:

-> I started with Ultracet originally, which is tylenol & tramadol combined in
-> one pill.  I took two pills several times/day, but i forget what the dosage
-> was!  Now I was primarily taking it for fibro pain, but it certainly helps
-> with the joints as well.
->
-> Then I talked the doc (this was my bozo RD down in Bay City) into writing
for
-> tamadol as it was generic, therefore more affordable in our lousy insurance
-> days.  He was weird about me asking for that, as they *would* give me
samples
-> of the other, but only a week's worth at a time.  Well, as I say, he was a
-> bozo.  But tylenol with tramadol supposedly works better than either
alone,
-> i.e. they complement each other well.  So what I ended up on was 50 of
-> tramadol & 500 of tylenol 3-4 times/day.  I found that allowd me to be
more
-> active, but if I took more than that, I tended to overdo things and really
-> paid afterwards.
->
-> Last fall, after the biopsy-from-hell, once i was down to this combo rather
-> than the stronger stuff I was on for a while (i forget which it was that
time
-> - vicodin or tylox), my PCP told me I could take two tramadol, or 100 mg,
-> together if I needed it.  As a rule I avoid that with for my arthritis &
-> fibro pain, because of the overdoing it issue, but knowing that has freed
me
-> to take more on the nights that pain interferes with my sleep.
->
-> YMMV, but I find that lower combination is safer for me not only in how
well
-> I function on stronger meds, but also for the overdoing issue.  When i've
had
-> stronger stuff around to take during bad times, I find i still will work to
-> the limits of reasonable pain.  Then the med wears off and it takes me 2
days
-> to recover!  Tramadol & tylenol usual;ly dull the pain enough to gt through
-> and i figure if that doesn't do it, I shouldn't be doing anything anyway!  
-> I'll only take more when I need it to get through the mildest of activities.
->
-> --
-> Nann
-> remove the Gator cheer to email me
->         Change everything. Love & forgive.
->
->

I made a mistake in my last post on Tramadol.  It was Nann who wrote about
Tylenol and Tramadol, not loujean ;-)  Nanny

On 7/17/2008 7:28 AM, hanbellGOGATORS@earthlink.net wrote to All:

-> I started with Ultracet originally, which is tylenol & tramadol combined in
-> one pill.  I took two pills several times/day, but i forget what the dosage
-> was!  Now I was primarily taking it for fibro pain, but it certainly helps
-> with the joints as well.
->
-> Then I talked the doc (this was my bozo RD down in Bay City) into writing
for
-> tamadol as it was generic, therefore more affordable in our lousy insurance
-> days.  He was weird about me asking for that, as they *would* give me
samples
-> of the other, but only a week's worth at a time.  Well, as I say, he was a
-> bozo.  But tylenol with tramadol supposedly works better than either
alone,
-> i.e. they complement each other well.  So what I ended up on was 50 of
-> tramadol & 500 of tylenol 3-4 times/day.  I found that allowd me to be
more
-> active, but if I took more than that, I tended to overdo things and really
-> paid afterwards.
->
-> Last fall, after the biopsy-from-hell, once i was down to this combo rather
-> than the stronger stuff I was on for a while (i forget which it was that
time
-> - vicodin or tylox), my PCP told me I could take two tramadol, or 100 mg,
-> together if I needed it.  As a rule I avoid that with for my arthritis &
-> fibro pain, because of the overdoing it issue, but knowing that has freed
me
-> to take more on the nights that pain interferes with my sleep.
->
-> YMMV, but I find that lower combination is safer for me not only in how
well
-> I function on stronger meds, but also for the overdoing issue.  When i've
had
-> stronger stuff around to take during bad times, I find i still will work to
-> the limits of reasonable pain.  Then the med wears off and it takes me 2
days
-> to recover!  Tramadol & tylenol usual;ly dull the pain enough to gt through
-> and i figure if that doesn't do it, I shouldn't be doing anything anyway!  
-> I'll only take more when I need it to get through the mildest of activities.
->
-> --
-> Nann
-> remove the Gator cheer to email me
->         Change everything. Love & forgive.
->
->

I take 2 50 mg every morning and every night. For breakthrough pain, I use
Tylenol. So far it's kept the pain to a bearable level.

DeeTee

I have been on tramadol since 1999 and it is a good med. I take two 50 mg in
the am and one to two later in the day. I also take darvocet at night for
pain.
My advice to anyone that takes it is to eat something if you get nauseated.
I can take it now and can miss a meal but if you are starting to take it
make sure to do so with food.

I have been on Tramadol since Jan and am in the process of gradually going
off of it. It has had little effect on my hip osteoarthritis pain and a
lot of bad side effects. I am now down to about 150 mg a day (from 300 mg)
and felt hunger 4 days ago for the first time in many months. It also
makes me drowsy and nauseous.

Abby

I take 300 mg four times a day - but don't notice that it made me any
sleepier.  It may be why I get sleepy now watching tv (in combination with
some new drug they've added).

I have been on Ultram ER 300mg for more than a year.

It's once-a-day for 24 hour extended release relief.

