I've been prescribed tramadol for a while now for my fibromyalgia pain. It genuinely helps and is the only drug that has assisted me with fibromyalgia so far (cocodamol did help a bit, but not enough and I was having to take it 4x a day for any effect). I don't have any side effects except for a little bit of nausea and it genuinely does help me with pain relief (no other side effects though, I don't feel any mental changes or spaced out/high like some people seem to feel).
My issue is that I'm also too scared to take it. I'm very afraid of addiction, as well as tolerance to this drug. I'm quite scared of having to rely on it, and then it not working as well anymore because I got used to it.
I'm prescribed 4x a day 50mg, but I will only take 1 - on a really bad day maybe 2 - some days none at all because I'm too scared to take the full dosage in fear of it not working. This is obviously affecting my life because even though the pain relief is there, I'm too scared to take it in case I increase my tolerance to it/get addicted, and then I remain in pain regardless.
My main question here is; am I overreacting a bit? Should I just take it anyway - even if it's just 1-2x daily instead of the 4x I'm prescribed, or will that cause me to be addicted and have the painkiller work less? I took 4x cocodamol a day and didn't get addicted or have my tolerance change to that drug even though I was taking it for over a year, so maybe I am just overreacting.
I'm just so miserable about it because it's the first pain killer to work, and it doesn't give me any side effects. I just want to take it and live my life again.
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I have had fibromyalgia since 2013 and had to stop work in 2014. I have other conditions to but fibromyalgia causes me the most pain. My legs are the worse. I take Ropinarole for restless legsWhich has just been increased to 1g at night. For a lot of years I was taking Dihydrocodeine 2 x 4 times a day so therefore 8 within 24 hours but I didn’t always take the 4 doses but towards the end they stopped working so my doctor weaned me off them and put me on tramadol. The dose I take is the same 8 within 24 hours along with paracetamol because it makes the drugs what ever they are work better. I have only been on tramadol for 5 months but it seems to be helping. I trust my doctor and now she wouldn’t give me something that my body couldn’t cope with based on all the other medication that I am. The only side effects I have had is strange dreams. As tramadol is a controlled drug I know if my doctor didn’t think it was working well for me she would slowly take me off it. So my answer is trust your doctor and take the suggested dose as a regular dose works better than the as and when, it will help keep your fibromyalgia pain more controlled and if at any stage if you need to come off it your doctor will gently wean you of it and put you on some thing else that they feel might be better. A lot of doctors know more about fibromyalgia these days and are only giving you what they think is best for you. If you are really worried phone your doctors and ask for an appointment to talk to your doctor because your concerned about your medication. I hope this helps
the question of addiction is complicated as it changes from drug to drug and from person to person so no one can say you would be addicted. I am dependant on my tramadol as without it it hurts like hell and I am able to do less.
I can take up to 8 a day on my prescription but take as needed as thats what the prescrption says and the less I can take the better but have it there to take more when I go to the dentist and the mashing of my face causes more pain or when activities or my pain demands it.
Hi, I think you will find that most doctors or pain clinic, don’t prescribe Tramadol initially, and Tramadol does have a bad rep for addiction, but if you take all the other meds for fm into account, they are just as addictive, hence the doctors weaning them off them slowly.As long as you adhere to the stated dose, and you are finding it helps then don’t go over the 4 x daily, and take what you think is helpful on the days you really need it.
We all worry about what our meds are doing to us, but it’s helping you, so don’t be in pain, trust your doctor, and you need to come off ur slowly, your doctor will be able to advise you.
desquinnPartnerVolunteerFMAUK Trustee• in reply to
Its more that it has a bad reputation for abuse rather than addiction. In fact its introduction was more on the fact that it was better for long term use and lower addiction profile. However those that do have addictive tendencies or previous opioid addiction may find it addictive.
As you say, if you keep within the prescription and do not up doses or other drug seeking behaviour then there is less to worry about.
Tramadol has some specific research for its positive effects in fibro and is not the same as other opioids that we talk about them.
I have taken tramadol for 7 years and I wasn’t at all concerned to take it, I had tried many other pain medications but found tramadol to be the most effective for me personally. I take 100mg daily
Hi I've been on tramadol for 8 years it's the only thing that helps me, I take 6-8 a day n when I'm really bad I take paracetamol as well. It really helps...Good luck
Tramadol was the first medication that my Dr. gave me when diagnosed 25 yrs ago, it was the best thing then and personally I still believe that, I have other meds too that help but Tramadol is the one I would hate to go without. Hope that helps😀
Hi.. I've been in your positions about taking any meds.
It the only medication I can take too.
I take 2 tramadol a day morning and evening.
I've tried many different meds that been prescribed for me from the doctor's for fibromyalgia in the past 5 years.
Pregabalin, duloxetine, amitriptyline and different pain relief.
I have to admit coming off the 3 medication was horrendous, literally it coming off hard drugs, the withdrawal was awful brain saps, all body aches, vomiting, dizziness lasted until week.
1 year I was on pregabalin, off and on taking amitriptyline and 6 months on duloxetine.
I would never take anything again apart from tramadol as it's is the only pain relief I get.
If it's works then carry on and don't feel guilty, don't get me wrong I still feel pain but tramadol gives me the extra boost of energy.
I've always gone back to tramadol after trying different medications as I didn't want to be dependent on them but I have come to realise if it works it works, good luck..
I had to use Tramadol after a stroke. I'm glad that it was only a few weeks because I was definitely addicted even though I took less than prescribed.Sometimes we have to take it, but be very careful and look for unwanted side effects and possible alternatives.
Only you can decide.this is a moral decision.my wife was on Tramadol and now on Zapain which is more potent and can be very addictive.however she wants to live a life.!
Relief from pain does open more doors but comes at a price it seems.
Hi,I've been on Tramadol for two years now. I was, initially, on 4 per day. They didn't agree with me, I felt really spaced out and this was quite frightening to me. My Dr then changed me to slow release Tramadol, which means one tablet lasts for 12 hours and releases slowly in my system. These are great, they take the edge off my pain and I have none of the awful side effects. Maybe the slow release would be an option for you?
I take tramadol only as needed for pain (PRN). I have been told, by a doctor, that it is addictive therefore I do not use it for a daily maintenance pain medication. I have been taking it for many years and I have had no problems.
I think.you should take more if you need to. Tramadol has the lowest addiction liability in its class. Meaning, unless you have a family history of addiction you don't really need to worry. 50mg is a very low dose that may not help enough. If you find the pain continues to interfere with your daily functions, please know it is safe to take up to the recommended dose a day. Please don't worry needlessly. Your doctor wouldn't prescribe a dose that is high risk for patients.
I have used a prolonged release Tramadol for years, 1 tablet every 24 hours. Find this keeps my pain level more even throughout the day, I have top ups I can use but I never do.
I can understand you feeling a bit anxious and drugs affect us all differently but for me the pain is too much without them. I still have pain but I manage to keep working, I don't think I could without them.
It takes a long time to find a drug combination that works for you, certainly did for me. When you do it's like hitting oil but only you can decide if the benefits outweigh the risks.
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