I have a bad back, I'm currently taking 750mg of vicodin. But have been thinking abouting switching.?

Question

I have a bad back, I currently have been taking 750mg of vicodin. But have been thinking abouting switching to another Med, like 200mg Celecoxib, or 50mg of Tramadol HCI (That's all the on-line store stocks) . What one would be better? And is the strenth the same as the Vic 750mg?
The other Meds would be less expensive than what I'm paying now.

Answer 1

Vicodin 7.5/750 and celecoxib are completely different types of meds. Vicodin is a combination of hydrocodone (an opioid analgesic) and acetominophen (a mild analgesic/antipyretic) this is indicated for moderate nocioceptive pain. Celecoxib is a COX-2 inhibitor class antiinflammatory. They do not treat the same issue and therefore cannot be compared properly for head-to-head pain relief. If celecoxib relieves the pain it is by decreasing the inflammation primarily. Hydrocodone relieves pain by decreasing the perception of pain in the brain.

Generally hydrocodone would be expected to relieve the pain from injury more than celecoxib. However if the pain you feel is due to inflammatory changes (and most pain conditions have some component of inflammation) the celecoxib should be more effective. But if I was to select medications for chronic back pain, I would most likely put the patient on both celecoxib and an opioid analgesic.

Ultram is a opioid derivative and has similar mechanism of action to hydrocodone. Some studies have found the tramadol to be more effective than hydrocodone in managing moderate pain.

My experience with these drugs would indicate that while all patients have a reasonably similar response to hydrocodone and celecoxib, tramadol response is very patient dependent. While one person taking tramadol would get great response another would seem to have almost no relief. However, when tramadol works it is very effective.

NOTE: Tramadol may lower the seizure threshold in some patients and there has, therefore, been shown an increased seizure risk while taking this medication. tramadol should not be taken by persons with a history of addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Please see the precautions before taking any medications. All these medications are dispensed in the US by prescrition only. Do not allow yourself to be given these medications by an online, unseen provider with no knowledge of your condition. Seek your doctor's advice before switching to a new med or starting any medication.