Opioids Tramadol vs. Oxycodone for back pain (long term use)

[lifterpuller]

Hi guys,

I have been dealing with chronic back pain for over a year now and have tried many different medications.

The most effective of course being narcotics. I have tried codiene, morphine, oxycodone and tramdol.

Of those 4, oxycodone and tramdol are my preference for both pain relief and just general sense of well being. Morphine is good for pain relief but leaves me feeling really foggy and lethargic.

I am trying to decide which drug (oxy or tram) would be better for long term use for treating my back pain. I use 100-200mg/day tram or 10-25mg/day oxy depending on the level of pain.

I do not have a very addictive personality and don't really have much trouble stopping using either of these, the worst part is just not being able to control my back pain. I have experienced withdrawls several times and it sucks but it usually only lasts 2-3 days, oxy and morphine withdrawl being quite a bit worse than the tram.


So what should I do? My dr will prescribe either. I am just thinking long term health (physical and mental) I am aware tramadol has SSRI properties and that is something I'm concerned about, however I feel that oxy has a higher potential for addiction and abuse.

So should I stick with tram, go to oxy, or alternate between the two(this is what I've currently been doing)?

Appreciate any opinions/advice etc..

Thanks!

EDIT: I have never used any drug other than alcohol or marijuana recreationally, I purely use these medications for my pain.

 

[The Doc.]

Well its really up to you what you like more or what your doctor thinks. But if you want my 2 cents then I think tramadol would be best if that drug does control your pain because tram adol won't cause your tolerance to skyrocket like oxys can do leaving you needing more and more drugs to keep pain at bay. I have a bad back too I was on 500mgs of oxycodone then I had to switch to heroin after my doc cut me off. Tramadol is such a weak opiate in Canada at least it doesn't even have to be written on a triplicate prescription pad for narcotics its the only opiate that can be prescribed on a standard prescription pad the same one your doctor would write antibiotics on for a patient. So if the tramadol works why not do that but if you want/need a lot more pain relief than the tram can give you then switch to the stronger more addicting oxycodone but I say if you arnt in extreme pain to need those strong narcotics that are usually kept for the deathly ill then just stick to the tramadol.

Again like I said its your choice talk it with your doctor.

 

[zzz101]

Go with whatever works best for pain. or what you think is best, 'cause everyone is different. A number(small) can have very bad withdrawals from tramadol (SSRI effect), but most people will have less withdrawals from the tram than the oxy long-term. if you feel you start to get bad side-effects from using tram, then go to the oxy.

I would say tramadol personally. When you get a tolerance and it doesn't work for pain as good, then you could move on to the oxy. that would be the best way.

Tramadol is most likely very effective when you don't have much of a tolerance, you should not take high doses of tramadol unless you know what you are doing. So yeah, once the tram stops working, move to oxy, don't increase your tram dose too much.

get advice from your doc like trainspotter said.

 

[TheLostBoys]

I wish tramadol helped with my back pain.......that stuff didn't do anything for my pain. Good to see tramadol works for you.

If tramadol works just as good as oxycodone, I would stick with tramadol.

 

[zzz101]

^solid advice summed up -- you only need to take the oxy if you get a tolerance OR if you find yourself having major side-effects from the tramadol (rare).

 

[EP158207]

I think you should go with the oxy, tramadol is a dirty little drug, and from seeing some of my patients take them, I don't feel like its an effective painkiller for things like chronic back pain. Take the oxy and do some exercise. That really helps.

 

[zzz101]

It certainly is an effective painkiller if your liver has the enzymes to convert the tramadol into 'O-desmethyltramadol' Tramadol is only effective for like 50% of people because some ppl don't have the right enzymes in the liver?. So I guess those are not good odds. But if you are one of the lucky ones where tram works, then it is very good imo. It has a nice long half-life too.

 

[Ondine]

I would try the tramadol first, as it's definitely a safer choice.

I hated it personally and got barely any pain relief, and I've heard similar reports from people.

I'd go for the oxy, but I'm already a 'fan' of it

 

[lifterpuller]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I really appreciate it.

I'm going to see my Dr on Saturday and discuss this with her further. Is it possible to have an ER oxycodone and use tramadol when I have the most pain? Usually in the mornings and again in the evenings or is combining the two a bad idea?

My pain ranges quite a bit day to day and I do find exercise very effective in reducing the pain, however sometimes I need to take some pain killers before (50mg tramadol or 5mg oxy usually) exercise so that I can get through it but I always feel better afterwards.

 

[lifterpuller]

Well its really up to you what you like more or what your doctor thinks. But if you want my 2 cents then I think tramadol would be best if that drug does control your pain because tram adol won't cause your tolerance to skyrocket like oxys can do leaving you needing more and more drugs to keep pain at bay. I have a bad back too I was on 500mgs of oxycodone then I had to switch to heroin after my doc cut me off. Tramadol is such a weak opiate in Canada at least it doesn't even have to be written on a triplicate prescription pad for narcotics its the only opiate that can be prescribed on a standard prescription pad the same one your doctor would write antibiotics on for a patient. So if the tramadol works why not do that but if you want/need a lot more pain relief than the tram can give you then switch to the stronger more addicting oxycodone but I say if you arnt in extreme pain to need those strong narcotics that are usually kept for the deathly ill then just stick to the tramadol.

Again like I said its your choice talk it with your doctor.

Actually the reason I tried tramadol was because my dr was out of narcotic prescriptions and I would have to wait a couple days. I live in Canada as well.