Tramadol Hydrochloride

[digital_monkey]

I took Tramadol Hydrochloride for 6 months due to joint pain from my work.  It worked wonders.  I had energy, no pain, and happiness.  But I began to notice that I had to take almost 8 pills a day to feel good.  So I tried to stop.  I cut dosage down little by little.  I felt like ****.  My body had this 'rushing' sensation of anxiety and aches.  So now I have to take at least 1 pill a day just to feel normal.  I stopped for 2 weeks altogether, but everyday I felt terrible, more so than I did before I started taking the meds.  The only way to feel 'normal' was to take at least 1 pill every 18-24 hours.  At least i don't have to take 8 anymore.  I just wanted everyone to know that even though the medical industry denies the addiction possibility, it is really there.  I'm afraid I will have to take one pill a day forever.  Anyways, just wanted to share my feelings with ya.  And my question is, why?  How can I get off this stuff?  2 weeks doesn't even do it.  

[yarncat3]

My opinion mirrors yours to the letter. In 2004, I took a job as a business analyst with the state of Kentucky. Several months later, Kentucky was the first state in the nation to develop and release an online controlled substance prescription reporting system (KASPER). The system allows prescribers, pharmacists, law enforcement, etc to obtain a report which lists all the controlled substances that a person fills written in Kentucky. The objective is to cut down on unethical prescribers and stop the doctor shoppers and drug diversion that has been such an epidemic in this state. Tramadol became a controlled substance in Kentucky in 2008. Here's the kicker.......

In 2006, I was involved in a car accident due to the inattentiveness of another driver. The short story is that I suffered injury to my lower back which led to years of chiropractors, pain management, law suits and lost work. I get the flack from doctors when I have to get pain medication...which is funny considering that I am one that worked so hard to stop the abuse of these drugs. I am also a medication technician and have studied pharmacology in nursing. Here I am promoting and working to catch the druggies out there and being the victim of the negativity their abuse has created. I need these medications to live my life and function. Without it, I can't even get off the bed. At one time, I was even confined to a wheelchair.


I whole heartedly feel that these medications were developed for a reason and, if used for that reason, TAKE THEM! My family does the same thing........"You’re addicted!". NO! I'm "dependent". Totally different. To qualify as addiction, you must have abuse. Addiction INVOLVES dependence. Dependence simply means that your body requires the substance to maintain a certain level of being.......in the same way your body is dependent on water. You must maintain a certain level of this or live with the consequences.


So, for those out there who want to go off the drug, that's great........but if you need chronic pain relief, do NOT feel that you have to. The one reason I may go off Tramadol is simply that at some point, I have begun to develop a tolerance for it. In a nutshell, if it doesn't work, I need something else. This is when I will have to deal with the dependence withdrawal. (Note that I didn't say withdrawal from an 'addiction')

[KathieRN]

Thank you for explaining the difference between dependence and addiction. I am at the point where I am developing a tolerance for Tramadol. I have been on Fentanyl Patches since the 90's. Going from 75mcg to 50mcg to 25mcg and now am on Bustran 10mcg along with Tramadol 1-2 50mg 3x daily as needed. They do not help the pain anymore after 12 mo. I would love to go back on Percocet but am scared to even mention it after the new guidelines. After years of being with this PM and they were handing out MS Contin along with Percocet 5-10 4X day. They act afraid to give you ASA.

[backhurtz]

Tramadol is addicting, it's a synthetic opioid, meaning it's not derived from poppies. Although doctors first claimed it wasn't addicting, it is, just as any other opiate as is any other opiate/opioid med, along with other types of meds.
We, as patients need to follow the dosing directions exactly AS written, and avoid taking an extra dose , which only creates and speeds up tolerance issues.
If you want to get off the tramadol, talk to your provider about reducing the dosage to 25 mg, and then let him guide you through the weaning process.

