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Tramadol is not evil.

Posted , 52 users are following.

Still
Still

Tramadol does not have any malicious intent to get you 'hooked' or 'addicted'.

Tramadol provides a reliable source of relief to many pain sufferers and patients with other medical problems. The VARIABLE in all this ... is the individual patient, everyone's body makeup is different and so will react and produce different side effects with every drug they take. The only way to find out how your body will react is to give the prescribed drug a try, preferably for a couple weeks if this will be a long-term drug and if it doesn't suit you talk to your doctor. They most likely can find an alternative that will suit you. That's one of the reasons why there are so many drugs that do the same thing. wink

As for not knowing the possibilities of what might happen - there's only two people you can blame, one - your doctor for not giving you some important facts and two - yourself for not researching your prescription online.

Personally I think doctors even on the NHS should take more time to spell out the common effects and if it can be addictive but I do understand that they don't usually have the time. This isn't going to change anytime soon though, so...

There is a plethora of information online, on any prescription drug and it will tell you everything you need to know before you take it. Some websites, like drugs.com, even have an Interactions Checker which you can input all your medications into and check if they will react badly. It's very cool and I even was able to bring a bad mix up to my doctor who was able to clarify that the short amount of time I was taking the new drug would be ok with my regular prescription.

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Tramadol is a synthetic (man made) opiate. It does not mix well with natural opiates such as cocodamol as one person was complaining about in this forum. Always check with your doctor if you feel uncomfortable and always take prescriptions as advised. If you start mixing things up and not understanding the chemistry behind it then what do you expect?

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS: Constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; headache; increased sweating; indigestion; mild itching; nausea; trouble sleeping; vomiting; weakness. Constipation seems to be the most common and would advise a gentle laxative.

If you have any SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS (see following) then go to A&E or see the doctor the next day depending on how bad it is, stop taking the Tramadol until you can get medical advice:Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); burning, numbness, or tingling; chest pain; confusion; difficult or painful urination; disorientation; excessive sweating; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; hallucinations; loss of coordination; mood or mental changes (eg, depression, agitation); red, blistered, swollen, or peeling skin; seizures; severe dizziness or light-headedness; severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; severe or persistent headache; slow or shallow breathing; suicidal thoughts or behaviors; tremor; vision problems; wheezing.

I DON'T WANT TO BECOME ADDICTED: Well most people don't. If your condition will be temporary then consider asking for Codeine (a natural opiate) which doesn't work as well but will help relieve some of the pain. Always take paracetamol at the same time you take any opiate, my NHS doctors have always told me this, saying that they both work better together than just the opiate alone and in my experience this is true. Also when you feel the pain is minimal to moderate, try taking just paracetamol and skipping a dose of your opiate when possible. Once you do this more often than not you can either realize that you can live with minimal pain or only take the opiate sporadically as needed.

If you have a long term condition like me, then I'll tell you what my doctor in the US told me when I told her I didn't want to become addicted. First, she said, you're only an addict if you're taking the drug to get a high, otherwise you're just dependent. Then she told me I can either take the drug to alleviate the pain and get some normal things done on a daily basis or don't take it and live with a pain that will most likely prevent me from leaving my bed and become agitated and irritated with everything and everyone because of my relentless pain. She said there is no shame in become dependent and that when the time came to stop there would be a safe period of weaning the drug and a plan for the withdrawal. I added that most NHS doctors are ambivalent towards things like this and she said, then demand it. I did and I was helped, no NHS doctor ever judged me for being dependent and it does seem like they deal with this often. They are not as organised as in the U.S. where you can get a 'kick pack' which contains valium, supplements and many useful tips but my NHS doctor did prescribe me valium for 4 days which was enough to get over the 'hump' and I researched and procured the other supplements and tips I needed online.

