Tramadol Classification
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Is Tramadol a controlled substance, or is there any type of narcotic in them? I would really appreciate any reply. I would like to know ASAP if possible. It has been subscribed to my 16 year old son and I would like to know about the drug as soon as I can. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much! Hope to hear from someone real soon. Thanks again!

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Re: ljenn (# 33)

No it does not show up in lab work. I have been on tramadol for about 15 years. I have RA and Fibromyalgia. I have had to take tests for clonazepam. I take for anxiety and insomnia. My doctor told me that they are supposedly working on it but as of 2020 they couldn't detect Tramadol. It helps some with my arthritis but I have never taken more than 3 in a day. Never felt inebriated or sleepy or drunk feeling. I saw that some people commented that there is a big difference between addiction and dependence on a drug. I don't care if I am dependent on a drug. If it helps me to live my life with little pain, I will take that!

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I was an RN for 20 years Tramadol has never had any opiate ingredient it was known more as a glorified Ibuprofen with lift stomach upset recently A friend told me that it was classified as a schedule 2 and then less than remix the formula I do not understand why it would be in that category I think these politicians and the pharmaceutical companies are doing all this changing of issues when it comes to medication that is beneficial to our elderly with drugs such as Tramadol that could be prescribed by their family physician now they are required to go to a pain clinic now on our insurance a doctor's visit is 52 $75 a visit or go to a pain clinic and my visits average 272 as much as $400 a visit depending on whether I get 25 minutes or a full hour so I totally do not understand what classification is tramadol in my opinion it is a salon

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My husband who is 63 y/o has been taking tramadol 50mg tid, and has outbursts of anger and mood swings which seems to be getting worse to the point I have had to leave three times while visiting him for a few days. He lives and works in Michigan, and I live in further south. Recently he was diagnosed with kidney stone, and as a result of pain, rages worsen. He was given more pain medication and I am afraid he will also become addicted to as well. I am fearful of him, as earlier while attempting to board plane for a visit to me, he said he was stopped by security for carrying a weapon, which was confiscated and he allowed to board. Upon his arrival, he was very hostile towards me complaining that I didn't look up to see him walk past me, etc. It was awful. We are in process of purchasing a home but due to him unpredictable behavior, I don't think is a good idea. I feel safety is first. He refuses to blame me for whatever he does or days or noise even when there is no noise. The comments about tramadol impacting personality is so correct in this case and explains exactly my experience. I want to write a letter to his Dr and request for safety sake, put him into detox or wean him off. He does have a history of drug and alcohol abuse.

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How long does Tramadol 50 remain in your body before being excreted?

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I was told by one doctor it's not a narcotic. But THE I Had A Pain Management Doctor Say It Is I'm So Confused 4

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I totally agree so was I! Worst feeling was trying to stop it was pure hell! Worse then Vicodin and I was on both for 3 years!

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Get away from tramadol if you can. You will build A tolerance quickly. It does help with pain but only blocks it. I finally got off after 3 yrs with gabapentin aka Horizant and the use of mild lorazepams for the heart rate withdrawal affects. Tramadol def should only be taken twice a day and wean off!!! I had depression, sweats, heart rate increasing out of nowhere, and honestly it's worse than being addicted to illegal drugs! Seek other methods if you can. It also causes constipation, urination problems and again dependency even taken as prescribed. In SC they just put it as a narcotic and selling on the streets like any other opiate. I'm now in pain management and had injections for my back. I have RLS legs and arms which gabapentin helps. Hope this helps!

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Meli,

You're right to be concerned. Tramadol acts on opiate/opioid receptors, which is why you obtain the "good feeling" from it. Your doctor is a litlle cavalier about addiction. What he has said in essence is, "You could be hooked on H, but you're only addicted to codeine." Tramadol may be weaker, and dpendency may develop more slowly, and withdrawal may be somewhat less intense than other pain killers. But being addicted is being addicted - just a matter of the poison you're taking.

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I have been taking Tramadol for over 3 years for back pain, bursitis in my hip and general pain (fibromyalgia?). I can take up to 150 mg a day if needed. I really don't want to take it but anti-inflammatory doesn't really work. I know I am building a tolerance to it because I started at 50 mg. It definitely gives me a euphoric feeling but it also relieves my pain and doesn't make me sleepy so I can function and exercise. Still I worry, that I am addicted to a pain killer. I've tried everything from acupuncture, chiropractors, yoga, massage and I never stop exercising because it makes my pain worse if I just sit on the couch!. I get steroid shots and ablation in my back and hip. Tramadol just helps me keep going. I am monitored by a doctor at a pain clinic and my doctor reassures me that I could be on much worse medications. I still wish I didn't have to be on anything and was pain free! At least I am not walking the house at night because I can't sleep because of the pain. That is what I was doing before I started taking Tramadol.

