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tramadol and addiction questions from a recovering addict

I am a recovering addict who was recently prescribed Tramadol for chronic pain.  I have been clean for over a year and don't want to risk my sobriety.  I was told Tramadol was not addictive but have read otherwise in this forum.  So far, I have been able to take less than prescribed.  Is it possible to take these as needed and not become addicted?  Also, does this show up on a 5 panel drug screen?  I just got custody of my kids back from the state and don't want to risk losing them again.  Please help!!!!
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Avatar universal
Tramadol is VERY addictive!!  The withdrawal is the worst.  Don't take it!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have emphysemia an bad hip,lower back,left shoulder,and neck,was ran over by a car.I take MSContin for pain.No operation because of 30% of lungs left. 5 years I've been on them an my quality of life has been great.Without them I can't breathe hardly an can't walk or anything.Life is not pleasent.A addict does drugs for fun or to get high,someone who is depent upon them for a better life should not consider their selfs a Addict======Maddchatter

What hasn't killed me, has made me stronger!!
Helpful - 0
199177 tn?1490498534
ohhh hun ,
I know you are going threw hell, i feel so much for you .I know what you are going threw..... It would be very hard for me too if I could hop on over to mexico and get them for 28 bucks...I am just sooo glad you are quitting that is great !!!! There have not been as many people here that have managed to get off the ultram .....There is really only a few of us x trammie heads LOL you and I and TO MANY ..
Let me know if you need anything !!!!!!
avis
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I know avis I'm sorry. I am just W/D right now. Hell if they did ban them from the U.S. it would'nt have helped me anyway as I bought them OTC in Juarez, Mexico HA HA.. !!!! Thats weird I too started taking them in 2000, I remember I had a cyst about the size of a small orange on my right testicle... Doctor had been giving me Vicodin, 5, 7.5 them 10. I was prescribed 120 10mg norco everymonth. I finally complained about not having enough and I was swirched to Ultram 50mg. Back them ultracet 35/15 did not exist. Thats weird no when I think about it I would have been thinking maybe some MS-Contin or Oxy's instead of Ultram. Anyway I took them until I got my surgery and had the thing removed. I was given Fentanyl, and whats that amnesiac they give you..... verseed. I swear I felt like they had over dosed me when they gave the the cocktail mix and then I remember parts of waking up to get on the ER table and that it. Next thing I was waking up in the recovery room and nurses asking me if I wanted something for pain which I said NO to. Anyway when I moved here in 2006 and noticed Juarez, MX right next door and found out you could get basically anything you wanted but I was job hunting so I opted for 50MG Tramadol as I had been drug tested once and these did not show up on a 5 panel drug test. They had bottles of 100 for $28.99 a piece of 50mg Tramadol. OMG That was all she wrote. Thankfully I was able now to get off of them a little after a year. My main concern is that I don't go back to them. My wife is very supportive and thats good. Anyway enough rambling. I know Im a damn addict !!
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199177 tn?1490498534
I disagree with the fact that doctor say its not addicting ...they do tell you its addicting now,,,, the pharmacy tells you its habit forming and to only take it for short periods......for many people it works great i would hate to see them take it off the market...if we were to  bann tram then we would have to ban all pain meds... When i first took ultram back it like 2000 i did not know it could cause depency .....I have to say after the first say 30 pills however I knew...it did not stop me..... I went for years without taking them...then i was offered another script i new ,i was my responsibility to say NO i did not... I choose to take the script... that is on me ,,, I can ever truly get clean if i don't take my responsibility in my part of this .......
avis
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
After I took myself off viodin (I was on it for over 5 years), my doc RX'd me tramadol to help with my withdrawal symptoms.  I did read that it too was habit forming & so I have not taken any.  This Thursday will be my 3rd week with no vics.  I am very down.  I have serious cervial stenosis of the spine and while most days I can manage the pain with my neurontin & relafen plus advil or tylenol, some days I could just scream for something stronger.