WHY YOU BECOME DEPENDENT: In plain speak, Tramadol does the job of making your body feel good and does it so well that it relieves the overabundant amount of pain your going through because of your medical condition. Once your body realizes it doesn't have to do this job anymore, it will stop, that's when your body has become 'dependent'. When you stop taking the Tramadol and your body hasn't yet taken it's 'job' back, you feel withdrawal symptoms because there is nothing making you feel good. The withdrawal will end once your body takes back it's normal job of releasing the chemicals which make you feel good.

HOW TO OVERCOME THE WITHDRAWAL PERIOD: If you have become dependent Tramadol and you most likely have if you've been taking it for a long time, it's almost always best to consult with your doctor about a withdrawal plan. They can help give you a plan to wean the drug and also be there for when you need muscle relaxers if you need them once you stop the drug. If they are not helpful, see another doctor, rinse and repeat (especially if you're on NHS!).

Even better - What you can do is research all this on the internet but I will include this one link because I felt it was the one who helped me the most when I went through it. Not just the info but the people who commented and gave support. There are many forums that will do the same thing, find one which has active supportive members (and a plan you feel comfortable with) and I promise you will feel better about being able to get feedback from people who have felt what you are going through. Actually I'm going to link the process I used for withdrawal, it's from the same site and you can explore that further if you want or just Google 'opiate withdrawal forum' for support and plans.

http://www.vicodinwithdrawal.org/alternative-medicine/thomas-recipe-opiate-detox

Oh and I should also warn that you will come across a lot of people who don't know what they are talking about, but you should be able to spot them pretty quick,. Just ignore them, find good info and support, that's the best thing to do. smile

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I hope this is more helpful than not. I'm not sure why people come here to complain about a drug. The drug has been well tested and it's not dangerous. However being ill-informed about a drug, how you take it and the possibilities ...well that certainly can be.

Best of wishes to everyone struggling with their conditions, keep looking towards the future! Ronni <3>

22 likes, 179 replies

179 Replies

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  • richard_1
    richard_1 Still

    Posted

    Hi Steve well I am pretty sure it is caused by the Tramadol as I weaned myself off it a while back and the headaches eventually disappeared. I started using Tramadol again and within two weeks they have sorted again. I am sure it's not the same for everyone but that is my experience. It is such a shame because they are very effective for the pain which has made things more bearable but the headaches are crushing.

     

  • duracell_dave
    duracell_dave Still

    Posted

    Hi,very well put,the info was great and will help a lot of people,the ones who go from high dose tramadol to zero cold turkey are probably exageratting,or stupid (2 big side affects of tramadol , he he) and they dont help,but this site does,I sometimes write then delete , it all helps,like therepy, thanks again for what you wrote, have a nice weeken. smile
  • blu74
    blu74 Still

