Tramadol question

[BoredBeforelEvenBegan]

Posting here because I really don't want to bother my GP with this at the moment, and for traffic because I'm in agony and need help asap

GP prescribed tramadol for rheumatoid arthritis pain a few months ago (I'm not on any other meds for it atm and my hospital appointment to get them reviewed has been out back from last July to this July). I've put off taking them until now because I'm worried they'll be a bit addictive, as has happened to a few people I know. But I can put it off no longer as the pain is nuts and otc cocodamol is no longer touching the sides!

I've just read the info and it says not to take them if you've had cocodamol recently - how recently does it mean? 4 hours or 24? I took some last night just before bed.

Also, is tramadol nasty on the stomach? I have heartburn and nausea from the codeine and want to be prepared!

Finally, are they stronger than solpadeine max? I've been taking a dose of that every morning and some evenings for over a year now and it helped at first, but as I say it's not touching the sides now.

Thanks in advance

Hello,

Yes they're stronger than solpadine. If you took cocodamol last night you'll be fine.

They personally were much easier on my stomach than cocodamol. They're very addictive, in all honesty if I could go back in time and never be prescribed tramadol I would do.

Sorry your pain is so awful

@depths thanks for your helpful reply. Yes that's what I've been worried about - my dad was addicted to them for years and had a terrible time coming off them. I'm so desperate now though I'm willing to try anything! At first I'm going to try just one pill and see how I go rather than take a full dose.

Do they make you as woozy and drowsy as codeine does?

Thanks again

They will make you drowsy initially but that goes fairly quickly. They can cause constipation.

@Gilead

They will make you drowsy initially but that goes fairly quickly. They can cause constipation.

Thanks for the heads up - I'll make sure I eat plenty of fibre and drink lots of water!

I took cocodamol and tramadol for years for arthritis pain (OA not Rha). I used to take 4 co-codamol and a tramadol at the same time.
I stopped taking the tramadol two months ago as it clashes with my antidepressants and can cause seratonin symdrome.
Life is better without it as I was always so sleepy and work full time but it is good.
It disin't cause stomach problems for me just sleepiness and if taken right before bed you'll be awake all night, no idea why. Take a few hours before bed.
Its a good painkiller but I wouldn't take it long term again.

P.S I've never had a problem with tramadol addiction as long as I only took 2 a day only. I find co-codamol much more addictive, I am having trouble weaning myself off those.

I have had tramadol and had no side effects at all.

A friend had tramadol and couldn't get out of bed - they absolutely floored her.

Just make sure you clear a few hours if necessary.

I was on them for a few months and was fine stopping them (think they were decreased slowly from memory).

Prescribed it twice after two major surgeries. Quickly realized it caused me concerning urinary retention along with constipation despite expecting the bowel issues and eating tons of fiber and drinking loads (and only peeing dribbles). Long story short pain wise Tylenol ES (no codeine) just as effective for me.