Annie Says:
Hi. I'd like information comparing Percocet(oxycodone/ acetaminophen) and Tramacet (tramadol hydrochloride/acetaminophen). Is Percocet a stronger, or more powerful pain killer than Tramacet, and if so, by how much? eg if you have been taking Percocet are you likely to get the same effect from Tramacet? Is there a chart somewhere that compares or ranks all pain killers comparatively? If so please tell me where. Thanks - good health to you all
1
Verwon Says:
[Moderator]
Saturday, 7/28/2007 12:23:09 PM
The Tramadol is not actually a narcotic, it is derived from an opiated, but it is not actually one, so it is therefore nowhere near as strong as the Percocet, which contains a strong narcotic Oxycodone.
She asked about Tramacet not Tramadol. Tramacet is an opiate as is Percocet. As for the chart listing different opiates and their strengths, I would like to see that also.
My doc recently got me to try Tramacet instead of the 4-6 Percocet per day I usually take. I found it (the Tramacet) to be no where near as effective for pain control and in addition, I got the worst headaches I have ever experienced. If your Percocet,Endocet... whatever are effective - keep taking them. The side effects are minimal compared to Tramacet. (and the Tramacet is pricey.
I have been taking tramacet for about 6 months for chronic pain. It has been one of the few medications that worked. After I had surgery, I was prescribed percocet because apparently tramacet thins your blood, and I had to avoid it for a couple of weeks. I found absolutely no help from the percocet whatsoever. Tramacet does seem to have more side effects in the beginning, but if it's something you take regularily, it's suppossed to be less addictive as well.
In my country, neither of these combination drugs are available. Oxycodone is sold as an instant release (OxyNorm) capsule and modified release (OxyContin) tablet, the i/r being either 5, 10 or 20mg and the m/r form 10, 20, 40 or 80mg. Tramadol, which, Verwon, IS in fact an opioid, is only available in 50mg i/r capsules and 100, 150 and 200mg m/r tablets. No combinations, and no generics; OxyContin, having been introduced in 1996, can not be made generically until 2016. Only the original brand is available. Same goes for the tramadol, only available from Grunenthal, brand-name ZYDOL (Ultram in the USA). As oxycodone is a MUCH stronger drug (I have taken 40mg an hour ago and feel the effect still, despite my having been prescribed them for a long time) I would imagine that the combinations would show a similar difference in strength. Tramadol, which they tried with me many years ago, just could not cope with my pain at all, and also had a few unwanted side-effects. Oxycodone is a much more useful drug for severe pain, but I imagine that tramadol would be useful for light to moderate pain. It is probably the weakest of the opioids. Personally I can't see the need for these combinations when low doses like 10mg OxyContin and 50mg Zydol are available. What difference would paracetamol make, save perhaps lowering a fever? It has never been much of an effective analgesic to me, but is extremely useful in the case of high temperature. Paracetamol(acetaminophen in the USA) is a very dangerous drug, responsible for more deaths than any other single drug. It is highly hepato-toxic, and its almost universal availability, even in corner shops, is worrying. So many teenage 'cries for help' turn out to be funerals because of this drug. As I said, I see no reason to make these combination drugs; low dose therapy on the pure drug would be more effective I should think. However the answer to the question is in no doubt - any drug containing oxycodone will be a lot stronger and effective than one containing tramadol. For sure. Use a search engine to look for a 'narcotic equivalence table', most of which are geared towards a 'standard' of 10mg morphine, as benzodiazepine tables are with 10mg diazepam. I know of at least three tables on the net; the differences are minimal and the best show all the information relevant - half-lives and comparison with 10mg morphine sulphate being what one would want to be seeing.
My MD just prescribed Tramacet for me to relieve pain and inflammation due to osteoarthritis. I'm also taking Arthrotec at the same time.
So far I've found there to be next to no side effects for me. I haven't felt drowsy or had an upset stomach as some people apparently get. It's also done a great job in dealing with my pain.
As it is combined with paracetamol I expect it will also have the effect of reducing any inflammation.
Just wanted to thank everyone for your responses. Isn't it amazing how we all have differant experiences with the same drugs? The human body continues to mystify me.
Unless you're easily affected by medications, Tramadol is a big joke. If you have real pain you'd be best off with ANYTHING else other than the Tramadol. Over the Counter pain medicine has more effect. Of course that's just my experience with it.
Tramacet is a joke, i have a slipped disk and muscle and tention damage in my lower back, i took it. made me vomit and massive headaches. i'm 23 and my doc says i'm too young for perks. so i get nothing.
I just recently broke my clavical (coller bone) In a cycling incident. I was prescribed 30mg codiene phosphate tablets to help with the pain since there is nothing that can be done for a broken coller bone other then to give it time to heal. After 2 nights of not being able to sleep for more then 40 minutes at a time I made an appointment with my family doctor to get something better for the pain, which is when i was given 60 tablets of Tramacet.(To my surprise since they are new to Canada) While Ill admit the tramacet is more effective then the goodies of T3's aka codiene, there is still a moderate amount of pain which I have decided to self medicate myself with my own drug of choice- not pills either. I have had percocet before and without a doubt they can effectivly relieve you from pain (and give you a wider range of side effects when taken frequently or beyond recomended dose), by comparison they make tramacet seem weaker then a halls cough candy for pain.
Keep in mind pretty much 100% of your pain relief comes from your head, all medications do is try and block the pain receptors in your brain, if you take something and are convinced its working based on knowing you just took something doesn't mean it actually works. That is play placebo tests are done in the first place.
I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis a couple of months ago, I am on methotrexate, the pain has started to be come very severe, I was on tylnenol 3, but its just not doing anything, the doc just put me on tramacet, so I'm hoping for better results, any suggestions would be great
For any of your that have just started on tramadol I really sugest looking up the addictive side. The doctors will tell you that it is not addictive as it is a synthetic opiod. DO NOT BELIEVE IT!!!! Ihave been on them for two years. My pain has actually been finally relieved by surgery. I have stopped taking them now. I was taking 100mg 3x a day. Not super high doses. It managed the pain but stopping now is no picnic.I did wean down to 33 mg 2x a day but it dod not help in stopping. The leg twitches, the abdominal discomfort, the brain skips, and the muscle aches UGH! I have been on percocet for pain that was easy to wean down then stop. The tramadol not so much. Please if you want pain relief but do not want the physical withdrawl discomforts and pain do some research then make your choice.
I am 62 years old and since 2003 I am feeling pain in all my joints. And in 2007 they started to be very severe in shoulders, hips and knees. My MD prescript me Tylenol but it does not work while Tramacet is perfet. I just take one at night before bed time and that is all.
Hi to everyone,sorry for my English (not first language).Just wanted to say to everyone I have a sciatic nerve injury and it hurts as hell,I was taking Oxycocet,and Oxycodone now I can't get it anymore my doc says I will get addicted sorry but fxxk this story ! I got Tylenol 3 and Tramacet from which I ready to vomit every time I'm taking it.Well docs dont think about the pain you're going through anly thing they worry about the addiction.
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