    Posted

    I know this post is old but I found it interesting.  I'm in the USA and the doctors here don't tell much about any risks with Tramadol.  I've been using it on & off, mostly on, for the most part of the last 5 years for degenerative disc disease in my lower back.  Without it I'm extremely stuff and in pain.  The medicine helps alot with the stiffness, I still have pain but it helps me get through it. I take 2 in the morning 50mg and two at night.  When I don't take it in about 24 hours I wind up feeling lousy and if it's been a week I wind up feeling downright awful as if I have the worst flu ever.  It's basic dependence that your body goes through.  About 5 years ago when I started taking and then stopped I went to my doctor and told them I thought I was in withdrawal, they said they weren't sure if that's what it was so they tapered me down slowly, the tapering did nothing as even almost a year later I felt out of sorts and tried to compensate for the lack of energy with tons of coffee and the pain with over the counter meds with never helped.  I went  back to the doctor and they put me back on the Tramadol for the pain, been on it pretty much ever since.  I hate to say it but wihtout it walking or standing for long periods of time can be impossible for me.  Someone else here mentioned that it gave her energy, I can totally account for this.  I talked with my doctor about 2 years ago about this little side effect.  I told him not only do I get pain relief but it gives me what feels like a natural boost of some energy.  He told me he could give me Cymbalta but that it generally does the same thing as Tramadol-provides pain relief and some energy, he said they don't know if the meds giving energy are what's helping patients get through the pain or if it's the pain relief allowing them to move around more, he said if it's helping me in both aspects then to just take it, I wasn't complaining about the energy aspect as I don't have much energy naturally anyway, so...I continue to take it.  There is most definately withdrawal from Tramadol, that's a definite but each person responds differently.  My husband had been taking it for a while when he hurt his back over 10 yrs ago and then stopped but had no issues with withdrawal nor did he ever get any energy from it.  I thought I had read somewhere that some people who naturally have low serotonin will feel different but those that don't will feel not much different, who knows how true that is.  Tramadol is basically the same as some antidepressants and provides the same effects only quicker-you're essentially taking an antidepressant, Cymbalta works the same way and gives the same results, helps with depression and helps with pain especially arthritis.  I've read numerous forums from people who suffered from depression who were praising Tramadol for easing their symptoms, they were able to suddenly get up and go for a walk or actually "want" to go do something, so for some it can be a good thing long term.  I've never wound up like some who claim to go from 4 a day to in upwards of 15 a day or anything like that, never had a need to take more than prescribed.  On a rare occasion I may sneak in an extra one when the first dose wears off if it's an especially painful day but that's rare, it won't hurt you but doing it too much can cause you to run out quickly and our health insurance in the USA will refuse you an early refill if that happens or they won't pay for it and it all comes out of your pocket, $86 per bottle,, insurance can be a royal pain here sometimes.  I hate the fact knowing that I'll probably be on a medication long term but if I want to function normally and be able to go out and run errands and clean the house without being in horrible pain then I have to stick to the 2 pills in the morn and 2 pills in the evening, I probably don't need it so much in the evening but that's the regimen I've been on since I used to work overnights which I don't do anymore.  It does affect your serotonin levels, serotonin being your feel-good hormone, the Tramadol takes over that job as the first poster stated.  When you stop taking it your body doesn't product it anymore and has to learn how to make it on its own, how long that takes I don't know because when I stopped taking for a year that one time I felt horrible for almost the whole year, I don't think my body ever got back into where it used to be, I have to wonder if it permanently affects your body abililty to make serotonin or if it means you just naturally don't make enough and just need a medicine or antidepressant for that, that whole thing remains a mystery to me.  Don't be ashamed if you need to take it for the 2 effects of getting energy and needing pain relief.  My issue with the discs in my back will never get better, it's permanent, anything that can give me some pain relief and a boost of energy is a good thing for me anyway.  It never really eliminates the pain but allows me to work through it though it does help alot with the stiffness in my lower back and hips, especially in the morning, it can hurt just to reach back and put on a bra in the morning so it's sorely needed.  At times I have to roll out of bed sideways instead of just sitting up and stepping out of bed.  I'm told as I get older the discs will harden and become less mobile and therefore will hurt less so we shall see. The withdrawal isn't pleasant, I can attest to that very much.  Immodium can help alot for the stomach troubles, a sleeping pill can help at night too.  There have been times where I had every withdrawal symptom and other times where I just felt anxious, why it's different every time who knows.  But if it works for you long term for a long term medical painful problem I don't see the hurt in continuing to use it aslong as you're using it as prescribed and not suddenly upping the amount of pills you take per day which would signal a problem that you're probably losing tolerance for it for whatever reason, though I never had an issue with that.  Sounds like it's different for everyone.  I feel if it works and helps then take it.  And being that it works similar to an antidepressant they should also look into this for those with depression, I've heard from way too many that said Tramadol helped them out of a dark hole with depression.  Maybe in the future doctors will pick up on this eventually.  I read a long time ago that it was originally intended as an antidepressant but in clinical trials they found it greatly helped with pain so they marketed it as a pain pill.
    • duracell_dave
      duracell_dave blu74

