Is Tramadol a narcotic?
Is Tramadol a Narcotic?
Yes and No. No, Tramadol is not officially classed as a federal narcotic by either the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) or the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). The original classifications created by Controlled Substances Act of 1970 are now monitored and changed by the DEA and the FDA, but neither recognizes Tramadol as a narcotic. Instead, Tramadol is in a class of medications called opiate agonists. However, Tramadol is classified as a narcotic in some states such as Virginia and Kentucky.
Should Tramadol classification change?
Given the addictive nature of all opioid drugs, it might make sense to class Tramadol as a narcotic. In a legal sense, most opium, opium derivatives, and their semi-synthetic substitutes are already considered narcotics. Furthermore, Tramadol can be addictive and is prone abuse and misuse. One argument that manufacturers of Tramadol is is that the medicine is rarely addictive in people who genuinely need them to control pain, and is slow acting.
But given the efficacy of Tramadol, its physical dependence and necessary withdrawal when you stop taking it, I believe that this drug should be classified a narcotic, in order to create legal consequences for those who are taking Tramadol for non-medical reasons. Here is a list of why I believe this:
PROS – Why Tramadol should be a narcotic
* technically a narcotic b/c it binds at opiate receptors in the brain
* high potential for non medical abuse
* current high rates of misuse
* easy to obtain, sell or distribute
CONS – Why Tramadol should not be a narcotic
* legitimate medical use of Tramadol may be affected
Discussion
What do you think? Should Tramadol remain unclassified? Or should it become a narcotic? Your comments, experience and opinions are welcomed and will be posted here.
6:43 pm
October 27th, 2010
Hey, I think your mostly on track with this, I won’t say I totally agree , but its not really that big of a issue.
8:04 pm
October 28th, 2010
Not sure what you mean, but Tramadol can get you really messed up. Do you have any experience to share?
6:55 pm
November 2nd, 2010
im hooked very bad you can get a bottle of 100 pills 100mg in mexico and there legal to bring across i go through a bottle a week
10:06 am
May 28th, 2011
I’m a nurse who suffers from chronic pain from a back injury and have over the years become very familiar with just about every pain medication from non-narcotic to narcotic out there and can clearly say that anyone who thinks that Tramadol isn’t just as much of a narcotic as vicodin either doesn’t know what they’re talking about, only believes what they’ve been taught or has something to gain from the sales of the product. I can take a vicodin, narco or tramadol with the same effect; Warm, soothing, calming opiate based results that turns to lethargy with over use, no longer works to relieve pain in time, perpetuate insomnia and sickness when usage stops.
Sounds like addiction to me. Or I can always chug some NyQuil that always works as well. The drug companies just like the cigarette companies are in the business of making money. Addictions a good way to insure profitability and as we all know pharmaceutical medications are the fastest growing areas of abuse in the US today. Thank the lobbyists.
12:12 am
June 24th, 2011
Tramadol is not addicting
7:17 pm
July 16th, 2011
i think this is a joke seriously so say if your fasmily member leaves a few tramadol at your house and the police raid ur house u will get in trouble for having them even though they are not yours its really stupid people getting high off tramadol!
9:14 pm
July 16th, 2011
I wish paul would tell us what he uses for chronic pain. If you are in pain even aspirin can be considered addictive – as you have to have it.
I have taken aspirin until blood vessels in my eyes burst , stomach burned, and every bump was a bruise.
Tylenol – you cannot take it every day – I tried – causes extreme and strange muscel spasmsand causes my blood pressure to go sky high.
Ibuprophin – took it until stomach burning could no longer be tolerated and it caused brusing and extreme face sweating.
Vicodin – has tylenol
Vioxx – offf market now -due to heart problems chemical smelling very loose bowels – swelling of eyelids, face , ankles. -
Celebrex same as Vioxx.
Arthrotec – chem smelling loose stools so bad you cannot leave home.
Mobic – did not use very long
all these things very expensive and no better pain relief than aspirin.
Now I take tramadol.
no stomach pain – I take 50 mg tabs so I can adjust dose according to pain. Usually only take 1 in am and 1 in pm. If I have a bad pain I take a bit more.
I sometimes and 1 aspirin or a naproxin.
I have no side effects, and my stomach has healed up.
