Tramadol or (dihydro)codeine?

[Lord]

So I'm a cautious guy and have had trouble with headache for many years and has been given codeine for this which has worked like a charm. Now I've come across a couple of tramadol 100mg and was just wondering if they would do the trick as well? And how much would one take? 30-60mg codeine phosphate is enough to take away my headaches. Is it best to take codeine one day and tramadol another maybe. I have these headaches like 3-4 times a month. Oxy is not really an option for me as i live in EU and aren't filthy rich

[Art Vandelay]

I've never had much success with tramadol for headaches. DHC works but it can increase intracranial pressure so be careful if you have encephalitis. I'd stay away from tramadol just because of the side effects of it. I'd stick to the dhc and don't exceed the therapeutic dose. Just my opinion.

[Lord]

I've never had much success with tramadol for headaches. DHC works but it can increase intracranial pressure so be careful if you have encephalitis. I'd stay away from tramadol just because of the side effects of it. I'd stick to the dhc and don't exceed the therapeutic dose. Just my opinion.

@Art Vandelay Thank you for that reply. I have friends who get back pains quite often and they take Tramadol for that. I'm always careful and I will not use the Tramadol until/if I get some physical pain. Didn't know that about intracranial pressure, VERY good to know.

[thebaboy]

I agree with Art, in my experience DHC is the more effective pain killer. Unfortunately, Tram is much more available and cheaper for me. If you can get the DHC, do so.

[Lord]

I agree with Art, in my experience DHC is the more effective pain killer. Unfortunately, Tram is much more available and cheaper for me. If you can get the DHC, do so.

@thebaboy I just tried the dihydrocodeine 30mg I recently bought and it's very good. I took one 5 hours ago and still feel great and no pain. Much better then ordinary codeine for sure. The DHC Continus wasn't really my thing with the prolonged release taking too long to kick in and it gave me horrible nightmares, just like morphine does to me. But we're all different.

[Bnjar5]

I find Tramadol deals with my pain and helps often to take the edge off especially good quality tramadol (Stada 50 or Anadol 50 )
Just my experience, it might be different for others find out what works
Good day to you.


Remember good information is good medicine!

[cajunbulldog]

I have found the Dhc 40mg most effective for pain relief and are equal to about a Hydro 10mg dosage in pain relief in my opinion.

[JackB]

I concur I think the 40mg DHC IR are the ones to go for, the Continus didn't really do it for me and gave me a bit of nausea. Tramadol I have never found to have a great effect and the same for standard codeine. I live in Europe too and I find it v irritating that it is almost impossible and if not impossible very expensive to get oxy and vics which I find far better for pain relief than DHC.

[Ptown96]

I try tramadol 50mg too many times , but I tooked 2 or 3 a day and works for me , my old doctor gave me Hydro and Oxy, too much to handle ..I went back to tramadol easy to get with out no problem , and the pharm that I get it from its located in California ...

[tinmuning]

**Reminder
Just to remind members of our revised rules on Schedule I & II meds---it's OK to discuss the prescribed use & effects of meds under the said categories--just the what is being discussed in this thread. I hope no one would post about where to get such meds since it is against our rules.

[rhfutureghost]

Just keep in mind that codeine is quite a bit stronger than tramadol, and if you have any type of opiate tolerance (atleast in my experience) tramadol will do little to nothing to help your pain. I would stick to the codeine or go with dihydrocodeine if available. Hope this helps, good luck and happy medicating!

[smo1959]

I have used Tramadol for a year or more for fibro and arthritis pain. I have noticed that it helps for headaches but generally don't take it for that. Tram has some nasty side affects (for me anyway) after a while. Don't know about DHC...

[Swizzle]

When I was presrcibed Tramadol, it did not do the trick for me. I had hand pain for my wrist from typing and such so that being said I went back to the Doc they pretty much said tought luck. I was not too happy. I eventually had to resort to IOP where I could received what I needed, thank you God.

[stillwater]

I am a fan of the DHC-120 release. Just few a day I'm set. Though, I've never tried Tramadol. Is it worth it compared to DHC?

[craizin]

I've tried both Tramadol and dihydrocodeine for severe headaches, which i suffer from about 4 times a month. Both have helped, but dihydrocodeine (especially the immediate release form) is much more effective. Tramadol has some potentially harmful side effects, such as seizures, even at normal dosage levels.

Also, compared to codeine, dihydrocodeine does not have a ceiling cap, plus it's about 1-1/2 times stronger and i find it lasts konger.

[miffytherabbit]

People often seem to have a downer on Tramadol and I think this might be because it's effects are not consistent. Tramadol has always worked well for me and I think this is because alongside it's painkilling properties, it also works as kind of anti-depressant too. I often get down because of my panic-disorder and Tramadol is capable of giving me an instant mood-lift. This effect is very fast acting, compared to S.S.R.I's etc, which can often take a couple of weeks to improve one's mood.

However, I've got a couple of friends that have used it for pain relief and they have reported much more mixed results: one friend has said it is totally ineffective for their pain problems.

I take Dihydrocodeine currently and it's always worked really, really well for me. However, like other opioids, tolerance develops really quickly and I've had to increase my dose considerably to achieve the same effects. DHC seems to alter my mood too, making me feel chatty and communicative. I definitely don't experience this with straightforward codeine, or even some of the stronger opiates either.

I didn't notice a tolerance developing with Tramadol like I have done with DHC, but that might be because Tramadol doesn't seem to give me that pleasant rush that DHC does. Also, DHC gives me the most terrifically bad, nay horrendous, constipation. And I mean horrendous too, not wishing to dwell on that!

[MaxPower]

People often seem to have a downer on Tramadol and I think this might be because it's effects are not consistent. Tramadol has always worked well for me and I think this is because alongside it's painkilling properties, it also works as kind of anti-depressant too. I often get down because of my panic-disorder and Tramadol is capable of giving me an instant mood-lift. This effect is very fast acting, compared to S.S.R.I's etc, which can often take a couple of weeks to improve one's mood.

This fits with my experience. Tramadol is a weird substance. I have friends who hate the stuff (they experience nothing but negative side effects) and others who love it (strong anti-depressant, euphoric, analgesic effects). I fall somewhere in between. 100mg of the stuff usually picks me up, and sometimes helps with pain...but not always. In short, I consider it a useful tool, but I can't completely rely on it as an effective painkiller. DHC, if nothing else, is more reliably effective at treating pain.

[asr]

I have always used a particular iop , which no longer accepts visa, only cash, which seems shady. I tried AMC, but when you register on their page it does not include united states as an option for the country. I have seen many positive reviews from US recipients, what gives?