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I have been on Tramadol for about a year for herniations and stenosis in both back and neck. I am young with 2 young children, work full time in a stressful job and am very busy. Pain hinders your mood, productivity and everyday life style if it is extreme enough. The reason for my pain is quite remarkable. I must have 9 lives because most peoples body would never had withstood with what I went through. I should had been dead. However, I live daily with pain and take into account how lucky I am and try to live my life to the fullest while giving back and not feeling sorry for myself. Therefore I take any where from none to 2 3x a day dependent upon my day. I have run out of it for days and have never had a feeling of withdrawl! Everybody is different and I can see maybe people with an addicting behavior becoming dependent. I do not or never had been addicted to anything. Therefore, everyone saying stop taking it because of an addiction really needs to look into why they are saying it...is it because you take a huge amount ? well then yes that is your fault for letting yourself get that far. I purposely will not take it a day or 2 a week just so I don't become addicted but I still can enjoy my life being pain free for most of the week! I am awaiting surgery once my kids get older but in the meantime I don't have any issue taking it! So for people looking it to take care of your pain because your pain has taken over your life like mine had...take it with the understanding that you must not take a large amount daily. I too like other people posted do not get the eupohoria feeling like others have posted.

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Going through same on it for 2 yrs trying to fight the withdrawals while finding pcp that believes me and looking for alternate energy and want to help. Effexor is helping

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My Dad takes this med for RLS Restless Leg Syndrome and has done so for a couple of years...he gets extreme nausea EVERY night after taking this med. His Doctor informed him that ANY anti-nausea drug is NOT compatible with this med. I find that hard to believe. So every evening, he knows what to expect. Some cases of the nausea cause him to vomit and he feels like Hell....

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Misstweetie, tramadol will never ever be in the same category as oxy. It's not even controlled yet, except for a couple of states that have it as the lowest control level. Oxy is extremely controlled and much much more powerful than tramadol. They're not even close to being in the same category. Never gonna happen

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You are right that (at this time anyway) Tramadol is NOT a Controlled Substance by the Federal DEA regulations. However, there are some states that have classified Tramadol as a Controlled Substance (usually Schedule IV).

This is sort of similar to the situation with SOMA (carisoprodal) the muscle relaxant. Some states began to add SOMA to their list of controlled substances; SOMA is converted in the body to meprobamate, a Schedule IV controlled substance. SOMA is now a controlled substance at the Federal level. Wouldn't be shocked if Ultram (tramadol) is also ultimately controlled.

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I was given Tramadol as an alternative to Norco after shoulder surgery. The surgeon told me (to my surprise) that advil delays healing after surgery due to its anti-inflammatory effect. OK, so I'll let the experts explain that one. So, I was given free rein with Tramadol, since I didn't want to become dependent on Norco or Vicodin, and ended up taking about 300mgs/day (6 X 50mg pills) for almost 4 months. Was I dependent on it? Heck yeah, by the 2nd week! It does not do much for pain but provides a mild euphoric effect and ALSO - for me at least - reduced the severe anxiety I have experienced off and on for years. I never had any trouble getting refills; in fact at my 4 month follow-up visit the surgeon asked me if I needed MORE tramadol. At that point I realized I had to get off it, which took about 6 weeks and the anxiety was AWFUL. I know docs are turning more and more to Tramadol as an alternative to the extremely addictive Vicodin, Norco, and Oxycontin, but don't let anyone tell you it's not addictive or that you will have no trouble getting off it, especially with long-term use after surgery. Just my experience, for what it's worth. Google it.

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Kristen, where did you hear you need another drug to ween off of tramadol?? That's absolutely incorrect. Weening down is doable on your own, although a doctor would give you an ideal schedule. A doctor will simply ween down your dosage to zero. If you're talking about a drug like suboxone, those drugs are very rarely used for weening off of tramadol! People thinking you need drugs to quit other drugs are wrong. This is a fairly new concept in medicine- it increases the success of the treatment and makes the patient more comfortable, but it is in no way necessary to be put on another medication. And this is coming from a medical student.

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I was told a week ago by a Dr. that Tramadol IS a controlled substance and that the FDA is considering putting it in the same category (schedule II I believe) as oxy, and cannot be filled without a prescription. Now I don't know when this may or may not happen, but just keep your eyes open to this possibility.

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@ SJL, Comment #44 - My GOD! What you describe is wickedly horrible and I feel for you and can relate, tho not with tramadol. I had been taking Oxycodone and Methadone for pain since 2011. I was seeing a pain specialist but he was so far away I dreaded driving there. And the fact I had about six weeks between appointments instead of the usual 30 days, I'd have to make an extra trip just to pick up two prescriptions. To add insult to injury, they charged $15 freakin' bucks for the 'privilege' of going to their office to pick them up. It cost me more in gas and tolls (Virginia Dulles toll road) to get there! All of this is unacceptable.

