Hi everyone, My Doctor has prescribed tramadol. I have been taking it for a few months now. It is slow release. It does help some with pain. I find I need to take tylenol for breakthrough pain. All my reading says that it is a synthetic opiod. My question"Is tramadol a narcotic"? Thanks in advance for any replies.

Tramadol is supposedly not a narcotic but it certainly can be addictive.
I've been on regular release for nine months for Peripheral Neuropathy, over half that time at the maximum dosage (8 per day). I've cut back a few times all the way down to zero for a couple days and haven't had a problem except for increased pain that the Tramadol was masking. All and all I'd say Tramadol has been a real lifesaver for me.
For some real horror stories go here
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/addict...es/30264a.html
but remember the people who speak up on the negative aspects of anything always speak up the most. People who don't have any problems tend to stay quiet about it and don't even visit links like the above.

Good Morning Hairdresser and sallymander

I was just put on Tramadol in the last 3 weeks . I take 50 mg and I only take it at night. So far so good. I know that I am finally sleeping at least 6 hrs. at night now ( compared to 4 ) I haven't had too many side effects other than getting nausea in the morning. It is a non narcotic.. and I have read some horror stories, but I am hoping to replace it from vicodin . It's good to know that it works for some of us ! Thanks hairdresser and sallymander......

Dolfinz

I have it and I take it but not regularly, only when pain is over the top. It does leave me groggy in the morning.

Thanks Sallymander,Dolfinz and Shelley for your replies. I am on the slow release form of tramadol. I take 200 to 300 mg's a day depending on my pain levels. I have been using fast release tylenol for breakthrough pain. As with many medications I have taken, they all seem to work well for awhile and then all at once I seem to need more and more. It seems 300 mg of the slow release is the maximum dosage with tramadol. Thanks again, for responding.

Hi Hairdresser,

Tramadol in canada is currently listed as non narcotic despite the fact that the chemical composition is a narcotic form. It is in the real world a narcotic and will likely be changed by the gov. to a narcotic controlled substance.

I have been on it and found it worked in the beginning but needed to up the dose. I now change my meds from oxycontin long acting to fentanyl patch so my body does not get too used to the drug. I change when I feel I need to go up on the doses to get good pain control. Switching meds like this helps the pain as you don't get used to the med and you can rotate on two meds indefinately. I far prefer to do this than go up and up on the same drug. The body handles each drug differently so you can take one for as long as you feel it is working and you don't need to increse. when you feel the need to go up you change the drug. Just a thought and this is what I am currently doing to prevent the ever increasing med issue.

As for tramadol it is a very weak pain control method. Long acting is good and you can go up to I believe 300mg a day. If you find you are needing extra breakthrough meds then perhaps you need to up your long acting dose. tylenol is not the greatest drug to take for breakthrough pain anyhow!!!!!! There is short acting tramadol with tylenol in it called tramadol perhaps that would be a better choice for extra pain control or even ibuprophen, but watch your gut with it.

If you find that this drug is not the answer to your pain control then it may be time to try a different method....or drug....long acting drugs......oxycontin, ms contin (morphine long acting) or percocet as a breakthrough medication. Remember muscle pain may be due to tightness and a muscle relaxant as well may help the pain....flexaril, baclofen, or vallium (the best in my book and only real muscle realxant) to help with the pain

I hope some of this helps you!!!
take care my canadain friend!!!
love and hugs,
Victoria

Hi Gibbrn thankyou for your reply. It helps because I know you have a medical background and you have been through alot trying to find pain control. I worry about taking a muscle relaxant with tramadol because of the risk of seizures. It's so hard to break the cycle of chronic pain. I get a medication for pain control find I can do a little more and then it stops working as well so I pull back with activity and sieze up again. I am so out of shape now and I am having more sympotoms or attacks as I call them. At this point my hips and knees are giving me alot of pain not to mention my upper extremities, neck, arms,shoulders,wrists and hands.

I don't know what Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is but is Lyrica ever used for pain control with it?
The combo of Lyrica with Tramadol works excellent for me. Personally I've found Lyrica to have little side effects but some people do. It was originally developed as an anti seizure drug if seizures concern you.
You better have good insurance though, they want big bucks for the drug.
Might want to ask your Dr if Lyrica would be good for you.

Lyrica is a good drug if you can tolerate it. Another option is neurontin the cousin drug or precursor to lyrica. I stopped taking lyrica due to side effects and am now back on neurontin. That is for my nerve pain.

You must keep moving hairdresser!!!!!! bare minimum but you can't seize up that's no good. you neeed pain control so that you will be able to have the ability to do some things.....yes you willll need to pace yourself but you will need more than a pain killer. I would not worry about the seizure issues UNLESS you are prone to them or have had one for a medical reason in the past if not you should be ok to take the muscle relaxant as well. They work together.

your other areas of pain are likely from lack of use!! you need to at least do a 5min walk then if able increase it gradually so you are doing some moving around and outside if possible. The more I do the worse I get so have to decide what is the most important thing I need to do in the day and that is my big activity then I pace and do small things take lots of breaks and then do something else. remember to stay hydrated and

love and hugs,
Victoria

Hello and thankyou for the replies. I tried lyrica for awhile and I find it made me sleepy,it didn't help with my pain and I felt really strange taking it. I took neuritron and it really helped with the burning pain and sleep but I had alot of side effects with it, depression,swelling in my ankles and face etc. I will never take these medications again especially the gabapentin, my mind slowed way down on this. I was thinking maybe some time at the aquatic centre might help to get me moving. Athough I can't use my arms alot to swim ,I'll move around etc. Thanks again for your help.