I took it many years ago when my back pain first started. It was mildly effective, but like the Norco (vicodin) that it preceded, it caused severe constipation. I didn't find it much more effective than NSAID's ibuprofen or naproxen sodium (Advil or Aleve). I've heard that it's one of the harder synthetic opiods to quit if you take it for extended periods of time.
Most of the tramadol prescriptions have some aceteminophen content (Tylenol), so be careful with it when taking cold/flu medications that have heavy Tylenol contents. Any EMT will tell you that an aceteminophen OD is unrecoverable.
BTW, it made me sleepy as well.
