Tramadol gave me a seizure and a concussion

Tramadol (ultram) can potentially cause seizures, although I'm not sure if the normal dose would have for you. You really need to call your doctor's office and ask whether you should stay on it at the regular dose, or how to wean off, but don't do it on your own. There are many other choices for pain, though. I don't think tramadol is an opiate, and that's why lots of docs try it first, but if it's causing seizures you need to explore other options with your doctor.

I just reread your post and since you've been on it for a year without problems, if it's given you decent pain control the problem may have only been the increased dose. Maybe you can stay on it but you'll need to be more careful about maintaining an accurate dosing schedule.

I saw your post about Tramadol while I was on the web, and thought about commenting.  I was on Ultram for years because of chronic back pain and neuropathy in my left hip.  I learned a lot of the little known facts about Tramadol:

1. Tramadol IS an opioid, in the sense that it acts much like morphine in binding to the opioid receptors of the brain to help ease pain.

2. When Ultram was first marketed in 1995 it was thought to be far less addictive and not cause withdrawl/dependence and had lower chances of abuse.  Right now Ultram/Ultracet are on the watch lists of the FDA because of hundreds of voluntary reports of withdrawal, dependence and addiction.  The DEA Diversion webite has information on this drug and the incidents of abuse and dependence.

3.  Ultram works not only with the pain receptors but also on the seritonin levels in the brain.  Which is why anti-depressents like Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft etc are not to be taken when Ultram is being used. 

4.  Ultram can cause withdrawal, which can range from the normal flu-like symtpoms to tremors and a temporary condition that looks like severe restless leg syndrome.

5.  Becuase of it's role in the brain, Ultram has been linked to a higher incidence in seizures, even in people who have no personal or family history of them.

If you want to stop therapy with Tramadol, please call your doctor and tell him what is going on.  You will probably have to be weaned off the drug. Stopping it abruptly can cause all sorts of health problems, and some studies show you may even be more prone to seizures during this time.

Tramadol for me was an evil and a blessing.  For some reason, I've never responded well to pain killers.  I can take a full dose of something like Percocet and feel nothing.  Most make me anxious and provide no relief.  Ultram was the first the provided help with chronic pain. 

I was in a car accident a month ago (I slept drove over 25 miles to the middle of nowhere and rolled the car).  I had a severe concussion and two weeks later I had a seizure for the first time.  I was moved to Ultracet but now I may not be able to take it.  From what I've been told by my doctors, one seizure isn't necessarily abnormal in ones lifetime.  If there is a repeat occurance though - then other steps to prevent seizures have to be taken.