Experiences - Codeine versus Tramadol (for pain)

[anonuser30500]

Swim had a recent medical appointment and Tramadol was mentioned by the GP. Swim settled for his usual co codamol of 30/500, prescribed for over a decade with the agreement that I'd think it over, check out other users of this particular drug.

Swim has established the basic laypersons facts - Tramadol is not an opiate, but does work in a similar manner.

Swims position is that codeine is not a problem, it works, but I'd like it to work a little more. I'm not talking about recreational, it is a great pain killer. The 'high' swim feels off 60mg, (not CWE'd) is minimal. I'd not take it if I was not in pain. That said, better it makes you feel better than worse. It's the nature of opiates really, and medically speaking, Swim does not fancy popping the synthetic versions of opiates which sound WORSE than codeine by far.

Anyway Swiys and swims, what say you the jury on this?

[miggeth]

Tramadol is flawed medication. Okay, it works for pain relief long term, but it made swim ill after about 2 months so it defeated it's own purpose before it started.

Here's how it'll f-ck you when you try to stop, if you ever can.

http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86797

Codeine always works for swim, it just depends how much he needs to take, it's not bad for him and he can stop pretty easily.

There's no contest for swim, he junked his Tramadol ages ago. He suggests swiy does the same.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	Good advise re Tramadol vs Codeine.
	Good warning from personal experience. Well done.

[Zendo]

they are two really different medications that work so differently to one another that it will come down to personal prefence,
swim would say ask the doctor for both
tramadol for around the clock releif,
codiene for breakthrough pain

tramadol pretty much needs to be taken like a ritual every morning regardless if one is suffering pain at that time or not, it takes so long to start working in the body that if you took it only when the pain came on, you could be waiting 1-2 hours before noticing any releif,
were as codeine as swiy know's kicks in pretty fast so it can be taken much more effectivley at the onset of pain, instead of all day everyday,

also tramadol contains seratonin so that could be a factor also, if one is strongly opposed to anti-depressant type meds

[Ale]

Originally Posted by Zendo

...also tramadol contains seratonin so that could be a factor also, if one is strongly opposed to anti-depressant type meds

Tramadol does NOT "contain" serotonine..which wouldn't even make much sense as trdadol is a molecule and molecules do Not contain anything;that being said it is just a weak SNRI,thus promoting both Serotonin and Norepinephrine re-uptake inhibition.

[anonuser30500]

Cheers for the prompt replies.

Seems good advice, and I guessed that the two drugs would be two different beasts.

I did ask my doc for 'a few Tramadol' to see if they agree with me, but I think he thought it wise to stick with one pain killer - maybe the codeine might not rest well with the Tramadol and its not UK practice to 'duel boot' with both of them.

I got some Ibuprofen also, but too much upsets Swims stomach. It has its uses though, eases muscular pain and strains, could be a 'parachute' if you need to move about a bit. Won't get anyone high.

Bear in mind the paracetamol in swims tablets (500mg per) is likely to act longer than the codeine which works for about two hours. Swim took 8 tablets today which adds up to 240mg of codeine. Swiy might well be high on that dose, IF taken all at once. People here have spoken of swims overdosing on less!

In the UK, the co-codamol tablets can contain as much as 60mg of codeine. You'd need to be in chronic pain to get them on prescription. The max dosage in 24 hrs would be 480mg of codeine - this sounds a lot, but anyone with pain is not registering the 'high' in the same way as some swim or swiy who has closed the curtains, put the sounds on and feels as fit as a fiddle!

Swim makes no judgement for those who do this for recreational or psycological (chillin out) reasons. Swim also knows there are thousands of UK swimmers who do not think they swim. They buy OTC household name brands of pain killers and munch them like candy. At least swims here, are smart enough to eliminate dangers in the crocodile pit of codeine affinity.

Any more info on Tramadol or any UK swims on co codamol (for pain) would be handy.

Thanks again for the pointers.

Be careful out there!

Reputation Comments on this post:

Very good common sense approach and respect for substance

[Master_Khan]

Yes tramadol does not contain seratonin, perhaps the reference was to the fact that Tramadol when taken together with SSRI's (examples include Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil) increases the risk of Seratonin Syndrome, or Seratonin Storm, although some experts prefer the term Seratonin toxicity because it more accurately reflects the fact that this is a form of poisoning. The syndrome is a predictable consequence of excess serotonergic activity at central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral serotonin receptors.

Symptom onset is usually rapid, often occurring within minutes. Serotonin syndrome encompasses a wide range of clinical findings. Mild symptoms may only consist of increased heart rate, shivering, sweating, dilated pupils, myoclonus (intermittent tremor or twitching), as well as overresponsive reflexes .Moderate intoxication includes additional abnormalities such as hyperactive bowel sounds, high blood pressure and hyperthermia; a temperature as high as 40 °C (104 °F) is common in moderate intoxication. The overactive reflexes and clonus in moderate cases may be greater in the lower limbs than in the upper limbs. Mental status changes include hypervigilance and agitation. Severe symptoms include severe increases in heart rate and blood pressure that may lead to shock. Severe cases often have agitated delirium as well as muscular rigidity and high muscular tension. Temperature may rise to above 41.1 °C (106.0 °F) in life-threatening cases. Other abnormalities include metabolic acidosis, rhabdomyolysis, seizures, renal failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation; these effects usually arise as a consequence of hyperthermia.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Check your spelling, and be sure to use the quote code or quotation marks when posting material you did not write yourse...

[Zendo]

Neg banging someone for spelling mistakes and quotations? thats so fucking stupid, cant you just pm him if your so anal? Stop abusing the rep system. Grrr~

as for seratonin in tramadol, swim just put 2 and 2 together, that one can suffer seratonin overdose symtoms while taking it, and brain zap type effects while withdrawing from trams,
If there is no serotonin in trams, it sure effects the brain as if there is,
and that becomes much more evident over time wich is the only reason swim mentioned it, those type of effects are important when decidng on a pain med, and that was the only way swim thought of to comminucate that, without going into neroscience or whatever,

Reputation Comments on this post:

Using the repuation system to counter other ratings is not allowed. -20 points

[miggeth]

I got negative rep with a 'good advice' note.

Tram does not indeed contain serotonin, but it seems to stimulate the production and release of it, and use that extra stuff for the purposes of pain control which is not what it is supposed to do.