Is Tramadol an Opiate or is it not?

Question

My son is trying to get me to switch over to taking Tramadol, and insists that it's non-narcotic.  He's not a kid, he's 32 years old, and is dead set against me using any type of opiate pain killer.  I'm 12 days clean cold turkey from 210 mg oxycontin and 40 mg percocet per day.

Can anyone answer this question for me so that I can show him?
Thanks

avisg · Accepted Answer

SOME INFO ON TRAMADOL
I have seen alot of info latley on tramadol some every incorrect .So I thought I would put some infromation together so everyone will have a better understanding of it .

It is addicting
You do have ephoria
It should NOT be used by ANYONE with addiction issues.

What is the most important information I should know about tramadol?
Physical Dependence and Abuse

ULTRAM may induce psychic and physical dependence of the morphine-type (μ-opioid) (see DRUG
ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE). ULTRAM should not be used in opioid-dependent patients. ULTRAM
has been shown to reinitiate physical dependence in some patients that have been previously dependent on
other opioids. Dependence and abuse, including drug-seeking behavior and taking illicit actions to obtain
the drug, are not limited to those patients with prior history of opioid dependence

You should not take tramadol if you have ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol.
Seizures (convulsions) have occurred in some people taking tramadol. You may be more likely to have a seizure while taking tramadol if you have a history of seizures or head injury, a metabolic disorder, or if you are taking certain medicines such as antidepressants, muscle relaxers, or medicine for nausea and vomiting.

Take tramadol exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger doses or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Do not take more than 300 milligrams of tramadol in one day.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. A tramadol overdose can be fatal. Overdose symptoms of a tramadol overdose may include drowsiness, shallow breathing, slow heartbeat, extreme weakness, cold or clammy skin, feeling light-headed, fainting, or coma. Tramadol may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Tramadol should never be given to another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. Tramadol can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Do not stop using tramadol suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, sweating, nausea, diarrhea, tremors, chills, hallucinations, trouble sleeping, or breathing problems. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication. Do not crush the tramadol tablet. This medicine is for oral (by mouth) use only. Powder from a crushed tablet should not be inhaled or diluted with liquid and injected into the body. Using this medicine by inhalation or injection can cause life-threatening side effects, overdose, or death.

What is tramadol?

Tramadol is a narcotic-like pain reliever.

Tramadol is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Tramadol extended-release is used to treat moderate to severe chronic pain when treatment is needed around the clock.

Tramadol may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.


What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tramadol?

You should not take tramadol if you have ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol, if you are currently intoxicated (drunk), or if you have recently used any of the following drugs:
alcohol;

narcotic pain medicine;

sedatives or tranquilizers (such as Valium);

medicine for depression or anxiety;

medicine for mental illness (such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia); or

street drugs.

Seizures have occurred in some people taking tramadol. Your risk of a seizure may be higher if you have any of these conditions:

a history of drug or alcohol addiction;

a history of epilepsy or other seizure disorder;

a history of head injury;

a metabolic disorder; or

if you are also taking an antidepressant, muscle relaxer, or medicine for nausea and vomiting.

Talk with your doctor about your individual risk of having a seizure while taking tramadol.

Before taking tramadol, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

kidney disease;

liver disease;

a stomach disorder; or

a history of depression, mental illness, or suicide attempt.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take tramadol.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tramadol may also cause serious or fatal side effects in a newborn if the mother uses the medication during pregnancy or labor. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Tramadol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Tramadol should not be given to a child younger than 18 years of age.
Tramadol may be habit-forming. Tell your doctor if you feel the medicine is not working as well in relieving your pain. Do not change your dose without talking to your doctor. Do not stop using tramadol suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, sweating, nausea, diarrhea, tremors, chills, hallucinations, trouble sleeping, or breathing problems. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication. Store tramadol at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep track of how many pills have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Tramadol is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription
Seizure Risk
Seizures have been reported in patients receiving tramadol within the recommended dosage range. Spontaneous post-marketing reports indicate that seizure risk is increased with doses of tramadol above the recommended range. Concomitant use of tramadol increases the seizure risk in patients taking:

•Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI antidepressants or anorectics),
•Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and other tricyclic compounds (e.g., cyclobenzaprine, promethazine, etc.), or
•Other opioids.
Administration of tramadol may enhance the seizure risk in patients taking:

•MAO inhibitors (see also WARNINGS - Use with MAO Inhibitors),
•Neuroleptics, or
•Other drugs that reduce the seizure threshold.
Risk of convulsions may also increase in patients with epilepsy, those with a history of seizures, or in patients with a recognized risk for seizure (such as head trauma, metabolic disorders, alcohol and drug withdrawal, CNS infections). In tramadol overdose, naloxone administration may increase the risk of seizure.

