Tramadol How Addictive

I have a number of back injuries ranging from a herniated disc to a lower back torn disc from military jet ejection resulting from engine failure. The prescribed pain med is tramadol 50 mg. I'm very active so I'll take one if the pain gets severe. They are not addictive at all, at least where I'm concerned. I'll take one pill maybe once every two to four or five weeks. I have no compulsion to take more or take them more often. I don't know what's wrong with everyone on this page. You cannot get a back injury much worse than mine but I don't feel the need to pop these pills constantly. People need to suck it up a bit. Life is painful, deal with it. Semper Fi

Ideology has been the number one killer of our species and planet since we could see back in history, and religion accounted for a fraction of that.

Ideally, that's the answer, but addiction has its own set of rules.... It's sad, but if "sucking it up" was the answer then you have found the cure to addiction.

You are clearly not an addict, so I understand and respect your input as that's what most non addicts would believe, but when a loved one found to be an addict, and sucking it up fails, it will leave you all scratching your heads, frustrated, confused and helpless... That's addiction.

I have been taken Tramadol 100mg every day for about 5yrs and there where times I took a total of 200mg in day. Recently my doctor told me to stop taking them, I didn't do anything wrong he changed 1of my meds to where I didn't need the tramadol, and have had no withdrawal symptoms at all. And I never had an issue of flipping out if I missed a dose or ran out. And I have chronic daily pain and have for 10+yes.

Oh man...... I have been on tramadol for ten years it just acts in your brain like a sister agent to morphine it will make u energetic when u r up when go to sleep u feel no pain side effect it makes u itch... And coming off it for three days is he'll but not as bad as anything stronger so it works for me

Hi everyone, I have read over these posts regarding Tramadol. I noticed some were from years ago,  but hopefully I can offer some good advice here. I am not a doctor but I do have a degree in clinical psychology and have studied lots of drugs, including Tramadol. Sadly I have psyc. conditions that prevented me from going into the field and becoming an actual doctor but I did learn about my severe mental stuff. That being said, I have taken Tramadol for pain from time to time. It works wonderful, but I also know many people that got hooked on it. When this drug first came out it was considered to be non-narcotic and a much safer alternative to other narcotic drugs, such as Vicoden and Percocet. As time went on abuse levels among people taking Tramadol began to increase, although the drug was not even scheduled for a long time by the FDA. Tramadol in general is really a safer alternative to heavier and addicting narcotics, like oxycodone and many others, but this drug can be very addictive depending on the person. It possesses some VERY UNIQUE properties that other narcotics do not have. Some on this post say they don't feel depressed when taking Tramadol, more energetic, etc. Here is the deal with Tramadol, now a schedule IV controlled substance. Tramadol works on both your serotonin and norepinephrene. By doing this the drug actually acts like a super fast acting anti-depressant and gives you a good mood, uplifting. Some drug researchers and doctors actually now prescribe this for depression. However, the drug is also an opioid and works on those receptors to relieve pain. Combining both of these things make Tramadol a drug that can def. be addicting, esp. if it is taken in large amounts or for a long period of time at higher doses. There are many people that never have an issue with this drug. I never have, but I have seen Tramadol addiction and it is not pretty. It resembles a narcotic addiction and when stopped has similar withdrawal effects. Moreover, Tramadol is stil relatively easy to get since it is not a highly controlled substance like oxycodone or hydrocodone. Many doctors use Tramadol with good intention and honestly it really is a much better substitute than going on oxycodone, etc. Addiction potential is less likely but it def. exists and the ones that do get hooked are hooked big time b/c of the elated, anti-depressant feeling mostly, like Prozac but think of it as Prozac being all released at one time and giving you a high/+ mood, plus again, it has some slight narcotic pain killing properties. I still recommened this drug for pain and maybe even depression, and if it works for you great, keep taking it as prescribed but always talk to your doctor about any drug and Tramadol is no exception. For some people, Tramadol, also known as Ultram, can produce a high similar to mophine, oxycodone, etc. Drug addicts will take more than prescribed and even snort or inject the pill in its crushed form. Everyone is different when it comes to their DOC (drug of choice) and some people will try to get Tramadol at all costs to feed their addiction and to ward off withdrawal. If you are addicted, there is help. Don't lie to your doctor. That is not good and will get you nowhere. I know some doctors will say, "I am cutting you off now, etc... and this fear is why addicts do not tell their doctors. A good doctor will understand and ween you off this medicine and not just cut you off, but you have to follow his or hers instructions with the weaning otherwise you will be in a very precarious sitatution. The doctor wants to help but is not going to keep giving you Tramadol b/c you took more or did not follow weaning instructions. Some ppl have to be hospitalized to get off this drug b/c their addiciton is so strong. Be honest with yourself, many drug addicts want to stop their DOC but don't know how and are scared about the effects (physical and psychological) that he or she will go through when halting the medicine. Also a Tramadol overdose is not always responsive to Narcan b/c of its unique properties, so abusing this drug and possibly overdosing on it can def. kill you. All this said, I still think Tramadol is an excellent drug with valid medical use, and 9 out of 10 ppl will not get hooked but if you are that 1 out of 10, Tramadol can cause big time trouble. Be safe using this drug, talk to your doctor about pain options other than narcotics but also remember that not everyone can take anti-immflamtory drugs (NSAIDS). I can't, I am highly allegric to them, took Naprosyn years ago and had to go to the ER b/c I could not breath. This sucks b/c when I am in a pain situation I typically have to rely on some kind of narcotic medicine to do the trick. The key is to not stay on narcotics for any longer than necessary, but some ppl still get addicted, it is just crazy. Sorry about the long post. I hope I gave some good information about Tramadol, and if you have not taken it before or if your dr. just gave you a new prescription for it for pain, don't be scared. Reading all these posts about addiction can turn you away, but look at yourself and your personality. You know if you have drug seeking behavior or have had a drug problem in the past. If this is the case, stay away from Tramadol, otherwise give it a try for your pain. It works good and is less addicting than many other pain meds, but it still has addiction potential, so please keep that in mind. God bless and I hope the ppl on this thread that are hooked on Tramadol have sought help and are off the drug now. 