OK, getting back to your situation, the reason I can relate is because I stopped taking the Methadone after my last fill ran out on the 10th of June. I had already run out of Oxy but the Methadone kept withdrawal from that at bay. 24-30 hours after taking the last 50mg. Methadone I got so sick I was like you. My God, there were times I wanted to die. I remember going 10 days like this, before going to hospital my pain and withdrawal were so bad. You have no idea how many times I went to the ER in June, and on July 6 and 7 the hospital not local to me but not too far where my orthopedists are located on the grounds of the hospital. I had one ER doc (female, hate these BTW from personal experience) did nothing AT ALL..

I did receive Percocet on a few occasions in the ER and dilaudid injections for pain, nausea and IV fluids for dehydration. I have a very high tolerance. And one of my orthopedists gave me Vicodin on the 3rd of July. I ended up back IN hospital on the 6th because my tolerance was so high the Vicodin could not even give me a second of relief and the ER dock that day told me prior to discharge (a very compassionate doc, and quite nice on the eyes) that "I know you're not going to want to hear this, but as well as your pain issues you are going through withdrawal" as the Vicodin did not stop it.

I have what is called adhesive capsulitis, a fancy name for frozen shoulder. I cannot move my left arm above my waist without it screaming in pain. Attempting to raise it over my head is unbearable. I'll be having a manual manipulation procedure (under anesthesia thank God) soon, and will schedule today when I see my orthopedist.

I also have two recently diagnosed herniated discs in my cervical spine (which I'm going to have to have surgery for), disc degenerative disease, stenosis of my lower lumbar spine after undergoing four surgeries in 2002-2004. The last one was a fusion and a total reconstruction of my lower back from L4-S1. I also have erosive gastritis which is pain in my gut that is so painful I feel as if I am being stabbed. I fired my former gastrointerologists due to lack of respect and not providing me with any pain meds, and was referred to another by my trusted neurologist during a consultation last week.

Anyone who has been through withdrawal from narcotics taken over a long period of time knows how horrific it is. I had called my orthopedist a couple of days ago for a refill on the Vicodin. Now the orthopedist I saw on the 3rd is not the one I had been initially referred to. He was out of the office. I received a call from that Dr's. assistant that no one there was too keen on refilling a Vicodin prescription. So I asked her what are my choices? She asked me if I'd ever heard of Tramadol and I said I had. The doc has absolutely no problem giving me this and it was called in. I received it Tuesday, I think, and OMG the withdrawal symptoms subsided so dramatically I have been able to function at a higher level than without. I have taken 150 mgs. a few times a day and can at least go OUT to say the grocery store or library. Without it I would be so sick I would be incapable of driving myself anywhere, including my orthopedic appointment today. I'm going to ask him for an extended release version and perhaps a short acting for breakthrough pain. I have lived with such severe pain I once thought of suicide, but mostly during withdrawal as it is so agonizing and incapacitating. I could barely walk up a flight of stairs, eat, I'd sweat, get dry heaves so violent my gastritis pain got worse, etc., etc., you certainly know what it's like. So, as mentioned above that is my plan for today. Just take Tramadol. There is more to my story (which was also a nightmare and why I am in the condition I am currently in, but will come back later to tell that part. I need to get ready for my appointment. I HAVE to continue taking this medication. I am still feeling some withdrawal at the moment but this is because it's been four hours since my last dose @ 5:00 AM. One last thing, I asked my pharmacist (I get ALL my scripts at the same place) if there was anything I needed to know about the Tramadol. He said it was mostly an anti-inflammatory, and upon me asking if it was "addicting" he told me no. Is it not a controlled substance, Class IV, I believe? Yeah it is. Till later peeps and I pray 'SLJ' that you are doing better. I realize most of these posts are from 2012, but I hope you still check in or receive emails notifying you of comments posted here.

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@ Bronco Sissie: 100mg a day has not been shown to ever cause any serious side effects. In studies, the people who had seizures either had seizure disorders to begin with, or took more than 400mg per day (and usually a lot more). The other minor side effects shouldn't even be pronounced if you only take two a day. I'm surprised 50 mg even works for your nerve pain. Most people with nerve pain wouldn't respond so well to such a small dose of a mild non narcotic.

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@ sue bee: yes, you pay half the price for a prescribed medication you pick up at Walgreens than you do an online bottle, but you have to pay a copy or even the full consultation fee if you don't have insurance to see a doctor, which makes it cost more to way more to get it through a doctor's visit. If it was cheaper to get through a doctor consult, everyone would just do that.

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