I do not feel it is addicting.
If you people have any other things that can be taken that is safer than tramadol for pain I would like to know about it.
1:25 am
July 19th, 2011
Hello Brenda! I am 64 and have lupus and fibromyalgia and take no pair medicine but surely need somthing. I have tried everything but except narcotics. Doctors are very hesitant to prescribe “DRUGS” for pair. I have a rhruemathologist (probably-misselled both words!) that gave me a RX for Tramadol and it was like taking an asprin. I am glad it worked for you. Thank God I have a high pain tolerance. Otherwise, I would have blown my brains out by now. I keep praying that by some miracle SOMEONE will come up with a NON addictive pain pill that we can take so we can walk and be able to take part in family activities – - – like boating. I wish you good health my friend.
11:58 pm
July 27th, 2011
Someone just sent me an email on Tramadol addiction! Honestly this just blows me away. Maybe I’m in way too much pain or I’m NUTS. When my physician gave me an RX for this and I took the tramadol it did absolutely NOTHING for me. NOTHING !!!!! So I flushed it down the toilet. Anyway, I sure hope it helps some people. However, making this drug classified as a narcotic is crazy. I took two 50 mg. tablets and they did not relieve my paint one at all. So in my book; this should not be in the same family as an “opiate”. I am not a physician, just a 64 year woman with chronic pain. Everyday I pray for a non-narcotic drug to be manufactured for folks like me. I DON’T WANT ( AND WILL NOT TAKE) TO TAKE ADDICTIVE DRUGS. Dear God is there any
alternative? Has anyone got a suggestion?
12:13 am
July 28th, 2011
Drug companies are making a killing off of us! Is there anyway we can put pressure on them to come up with non-narcotic drugs for people with genuine cronic pain? We don’t want to get HIGH we just want to be able to walk, bend, sit, etc. I haven’t been able to grocery shop in 15 YEARS!!! It is the small every day things that would mean the world to us. How do you feel?
8:22 pm
September 8th, 2011
please can someone tell me what class type drug tramado is?
2:34 pm
September 9th, 2011
Tramadol is a centrally acting synthetic opioid analgesic.
12:01 pm
September 17th, 2011
I am a 33 year old medical assistant who was prescribed Tramadol for pain caused from fibro myalgia. I was very familiar with it because my dad used to take it and shamefully enough…i used to steal them from him. That was just the beginning of my addiction…little did I know it would get way out of hand! I started by taking two or three and until two days ago…I was taking 18-27 at a time! Same effects as herion believe it or not…nodding out and much more! I have since quit taking ALL pain meds as I was tired of having siezures from the abuse! I have two days clean…however…beieve it or not…its truly the worst thing i have gone through! my doctor actually had to prescribe detox meds so I wouldnt be quite as sick! It is a wonderful drug if not abused…in one year I have made my life a complete mess over Tramadol (and others)…if you are prescribed this drug…be very careful and never take more than two at a time because I promise you WILL have a seizure!
12:10 pm
September 17th, 2011
Betty…it may be stupid that people abuse or have abused tramadol…unfortunatley I am one of those people! I have two days off the pain meds however my doctor had to prescribe some detox meds to help ease my detox…and let me tell you…I am very sick! I havent slept in three days and I feel like I have a bad flu bug! But my whole point is people make bad decisions in their life and that doesnt make them stupid…I am a very educated young woman…even went to medical school…Im okay if other people want to judge me…but deep down I know I am simply fixing a mistake I chose to make a year ago
2:49 am
September 22nd, 2011
i also have lupus, fibro, irritable bowl, sjogren’s, and migraines. i was on lortab and soma for the past 2 years and never abused them or had to up the dose; i actually would ration them out to last longer than a month. recently the florida legislature passed a statute that put so much registrictions on doctors prescribing controlled substances that my doc decided not to do it anymore, so she switched me to tramadol…only been on a few days with some relief. if they change tramadol’s statue to opioid, i have no clue what i will take becuz i cant take nsaids cuz im on the highest dose of immunosuppresants that is legal. just praying for legal pain relief.
6:43 am
September 24th, 2011
Tara I am in the same situation as you but have not stopped taking the tramadol because I am scared of being sick. Would you be willing to talk more with me, privately? Please reply to my comment and I can give you my e-mail address. Thanks.
