Hi,
I'm new here, even though I've lived with RLS for 23 years. When I first began to complain about it, I was put through a battery of tests for bone cancer and other horrific possibilities. Upon finding only negative results, I wasn't taken seriously--in retrospect, this was obviously treated as yet another condition that many doctors disregard as myths or psychosomatic (chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome and even migraines used to be subject to this opinion). Luckily, about 5 years ago, I found a doctor who took me seriously and prescribed a drug called Ultam. I take one at dinner time and have not had symptoms since day one (except for those times when for whatever reason I failed to take my dose until 8 pm or later).
There is no good documentation as to how Ultram works--it's not a narcotic and it's not an anti-inflammatory. When I first began taking it, I did experience a bit of light headedness for a while before bed, but that passed in about a week.
Before I began taking Ultram, I would resort to OTC sleep medications to attempt to fall asleep regardless of the pain I was experiencing. I found that those drugs only made the symptoms worse--much worse.
However, many insurance companies will not cover Ultram because it's not a tremendously prescribed drug. It is available generically now, so that has helped to expand coverage. (I work with insurance drug coverage, so I'm familiar with this type of info).
I apologize if this sounds like an infomercial--I promise it's not. I just figured that if I was going to share my good fortune, I'd provide as much information as I could.
I'm very happy to have found this community and I wish everyone luck with their search for symptom alleviation in this odd disorder.
Ultram
Ultram
I have been flirting with the idea of using Ultram. None of my physicians is crazy about prescribing pain medication, so I made an appointment at the end of July with a pain specialist. I will ask him about Ultram. Right now my main pain medication is Hydrocodone (10 mg/325 mg).
No wonder you were having problems with OTC pain or sleep medication. Antihistamines as you may know, are infamous of their exacerbation of RLS symptoms.
Nice to have somebody with excess to insurance info here.
I would like to invite you to read my poll post on General Topics. You could be a great potential distributor!
No wonder you were having problems with OTC pain or sleep medication. Antihistamines as you may know, are infamous of their exacerbation of RLS symptoms.
Nice to have somebody with excess to insurance info here.
I would like to invite you to read my poll post on General Topics. You could be a great potential distributor!
Jumpy Owl
Re: Ultram
jumpyowl wrote:I have been flirting with the idea of using Ultram. None of my physicians is crazy about prescribing pain medication, so I made an appointment at the end of July with a pain specialist. I will ask him about Ultram. Right now my main pain medication is Hydrocodone (10 mg/325 mg).
No wonder you were having problems with OTC pain or sleep medication. Antihistamines as you may know, are infamous of their exacerbation of RLS symptoms.
Nice to have somebody with excess to insurance info here.
I would like to invite you to read my poll post on General Topics. You could be a great potential distributor!
Jumpy and sdelzot,
Done some reading on Ultram and I want to suggest it to Ms. B. Do you have any literature that says it's been shown to be helpful the people with RLS AND is less likely to cause addiction than other painkillers or benzos? Stuff I've read says, it COULD be helpful but I want something that says it's been SHOWN to be helpful. Got anything like that lying around?
Sole
"If you ever drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let'em go, because, man, they're gone."
"If you ever drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let'em go, because, man, they're gone."
Here is help, Sole!
From the same source I posted a link to, today:
Note that no formal study has been done on Ultram vs RLS. I have seen many posts on another website (Yahoo-RLS) when several people commented favorably on Ultram for RLS.
Getting your ammo together for the 23rd?
Ultram (Tramodol)
Ultram is a new synthetic medication for pain relief and is not chemically related to the opiates, like all the above medication in this class. It works on the central nervous system by two different mechanisms. First of all it is a weak opioid inhibitor as it binds to the mu receptor. It also works by blocking the reuptake of two different neurotransmitters in the brain, norepinephrine and serotonin. Ultram is metabolized to another compound which actually is more potent than the original tramadol in helping to block pain. The drug does not appear to be as addictive as others in this class of RLS medications, but cases of addiction have occurred. Special care should be taken in patients with a history of addiction to opiates, as they may be more susceptible to addiction with Ultram.
