Chronic Pain Support Group

Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...

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Brain & Nervous System
/ Chronic Pain Support Group

Tramadol Addiction

deleted_user
deleted_user
Hello guys! Been on bbc.com and heard a podcast about the addiction to tramadol.

Seems people, especially in the Middle East, are using tramadol for it's "relaxation" effects. Apparently you don't get a 'high', but helps them to relax.

They also talked about tramadol overdose and withdrawal. All in all, it was an interesting podcast.

They also said that tramadol is also being abused more and more by teenagers. They think a pill is ok, not like shooting up heroin or snorting coke. WRONG!

So lock up the tramadol and don't give it to anyone or God forbid, sell it.

So sad to hear of another pain medication being abused by so many people.

Do you think that tramadol should move up on the FDA's schedule list, perhaps to a schedule 3 or 2? I think that would only add to our frustrations of not being able to get the meds we need, but it would bring to light the growing problem of tramadol addiction.


Oh, and the doc who was being interviewed made it clear that when you use pain meds for pain, you are not addicted to them. Tolerant perhaps, but not addicted. I appreciated those words!


Sandy
deleted_user
deleted_user
I think Nucynta has a built in antidepressant similar to tramadol?
deleted_user
deleted_user
Iggy,
I did hear somewhere that the FDA was considering making Lyrica a controlled substance. I don't know what the addictive qualiites that Lyrica has. I've never experienced anything but pain relief from it. I suppose any drug, taken for the wrong reasons and at higher doesages would have the ability to become addicting.

Sandy
deleted_user
deleted_user
Wow just got through reading posts of tramadol although it takes the edge of for me i do take 8a day and bad days Dr says i can go up to 10. But to ask the Dr for something different/ stronger i feel like a day"junkie" in had CP for 8years now. But still feel embarrassed about asking for change. I found your posts very interesting.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Where I live, they made a new law a couple of years ago that gun owners had to buy a safe or show proof that they already had an approved one. Maybe they should start this with cp meds.

When I was a kid it was the liqueur cabinet. Today's kids are interested in the medicine cabinet.
And sometimes even other "friends" workers that venture into our homes.
That's how so many kids get started and they find themselves unable to quit.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Manxie- don't feel alone. I've been Rxd it for years. Many of us, that is all we can get. It can take an edge off my pain much better than many of the stronger meds. It all depends on your type of pain and your body. Lastly and sadly, we can't just pick and choose a med with our drs. I'm sure many that don't like the idea of it, would use it if that's all hey could get.
It does help tons of people.
deleted_user
deleted_user
manxie if tramadol works for you and you take it as prescribed then I would consider that. Many do find this drug works for them. I think the post originally started to let people be aware of the issue of dependent and recreational use.

There has been some good advice regarding this med not working with anti-depressants. It is always good to research any medicine before taking it and check for reactions to the other meds you take.

What works for one doesn't always work for someone else.

Iggy made a good point in that there are other meds that have withdrawal issues that aren't even pain meds. Our body can become dependent on other meds. That is why a script says Do Not Discontinue Before Talking To Doctor.

love and peace
hippy
deleted_user
deleted_user
Thanks guys i just had blinkers on when i read island just panicked. I must learn to stay calm and reread things then i won't freak well as much anyway lol
deleted_user
deleted_user
Tramadol is prescribed to people who have illeus. That is, people whose digestive systems cannot tolerate narcotics, but if it has been reclassified I don't know where that leaves it truly.
aprilraven
aprilraven
As far as withdrawal, I had no problem going off of it cold turkey after 11 years of daily use. None at all. So each person handles meds differently. I'm on Cymbalta for my fibro pain now which I've heard is absolutely horrible to come off of too. Hopefully I won't have to find out. My doc absolutely would not let me start the Cymbalta though, until I agreed to stop the Tramadol first because of the risk of negative interaction.
deleted_user
deleted_user
yes, nycenta is a similar type of combo, but much stronger and scheduled differently if i'm not mistaken.

i don't support any further legal vilification or scheduling of necessary meds, but i do support the removal of dangerous drugs.

i am not in support of the science behind, opiate anti-depressant combo meds when we have so many good individual meds for each. to assume that all people with pain are depressed will lead to a larger market for this newer type of medicine...

i'm just not digging on this who put morphine in my zoloft, no who put zoloft in my morphine "advancement." it's too easy to err with.

all in my very humble opinion.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Tramadol is an opioid since there is at least partial reversal of its effects when counteracted by the opioid antagonist naloxone. But the entire effect of tramadol is not reversed by naloxone, therefore it has some painkilling activity via the serotonin system. It is an opioid since it acts on the opioid receptor, but is such a weak agonist that it is not even a controlled substance in most states. But it can indeed be abused and may lead to a mild withdrawal.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Actually, what makes tramadol a good med for most people it's Rxd to, is the combo. The antidepressant part is put in there for soft tissue pain. Which is why this med is Rxd to many with fibro, neck, back, knee pain, cramps. Etc
Tramadol is the only med I can take for depression and helps my soft tissue pain without putting me to sleep.
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