Interesting

[AngelMyne]

I have been on tramadol for 5yrs but going off or without is no issue. I opted for it because I was told by the doctor it was not addictive. Ive taken Codine in the past and it took care of the pain but caused no other sideffect either. Was considering it again for when pains Really bad.

However I cant have most drugs as Im allergic to Tylenol. Which is whats in most narcotics.

Am I just weird that Im not addicted?

[NorcoQueenoftheUniverse]

No.. you're not weird... maybe just lucky... But I would be careful as addition can creep up on you....then hook ya...

[worried878]

not everyone..in fact the majority of people do not become addicted...we feel like we r the majoprity but in fact we r in the minority or narcotics would never be rx-ed in the first place...physical addiction is possible for anyone tho

Why is it that u r posting on an addiction forum?  course most here r gonna say be safe and be very careful..it took me over 3 yrs to become addicted..i had stopped due to no pills on hand for over a month 6-8 months before i stopped for good...no wds...when i stopped 6-8 mths later..i did have wds..just saying this bug can bite anytime

what is ur dose of tram?  codeine is a true narctoic whereas tram in a synthetic narcotic-like drug that affects the same receptors narcotics do....what is ur pain issue?  there is a pain forum here as well if u need to post there...maqny there do take narcotics for pain without an issue..have u ever stopped for a few days?  how did u feel?   if u ever do stop the trams//long term tram use needs to be tapered due to seizure risk...best if ur dr helps u with tram tapering...be safe and hope u remain a non-addict  

[AngelMyne]

I wanted to learn about it. the what they Dont tell you. I was floored to even learn you could get addicted to it. I have seizures due to a head injury. A car accident. Id like to learn about the things to watch for etc. Who better to ask the hows and whys? I stumbled onto this site because of freak rare symptoms I dont know what to make of.

ive taken 50mg tabs up to 3 or 4 a day at times. Enough to take the edge off of the pain but not kill it by any means. Ive often stopped or taken it as I needed it day to day. I Thought it was safe.

The pain issue is neck and back-and subsequently effecting everywhere.

I thought any or all who had to take narcotics for pain ended up addicted to some extent. Its why Ive tried to avoid them.

How did you learn it was withdraws 6 to 8 months after stopping it?

I want to learn everything about this drug so I stand a better chance of avoiding addiction.

[seahorse1963]

I'm amazed that a doctor would give you tramadol if you have siezures, but I'm not a doctor so I don't know...I know of people who have taken tramadol and stopped and had siezures but I'm pretty sure they mixed them with xanaz (not good to do, I'm sure your doctor told you and probably these kids took heavy doses if truth be known).
My husband has been on tramadol for the same reasons you are.  His pain is horrible even with the tramadol and I notice that when he doesn't take them he can't sleep, sneezes (multiple times in a row) is very grumpy and not himself.  Tramadol is becoming very abused now, I've heard of people taking 10 plus a day...so sad :(

[mr.lucky66]

I don't understand what you are asking and it  doesn't sound like an addiction board problem. Try the pain mgt.board

[AngelMyne]

I would like to know what to watch for and symptoms of addiction related to this drug. I want to avoid and/or catch the signs of addiction to it now that I know its not the safe foolproof they've told me it is.

[lilolme29]

I would say the first sign of 'addiction' for me was having to take more and more of the same med to get rid of the same problem (my body telling me 5mg was not enoug so went up to 10mg)
just be careful :)

[mr.lucky66]

This drug is not quite the same as a true opiate and gets your brain addicted in a way. It doesn't give you the pleasure or rush of a real narcotic but your brain becomes used to it and doesn't want it to end. I'm told it affects brain chemical much like some antidepressnats but more so. This is a very tricky drug and you don't know how or if you're addicted to it unless you stop. all the best

[madtram]

Mr Lucky, tramadol is a synthetic opiate which attaches to the mu, (main opiate) receptors in the same way as other opiates, just less strongly.

It does include monoamine inhibiting ingredients which increase the circulating levels of neurotransmitters, (serotonin, noradrenaline & gaba).

Tramadol was approved for long term pain management but many of us have found that we developed tolerance, (requiring ever increasing doses to avoid going into withdrawal).

Tramadol has also created addiction for both previous opiate addicts & others who had never been addicted to a substance before  tramadol.

Feeling as though you are constantly in withdrawal on a steady dose is a good sign that tolerance has set in.  I never increased my dose beyond the prescribed 200mg & would often take less if I could manage which worked well initially but eventually I started to have constant withdrawal symptoms of insomnia, fatigue & extra pain.  I put up with these side effects because neither I nor my doctors figured it was the tramadol until much later.