... Hello, Goodyear?  Send the blimp cuz tom's muck is rising fast!  
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

Abby wrote and asked Joe:

My rheumy started me on 200mg, then increased the dosage to 300.
I'd say I get a good 18 hours of pain relief before it begins to
fade.  I now take Ambian Cr6.2 at bedtime and I'm in dreamland
for 7 to 9 hours unless the cats manage to break down the door
to the bedroom and jump up on the bed.  <G>

... Are Cheerios really Doughnut Seeds???
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

Chief, they must be awful big cats ;-)  Do you take Tramadol by itself for
pain?  I have to take it with Excedrin every day to get a better effect.  Nanny

On 7/30/2008 12:31 AM, CALIFCHIEF wrote to ARTHURES@PANIX.COM:

->   Abby wrote and asked Joe:
->
->  > does it really last 24 hours for you? My doc told me 12 hours
->  > for the Ultram ER.
->
->  My rheumy started me on 200mg, then increased the dosage to 300.
->  I'd say I get a good 18 hours of pain relief before it begins to
->  fade.  I now take Ambian Cr6.2 at bedtime and I'm in dreamland
->  for 7 to 9 hours unless the cats manage to break down the door
->  to the bedroom and jump up on the bed.  <G>
->
->
->
-> ... Are Cheerios really Doughnut Seeds???
-> ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

Gloria Wolfe/Nanny wrote Joe to ask:

The oldest, a 16-year-old tom, is 15-16 pounds and very sneaky.

This is the medication list I bring to every appointment
with my DO (PCP), rheumy, oncologist, and urologist:

Ultram ER 300mg.once daily.......*.Warfarin (Coumadin) 5mg-6mg.daily
Soma 350mg......3x daily.........*.Ambian CR 6.2...............daily
Folgard 2.2mg...2x daily.........*.Aspirin 81mg..............1 daily
1-A-Day (type)..once daily.........Lidocane patch 5%.......as needed
Magnesium.......once daily.........Ketoprofen 10% compound.as needed
Potassium.......once daily.........Trimcinole ointment.....as needed
Fosamax 70mg....once weekly........Voltaren gel 10G........as needed
Enbrel 50mg/mL..once weekly........Fish oil/Beta 3...........3 daily
* Bedtime meds

Tramadol/Ultram ER is "extended release."  That's like taking
six 50mg daily

... Unknown Error on Unknown Device for Unexplainable Reason.  
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

Since you always seem so upbeat and knowledgeable of many issues, I don't
feel so badly that I, too, am on a looooong list of meds daily.  At least we still
have our wits about us (I think) LOL!  Of course, our ages may have
something to do with it ;-)  You know, more years, more meds.  There are 3
meds you listed that I take also:  Ultram, Soma & Potassium.  Instead of
Ambien, I take Lunesta.  A bit about the sleep med:  Originally, I was allowed
prescriptions for both Ambien and Lunesta, the plan being to switch on and
off by month.  The experience I shared with this group where I related I could
have died was when I was on Ambien.  However, at some point (recently),
the pharmacy through our group insurance (Caremark) called my doctor and
questioned the use of BOTH Ambien and Lunesta.  Then, I got a call from my
doctor's secretary and asked me to pick which one I wanted to take, but not
both.  I chose Lunesta.  Although, I also take 2 low-dose muscle relaxers
with Lunesta at bedtime and have been sleeping well.  Number-wise, you and
I stack up pretty close in the use of meds.  But as me, no doubt you know
the name of every pill you take and what it's for.  I, too, take a list of all my
medications with each doctor appt. and also always carry one copy in my
purse.  Well, Chief, keep cool.  It's been in the high 80's, low 90's for about a
week now where I'm located.  Nanny

On 8/1/2008 2:31 PM, CALIFCHIEF wrote to Gloria Wolfe:

->   Gloria Wolfe/Nanny wrote Joe to ask:
->
->  > Chief, they must be awful big cats ;-)
->
->  The oldest, a 16-year-old tom, is 15-16 pounds and very sneaky.
->
->
->
->  > Do you take Tramadol by itself for pain?  I have to take
->  > it with Excedrin every day to get a better effect.  Nanny
->
->  This is the medication list I bring to every appointment
->  with my DO (PCP), rheumy, oncologist, and urologist:
->
->  Ultram ER 300mg.once daily.......*.Warfarin (Coumadin) 5mg-6mg.daily
->  Soma 350mg......3x daily.........*.Ambian CR 6.2...............daily
->  Folgard 2.2mg...2x daily.........*.Aspirin 81mg..............1 daily
->  1-A-Day (type)..once daily.........Lidocane patch 5%.......as needed
->  Magnesium.......once daily.........Ketoprofen 10% compound.as needed
->  Potassium.......once daily.........Trimcinole ointment.....as needed
->  Fosamax 70mg....once weekly........Voltaren gel 10G........as needed
->  Enbrel 50mg/mL..once weekly........Fish oil/Beta 3...........3 daily
->  * Bedtime meds
->
->  Tramadol/Ultram ER is "extended release."  That's like taking
->  six 50mg daily
->
->
->
-> ... Unknown Error on Unknown Device for Unexplainable Reason.  
-> ___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12