Your NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are drugs that help with killing pain, fever, inflammation et non-narcotic--such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Celebrex are examples. And with these meds usually have to watch for GI bleeding if using long term or higher doses. NSAIDS are used for a lot diff. types of arthritis. Where Tylenol reduces fever ( antipyretic) et a pain killer (analgesic). And Tramadol is an analgesic which is now also considered a narcotic. Also, like you said most narcs have Tylenol in them so you need to beware/careful esp. if you take any OTC Tyl. Hope that helped you out some. Have good night et God bless.

You said it! Colliding epidemics = drug addicts and actual chronic pain sufferers and we sufferers are the sacrificial lambs. They make it impossible to get pain meds because they are addictive, doctors make you feel like you're an addict if you even ask for a script but more importantly again it helps you cope with the pain but doesn't take the pain away. Typically you will need more and more to deal with the chronic pain. So WRONG dealing with this disease. No easy answers.

Tramadol (known as Ultram) is also addictive et is also a narcotic now. So yes, you can get addicted too Tramadol also. Hydrocodone (known has Lortab, Norco, Vicodin) is very addicting!! Most ppl that take Tramadol also have to take regular Tylenol also with it for some relief. Take with your MD about what else you could try et explain Tramadol just isn't cutting it, et hopefully your MD will give you something stronger. Most MD's don't want to tho they say narcs do not help fibro. I think they just don't know how to handle fibro yet et they are so worried about addiction instead of pain control. It's sad. Even in ppl in the nursing home they don't want to give narcs to et it's like really these ppl are here to basically stay for their last few days, wks, or yrs let them be comfortable. Good luck et hopefully you find something soon to help you. Many hugs your way.

The difference is that Norco (hydrocodone) is an NSAID opiate while Tramadol is not.Norco, as an opiate, is also highly addicitive while Tramadol is not. And, while Norco is a more powerful drug in general, Tramadol does provide similar results for those who cannot take NSAIDS and/or opiates due to health complications or due to state regulations. For example, I have a kidney issue that contraindicates the use of NSAIDs in addition to my home state of Indiana has severely legislated the use of pain medications across the board making it exceptionally difficult to get a legitimate pain prescription of any kind - especially opiates.

My doctor is a fantastic Family and Geriatric Practitioner who has so far stayed well ahead of the common medical thought on any of my conditions so I'm a little disappointed to think he may have mislead me on this. He even took the time to read through, discuss and explain my late husband's autopsy report and the asymptomatic complications that lead to a missed diagnosis. Maybe, he's adopted this line of action due to the number of elderly patients he sees and the problems with that demographic has with becoming overmedicated. . . Upside, I'm having a minor ankle surgery to remove a lump and i expect my orthopedist, who is a BIG believer in providing more than merely sufficient pain relief, to give me at least a 10 day supply of Lortab. I can ration that out while I do some personal research before my next recheck. Thank you for helping me see my mistake.