7:43 pm
October 7th, 2011
For several years Tramadol has helped me function and walk when my pain becomes overwhelming. When I hear other people abusing it, and now in the last few months see how some doctors are increasingly paranoid to treat legitimate pain, I understand why I am being treated like a criminal by my doctors. After over ten urine tests I would hope that one day my Doctors will stop treating me like a drug addict and treat me as a responsible patient with real pain. My MRI shows crushed discs, my pain is real, and I do not take more than prescribed ever. Still Doctors care more about precautionary or preventative defenses in every case, so they don’t end up in court like Conrad Murray. This medication helps with my pain period, yet refills are always more than an act of congress because the doctors are super afraid, and instead of being a patient they are beginning to treat patients like dangerous criminals and our punishment is with holding pain medications. Personally I have taken myself off Tramadol a few times easily, once it was difficult for me, but I am in control and this is why I will not accept anything stronger. I see people taking much stronger forms of pain medications and that means they may never stop being addicted or needing them, me I can stop my medications at will, although not comfortable, and my pain comes back. Then I am forced to resume pain management and take tramadol. This is upsetting that I read about people who take more than they are prescribed, you make legit patients suffer and pay the consequences. My pain is real, so why all the paranoia ?
7:54 pm
October 7th, 2011
Just to be clear my urine tests come back perfectly clean every time. One doctor told me that there is a risk that a person could take an excessive amount and poison themselves and die. So if you took your entire bottle I guess, but I do not take more than two in four to 6 hour period and I even take less the majority of the time. Seriously if I wanted to kill myself, my blood pressure medicine Micardis 80/12.5 HCT
would be easier to overdose on to kill a person. So now that there is a risk of someone killing self with blood pressure medicine, why not stop refills on it too? Because the issue is not about the threat of danger or suicide, the truth is that Doctors are being pressured to treat every patient as a criminal drug addicted evil person, despite the fact that MRI results and other means show real severe pain and that the patients do not abuse the prescription nor consider the medication as a drug for recreational use. Having real pain is not fun, and when you have real pain the medication works to block that pain, and is not used to produce a euphoria state. When you are in real pain, tramadol does not make you feel good, it only prevents you from suffering. But you people who have no pain and get tramadol and then abuse it and overdose on it, and then go to rehabs and emergency rooms with tramadol in your systems, are really making things difficult for all of us legitimate patients. I do not abuse drugs and I am not a drug addict, I have real pain, and so far tramadol has helped block some of that pain along with ibuprofen. That is all I know about it, and to think someday it will be illegal for a doctor to treat legitimate pain means, that it might hurt to much to walk when I throw my back out, and shop or attend school or other important daily activities. Thanks alot for screwing things up for all of us you dope heads.
9:03 pm
October 7th, 2011
Tramadol is for the birds especially after 4 major surgeries. However, indeed those other strong ass opioides, will make you feel good rather than releive pain if you abuse them. So personally, Tramadol is just effective as advil or better. take my word
9:10 pm
October 7th, 2011
Linda Carrrey, your so friggen right. Trust me. mike castillo
8:30 pm
October 9th, 2011
i have been on tramadol about 3 weeks now after losing lortab and i think it may work even better than the lortab. i even got my husband to get a scrip for chronic knee pain not helped by nsaids and its even helping him. i do believe that true pain patients dont abuse their medicine because they actually need the pain relief so that they can function and try to have a life with their families and friends. i just pray that florida doesnt change tramadols statue to opoid cuz i’d be stuck in bed then…good luck to everyone:)
10:36 am
November 5th, 2011
I have been dealing with chronic pain since I was 22. A severe csr accident left me with alot of new hardware throughout my right leg, foot, and ankle.The worst was a degloving injury to my right foot. A degloveing injury is when all the soft tissue is mashed and sepirated from the bones. Tendons and ligaments are basicly destroyed with the nerves being severly dammaged bringing the onset of severe neuropathy. After reading these blogs, I normally don’t put in my two cents but this time all of these answers hit so close to home I felt oblagated.I normally take a 10mg. percocet every six hours. Soma twice a day for muscle cramps, and lyrica 150 mg. every eight hours. By the way folks those of you who haven’t tryed lyrica are really missing out on a very highly bennifical drug for the relief of chronic pain. I recently started taking