Suicide Risk

•Do not prescribe ULTRAM ER for patients who are suicidal or addiction-prone.
•Prescribe ULTRAM ER with caution for patients taking tranquilizers or antidepressant drugs and patients who use alcohol in excess.
•Tell your patients not to exceed the recommended dose and to limit their intake of alcohol.
Serotonin Syndrome Risk

The development of a potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome may occur with use of tramadol products, including ULTRAM ER, particularly with concomitant use of serotonergic drugs such as SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs and triptans, with drugs which impair metabolism of serotonin (including MAOIs) and with drugs which impair metabolism of tramadol (CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 inhibitors). This may occur within the recommended dose. (See CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY-Pharmacokinetics).

Serotonin syndrome may include mental-status changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations, coma), autonomic instability (e.g., tachycardia, labile blood pressure, hyperthermia), neuromuscular aberrations (e.g., hyperreflexia, incoordination) and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

aw2849 · Answer

holy crap, this is good to know. My doc gave this once but I didn't take it. I was just thinking, I still have the bottle maybe it would ease the wd right now. Not anymore. I'll just tough it out. Thanks for the info

LeaAnn807 · Answer

There is not a lot I can add except that I would almost rather take arsenic than ever go back thru that again.  I had terrible seizures, car accident resulting in a plate and rod in my right arm, serious addiction problems to say the least.  I would rather take an opiate ANY day of the week and WD from it over Ultram!  It was awful!

Skidmore · Answer

that is some good information had I known about all of those side effects perhaps I too would not have taken ultram and had seizures And I had thought I was doing the right thing and taking non narcotic meds.But soon after that I woke my sleeping monky on my back .60 vikes lasted me 3-4 months turned into 120 10mm lasted 3-4 days.Today for pain I use advil and I try to use as little as possible

leeisgettingclean · Answer

tramadol is very addicting and very bad coming off of. Tramadol is a helpfull pain releiveing med, but if you have addiction issues already I would suggest you stay away from it. I once took(abused) it for onlly like 2 weeks or so and whe i quit I had w/ds----so that just goes to show you taht it doesnt taake to long for them to impact you. Please stay away from them if you truely have  no desire to go back down that path. They also  contain a SSRI and that is one thing that makes it more dangerous. I would say just stay away---IB 800mg is what i use for pain and it pretty much takes care of everything or atlesat makes it manageable. Good Luck, Lee

jenny06xx · Answer

wow i wish i knew all that before taking them !!!

paintedangel · Answer

WOW! Man am I glad I did not take THAT crap when my dr wanted me too...he also said it is non addicting...how can they say that> Its FRAUD.

AZKathy · Answer

wow, thanks guys, now I have plenty of info to show my son, and it looks like I need to definitely keep away from this one
kathy

dominosarah · Answer

Speaking of avis!!!!!!!!

IBKleen · Answer

Hey hun,

It is a synthetic opiate. 

Here is just one link: (Be certain to read the side effects). Many members here have become addicted to it and they say that the withdrawal is terrible. Some others will be along that have experience and can tell you first hand.

Kathy, you need to get with your doctor to find something that is non-narcotic. You son is grown, I know, but he is not a doctor.

Hang in there!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramadol

dominosarah · Answer

As far as i know it isnt listed as a narcotic but works just like one.  Tramadol is HIGHLY ADDICTIVE and he!! to come of off.  Seizures are the worry with this one and some on the forum have had them while taking them and others have had seizures coming off them.  This is a very dangerous med and the wd's are brutal.  Check out avisg's page as she has alot of info.  She came off tramadol.  tramahater is another one who has lots of info on this too.  I know your son is just trying to help but this isnt the med to do it with......hope this helps

jenny06xx · Answer

hi hun ..
i was told by my doctor it is non narcotic and started taking them for pain relief,
i mentioned on this board about the doctor giving them to me etc and was told noooooooo DO NOT TAKE IT ..........it was a bit late for that lol but i only had a 1 off script, i was taking 8x 50 mg a day for a week and read the posts an thought S***T  so i stopped straight away in my opinion from what i was told it is as addictive and contains a synthetic form of an opiate so stay clear !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jen

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