[paingotago]

I would like to add one important factor to my obove post on Tramadol. Even though this medication does have some negative side effects. If people in the community are useing it on a regular basis, and your blood work always looks good, and you have healthy Liver, Stomach, and Kidneys then it might be a very benifitial medication. So as long as your Dr. is ok with it, (then its probably safe for some people) Good luck everyone, and as always best of health to all.  Paingotago

[GSWsurvivor]

I agree about the addiction thing.. My doctor when i was in highschool prescribed this and it worked really well for a long time but for me it was a gateway drug to stronger pain meds.. It *****.. and the withdrawls are really close to that of something stronger

[paingotago]

I am very sorry, and concerned for all people in the community having these problems from the effects,  and side effects of Ultram- (tramadol). With all these concerns, and the fact that I personally have never taken the drug I have been studing the PDR on Tramadol for a coulple of hours now. The results of the written studies done have me abit concerned.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The first thing that struck me was the amount of people in the trials that had vomiting, and seizures, and had to quit the study  altogether. You have to understand the print is very small, and I wanted to read the information a coulple of times to make sure I did not miss something important. It says It definitely increases the risk in Seizures to patiants that take MEDICATIONS for Seritonin reuptake  inhibitors, Tricyclic antidepressants, cyclobenziprines, promethazines, and opiods. It states that opoid dependant people should not take Ultram?  It doesn't say why?  It goes on to say that patiants taking sedative hypnotic, or tranquilizers should not take Ultram.                                                                                                                                    Also if Ultram is stopped suddenly withdraw will occure: (anxiety, sweats, riggors, pain diarrehoea, and treamors). Says slow taperring is recomended.  I am not a Dr. nor do I have al the answers by any means, but this drug now has my attention.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              I have been on opiods for 16 years due to being on the other end of a terrible automobile accident that caused my motor to push my steering wheel through my pelvis,  and then multiple hip sugeries, and ankle surgeries. In my opinion this is  one of those medications where an enormous amount of thought has to be weighed in before useing this medication. For me I tend to agree with the notion that it maybe would be safer just to use a regular Opiate for pain.  It appears there would be a lot less side effects on the organs. I would deffinately discuss this with my Dr.  Its just my opinion, but I think the negatives out weigh the possitives here?  I have come to find in my journey of chronic pain controll.   I'v learned to accept,and to cope with dependance. With that said,  a cleaner opiod just fits my situation better. I do want to emphasize that we all have different situations, and what works for me might not work the same for others.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                I would like to end with I wish the best of health to all ,Sincerely, Paingotago

[hasiby]

i had a motorcycle accident where i broke my right femur. A week after my accident my doctor prescribed me TRAMACET, which contains TRAMADOL HYDROCLORIDE AND ACETAMINOPHEN. Two months into it, having 3 to four pills aday i was happy pain free. slowly i started to cut down and eventually went down to 1 to 2 pill at night to get some sleep

After doing some research, knowing it can be addictive i stopped taking it.
it was a night mare for me at night, i could not sleep and if i did i would fall asleep for couple hours and then would have weird dreams, about the pill wanting me to use it badly.

so i decided to stay awake and watch couple movies till morning and then i would go to sleep in morning. it helped and i am 4 days into not using it i feel less pain at night and sleep better. thanks to everyone that has shared their experience it saved me from an addiction.

[AnonDH56]

The reason to care if you are addicted is becuase in my case, and I am not alone, someday you will have a need to switch to a different doctor and despite no good reason, you wont be accepted. That is where I am at. Despite volouous records, MRI's, etc. two PM docs turned my down flat AFTER I broke off with my previous PM doc, and gave no reason. The old guy wouldnt take me back. The new ones both complained about my insurance and wanted to reduce my meds which was fine with me, but tehy still would not take me. They of course both took my $75 copay but then, Good bye. I was afraid I would get charged iwth Doctor shopping, especially here in FL where it is a Felony so I dropped the old PM doc first never expecting this could happen. So now I cant work due to pain and my insurance compnay has no one in my area left to try. Even so I could maybe get someone two hours away, like my last one, but I shouldnt have to drive taht far when I was paying $700 a month for insurance. So now I cant get meds, am broke, cant work, lost my insurance and despite the Advil commmercials, two a day doesnt stop my pain. So be careful out there, especially Floridians, if you are on narcotics and have to have them, tread carefully thru the system.
DH