tramadol in the attempt to have some help with breakthrough pain of the morning and evenings which are the worst times of the day for me After taking it for about three months, I noticed that it just wasn’t working the same like it was. I was tempted to take more but I didn’t.I did however take an extra muscle relaxer.. It was probibly an hour later I began to feel nausous and soooo tired.. I was at my mothers as well so I was trying to hide that fact that I was feeling sick so she wouldn’t worry… It didn’t even suspect in the least what was about ro rake place. I came to in the hospital. The tox screen came back negative for everything except the meds I take.Folks take this seariously. Follow your Drs. orders with this medication… Even taking it propperly , the normal dose can bring on a siecure.So folks you don’t have to be a druggie for this to happen to you. Furthermore to the folks talking about being treeted like a dope head criminals; immagine being 22 and having to plead your case… Even with medical transcripts in a folder about two feet thick.Folks, hang in there and keep reserching and reading, shareing yourthoughts everywhere you can. Who knows, a physician somewhere might read your comments and it change his perception on how he sees people who suffer from chronic pain. We need to stick together and stand our ground until we are nolonger treeted like criminals or drug addicts and given the respect we deserve . If anyone wishes to respond feel free to email me at mlmindwalker#hotmail.com.
10:44 am
November 5th, 2011
You are right. I take lyrica and tramadol both. Lyrica is an outstanding drug for aiding in the relief of chronic pain. The sideeffects are mild depending on the dose and it doesn’t seem to be addictive. Good luck.
8:24 pm
November 5th, 2011
lyrica did not work for me but tryciclids like celexa and cymbalta really help my fibromyalgia and sciatica pain…i do feel like the tramadol may not be as effective as when first i took it but im not going to take it other than prescribed…just gonna have to make do:(
5:01 am
November 26th, 2011
I take tramadol for chronic left flank pain until doctors and insurance people can do their job right and I can have surgery. It dulls my pain if I take 100-150mg, but still doesn’t stop the pain. I’m not at all addicted to it and dread when I actually do have to take it because it makes me sick. But it is better to be sick then it is to deal with the pain. (Either way, most of the time I still can not function) I don’t think this is anything that even comes close to a narcotic, but we all have different opinions and different reactions to certain medications.
11:06 pm
December 12th, 2011
My doctor just perscribed me Tramadol after I told him that I DO NOT WANT anything narcotic. I was using Ibuprofen for back and knee pain but only took it once or twice a month. I have seen narcotics ruin peoples lives and I refuse to become like them. I can deal with the pain for the most part since I have a high pain tolerence. I think anything that has any narcotics in it should be labeled as such. That is why I refuse to goto any pain clinics. Guess I need to call him and ask why he gave it to me after I stated I did not want it. But I need something more with the cooler and wet weather causing my joints to hurt more.
11:27 am
December 14th, 2011
Hi Paul. Just be sure that you understand that Tramadol is not a LEGAL narcotic, although by medical definition as a pain reliever, Tramadol is a narcotic.
6:14 pm
December 23rd, 2011
man tramadol is a miracle drug thank the people who invented it.
9:58 pm
December 27th, 2011
what kind of pain are you using tramadol for mike?
7:44 pm
February 3rd, 2012
I have taken just about every drug (legal and not) known to man – not proud, was just a rebellious teen. I have been taking Tramadol for a few years now due to severe sciatica and other health probs – the only thing addictive about it is if I don’t take it, I have pain. If I take a whole pill, it wires me to no end, but it CERTAINLY does not have the affect (at least on me) as, say, Lortab or something else in that range. If I don’t need to take the Tramadol (the few times I am not having pain) I in NO WAY whatsoever have withdrawals. It is my personal opinion that this is NOT addictive for anything other than the fact that you MIGHT be addicted to NOT feeling pain when you take it. So…….
11:05 pm
February 7th, 2012
I was taking lortab then percocets while going to physical therapy and to my chiropractor for left lower back and sciatic nerve pain in my leg.. I had enough of that narcotic crap.. I got hooked and went through hell getting off of them .. you will get hooked regardless of your confidence.. Just like ciggs but way worse.. I had pain everywhere.. Then I switched to tramadol and it actually works taking to account my tolerance.. For me, I wouldn’t say its addicting but actually helps stop the pain.. I had different dosages prescribed, 37.5,50 and 100mg I did notice narcotic affects resembling percocets more than lortab at higher doses but without the intense euphoric feeling people get hooked to.. Although similar.. Id recommend it over the tough stuff and I would consider it a narcotic although less habit forming therefore should remain easily accessible for all..