      Posted

      Yes there seems to be a trend with slagging off tramadol and" look how quickly i came off,its the devil" etc,well for those of us who generally need tramadol to lead a kind of normal life hearing this constantly does nothing but become a pain in the arse,I too after reading about this trully awful addictive drug tried to cut it out (after 17 years with no problem) only to find I actually needed tramadol along with gabapentin to get me through the day with little pain we sometimes forget those of us with problems with backs, nerve damage etc the time when we had so much pain it was unbearable and tramadol helped us a lot ,I have reduced from my 400mg daily ( 17years) to 100mg daily, knowing the difference sometimes especially with nerve damage from withdrawls and nerve pain is a thin line as they both mess with your head.for those out there who really feel they dont need tramadol and want to reduce I found that when I reduced that having a bottle of tramadol drops to hand when I was really struggling was a great help as 1 drop is 12.5mg so a small amount takes the edge off and there is no 12.5mg pill.At the beggining of my pain I took tramadol quick release and soon found out about slow release which has been a god send and is now just part of my daily life.So if your reducing good luck, if your cutting it out good luck,but hold back on the "how easy it is to go cold turkey and the devil drug" as some of us need the devil to get on with life.have a nice day all and yes is the answer 'I talk to much' ask the wife smile
  • angie42070
    angie42070 Still

    Posted

    As a Nurse I see many drugs used daily that cause side effects on commencement and withdrawal. Any medication used for a long period of time could cause withdrawal effects even paracetamol. I've got chronic pain due to a deteriorating lumbar spine but I try to use different pain relief so that it's not one continual medication being used daily. I use tramadol on the weekends and occasionally on an evening as can't  take during the week when I'm working. For me it's the one medication that actually takes away some of the pain. There is a lot  of controversy and research over whether people can have an 'addictive' personality. It maybe that if they brain is used to have toxins from cigarettes or large amounts of alcohol, that a dependence on the chemicals in a medication may create a withdrawal when trying to stop. 

    Everyone will have different experiences with anything that goes into the stomach including food and drinks, so it's just trial and error to find something that helps with the least dude effects. 

    • blu74
      blu74 angie42070

      Posted

      I sometimes wonder about an addiction gene that might run in families, I've heard about this in the past.  My father is a recovering alcoholic, though I've never had problems with alcohol (I hardly ever have a drink  other than maybe a drink or two at weddings) but I am a smoker and I sometimes think I'm addicted to either coffee or caffeine and then of course when I don't take Tramadol I feel awful, I only wind up slightly cranky if I don't have coffee every single day.  Funny thing is in the past I've taken real narcotics like vicodin and percocet for toothaches and had absolutely no issues with either, I took the prescription and when it ran out that was it, no withdrawal or anything and the vicodin I took for about a month after dental surgery, no issues never wanted more or yearned for more.  My other medicine that I take is called Fioricet for migraines but that's an "as needed" medicine so I don't take it every day but it has barbiturates in it, the paperwork that comes with it always says it's very addictive but I've had no problems with it, 1 bottle of 30 pills usually lasts me around 3 months if not more at times.  But the Tramadol when not taking it certainly affects my body.  This last time though it wasn't as bad as the last times for some reason however I did have enough to get me through but not the regular dosage, instead of my regular 4 per day I only took 1 per day until refilled and withdrawal wasn't so bad, barely noticed it other than being cranky and anxious and the back pain as one a day just doesn't cut it for my pain.  Today I went back to  my regimen of 2 in the morning then 2 in the evening and this afternoon I was able to walk to my son's baseball game and then walk home and even sit for 3 hours through the whole game, a little stiff but the meds made it manageable, whereas the other day it wouldn't have happened with just 1 pill, or if I had no pills.  I didn't cheat and throw in an extra pill, stuck to the prescribed daily dosage and it allowed me to function today.  I wouldn't say it's a miracle pill but it makes things easier, almost as if my joints have been oiled and more limber, still a little stiff (worse in the mornings) but it helps.  Forgot to mention in my first post if someone wants to cut down, these pills can be cut in half.  The ones I take are white oval pills (no powder inside, they're not capsules).  Couple years ago when I was trying to wean off I was cutting them in half, they're not scored but they can be cut.
  • Vvoid
    Vvoid Still

    Posted

    I know this was posted over a year ago but I wanted to thank you for your well worded post on Tramadol. I know people read forums for quick info but it's so important to do the research yourself.