I don't want to go back because I don't want to start this process all over again.  I went off my pain meds because I am 45 years old and my daughter is having a baby in the spring.  She needs me (her mother) to be there for her 100%.  While taking 7-9 vicodin a day wasn't completely out of line, it was enough for me to say NO MORE.

I just hope this vicodin low doesn't last.  

If you don't need to take RX meds, please don't.  It's a long way to fall and a hard road to get back up.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
16 years after they were developed doctors are still saying they are non addicting. I think they should be banned from the states !! They are truly the devils medicine. Maybe I say that cause I'm on day 2 cold turkey from a 100 50mg tramadol a week habit. Maybe.. this is not the first time I;ve battled with these. I thought I could control it. I would have to say that with your situation and getting your kids back and a year sobriety and a recovering addict. THROW THEM AWAY and take MOTRIN. I promise you that you wont be making a mistake. Why take that chance anyway even if you were able to do it. Believe me that chances are you can't and wont be able to not get addicted to them. Bu hey just my opion.
Helpful - 0
199177 tn?1490498534
ask your doctor about zanafalx that is what i use ...i have cronic pain as well........
avis
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I do have a legitimate prescription but I don't want social services to think that as soon as I got my kids back, I ran out and got a script to get high.  I have tried just about everything for my pain.  Naproxen worked for a while as long as I took Flexaril (sp) with it.  That's what I've taken for the past year but now they're not working anymore.  Myabe if I just take them when I'm in severe pain.  Being in the NA program, I do have people who will be willing to keep my meds and only give it to me when I absolutely NEED it, day or night.  That is one good thing about recovry.  I have an unbelieveable support system.  Thank you all for your suggestions.  I really need help on this one.  I should mention that I haven't even been taking these for a week yet.
Helpful - 0
303824 tn?1294871401
I agree with IBKleen, I don't see how they can fail you if you have a legit RX. Can you maybe call your dr. and tell them to give  you something else that isn't a narcotic? Or just put the tram away, and try tylenol...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
id say only take them if your actually in severe pain,(6 out of 10) pain level.

if you get used to 'popping' them daily it could lead to troubble.

the disease of addiction might lead you down a path without you even knowing.

it did it to me. i had genuine back pain and took pain meds for 3.5 years after 13 years sobre in the rooms.i only realised i was in troulbbe when my back got better and i stopped taking the pills.

tramadol / ultram is not safe at all for someone with addictive personality.
Helpful - 0
271792 tn?1334979657
Good Morning!

I don't know a darn thing about Tramadol.

What I wanted to say is that if you have a legitimate prescription for them, you can take that to your drug screen test. They can't fail you for prescription medication.

Ultimately, it would be good to get off of them, but I can't tell you to do that if it works for your pain, and you are NOT abusing them. That's a fine line.

Good Luck!
Helpful - 0
199177 tn?1490498534
...try not taking any today , if you have already taken one dont take anymore ...see how you feel ...see if you start feeling any withdrawal symptoms...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I feel a little "buzz" about 30 minutes after I take it but it goes away relatively quickly.  Then I am just pain free for most of the day.  So far, I have not taken more than 2 in a 24hr period and have spaced those 4 or more hrs apart.  The prescription is 1 every 4 hrs as needed.  I don't want to get high or risk my sobriety but I can't live with the constant pain.  I can't even pick up my 2yr old son without hurting.  
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199177 tn?1490498534
PS about the drug screen that i dont know ,i have heard mixed things on that.....
Helpful - 0
199177 tn?1490498534
just like it says on the info that the pharmacy  gives ya  ,tramadol is habit forming .. I am addicted to it ....... i have been clean for a little over 60 days ,you will see there are many people here going threw hell to get off it.....
You have a year clean that is wonderful !!!!!!!!! you are doing great.....I would not want to risk that...
tell me do you get a high off it at all?
avis
Helpful - 0
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