5:57 pm
February 12th, 2012
I don’t really notice that narcotic effects. I been on vicodin, lortab, and oxycodone and those work way better than tramadol. Now a days doctors try to find alertanatives for narcotics but they don’t always work or have worse symptons. I don’t understand how people can say I’ll never take addictive medicines… If the pain is bad enough you will take what ever works. Personally none of those medications worked as good as medical marijuana and I didn’t have to smoke it. I ate a pill or eatable with no withdrawals what so ever. Its sad that you can’t get the medicine that helps without feeling like a drug addict.
10:39 pm
April 10th, 2012
stephani i know what you mean, its called dependacy.
1:00 pm
April 11th, 2012
Yes, but keep in mind that physical dependence is possible and is distinctly different than addiction. The one characteristic present during any addiction is mental craving, or obsession.
8:25 pm
June 8th, 2012
I have been useing Tramadol for several years to treat arthritis. I have never had any of the side effects talked about here. (Could that be brcause I take it as my Doctor directs?) I have missed doses sometimes two or three in a row and the only effect I feel is the flair up of arthritis pain in both wrists and my back. If I am addicted to anything it is the ABSENCE of pain in my joints!
4:37 pm
June 11th, 2012
Hi Kirk. Thanks for sharing more about your positive experience using tramadol. I’d just say that drugs work differently in each person. I’m glad that tramadol helps your arthritis and that you don’t experience withdrawal when you stop taking it.
11:10 am
June 28th, 2012
dont think it should be classed as a federal narcotic, it can be use for many other purposes then just physical pain, such as anxiety, depression, even can be used to help with withdrawls for heavy opiate users to aid them in quitting oxy cottens or heroin
I was on oxys for quite awhile, methadone does work but its gets stuck in your muscles and bone so when you do stop cold turkey all together you sweat and deal with the same withdrawl pain, your just trading 1 withdrawl for another, and and it takes a month to get it out of your system depending how long you were on it,,
and suboxone is so expensive if you dont have insurance, never tried it but read quite few reveiws saying its the same propblem as methadone so I figure I might aswell just go with tramadol since its cheaper, I can get as much as I want and never run outm and its 100% legal perscriptions you can order off the net, the best route to go, thats just my opinion
its a free country I dont see why they wont sell this over the counter like in canada does with codeine, some people really need it and cannot afford the to go to the hospital to get perscriptions
1:13 am
July 25th, 2012
i take tramadol daiy for intense burning .aching, shooting pain from my buttocks to my toes. my feet are also numb at times. this all began with a cytomegaloviral illness more tham 2 years ago. the docs and i use the word loosely, treated me like i was “nuts” i went to 12 plus docs my first 6 months of beimg ill and was told there was nothing wrong with me, go back to work. at that time i could hardly walk into the doc ‘s office. i yelled there is something wrong with me. and i have been a r.n. for 30 years. sooo i ended up with a lumbar fusion, with NO relief from pain.the surgeon actually discredited me to other docs. i had to wrote a letter to stop him. hippa you know, now i am being told i have neuropathy from the virus. soooo. i have pain 24/7 for 2 plus years. tramadol and gabapentin help to ease the pain, but not rid me of it. so if i am dependent on a drug, so be it . the alternative is to be in severe pain. and ask me why i had a fusion for neuropathy???? never never never trust a doctor. they do not feel your pain. i just wish all my ignorant doctors could feel what i feel for 72 hours. i think if you are having chronic ongoing unrelived pain take/do whatever you need to find relief. p.s. i was never sick before this and am 60 years old. if you never had pain you just can,t imagine the SUFFERING.
8:44 pm
September 3rd, 2012
I invite people to come back after three years on being on Tramadol. Try to get off of it and see what it does. Because, by then you will be tolerent to that and all other normal doses of narcotis. Getting off Tramadol is the most horrific thing that has happened in my life. Think of countless weeks trying to calm the feeling of “crawling out of your skin” with no where to turn for help? Guess what? Detox won’t take you. So you are off to fend for yourself as your world falls apart. I dare you to try. This HAS to be a narcotic. I have a couple weeks to go and I’ll be fine. But I’m on a mission.
