I have been taking the pain reliever Tramadol for almost a year now. Earlier this year, I was taking alot, everyday. One day, I took more than normal and knew I had taken too much. While at work, I had a seizure and went to the emergency room. The hospital did a CAT scan and everything was normal. It was chalked up to dehydration. I started weaning myself off the Tramadol and was taking 3 pills, twice a day. Recently, I was given Seroquel to help me sleep at night. About a week after taking the Seroquel, I took an extra dose of Tramadol to close together, and I had another seizure. After doing research, I discovered that a side effect of Tramadol is seizures and that taking Seroquel can increase the risk of having a seizure while on Tramadol. I've sinced stopped taking the Seroquel. Do you think it is ok to continue taking Tramadol? It is the only medicine that relieves my chronic neck and back pain. After this last seizure, my license was taken away to avoid an accident if it was to happen while driving. I need to make an appointment with a neurologist to get myself cleared. This is all really new to me and I'm not sure what to think. I was taking Tramadol for at least 8 months before the 1st seizure without a single issue. Then, all of a sudden, I have a 2nd one out of the blue. Do you think I should be concerned? or do you think it has to do with the medicine? Any advice will be appreciated.

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

Here is what "drug checker" has to say:

http://www.drugs.com/interactions-ch...1274,2221-1474

This link shows statistics on drugs reported to the FDA:

http://www.drugcite.com/?q=Ultram

You can see there that seizures are reported the most often.

This will have to be discussed with your doctor. It might be a metabolism issue, meaning you are not metabolizing the drug fast enough and it is building up in your system to the levels that cause seizures. There are DNA tests to show which people have mutations in which enzymes in the liver that metabolize various drugs.

Or for you it might be dose related, or combined with foods high in serotonin or your taking OTC medications which may interact like Sudafed or dextromethorphan (DM) in cough products.

You will have to consult with a doctor on this for sure.

Happy to see you have come to be with us. We have a great number of friends here to assist you in questions you have. Just let us know if we can be of any help. Our shoulders are here for support in many ways.

Looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene