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ULTRAM/ULTRACET/TRAMADOL: The Truth about this 'non narcotic' please

Hey Goldie, this new thread is for you!!!

There is a great deal of confusion with respect to this drug.

Why is it, that if this a non narcotic and non addicting med., i continue to read(or hear) about, horror story after horror story getting off of it???????

Seems many would say the withdrawal from tramadol is far worse than many opiates.

A wise friend of mine even mentioned a front page article in their local newspaper(recently), siting what a great "alternative" Ultam is, in that it is "non-addicting".

Any help would be appreciated.

percs
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Avatar universal
HEEEELP!!! I have severe back pain, no insurance, and can't afford to buy off the street anymore (well I can but it takes every extra cent after necessities), but I want to quit cuz I'm tired of being a slave to these drugs!
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Avatar universal
I've been addicted to norcos for 2 years now taking 10 to 15 a day. I've tried 2 quit but can't find the willpower to do so. Can I use ultram to taper off of the norcos? Is it a good idea? Need help have no one to talk 2 .      Feeling alone
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1 Comments
You CANNOT take both at the same time. You have to be off narcotics for at least 72 hrs before taking Ultram. SEVERE REACTIONS!
Avatar universal
I am 25 years old and suffered a back injury 2 years ago. Now i have found out i have LDDD (lumbar degenerative disc disease), osteoporosis, and sciatica!! I am prescribed tramadol 50 mg, 1-2 tabs 4x daily and Hydrocodone 7.5/500, 1 tab, 4x daily.
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Avatar universal
Ultram or Tramadol is more dangerous than narcotics. One of the nice side effects is seziures and already having disc problems in my low back (L4-L5, L5-S1) they wanted to try me on a new "non-narcotic" painkiller. Well I took my pills like a good little boy and I fractured T6.T7,T8,T10,T11 & T12 which due to the incompetence of the intern at the emergency I went to, never treated them right, so of course, they never healed right. Daily pain. On top of that, I nearly bit my tounge in two, and this all happened in front of my then 4 year old son. Thank god I was on the phone and he doesn't remember much except all of the blood coming from my mouth. Ah, sweet memories for a child!
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Avatar universal
hey grappler i feel you i have two ruptured discs in my spine fractured my pars and have S1 siatica nerve damage...they been having my on so many different drugs i feel like a lab rat ultram or tramadol is one of them if its not a narcotic y the hell are they addictive and one of the side effects is hallucinations they crazy..anyway i found out about an alternative to back surgury from my primary i know someone who done it and so far its helped i dont know where you live but here in florida they have the biscup institute i know a couple others that are really good too..google it maybe they can help they other is in tampa i dont got the name on my now but one does that treatment to mostly proffessional athletes but he only accepts cash its like 30k for the procedure ..well hope that helps God bless....
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Avatar universal
I've been weaning myself from the tramadol, and can't believe how much of a hold it has on me. Been on them for 4 years and have gotten down to 2 pills a day for the last week, but the withdrawals are still intense at 8 hours beyond my last dose. I'm on day 16 and thought I'd be done. Gotta hang in, though, almost there. Thanks to all who post--it has made all the difference.

TK
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495284 tn?1333894042
COMMUNITY LEADER
Good call on that one.  They are highly addictive and brutal to come off of......

Congrats on 14 yrs clean!!!!!!!!                          sara
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Avatar universal
I'm a recovering addict and have been clean for 14 years, my drug of choice being opiates. Hydrocodone and Oxycodone were my favorite. I got addicted thanks to a very bad case of restless leg syndrome and every time I tried to detox, the rls became unbearable and I would give up. I took one 50mg tramadol about 4 years ago to see if it would help my rls but it did not, and I didnt dare take any more and risk my recovery. Catapress, a blood pressure medication, non-addictive, non-narcotic, which is used to treat opiate addiction does help my rls though. Tonight I came upon this thread because I have a bad cold and my throat is very sore and I have some tramadol here that I give my dog for pain, and I wanted to know if it was safe for recovering opiate addicts to take. I was hoping it was but after reading this thread, I'm staying the hell away from them so thank you everyone for posting.
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Avatar universal
I have taken ultram before, I used to get the 200 er tabs. I mainly used it when I ran out of my DOCs to ease the WS's' in the beginning they did help but as my addiction and tolerance grew the tramadol stopped working.

I have a question for those of you that do take it; does it do anything for your pain? if you have little or no tolerance will it give you a buzz? I'm not looking to take or score any, just curious. I have always understood it to be similar to morphine but non narcotic. Are the wd's as bad as coming off opiates? I hope all the best for you folks coming off it
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1238606 tn?1304201621
well in my short experience with tramadol, I was addicted to Lortab but then had the opportunity to get some tramadol. I had to take so much of it just for it to work. My doc had given me 200mg so I would take about6-7 at a time just to help with not wanting my Lortab...well i went back to lortab cause the tramadol didn't help much. I think that doctors are promoting it as an attertive to opiods, but they are wrong (like I said in my opion)
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Avatar universal
Gee  . . I wish I knew where to find her. hmmm ... let me think. It was a long time ago.
Thanks for remembering me. Also Prospero ... it's nice to have a place like this to come to. I think maybe I need to gain more understanding of my situation. It's kind of shocking to look around and realize that I am still seeking answers, but not finding them. It dosen't matter how much or how little we take, but how it affects us. I have alot to think about . .  
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890982 tn?1259091185
If you've been taking tram for ten years, staying within the prescribed limits, and it works for you, that sounds sort of like a successful usage.  You don't see many of those on here, as this forum is about drug abuse.  I monitor the posts of tramadol, because I've been taking .25 mg/day for arthritis in my right thumb for about 11 months.  It helps, not spectacularly, but so far I've seen no reason to discontinue it, and reading the horror stories about it here and on Emily's journal have been very effective in warning me against increasing the dosage, for whatever reason.

It's astonishing how varied the responses are to this and many other substances.  It makes one think twice about proposals to ban anything, on the grounds that the hazards outweigh the legitimate use.    I could say more on this subject, but will save it for the social forum.
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Avatar universal
Golden~  Happy to see you post!  Yes,an addiction specialist would be educational...

Off subject...Do you remember "dancinginthedark"?  Do you know what became of her?
I just loved that girl!!     It was back around '03. I know.  A gazillion years ago...   I've tried to find her but to no avail!!!

My best to you~
Vicki
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Avatar universal
Just wanted to start a new thread . .  and after reading posts from 8 years ago, I can see that not much has changed for me. I am as confused as ever about ultram. I have had a heel spur and a shoulder problem, and had to use hydrocodone, but I feel so much better on ultram. The good news is that in 10 years of using it, I have never needed more than 4 pills a day. Right now I am on 3 a day. I know one thing, this medicine is metabolized on a completely individual basis. Each one of us will utilize it according to our own chemistry. I am not kidding. It will target the brain receptors "randomly" (where a real opiate targets all recetors, all the time) and has 2 mild antidepressants working as well. Too bad it is so hellish to get off ... I think I need some education from an addiction specialist . . .
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Avatar universal
I think I started taking hydrocodone a few years ago just for recreation and the "high" or "euphoria" that came with it.  I remember I had such control and discipline about taking hydrocodone.  I wouldn't take it during the week and it didn't affect my work, but on Friday evening, I'd take 6 of the Vicodin HP's and get that very nice easygoing "high" and get so talkative that I'd call my friends and just talk non stop or send emails, etc.  It gave me energy and vibrancy.  But then I wouldn't take it until the next Friday.  Then I allowed myself to take on Wednesdays and Saturdays and 3 years later, I'd addicted and I don't get close to the "Euphoria" feeling that I did 3 years ago.  Now I can easily take 25 of these Hydrocodone HP's on weekends and on weeknights, take 15-20 and still be able to go to work the next day.  I was doing this everday.  Then I had occasional "nod offs" in the afternoon at work and I don't know if this is because Hydro made me not sleep well the night before or it it "kicked in" many hours later.  My head would fall and I'd catch myself and this would last about an hour and then I'd do something to wake myself up before the end of work.  Right now I am between refills on my Hydro and got a script for Tramadol to carry me over for the next few days until I get my Hydro again.  I used to be able to handle the days between refills and lately, I've been drinking on those days.  I haven't had a drink for 25 years until now.  I feel I need something to "buffer" the effects of not having the Hydro.  I don't know why I need the Hydro and I only got the Tramadol to carry me over to the next refill of Hydro and I hate drinking but it does give me a "buzz" and some "euphoria".  I must be a true addict who's able to work and I've got caught a few times nodding off but I made excuses and those were taken as truth.  I have my first bottle of Tramadol and this is my first day and I just took one pill and I'm wondering "what the heck am I doing?  I"m an intellingent guy, is my life so empty that I need a chemical boost?"  It's almost like I can't imagine living without the Hydro.
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725579 tn?1231030704
EFFECTS CLASSIFICATION
Non-opiate Synthetic Analgesic

DESCRIPTION
Tramadol is a quasi-narcotic analgesic used in the treatment of moderate to severe pain. It is a synthetic analog of codeine, but has a low binding affinity to the mu-opioid receptors. It has been prescribed off-label for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy and restless leg syndrome.

My two cents:
Tramadol IS addicting. I am telling you from first hand experience. I'd prefer over codeine itself or hydrocodone. I am using Tramadol to wean myself off of oxycontin and heroin. It's working!