3:49 pm
September 16th, 2012
I just took my first dose of Tramadol last night at Midnight (100mg). It was prescribed by my VA doctor to treat a sciatic nerve problem I have. It didn’t kick in for about 2 hours. Possibly because I had a big dinner. But when it did kick in, holy smokes! I woke up and my head was totally spaced out. The pain I went to bed with was gone, but it was definitely a powerful drugged feeling. It’s 9:47AM and I am still experiencing a residual effect. This is definitely something I will take for extreme, emergency pain situations only.
11:32 pm
September 30th, 2012
I have taken 7 doses of tramadol. Two 50mg pills each dose once in the evening each day. When I first started taking it, it was pretty effective against my sciatic nerve pain in my leg. I also experienced the weird “slow motion” effect of my body moving VERY slowly. And there was a weird “head trip” of my head feeling “spacey”. Now, I don’t experience either, but I do wake up in the middle of the night with insomnia. Seems like my brain is in overdrive and I get streaming thoughts” going through it. Last night I didn’t take any and suffered a minor insomnia attack. For th4e life of me i can’t figure why anyone would take this drug for it’s “effects”. I don’t enjoy them at all and onmly take it for the sciatic nerve pain.
2:22 pm
October 2nd, 2012
Hi Mike. Thanks for sharing more about how tramadol affects your body and mind. Some people are just hard wired (scientists postulate) to be more prone to enjoying psychoactive effects than others. I do wonder, though, if there are other treatments out there for nerve pain that don’t have these unwanted side effects. The night waking and the panic does not sound appealing!
2:02 pm
October 22nd, 2012
More info on the effects of Tramadol:
I have discovered that the drug is more effective when take on an empty stomach or after a light meal (soup and sandwich). I still only take it before bedtime. No way I would take this during the day. If you have to drive or operate any kind of machinery, it’s just too risky. It is still effective for my sciatic nerve pain and also seems to work for arthritis pain. And I agree 100% with Mr. Gray and Faith who posted above. I have no problems going off Tramadol and only take it when needed for pain. That is maybe 2-3 times a week. Sometimes less. The insomia I was going through when I initially started taking it has disappeared. The only negative effect I have with it is occasional constipation. And now that my body has adjusted to it that has been greatly reduced. BTW…I am 63 years old. My pain tolerance is pretty high, but the sciatic nerve pain is more than I can take without help.
2:06 pm
November 22nd, 2012
My pain tolerance is pretty high, but the sciatic nerve pain is more than I can take without help.
4:13 pm
December 3rd, 2012
Hi Everyone. I am 66 and arthritic. I needed a hip replacement and was prescribed Hydrocodone for the pain 10/500. First at every 4 hours. I waited too long to get the hip replaced, because I try to let my body heal all ills, but I was down to bone on bone, and I had episodes that left me crying the pain got so bad, and I am not a cryer. I finally got my hip replace, and continued the use Hydrocodone after the replacement for the pain after the surgery. That was in May. I am now healed, but have continued use of the hydro since May but at two pills a day. I went to one pill a day, breaking them in half for a couple of week now, now I am down to one half just at bedtime. I called my Dr. for a refill and he prescribed Tramadol as a substitute. He said that I should stop taking an opiate, even though I never abused the use of the drug, and only increased use in a weather change, which can really lay me low.
Bottom line is that after reading the posts here, and going through the anxiety of weaning myself off the Hydro, I think I am going to try something Natural Like Kratom Leaf extract, because they say its not addicting.
I think that the answer, for those of you that can tolerate it, is to get some exercise, even if its just a little bit. That helps a lot, when I can do it. The thing that really upsets me about the current situation is the fact that so many people, take narcotics to get high, when they don’t need them for pain, and that has ruined it for people that really need them for pain.
There was a show on TV the other night and the US, which has 5% of the worlds population, consumes 85% of the worlds prescribed narcotics. Opioid use is clearly out of control, like everything else in the US.
