There's definitely a difference between addiction and dependence.

Tramadol DOES work for some people, but in my own experience and my circle, it takes an unsafe amount to equal the strength of other long-acting opioids (i.e. morphine). Tramadol also carries a significant seizure risk when taken in quantity, and especially if combined with other opioids. It's the case with many narcotics, but Tramadol has a much lower threshold for causing seizures. For that reason alone I'd like to see it go to a CIII. It also doesn't help that it's available from so many Internet "pharmacies."

That said, I'm against any recreational/off-label opioid use.

That's interesting. All the info I've read about it says it's not addicting, but I believe anything can be addicting. Personally though, I don't see how it's addicting because it did nothing for me except help a little with my fibro pain when that's all I had going on. No relaxation or high. I can understand the relaxation though because it is an SNRI which is also why there's an increased risk of seizure, coma or death if taken in excess or with other SSRI's or SNRI's; it causes Serotonin Syndrome.

April,
The doctor interviewed did mention serotonin syndrome. He made it clear that, along with seizures, addicts risk of getting ss. Forgot to mention that!

Thanks!
Sandy

i take it i cannot image why there is no high affect with it they would have to abusing it i have no problem quitting it either .
i don't know what there doing with it but they must take heavy dose it only affects my pain not my head . but then i can quit most things i weaned myself off methadone because it mess with my head .
maby there getting a cheap cut of it of something . i think something else is going on . you never know what your going to get with some online pharmacy. hugs minnie

My brother in-law is a veteran and was put on tramadol for arthritis in his knees. He went for labs because it was time for annual checkup. Along with tramadol he was on a new Anti-inflammatory and trazadone. The day after labs they called and told him to stop all meds.

Of course he had hoffiic withdrawals within 10 hours. He was only taking 3 50mg tramadol. Had been for some time. I researched for sister. Assured her that the tramadol needed to be weaned if possible.

I went to the site WiseGeek. I have never really looked into this med aside from knowing it doesn't work for me because of my anti-depressants. What I found on this site was interesting.

Tramadol is a Class 111 in some states including mine. It is in the military as well. Some commented it was easier to wean from Vicodin than tramodol. It usually takes past 7 days for all withdrawal symptoms to go away.

The WiseGeek site was the only site I could find for weaning off. What I found really was scary. Sandy what you say is true. This drug has a calming affect. There were patients who had surgery and no longer needed it but found themselves wanting it for that purpose.

There were also self admitted who abused. So yes even though this drug may work for some and work well it should be recognized that is no different than any Class 111 drug and treated that way.

That means keep it out of reach and treat as any other narcotic. Expect withdrawal if you have to stop the med.

For my brother in-law the end of the story was not so bad. He saw his doctor 6 days later to discuss labs. Turns out his liver enzymes were up because of the new anti-inflammatory. By the time he saw doctor he had weaned off Tramadol. The doctor told him he could continue taking it. My brother in-law says he will suffer. The withdrawal was just too bad and he is still having some problems from it.

love and peace
hippy

Actually, Hippy, the military and those few states where Tramadol is controlled (add Oklahoma to the list beginning in November) have it as CIV, which still doesn't cut it in my book. The opioid/antidepressant mix is just so dicey. I've known people who took more than your brother-in-law, regularly, for a longer period who said they had no withdrawal issues at all when they stopped. Anecdotally, at least, the effects seem all over the place.

i was so so ill from withdrawal of tramadol even though i was weaned off. i can see why this drug is used recreationally and i fear it is more dangerous than people think .
thanks for the post x

This is like deja vu all over again. Me and another CP'er on this site just got through posting and talking about our stories of Tramadol and how it almost killed us, her from Tramadol and Serotonin Syndrome from which she's still recovering and me and Serotonin Storm and Overdose, from which I almost died and a Seizure Disorder which is permanent.

Tramadol or Ultram whatever you want to call it, is not the nice little super drug that people want to think it is. It is very dangerous, very addictive and one of the most difficult drugs there is to detox off of. It's not a med to be taken lightly.

Kat

(Zoloft cancels Tramadol ) i got that back from my pharmacy so if Zoloft cancels Tramadol how is that causing ss syndrome? wow hippy im sorry your brother in law went threw that . Meds affect persons differently. hugs minnie

I think people think that tramadol is safe because it's not an opiod. But it affects opiod receptors too.
When my pm, doc told me to stop it, I just stopped it. 4 or 5 days of living hell. I finally took just 1 a day until I ran out of it. My anxiety was through the roof, I felt so sick, couldn't sleep. Horrible.

The pharm. company advertises it as a wonder drug. But I read too many stories about it, and all the stuff it can do to you.

As responible cp sufferers, if you are on tramadol, please, please lock it up somewhere secure. Imagine if your child got a hold of it.
My son is a pretty smart 13 year old, but he is just 13 and although he's in no way curious about drugs, why give him the temptation just to "try it once"? It could lead to disastrous results.
'
thanks for posting your stories. I'm not sure if newer cp pts are aware of just how dangerous this drug is.

Sandy

Here's an off-beat little bit about tramadol....
For YEARS, when I would ask for a non-narcotic pain Med...tramadol was the go-to drug. Then I moved to the state I'm in now..went to a doc, and asked for tramadol like asking for any other non-narcotic Med...and the Dr. Acted like I was drug seeking.
I think not long after that, it was officially reclassified.
I guess I was lucky I always had to use it sparingly 'cause it sometimes made me dizzy.
Hugs..jc

What amazes me is the ease with which doctors will prescribe tramadol in comparison with other opioid medications. My ex-rheumy told me he'd rather prescribe tramadol as opposed to any NSAIDs for pain, but that he wouldn't even consider a controlled opiate medication. He also said that it was fine to keep taking them in spite of seizure-like symptoms, and told me that there weren't actually any side effects from taking it. I know that he was an awful doc, and I'm hoping this isn't the norm, but I was truly quite scared at how lightly he seemed to prescribe tramadol.

The reason why it's so often Rxd, is because of its classification. Drs as we all know, have gotten in too much trouble, or are paranoid for Rxing opioids.They have good reason.
Also, many people literally ask for something that's not a opioid/narcotic, they get what they asked for (by classification)

For me it works better than Vicodin for *my kind of pain* and my body and it worked longer for myself and my mother.
I've been very thankful of its classificationed or I may have suffered much longer than I already did.

How many drs have told you of the discontinuation syndrome that follows quitting antidepressants or nerve meds? None have told me, but the withdrawl was terrible!!!,,,much worse than tramadol, for me.

I think all drugs should be locked away if you have people coming in your home or children.

My pharmacist told me there are many other pharmacist that believe Neurontin should be classified as a narcotic. From being on it and getting off, I agree. Look up that withdrawl. For some it's fine, but for many it is horrible.

Just my 2 about any meds and there powers.

Would like to add..in regards to Seratonin Syndrome..
You should be especially aware of this if you take psyche drugs that are SRIs or SNRIs.
Check with your pharmacist.
Hugs....jc

personally, i just think it should be off the market. i'm not into synthetic narcs being made with anti-depressant kicks. the risks are too high. the side effects are too high. i just don't trust the drug and i don't think it has better analgesic effects or a better safety profile than simple codiene which also has a natural ceiling effect.

grr.