This drug can be very effective for treating RLS and many RLS sufferers have gotten excellent relief from the intermittent use of this drug. Some patients have used Ultram for drug holidays from the other pain killers above (in the narcotic family). This seems to have been very helpful for many, and no cross tolerance has developed. This information however, is only anecdotal, and is not proven yet in a clinical study or trial.
There have been reports of aggravation of seizures in patients with a prior seizure history, although the incidence appears to be small occurring in 1 out of 100,000 patients. It also may be riskier in patients who are on antidepressants (especially serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac, Zoloft or Paxil for example) or tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil. Tramadol may need to be reduced in dosage or eliminated in patients who are on other tranquilizers or sedating medication.
Ultram comes in 50 mg tablets. It has a half life of 5.6 hours after a single dose and 7 hours after multiple doses. It can be given at 50 - 100 mg every 4-6 hours with a maximum daily dose of 400 mg. Some RLS patients have reported longer duration of action of 6-8 hours, but 4-6 hours is quite common.
Note that no formal study has been done on Ultram vs RLS. I have seen many posts on another website (Yahoo-RLS) when several people commented favorably on Ultram for RLS.
Getting your ammo together for the 23rd?
Jumpy Owl
-
Anonymous
Hydrocodone
Your doctor will prescribe Hydrocodone for RLS?? I discovered how well this works for RLS when I had surgery and used Hydro for pain medication. It knocked out the RLS, too. But because it's a narcotic and addictive, my dr. won't prescribe it for RLS, although I'm having no luck with any other medication.
Pain medication
I lucked out with my family doctor. He tried hydrocodone with the only RLS patient he ever had (knowingly). However, he gave me 5mg/500mg once a day. That was not enough. The sleep doctor, he sent me to, was against all pain medication being a pulmonologist ).
I am going to see a pain doctor next because I would like to have a bit more freedom on the pain medication (would like to try Ultram). I believe that they work on RLS and actually the side effects are more benign (than dopamine agonist and anticonvulsives).
One has to watch out for addiction but the risk is less if they are used for diminishing of pain only!
Possibly it is time to see another doctor?
).
I am going to see a pain doctor next because I would like to have a bit more freedom on the pain medication (would like to try Ultram). I believe that they work on RLS and actually the side effects are more benign (than dopamine agonist and anticonvulsives).
One has to watch out for addiction but the risk is less if they are used for diminishing of pain only!
Possibly it is time to see another doctor?
Jumpy Owl
Ultram
Hi Sole and Jumpyowl,
I originally posted this thread as the guest "sdelzot" before I officially joined as runsinbed. Just wanted to let you know it's me.
My experience with Ultram is this: I've taken it for about 5 years. I usually take it right after dinner (around 6 pm) and haven't had symptoms in all this time. However, on the occasion when I've taken it later (after 8 or so) or not taken it altogether, my rls rages. However, I've discovered recently that if I do take it late, as long as I take two (my usual dosage is 1), I'm okay, also. Ultram is only available as a 50 mg tablet. My doctor has told me that I can take up to 3 at a time if I need to, but not to exceed 6 in a day. I've never had to get close to that.
You asked if it makes you sleepy--here's my experience with that: When I first started taking it, I could tell that I had taken something--felt a tiny bit loopy, but that faded after about a week. Here's the weird thing, though--I've taken it for 5 years, every night. I feel completely normal after I take it in the evening. However, I have a friend whose doctor prescribes Ultram for menstrual cramps. So, one day at work, when I was suffering myself, I decided to give it a try and I took one at about 10 in the morning. Apparently, taking it during the day for me is an entirely different story--I was out of it for the rest of the day and I haven't done that since (lesson learned).
To me, Ultram has been a savior. And, I'm thrilled that I've taken the same dosage with the same positive results for 5 years, so I don't have to worry (so far) about becoming resistant to the drug.
Please, let me know if you try Ultram and how it works out for you.
Once again, I'm so happy I found this site--for years I just thought I was insane!
p.s. did you ever try to "ride it out"? That doesn't work at all.
I originally posted this thread as the guest "sdelzot" before I officially joined as runsinbed. Just wanted to let you know it's me.