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Avatar universal
Ive been prescribed to these things for almost a year but I have very weird pain symptoms still doing testing for many of them.  It is a non narcotic but anyone that says there non addictive it depends.  If you took more than one to two every 6 hrs as needed, which many people do of course, will get hooked regardless of how bad you want to get off of them but dont do it all at once, you will regret it.  The chills, pain, in some people hallucinations, and risk for seizures.  
If you want off of them, which I have had no success with, do it slowly.  I hope this helps but Im still on them so dont feel bad....lol
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Avatar universal
So I'm no naive, I know I'm a big boy and new about Methadone clinics, after 3+ years of being on 100 MGs Norco's, after 2 leg / knee surgery's, 3 Scopes.. ( Basal Tibia Fibula fracture with blown out cartilage and meniscus, my kindly orthopedic surgeon referred me to "pain Management" what a load that is, should be called pill dispensing. Before I knew it I was on 140 MGs of Methadone, and 80 MGs of Norco. Like I said, I allowed this to happen but after 6 years I had quite a tolerance, as well as could handle these and still "function".  well after Detox, and 30+ days of sobriety, I found that the closer I got to the real pain of the arthritic knee, and lack of cushion, a man of only 36 years, could not function, I looked and looked for a non narcotic alternative, and viola the introduced01 me to tramadol, 300MGs a day. not that I dug further, and am finding out more I'm pissed, the pain I made myself go through, now after being on it for a week and a half I feel screwed, what options do I have? Too young for a new knee, Aleve doesn't touch it, all I want is to function at 50%, my 9 year old daughter cant have two disabled parents.... Non narcotic, non opiate.. what a lie...
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Avatar universal
just joining
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Avatar universal
I have  been taking Ultram for 8 years.  I have gone off it a few times because of stomach issues.
I have never had any kind of withdrawal. My pain became much harder to deal with though.
Maybe it's because I don't abuse the medication.
I was dx'd with fibromaylgia and sponilitis about 8 years ago. And then in 2002 I broke my back.
I was on a narcotic for 4 months while in the hospital and then at home.I was weened off the heavy stuff.It was beginning to make me vomit
and then went back on the ultram.
I wonder if some people are allergic to ultram?
I feel so badly for those that have had such terrible results after taking this drug.
peace
   kdkmalone
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221016 tn?1196973461
I can relate to your post. I am a slave to hydros and can't remember being without them. I feel like I was born with a vial in my hand. I remember a few years ago when I was clean. I am a happy person and found joy in everything. I loved to wake up in the morning and just be excited for the day to come. Hydros came upon me like a thief in the night and stole my happiness.I have quit at the very least 8 times and failed. There is a spark in me that won't give up.  I am on day 10 and wonder if I will ever be happy again. I remember the happiness before the addiction and want that back so much. Hopeless is my middle name now and I have to pick myself up from the bootstraps and stop my daily pity party. It is so hard dear and I am taking it hour by hour. If I look to the future too much it will be failure for me.You might stumble and fall, but we will pick you up. You are not alone in this nightmare. I am a man and it is hard to cry, I tear up, but no crying. I was watching a show last night and it was the seperation of conjoined twins. The agony the parents were going through was just heartbreaking. I don't know how they made it through the 9 hr operation without losing it. It helped me to break away from my troubles for an hour. You can do it and it will be tough. We only get one chance in life and we make many mistakes. This does not make us bad people. You are worthy and deserve a wonderful life. I am sorry your post was missed and probably because it was in a long thread. I usually start a new post if I have any questions. It sounds like you are going through bad cravings like I am. I feel depressed, antsy, irritable and downright crappy. I posted an inspirational piece about a train. This really helped me this morning and boy was I down in the dumpsl We are here for you and I will answer any quesitons. If you feel more comfortable, you can send me a private message. I find that listening to music that reminds me of a time when I was not addicted. It also brings up great memories and time passed. You have to treat yourself like a puppy. When a puppy pees on the floor or tears up a shoe, you don't hit him. You realize he is just a pup and you cuddle him. Try to do that for you. You are doing something that will have a major impact on your life. Good times will return and happiness is just behind the door. You should google PAWS because it sounds like you are going through that. I and others are here for you. You will laugh again, life will get better each day. Put the past behind you and move forward. I know it hurts so bad. Two weeks is a major hurdle for anyone to go through. I congratulate you for that. I know right now without the pills life seems pointless and boring. Hang with us, vent with us and you will find it does get better. The appetite is good for now and you can deal with anay weight gain when things calm down. Please holler if you need me. I am praying for you Claudia. You are a special unique person and have so much to give.

God Bless,
Tim
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271792 tn?1334979657
Go the bottom of this page..hit the "back to the forum" button. At the top of that page you will se a blue button that says "post a question"..hit that. Fill out the form and re-post what you wrote here. No one is answering because this is an old post from years ago and it gets buried.

Will see you out in the forum.......
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287981 tn?1297035068
I am a slave to all things ultram. I tried posting a few days ago but nobody ever responded..except for Bad_Co. I think I'm far too gone. Severely addicted where I've tried 2 weeks and was still going through physical symptoms, let alone mental. I don't see a happy life without these pills..Its hopeless..I'm a slave. My appetite is insatiable. I'm about ready to call it quits with life and everything. Just can't do it anymore.
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Avatar universal
Thanks!   I'm new to this.
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