No more MS Contin- but need help re tramadol

[ellisonki]

I had a severe disabling back injury which saw me taking 300 mg MS Contin 2 times per day for over 6 years.  In February I had surgery on my back and now I am COMPLETELY PAIN FREE! I went off the MS Contin cold turkey- horrible 7 days. But now I am so happy, so human, my brain is functioning. But I have a problem. I suffer from migraine headaches and even one day of tramadol seems to throw me into FULL BLOWN WITHDRAWAL. Is this normal? I don't understand. Also, I'm all but certain that the limited use of tramadol is affecting my depression. I took 80mg of tramadol just 3 hours ago for a migraine and it knocked it over. But now I am scared about tomorrow and the next day.  I was told this was a non-narcotic solution to pain problems. For some reason, over the counter panadeine causes great pain to my stomach- it bloats and really kills with pain. It barely responds to Zantac. I need the truth about tramadol from people who have experienced it. Websites on the net contradict eachother.

[msdelight]

Morphine and codiene are close chemical relatives. That was my point about why para/codiene was upsetting your stomach! And CONGRATULATIONS for getting off the MS contin! So glad you are pain free! How much time has passed?

[msdelight]

You're welcome dear. I have my own unscientific theory concerning post drug abuse and the liver/digestive system. You were on a TON of morphine for quite awhile (I was on a TON of percocet for 5 yrs) which has tremendous impact on the liver, kidneys, stomach and colon. Once we get clean, scar tissue forms. The organs are hypersensitive to the chemicals , almost like an allergy.  This seems to cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea because the body cannot process the drug properly. It can lead to overdose in a person who relapses on what use to be there regular dose. If I take tylenol now, which is a large part of percocet, I begin vomiting within an hour. Thank God motrin is no problem for those occasional aches and pains.
Try not to blame the doctor.  Tramadol is not a scheduled drug at the moment. They don't even lock it up at the hospital.  I believe that will change soon though as more is discovered about it. They're already cracking down on internet sales.

[ellisonki]

Thank you for your informative comment.  I only take it as a one off for a migraine which might last for 36 to 48 hours. However, then I seem to have 1 or 2 days of utter withdrawal, (just as bad as coming off years of MS Contin). I have thrown them out now, because of your advice.Some docs should be tarred and feathered- I asked for non-narcotic pain relief and they assured me this was fine.  I shouldn't have to go to the net to 2nd guess my doc. I took it about 5 hours ago, and the migraine is breaking through again, but I'll take the migraine over that crap. I don't understand why paracetamol with codeine is killing my stomach to the point where the stomach pain is worse than the migraine- I literally can't eat for two days after it. Thanks for your help. What a deceptive drug.

[spider6]

Hi there and welcome.....I don't have experience with it myself but I have heard nightmare stories...I agree with MsD , who gave excellent advice as always, and I would definitely take it.....who needs that h3ll.  Flush em and stay close by for huge support from the peeps here.  Good luck

[msdelight]

The truth about tramadol is that it is a narcotic. It is a synthetic opiate mixed with a touch of antidepressant.  It stays in your system longer and is a really long and difficult detox requiring a careful taper. I don't know how long you have been on it, but unless you want to go through hell all over again you need to start tapering off.  If it has been less than a week or two just flush them down the toilet before you become dependant.  There are other migraine meds out there that you and your doctor could consider.