    I had been on Tramadol for 9 mths (spinal surgery). I just stopped "cold turkey" and I also stopped Baclofen the same way at the same time. I do not advise doing this, but to be honest, I've had only minor issues, like cold sweats and heightened anxiety. I've been off both for a week now.

    I also stopped oxycontin and percocet cold turkey (about 1.5 months ago) after taking it for about a year and a half continuously. No bad effects this time either. I think my body knows when it has hit its limit with pharma and then I start to feel really ill from taking the medication. I know this is only my body and how it reacts. Someone else might experience something different.

  • dan18334
    dan18334 Still

    Posted

    Tramadol is way evil mainly because it is so sneeky! I think tramidol is more dangerus than smoking heroin because it only takes a couple of extra pill for you to be in serous  risk of seizure WTF! ive never been worryied about having a seizure untill Tramidol came into my life.  
    • lin06321
      lin06321 dan18334

      Posted

      Taking more than directed with most meds is dangerous, unfortunately.  
    • vetswidow
      vetswidow dan18334

      Posted

      I think  your problems are far more serious than Tramadol....
  • rosemary82408
    rosemary82408 Still

    Posted

    I can't manage without a couple of Tramadol in the morning around 11am don't care if I am now dependent at 70 just hope it doesn't raise my bp or affect my kidney function too much.  Best pain relief I have had so far for spinal stenosis.  I have also been told paracetamol works wih Tramadol.
    • steve_1
      steve_1 rosemary82408

      Posted

      I don't suppose it matters if you're dependant on tramadol if it makes living possible, well, that's what I tell myself,(at 66+). We are all dependant on something whether it's vitimins or some mineral of some sort so what's the difference?

      It does work well with paracetamol, in fact the mix is produced as a standard thing, My mother in law has just been prescribed it....35mg of Tramadol with 15mg Paracetamol in tab or cap form, so I suppose that's the sort of ratio. On the very odd occasion that I've had a head ache I've taken a couple of paracetamol when I've already dosed on tramadol and I'm here to tell the tale. Don't half sleep well though.

    • steve_1
      steve_1 rosemary82408

      Posted

      Sorry, I got the numbers way out, My mother in law's medication is 35mg tramadol with 350 mg Paracetamol in capsule form so using that ratio with a 50 mg capsule of Tramadol a standard 500 mg tablet of Paracetamol should be OK.
  • casimir68197
    casimir68197 Still

    Posted

    yes , what about the drop in sugar levels , potential seizures .
    • Tuscani
      Tuscani casimir68197

      Posted

      Forewarned is forearmed. All drugs come with potential risks, life is a risk. 

      Each individual's experience can be different. I am on my 3rd round of using Tramadol, the most recent being 200mg morning and night. After reading this post this past weekend, I did I the following:

      - Had blood taken for a full count, results came inon Tuesday and were all normal with no sugar level issues.

      - Just to see, I stopped on Sunday evening and have not taken a dose since.  I followed what the poster Still had recommended and took 2.5mg of Valium at bedtime for two days. Personally, I had no issues after stopping, and I am pleased that I did it so I could understand how I would react - this was my experience.

      It is in my interest to read only positive posts, they are fewer because people being negative and whinging tend to post more.

    • ruth86511
      ruth86511 Tuscani

      Posted

      Maybe people who are whinging and negative are in such dispare they have no one who understands what they are going through! Doctors, friends, family have no clue what the symptoms of withdrawal are like! 

      Yes, I agree to much reading can make you feel negative, but we have a choice to not read those, but just remember to have some compassion, as some are crying out for help x

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