4:18 pm
December 3rd, 2012
Hi Mike,
Go to a good orthopedic doc and have them take X-rays. I had sciatica, and it was totally related to my hip. Hip replaced, sciatica gone. Check it out.
5:56 pm
December 9th, 2012
JimA: Sciatic pain has almost completely disappeared. I get VA coverage and they verified it was nerve problems in my back. I think it is also affecting my left arm and shoulder, as I was getting the “pins and needles” feelings and some moderate pain in the shoulder. That has subsided, but I still have a weird feeling in my thumb. All through that pain Tramadol has been an excellent pain reducer.
9:06 pm
December 13th, 2012
If you are looking to catch a buzz on tramadol you got to take more than 2. At least 4 or 5 (50 ml). In NY it is still not a narcotic so the doctor can call them in to the drug store. It also helps if you cannot get vicodin or percocets because the doctor will not give them to you or you have depleted your savings account and cannot afford to get them in the streets. I must warn you that the withdrawl is just as bad or worse.
10:51 pm
December 17th, 2012
I had a 7 panel drug test it shwed up i had cocain in system’ Could that be the tramadol
7:33 am
December 24th, 2012
I’ve been taking tramadol for about 2 years after injuring my shoulder in a car accident. It works well for the pain and also as an anti depressant which was a surprising unintended benifit. I was prescribed different anti depressants before including imiprimine trazadone many others that did nothing (lexapro). Tramadol not only works for pain but also is an excellent antidepressant. I believe it’s chemically related to effexor? Anyway shouldn’t be put on controlled substances list. My doc hated to prescribe scheduled meds. And I like my doc. If it was scheduled I would be forced to find other methods to obtain my medications so I can function. Codeine is availabile without prescription in some countries. Why the need to control ever hing in US?
;
9:15 am
January 6th, 2013
I’V been taking tramal 150mg 2 daily modified release tab for 5 years it has changed me in many ways for the worst my personality ect. I want to get of these but i can’t. Anyone who says they are non addictive don’t know what their on about.
5:52 pm
January 10th, 2013
Michael: You don’t give any details on WHY you are taking Tramadol. Also no details on the changes you say you have had. Are you taking them for pain? Have you tried cutting back on the doseage?
12:21 am
January 19th, 2013
Hey,
I have chronic lower back pain from working in construction. My doctor recommended Tramadol HCL ER 100 mg. It worked for awhile and then he bumped me up to 200mg. It helps alot. I have tried vicodin and percocets in the past however Tramadol works well without the narcotic feeling. It takes about two hours before you will notice anything.
4:24 pm
January 24th, 2013
Tom: I agree 100%. I had a slight “narcotic feeling” the first time I took it, but it went away after that. I recently went to the VA doctor that prescribed tramadol and gave him a glowing report on how well tramadol relieves the pain from my sciatic nerve as well as the arthritis in my knees. By relieving the pain in those areas I am now able to be more active and I actually lost 7 pounds of weight.
3:53 am
February 25th, 2013
i have had severe restless leg syndrome for over 20 years. add fibromyalgia about 5 years ago. i went weeks without sleep and often was in so much pain at night that i screamed. i walked around the house all night because i could not lay down. tons of sleep meds never worked (ambien is hell) and pain meds a joke. finally about 2 years ago my v.a. doc put me on tramadol. it has completely transformed my life! my fibro is gone (unless i miss my meds) and i can lie down at night comfortably. i now go to sleep about 4 a.m. and get 5-6 hours. i consider tramadol a miracle drug and frankly don’t care if i am addicted! i have had no side effects.
7:14 pm
April 8th, 2013
Well after six months of taking tramadol the only negative side effect for me had been constipation. And I mean REAL BAD constipation. I won’t go into the disgusting details, suffice it to say I had to “manually” assist myself in passing my bowels. The counter to this problem for me is Dulcolax stool softener and drinking LOTS of water.
1:01 am
April 28th, 2013
tramadol is not an effective painkiller i prescribed a few and they did not work at all i got more relief from advil and my doctor even said it was a joke
2:43 pm
April 29th, 2013
kevin: Maybe it doesn’t work for you, but do you think those of us it does work for would spend money on it if it DIDN’T work? Advil does nothing to stop my sciatic nerve pain. I could take ten of them and it still wouldn’t work.