I had previously been taking ultracet (which is tramadol w/acetominophen) averaging about 9 pills a day for about 1 1/2 years. I didn't like how I was feeling taking all the pills and being so dependent upon them so I quit a little over 2 weeks ago c/t. I have been physically fine....mentally not so fine but definitely getting better.

Starting last weekend my back was getting very sore. Well I played tennis yesterday for the first time since I quit taking pills. And I am supposed to start playing golf next week. I was in agony last night and all of today. I called my doc and told him exactly what has happened and I told him that I will not go back to ultracet....that I don't want to take that many pills in a day. He recommended Ultram. He told me to start out at 100 mg and if that does nothing increase to 200 mg and that I can go up to 300 mg a day.

So my question is this, if I legitimately need the medication, should I take it? I guess if I needed to take 1 pill everyday to alleviate back pain, I would be ok with that. But there are no guarantees that it will even work.

I don't know what to do. I won't abuse it but I am afraid because I am someone that enjoys taking opiates even though I haven't used them for close to 2 years. I have access to percocet but 1/2 of a 5 mg does the trick for me. I am very confused. I would love some input from others.

Ultram and Ultracet are the same thing, in fact ultram is stonger because it has no acitomitphim and only has the trmadol, 50mg, the ultracet are the tylonal and 37.5 mg of tramadol. So if your are steering clear of tramadal, steer clear.

I completely understand what everyone is saying. Let me be clear. I stopped taking the Ultracet because I didn't like the fact that I was becoming addicted/dependent on taking 8-9 pills everyday. I felt as if my life was being ruled by popping pills and I associated every activity by popping pills.

Well the last week has been difficult pain wise for me. I am taking Motrin everyday. I even took percocet (only 1 pill) for 2 days because I couldn't move. I can't imagine that it is that good to be taking 2-3 Motrins everyday either.

So I called my doc and told him that I would not go back on narcotics (I had been taking Vicodin when he first started treating me about 2 years ago) and I didn't want to taking that many pills in a single day. His suggestion was for me to try Ultram ER. It's an extended release tablet so one lasts the entire day. He started me at 100 mg and told me that if one didn't work I could increase to two per day.

So my question is this, do you see a danger in this type of treatment? My problem mainly fell in the fact that I felt as if I was popping pills. If I can get my pain under control by taking 1-2 pills a day, is that an addiction?