   

Tramadol is a great option for a painkiller, although I suggest checking this link out (https://aidinrecovery.com/drug-detox/tramadol-detox-centers/) to know the side effects of improperly using the drug

Hi. I was given Tramadol for a spinal injury 18 months ago and didn’t realise how quite addictive it was. Long story short I was never monitored properly by my GP despite me asking lot of questions and I quickly found myself addicted. I had my last dose on Christmas morning and since Christmas night have been suffering withdrawals. It’s been agony!! I will NEVER take Tramadol again and I am going to stick to Naproxen and follow my Physio’s advise. Hope this helps in your decision. 

tramadol is a good pain killer but if you consume it without proper doctor prescription there will be side-effects.So you will have to be careful about its consumption.

Hey all,

I broke my upper tibia plauteau in spring of 2014!  Three surgeries later now 2018. I have been on 100 mg tramadol for over 3 years... there have been days when I took 150 mg because of severe pain.  I take 2 (two) 50s each am because I wake up in horrible pain.  I am also severely nauseated each am UNTIL I take my tramadol.  It relieves the pain and nausea.  SO I believe I am withdrawing each morning until I take my dosage.  Does this seem plausible?  I need it for pain but hate the mornings...I have to sit for an hour until nausea and pain disappear!  Comments??

I'll suggest not to stop your Tramadol medication and am telling you this because i was on Tramadol for a year for my shoulder pain and it worked really well without any side-effects and addiction. The reason I was not addictive to the pills because i was taking the pills only according to doctor's prescription which is very important if you are on Tramadol medication.Hope this helps you.

I've been on 150mg tramadol and 45 of vicoden for years am just starting my withdrawal.

I have severe peripheral neurapothy. Which is a intense burning as if I had picked up a hot frying pan. The doctored has OKed me to start withdrawing slowly while taking wild lettuce to stop the pain. As my tramadol is a pill there is no problem cutting it in 1/2 or 1/4 or even smaller. Will not your doctor change your prescription from capsules to tablets?

Wild lettuce is a weed that grows everywhere, check your back yard! It is none addictive, no side effects. No need to process it just rub the white sap on the sore spot or chew a crisp leaf. Or make tea.

By the way other names for this wonderful

Herb/weed are;

Bitter lettuce

Wild endive

Opium lettuce and

Morphine lettuce

Because of its very strong pain relieving aspects. Or you could go to Amazon and buy it in many different forms. Good luck all of you!

I have been on Tramadol for years and as I've started with Medical Marijuana for pain I am going off the Tramadol.  Personally, I would still have taken it, despite it being hard to stop taking it.  It made a huge difference for me and I have tried so many meds.  Only Tramadol and Gabapentin have helped me  Well, Hydrocodone did, but I wanted to leave that road.  I was taking 5 (6 is the max you can take, anything more drastically makes it more likely you could have a seizure) of the 50 mg tablets.  I have been doing this for probably 8 or more years now.  However, I cut it in half with zero problem with stopping.  Then I did another, so I am down to 2.  I have been doing 2 for a month and I think I can cut it by 50% again.  

I have posted on boards about this many times, It truly seems to me that the ones that are hardest to stop taking are the time release ones.  Some countries only have those, from what I have gathered, also.  

I can say that the first year I could take or not take them and I had zero reactions to stopping.  It was after I did it steady for about a year that it was problematic to me.  I have zero buzz or anything from them, and they do still work, which is different than the hydros.  That was a huge relief, not to feel stoned, and to be able to safely drive.  Don't remember how long I took them before the buzz went away.  OVer a year, for sure.