My experience with Ultram is this: I've taken it for about 5 years. I usually take it right after dinner (around 6 pm) and haven't had symptoms in all this time. However, on the occasion when I've taken it later (after 8 or so) or not taken it altogether, my rls rages. However, I've discovered recently that if I do take it late, as long as I take two (my usual dosage is 1), I'm okay, also. Ultram is only available as a 50 mg tablet. My doctor has told me that I can take up to 3 at a time if I need to, but not to exceed 6 in a day. I've never had to get close to that.
You asked if it makes you sleepy--here's my experience with that: When I first started taking it, I could tell that I had taken something--felt a tiny bit loopy, but that faded after about a week. Here's the weird thing, though--I've taken it for 5 years, every night. I feel completely normal after I take it in the evening. However, I have a friend whose doctor prescribes Ultram for menstrual cramps. So, one day at work, when I was suffering myself, I decided to give it a try and I took one at about 10 in the morning. Apparently, taking it during the day for me is an entirely different story--I was out of it for the rest of the day and I haven't done that since (lesson learned).
To me, Ultram has been a savior. And, I'm thrilled that I've taken the same dosage with the same positive results for 5 years, so I don't have to worry (so far) about becoming resistant to the drug.
Please, let me know if you try Ultram and how it works out for you.
Once again, I'm so happy I found this site--for years I just thought I was insane!
p.s. did you ever try to "ride it out"? That doesn't work at all.
Hello, Runsinbed!
Thanks for posting your very valuable contribution. This is also for the forum/topic=General Topics/ORP! Could I have your gender and age?
I had very much the same experience with the sedative Lorazepam. I have taken it to calm me down so I could sleep (it was during a very stressful period of my life lasting over a decade). I only took it at the evening (!) and it was a drug with a fairly short half life similar to Ultram. I have never truly become addicted to it and managed to come through relatively unscathed.
I think the idea to take it only when needed and let the drug (mostly) leave your system before taking it again, is a good one (it is in a sense and "intermittent use") and works for most people (not to the addictive type perhaps but even they would have to take it more frequently). So Runsinbed you have been managing your medication quite wisely in the past 5 years. Thanks for sharing.
I already posted this info but I would like to excerpt the important parts:
I have not yet tried it but I am beginning to like the idea of using Ultram more and morre. Let us hope my pain doctor on the 28th of July will agree....
I had very much the same experience with the sedative Lorazepam. I have taken it to calm me down so I could sleep (it was during a very stressful period of my life lasting over a decade). I only took it at the evening (!) and it was a drug with a fairly short half life similar to Ultram. I have never truly become addicted to it and managed to come through relatively unscathed.
I think the idea to take it only when needed and let the drug (mostly) leave your system before taking it again, is a good one (it is in a sense and "intermittent use") and works for most people (not to the addictive type perhaps but even they would have to take it more frequently). So Runsinbed you have been managing your medication quite wisely in the past 5 years. Thanks for sharing.
I already posted this info but I would like to excerpt the important parts:
...Ultram is metabolized to another compound which actually is more potent than the original tramadol in helping to block pain. (Special care should be taken in patients with a history of addiction to opiates, as they may be more susceptible to addiction with Ultram.)
....Many RLS sufferers have gotten excellent relief from the intermittent use of this drug...
...It also may be riskier in patients who are on antidepressants (especially serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac, Zoloft or Paxil for example) or tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil. Tramadol may need to be reduced in dosage or eliminated in patients who are on other tranquilizers or sedating medication....
Most RLS patients have reported a duration of action of 4-6 hours...
I have not yet tried it but I am beginning to like the idea of using Ultram more and morre. Let us hope my pain doctor on the 28th of July will agree....
Jumpy Owl
Ultram
Hi jumpyowl,
I'm female and 39. My "achies" started when I was about 16. First, it was blamed on "growing pains", then it was the fact that I was very athletic till I was 15 (big tomboy), then got injured and that changed. Back then, though, I could manage to get to sleep, just a little later than usual. When rls started to get to the point that I was losing sleep every night, I was givng sleep meds (Ativan, Xanax, etc.), which worked for a while, but there's a greater chance of dependence with those, so I wasn't thrilled about that.
I think it's very strange that Ultram isn't prescribed more as a pain med (especially long term), although, it's odd how it doesn't help all pain--for instance it doesn't do a think for back pain or headaches. Also, it might be important to know that a side effect of Ultram is migraines. I'm a migrainer, but haven't noticed an increase in the time I've been using it, but I'm sure this is an individual result.
