reacting to tramadol

flossy47
flossy47 Member Posts: 171
edited 16. Jan 2012, 15:43 in Living with Arthritis archive
GP put me on Tramadol yesterday to try to ease my pains so I might be able to get some sleep. Took the first one last night and couldn't sleep due to a pounding headache. Still had the headache this morning so didn't take it. Don't know whether to take it tonight or not. The pains that were keeping me awake now seem preferable to a headache.
Flossy

Comments

  • Hileena1111
    Hileena1111 Bots Posts: 5
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Flossy
    Tramadol does affect some people in bad ways.......Did your GP advise you to take it during the day as well?
    If so......why not try them for a bit longer during the day......I say during the day because there is nothing as awful as being awake at night and feeling ill.
    If it keeps on go and see your doc....there are plenty of other meds tha you could be put on.
    Love
    Hileena
  • flossy47
    flossy47 Member Posts: 171
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm supposed to take one in the morning and one in the evening. My head felt so bad this morning that I didn't take one. Took the evening dose about an hour ago and my brain is beginning to feel like cotton wool. I'm ok until I lie down then the headache kicks in.
    Flossy
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Flossy
    I got the awful headaches with tramadol, and I gave up on them, but I am seriously thing of giving them another go, the cocodamols are not touching the pain anymore.
    Like Hileena say people react differently to it..just have a word with your GP and see what they say.
    Just a point, I find that amytriptalines work brilliant at night, but you have to take then early in the evening.
    Hope you get there very soonx
    Love
    Barbara
  • flossy47
    flossy47 Member Posts: 171
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks Barbara. The doc I spoke to on Thursday ignored me when i mentioned the not sleeping. She said that if we eased the pain then i would be able to sleep.The offer of something to help me sleep would have been good. The sleep problem has been going on for years and is not just when I'm in pain.
    Not sleeping seems to be a common problem with this arther character.
    Flossy
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    It is difficult to sleep isn't it, when the body is uncomfortable, when pain is present and when one is fighting every day just to do the basics. An arthritis-based tiredness is not at all pleasant compared to the 'proper' tired caused by vigorous physical activity, our sort is far more draining. I hope you can adjust to the tramadol so that you gain some proper benefit from it but it is a powerful med and doesn't suit everyone. My fingers are crossed for you. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • purplesparkle
    purplesparkle Member Posts: 38
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello I'm new here :smile:

    I have been taking tramodol for about a month now and at first it left me feeling foggy IYKWIM but I do feel like my body is getting use to them now and I dont feel so groggy or have such bad headache any more. So it might be worth you trying it to see how they go! Hope you get it sorted xx
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,087
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi

    They take some getting used to do tramadol!!

    In your shoes l would try building up the dose. The night-time one just before bed and once that is ok add the second dose. Not everyone can tolerate them. I was up to the max does just before surgery on my back...was fine functioned normally, but tried to take one some months later and was sick most of the following day :sad:

    Some people find the slow release version better as it releases the medication slower over the whole 12 hours and not in one burst.

    Love

    Toni xx
  • flossy47
    flossy47 Member Posts: 171
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm on the slow release ones. It's the nighttime dose that's the problem. The morning one I can cope with as I am upright. It's when I lie down that the problems start. My head pounds and feels fuzzy. Also they don't seem to be doing much for the pain. Doc did tell me that I could increase the dose but I don't think that would be a good idea.
    Think I'll try to see the doc again this week.
    Flossy
  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, I'm on tramadol and have been for quite a few months now.
    When I first started taking them I was sleepy all the time, but over a few weeks it slowly went away and I tolarate them well at the moment. We all react differently to these things and its up to you to decide. You may stop them and get the severe pain back and change your mind! I know I was beginning to think I ought to give them up until I forgot them one day. I spent the day moaning about my joints and all the pain, then when I took my night tablet, the morning one was still there!
    but thats just me, others are different! Good luck, I hope you find something that works for you. By the way, I take the slow release tramadol, which for me works better, one at night one in the morning! Love Sue
  • flossy47
    flossy47 Member Posts: 171
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks for all the replies. I'm still struggling with the Tramadol. Still not sleeping because of the pounding headache and the dose I'm taking isn't really helping the pain. I don't know whether I want to increase the dose. I will try to see the doc tomorrow but getting in at our surgery is very difficult. We have a doc there who is a bone and muscle specialist so I will try to get an appointment with him.
    Flossy

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