Pain Killer Question?

Question

I had surgery Jan 15th. My doctor prescribed Vicodin 500 mg for me which was working fine.

When I called to get another prescription, he called in Tramadol 50 mg for me.

Is Tramadol supposed to be more effective because I find that is not working for the pain as well as the Vicodin.

I understand that doctors are concerned about the addicting effects of Vicodin, but it was working fine for the pain.

Should I take 2 Tramadol instead of one, or should I call my doctor back and tell him that the Vicodin worked better for me?

I originally started out with taking two 500 mg Vicodin every 4 hours, as prescribed.

I weened myself down to one every 4 hours.

Answer 1

Tramadol is less effective than Vicodin. Since your surgery was two weeks ago, you physician may be trying to cut back on the pain pills to see how you are responding to your surgery......depends on the type of surgery as to whether he would keep prescribing the Vicodin.......usually after surgery they only give the good pain pills for a couple of weeks. Ask your doctor if you could supplement the Tramadol with Advil or Tylenol?

Answer 2

First of all you never take more or less than what the doctor prescribes for you. If he ordered Tramadol for you that's because two weeks after surgery you shouldn't still need a narcotic and Tramadol may be somewhat weaker of a drug but it still will be effective. I was prescribed Tramadol and took only 2 the first day. I didn't like the way it made me feel. I refuse narcotics and the doctors call me stubborn. I would rather be in pain than take them....all they do is make me sleep. What kind of life is that? You didn't say what kind of surgery but your doctor is just trying to ween you off the Vicodin. Good luck!

Answer 3

Call him back and tell him that Tramadol is not working for you. If he is worried about the addiction part of it I mean it's only been 2 weeks. but he might just be worried about the aspirin in it. Tell him to try you on NORCO is the same thing as Vicodin with only 350 mg of aspirin unlike the 500 mg in vicodin

Answer 4

Call the doctor and tell him that the vicodin worked better and you would like that instead of the tramadol. Hope you feel better!

Answer 5

Neural impulses (and therefore pain impulses) are transmitted via the nerves. The nerves are formed by different cells which are not completely in contact with each other, believe it or not. These gaps between nerve cells are called synapses and are easily jumped by the pain impulses. However most of the common analgesics (pain killers) put a kind of chemical roadblock on the synapses making it impossible for the impulse to jump the blocked synapse and to reach the brain pain center. Et voila The pain SENSATION has been killed. The pain still very much exists.

Answer 6

Narcotic analgesics are given for moderate to severe pain. I wouldn't try to get any more, because the side affects are more than just highly addictive, drowsiness, constipation (pill slows the motility of your bowel) lots of other fun things, but take the pain killers you have now and do some activities to forget about the pain.

Usually after taking a narcotic and moving to a different pain killer, it's all in your head that it's not giving the same affect. You're used to the instant relief of the vicodin because it's depressing your CNS therefore taking your mind off of the pain while the tylenol goes in and works as the pain killer.


Morphine and Vicodin are both in the same class of schedule II drugs, they are both opiates, morphine is just more potent and not mixed with an NSAID. Hydrocodone/Tylenol is the make up of vicodin. All opiates are highly addictive whether it be Heroin or Hydrocodone, they're still made from the same thing.

Answer 7

You should call him and explain they are not as effective, but it is most likely he is lowering your dosage as the pain should be subsiding now therefore lesser strength pain releif required, he may tell you to take some other over the counter pain killer along with this...

Do not up your dosage on your won both vicodin & tramadol treat moderate to moderately severe pain, they are both habit forming physical/psychological dependence can occur.. speak with your doc first!!!!

Answer 8

I think two weeks after surgury is usually enough for you to stop taking pain killers all together. Vicoden is VERY addictive and you should really try going without. If you have no signs of infection then you should be feeling alot less pain now. Go back to your doctor and have him check you out for infection. But please try to stay off the Vicoden. I don't know why doctors are still prescribing this medication anymore anyways. there are plenty of other ones that work just as good and less addicting.

Answer 9

By all means communicate. The Almighty YHVH gave us opium for the pain, but since people used it recreationally, the government outlawed it. Now we have to use things much more toxic, and expensive. The pharmaceutical companies make billions selling painkillers, and the CIA makes billions selling opium. The only person hurt is the honest citizen,and who cares about him?

Answer 10

Go in to see your doctor face to face and talk to him about your pain rather than just calling. Let him check you out. Pain is not all in your head. You don't have to live with it. It is a warning that something is wrong. Doctors nowadays have "opiophobia" because of dishonest people out there who abuse the drugs, but opiates are the oldest and safest form of pain relief out there. If taken them PROPERLY as directed by the doctor, less than 1% of patients become addicted, especially those who use them for acute pain control. All those people out there who preach about the dangers of opiate medications and scare people to death to take them need to get down off their high horses... if the deity of your choice had not meant for human beings to use opiates to relieve pain, he would not have made us with receptors in our brains for them to attach to. However, just calling your doctor and asking for more medication will get you nowhere. Go see him in person. Let him check you out. He can help you.