[Travelinglady]

I am wondering if you folks with fibro know if opiates are helpful for it. I have been limping along with Tramadol and Tylenol. My pain doc wants me to get off the Tramadol because it is known to interact with some meds I take. I've taken it for years. But I read somewhere that opiates don't touch fibromyalgia. Any experiences with this situation or knowledge otherwise will be appreciated.

[thunderbear]

Hey Payne. Opiates helped my pain during fibro flares. The doc had me on Vicodin & Neurontin. It helped but I felt spaced out for the better part of a year. I think that was the Neurontin though.

[lizardlady]

Payne, my pdoc has told me that opiates help some fibro patients. I've never tried them for fibro because I can't take them and function. I did take an opiate following surgery many years ago. It was weird. I still felt the pain, I just didn't care anymore. A friend who used the same med after the same surgery said it was like the pain was in another room.

Have you tried Lyrica or Savella? I've heard mixed things about both. I tried Lyrica once. I was stoned out of my head for days after taking one dose. I can't take Savella because it targets serotonin. I'm already on two antidepressants that effect serotonin, so I can't take it.

[Travelinglady]

I don't want to take Savella or Lyrica because of the side effects, liz. For one thing, I can't stand to gain any more weight!

I don't like the idea of being on an opiate, though, because of the addiction. I don't have trouble weaning off, but I don't want to be at its mercy, so to speak.

Darn fibro!

[Perna]

I would look into Cymbalta? Treating Fibromyalgia With Cymbalta: Side Effects, Benefits

[Travelinglady]

Alas, I think that's an anti-depressant--and I am bipolar.

I am feeling crabby and irritable right now. Recovering from surgery.... (I keep bringing this up all over the place here. ) Hard to be positive right now.

Thanks for the suggestions, everybody!

[kirby777]

Originally Posted by PAYNE1

I am wondering if you folks with fibro know if opiates are helpful for it. I have been limping along with Tramadol and Tylenol. My pain doc wants me to get off the Tramadol because it is known to interact with some meds I take. I've taken it for years. But I read somewhere that opiates don't touch fibromyalgia. Any experiences with this situation or knowledge otherwise will be appreciated.

I do not have firbo, but I know tramadol is a synthetic opiod...For ,e it does not touch my pain. Have you tried Nucinta/Nucynta..It is stroger than tram, but synthetic. I had to go to a pain MD a few yrs ago, and after I capsule of Lyrica, I was so zoned out, I barely knew my name. My ortho doc, whom i worked with, asked if i wanted someone to drive me home. He said I know you well and in many moods, but you are out of it.

For me, oxycodone helpe the most w/ pain.

I hope you feel better.

[Travelinglady]

Thanks, Kirby. I will ask my pain doc about that med. The thing is, the tramadol works pretty well for me, with Tylenol along with it.....

I just wonder how much it really does affect the other meds I'm taking. After all, they seem to be working okay!

[ginaaa22]

opiates help my pain from fibro also. My dr prescribes me butrans for fibro which treats moderate to severe chronic pain.

[jk2833]

Hi I have fibromyalgia and ME i used to have butrans patches but pain dr changed them to transtec patches, I also have zomorph tablets and oramorph medicine. The patches are on constant and the others are for flare ups.
I've tried every pain relief med, lyrica and gabepentin and they just didn't help at all.
Yes I know I'm addicted to morphine now however if it wasn't for these meds I would of ended my life due to the constant pain for over a decade.
Remember all pain relief can be addictive and have dide effects,even paracetamol so I wouldn't let some side effects put you off having pain free days or a better quality of life.
You can start on an extremly low dose, my first patch was only 5mg.
I can understand your thinking as I was the same until the pain over took my life, speak to the pain dr and work out what will suit you best
Hope you find some relief
J

[ginaaa22]

i have butrans patch too!

[lizardlady]

Trav, I just refound this thread. Have you tried Tramadol patches? My pdoc suggested them to me. As a patch it's a more slow, even release of the med.