When I quit for good, I had horrible withdrawals.

So Angel, if you have never wanted to increase your dose & can go on & off without withdrawals, it appears that you are like one of the people the pharmaceutical company used in their trials, who reportedly had no problems with tramadol either.

You are wise to keep monitoring your reaction as some develop tolerance to opiates more slowly than others.

[onthefence]

lets talk fact. there is too much fiction on this forum.There is a big difference between an opiate , and an opioid, Tramadol is a synthetic opioid, and some chemists insist it is only opioid like.

Synthetic Opioids include Methadone, Pethidine (Demerol), Fentanyl Alfentanil, Sufentanil, Remifentanil, Carfentanyl Pentazocine, Phenazocine, Tramadol, and Loperamide.

Tramadol (Ultram) is a mu agonist that is substantially less potent than morphine as an
analgesic (more than 100 fold less active). This product also has peripheral analgesic
actions. Tramadol has high oral activity and is metabolized by cytochrome-mediated
oxidative-O-demethylation to the corresponding 3-phenol which is more active than the
parent drug. The phenol is glucuronidated and eliminated. A fraction of the tramadol
dose is also metabolized by cytochrome-mediated oxidative-N-demethylation to less active metabolites.
Tramadol is Not a narcotic , but is synthesized.

[dominosarah]

Here is the facts........Tramadol is highly addictive.  

[leeisgettingclean]

thank you sara...you are right on..
i am not sure that i understood the reply about "fiction" tramadol is a very addictive drug..we have had several members on here that have struggeled with tram addiction and i think they know the facts

[kim715]

Yep as always Sara you keep it short and sweet and right on point....Thank you Sara!!

[JG525]

Not only is tramadol addictive, coming from someone who was addicted, but it's also very dangerous for people that are seizure prone.  This is especially when you are ON tramadol.  I see people posting a lot about seizures during withdrawal, which does happen, but with tramadol, it is also likely to happen when taking the drug and can happen on prescribed dosages.  Just be careful.  It has it's place in pain management, but doctors are not careful enough about giving it to people who are seizure prone, addicts or those on anti-depressants.

[dominosarah]

Excellent post.......thank you           sara

[avisg]

JG is it can happen when you are on it or coming offf of it .whether it synthetic or just an opiate it dose not matter its addicting the WD is hell.I have never figured out why some people feel the need to down play the addiction part .All they have to do is read this and many many other forums all talking about the addicting effect of it .I have never gotten that.

[AngelMyne]

The reason I have to ask for exact symptoms is because Ive never exp. an addiction. at least not that I know of. I feel kinda stupid for once lol. I will have it looked into on my next apt. regarding other options and the seizures.

The odd thing for me is that I always seem to get the worst end of side-effects to meds.

to be honest with my current state being so worn down all the time I dont know if Id recognize withdrawls. Im always tired from pain and what ever else seems to be wrong.

Im am Very happy for all the info as its going to help me hopefully stay safe. As to doctors-most these days are only about money, and more oft then not you have physicians assistants calling them selves doctors. They usually cant tell their butt from a hole in the ground.

Thankyou all again for educating me :)

[JG525]

Angel- I'm not sure how much tramadol you're having to take after 5 years, but most of us found that it wasn't helping our pain after awhile.  I don't mean in regards to addiction, just that it actually doesn't work after awhile and I got more of the anti-depressant effect than the pain relief after awhile.

You could be dependent, but not addicted.  Some people just don't seem to get addicted to things in the same way those of us here do.  But if it works for you that's okay too.  You're right about many doctors.  The pharma reps come in and throw stuff at them and they hand it out.  My psychiatrist said they used to have bowls of tramadol sitting out for the doctors to take themselves.  

Jenny

[avisg]

angel when you have gone off the tram have been been on any other meds ?

[AngelMyne]

Only Ibuprofen. 6- 200mgs a day. I couldn't afford anything with no medical at the time.

I dont remember if there was ever a time when it stopped all or most of my pain-My memories not so good from other meds I was put on at the time of the accident. But if I take more then appropriate for taking the edge off my pain I get very sick feeling. I have recently been considering asking to go on Codine for those days when its truly bad. As Ive never had an adverse response to it as most seem to suggest to me about the drug.

I took one last night for pain and dont know if its what made me feel loopy or just the fact that Id had a 12hr fast and blood drawn-and for the first time just about passed out in the chair from just 3 vials?

What is the difference between being addicted and dependent? does one precede the other usually?

Am I still in the right place to be asking these questions or should I go to a different spot? Just wanting to follow guidelines.

If I take it again and it makes me feel weird again then what does that mean?