Prednisone combined with Tramadol
Posted , 11 users are following.
Well, I think I found a bonanza, at least for me.
I've had PMR for about 1.5 years. I started with 60 mg (much to high, I know), and now I'm down to 8 mg. The 8 mg is livable, except for the wee hours of the morning. My ribs hurt as the night wears on, and I don't sleep good at all. I was thinking about increasing the predizone, until I thought of Tramadol.
I had a vial of Tramadol, and tried taking 1 pill at night before bed.
WOW.
It didn't take away all the discomfort but it sure does help.
Now I take my 8 mg of prednisone in the AM, and my 50 mg of Tramadol before bed and I'm doing so much better.
I told my GP about it, and he said "there are a WHOLE LOT of more destructive drugs you could be taking than Tramadol," and totally supported my plan.
Anybody else have experience with Tramadol?
1 like, 21 replies
gillian_25383 bob73443
Posted
EileenH bob73443
Posted
If 1mg more pred would give you a better esult then it is longterm potentially far less risky than getting into Tramadol.
bob73443 EileenH
Posted
I understand your point, but I doubt an increase of 1 mg pred would make a difference. I've had the sleepless nights for months, even with the higher doses of pred.
So I guess you don't agree with my GP who says that "many people are on far worse drugs to help them sleep than Tramadol (paraphrasing)?"
erika59785 EileenH
Posted
It was prescribed to me when I had intense pain in my left hip due to bursitis. It certainly helped and made me feel "good", and I was able to sleep at night which I could not do while I had this pain. I was told to use ice and tramadol at night. But no more.....just for a few days, and the doctor only prescribed 10 pills with no refills.
Just thought to share my story.
gillian_25383 erika59785
Posted
EileenH bob73443
Posted
But I would suggest you see a Bowen practitioner or maybe a physio if that doesn't appeal - because I'll lay odds the pain you are complaining about isn't PMR and it would be sensible to identify the muscular cause and work on it.
erika59785 gillian_25383
Posted
I agree, I found Tramadol very helpful for the short period of time I needed it, but as you say this drug needs to be treated with respect if it is used for a longer period of time and extreme pain.
ptolemy bob73443
Posted
bob73443 ptolemy
Posted
In the beginning of my PMR, it didn't help a bit either -- the pain of the PMR totally overwhelmed everything. But the pain levels are down enough that perhaps these other meds take the last bite out of it??
The other thing that might be happening is the myofascia pain, or even arthritis in the spine. Whatever it is, it slowly gets worse as the night progresses and the tramadol hits the spot.
gillian_25383 bob73443
Posted
andrea93419 bob73443
Posted
All the very best Andrea xx
lodgerUK_NE bob73443
Posted
Try a 'duvet' sandwich and Bowen Therapy and see how that works.
jo42444 bob73443
Posted
health problems and to get off it as soon as possible. Tramadol is the only thing that has worked for my pain other than doing pool exercises.
EileenH jo42444
Posted
You do NOT become ADDICTED to pred, your body may resent it being removed if you reduce too fast but it is not true addiction - and by most standards reducing from 20mg to 3mg in 9 months when you have PMR is very fast. Far too fast probably.
Some people do not have problems reducing pred at all, others find that provided the steps down are small they have no problem either. Some people do not have significant short or long term problems with pred, most are reversible. However, I do hope your GP and rheumatologist don't have too many patients with PMR or, even worse, GCA. Pred is the only drug that manages them, without them their PMR patients will suffer unnecessarily if they are rushed off it and many GCA patients would go blind.
It isn't just the pain, which is bad enough but the long term uncontrolled inflammation levels in the body do untold damage, leading to increased rates of cardiovascular disease and even some cancers - so I for one will take my chances using pred which gives me a pretty much pain-free life in the meantime. I've had weight gain, muscle wasting, bad hair, skin problems - all reversed with lowering the dose and some hard work.
ptolemy jo42444
Posted
jo42444 ptolemy
Posted
I experienced at least 40 of them. I will be glad to be rid of Pred. I will also strive to not take alot of Tramadol as i believe my gp will not go for long term increasing the dosage. Its for really bad days only. I see rheumy early Nov and im about a month behind in reduction as I just couldnt handle it