Have a great day!
I'm female and 39. My "achies" started when I was about 16. First, it was blamed on "growing pains", then it was the fact that I was very athletic till I was 15 (big tomboy), then got injured and that changed. Back then, though, I could manage to get to sleep, just a little later than usual. When rls started to get to the point that I was losing sleep every night, I was givng sleep meds (Ativan, Xanax, etc.), which worked for a while, but there's a greater chance of dependence with those, so I wasn't thrilled about that.
I think it's very strange that Ultram isn't prescribed more as a pain med (especially long term), although, it's odd how it doesn't help all pain--for instance it doesn't do a think for back pain or headaches. Also, it might be important to know that a side effect of Ultram is migraines. I'm a migrainer, but haven't noticed an increase in the time I've been using it, but I'm sure this is an individual result.
Have a great day!
Switching from Hydrocodone to Ultram
I am now taking 50 mg Ultram twice a day with Mirapex (0.25 mg). At the same time I discontinued Hydrocodone (10 mg/325 mg) which I had taken twice a day.
Even though I doubled the dose of Mirapex to 0.5 mg, the first night I had a occurence of severe paresthesia. I contributed that to the withdrawal from hydrocodone (HC). The next night I tried it w/o hydrocodone and the paresthesia returned.
So I started cutting down on HC gradually, by halving the pill. It worked better. After a couple of days I took another opioid on top of Ultram and no HC. It worked weakly, for reason see below in bold letters.
Then I managed to get some sleeping draught that is supposed to increase the slow wave sleep. By its help I managed to cut off HC completely and get some restorative sleep. Now I am HC free for 3 days and the nasty paresthesia did not return.
Will report on this process in my thread entitled Self-diagnosed... in the forum of New to RLS. Now from the California RLS web site:
Even though I doubled the dose of Mirapex to 0.5 mg, the first night I had a occurence of severe paresthesia. I contributed that to the withdrawal from hydrocodone (HC). The next night I tried it w/o hydrocodone and the paresthesia returned.
So I started cutting down on HC gradually, by halving the pill. It worked better. After a couple of days I took another opioid on top of Ultram and no HC. It worked weakly, for reason see below in bold letters.
Then I managed to get some sleeping draught that is supposed to increase the slow wave sleep. By its help I managed to cut off HC completely and get some restorative sleep. Now I am HC free for 3 days and the nasty paresthesia did not return.
Will report on this process in my thread entitled Self-diagnosed... in the forum of New to RLS. Now from the California RLS web site:
Ultram is a new synthetic medication for pain relief and is not chemically related to the opiates. It works on the central nervous system by two different mechanisms. First of all it is a weak opioid inhibitor as it binds to the mu receptor. It also works by blocking the reuptake of two different neurotransmitters in the brain, norepinephrine and serotonin. Ultram is metabolized to another compound which actually is more potent than the original tramadol in helping to block pain. The drug does not appear to be as addictive as others in this class of RLS medications, but cases of addiction have occurred. Special care should be taken in patients with a history of addiction to opiates, as they may be more susceptible to addiction with Ultram.
This drug can be very effective for treating RLS and many RLS sufferers have gotten excellent relief from the intermittent use of this drug. Some patients have used Ultram for drug holidays from the other pain killers above (in the narcotic family).
This medication may be riskier in patients who are on antidepressants (especially serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Prozac, Zoloft or Paxil for example) or tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil. Tramadol may need to be reduced in dosage or eliminated in patients who are on other tranquilizers or sedating medication.
Ultram comes in 50 mg tablets. It has a half life of 5.6 hours after a single dose and 7 hours after multiple doses. It can be given at 50 - 100 mg every 4-6 hours with a maximum daily dose of 400 mg. Some RLS patients have reported longer duration of action of 6-8 hours, but 4-6 hours is quite common.
Jumpy Owl
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Guest
The only question that concerns me about ultram is that prolonged use can damage certain receptors in the brain. With people who have RLS for 5 years or longer I am curious to if there would be any serious consequences. Although, getting good sleep versus this possibility is not a reason to cancel out the idea of it being worthwhile. Just what i've read and thought it should be put into the light.