tramadol addiction symptom

[tk1963]

My sister is addicted to tramodol and keeps going to doctors with symptoms that she won't relate to the addiction. "I know this sounds like "a friend of mine wants to know" :)  Anyway, among all the side effects I read about, have any of the females (she is 32) had any menstral pain/bleeding issues?  I am gather "ammo" to maybe have an intervention.  Thanks for any help anyone can give. She has what she calls "hot flashes", forgetfulness, she stays at home all the time, etc.

[evilpro]

I take tramadol and this medication is very addictive. I would hate to see my life without pain releavers tho. I have degenerative disk disease, spinal stinosys and ostio arithitis. 3 things and pain releaf is a must. Not much to operate on tho. Pain management is my only option. I started taking tramadol after taking many pain medications. I took methadone for pain management,  subutox " generic suboxin,  oxycontin,  ect.....  life was never easy but without medicine,  life is completely un-manageable. If you have issues like mine or simular,  addiction is inevitable. So pick your poison. I would prefer taking medication my doctor can just call in and tramadol has a slower tollerance level. Opiods,  you can take 2 today and in 2 week double. I've had to increase my dose but its staying kinda steady now. I take 200mg 3X a day. With my back conditions, sometimes I would ask myself when I'm gonna be bound to a wheel chair but tramadol seems to give me more time to think less about the wheel chair at 37 yrs old. I'm not ready to retire from walking yet so I'm gonna keep on this until then.

[howcouldiknow]

I don't really understand your question, but tramadol addiction is extremely difficult to overcome. There are reports of users who would rather go through heroin detox than tramadol detox. I know that sounds overblown, but it's true. Tramadol withdrawal is so severe because of the sudden drop of serotonin and norep production in the brain when cold-turkey is attempted. Severe physical pain, anguish, and crippling depression will follow.

[Sherri90049]

I am so sorry about your sister. But she is very lucky to have someone like you who cares so much. I didn't stay in denial long but when I did want to stop taking it, I had hellacious withdrawals. Your sister was probably like me, told by her dr that tramadols have a low potential for becoming addicting, but that is just false! If you Google tramadol and addiction or withdrawal or taper or anything like that, there are so many matches and so many stories of people that were duped like your sister and me.

All she has to do is try to delay taking her regular dose and withdrawal will set in. Tell her not to be afraid, though, as it is totally possible to stop, although not easy. I am probably one of the longest-running tramadol users (12 years non-stop at the maximum prescribed dose). I was first given it by my rheumatologist way back when it just came out, which I think was like 1997? A few years in, I knew there was a problem, because I would run out of it and then be in agony!

I tried to stop on my own, and I actually got from the maximum dose down to about a fourth of the max dose. But I needed help after that. I ended up seeing an addiction specialist who put me on Subutex. I tapered down on that over a nine month period. I don't know whether to recommend that or not. It was really bad, too. I have as of now stopped it (as of five days ago) but it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. (I still feel miserable as I type this.)

Re: menstrual issues, yes, I had some. But in my case, my periods got much lighter. As a result I thought I was in early menopause. I had basically stopped using birth control. Then suddenly, within a month or two of drastically reducing my tramadol dose, I became pregnant. Unfortunately I didn't realize it until I miscarried. But please let your sister know from me that, if having children is something she thinks she might want to do some day, please try to start getting off it now.

If you add up the time that I was tapering tramadol and Subutex, it probably adds up to about two years. But most people do it much more quickly than me. I was on the max does for an extremely long amount of time. I have read on Medhelp tons of posts from people in this boat. So you can let your sister know she will have endless amounts of support when she's ready.

Most of all just let her know this is not her fault. This drug has helped alot of people but I think it's hurt just as many. I think they took the wording off the packaging that says it's less habit-forming than other opioids but that's like shutting the barn door after the horses have gotten out. I think partly why it's so difficult to stop is that it has a SSRI and SNRI properties to it. Getting off of an opioid and an antidepressant at the same time? FUN! I don't think anyone understands the full effect of tramadol (or even regular opioids) on the endocrine system and hormone balance. I think long-term use can damage your adrenals and mess up your thyroid and all kinds of things, but I can't prove that. I know my hormones are a mess, though.

Any way, I wish you the very best. I hope she listens to you. If she wants to communicate with someone who's been thru this whole thing and come out of it, she is welcome to message me any time. You're doing the right thing. Even if she isn't happy now, she WILL thank you one day. I promise. I'm 42 now and have been trying for a couple of years (so far unsuccessfully) to have a child. Hopefully you can save her from this heartache! Best wishes!

[avisg]

SOME INFO ON TRAMADOL  
I have seen alot of info latley on tramadol some every incorrect .So I thought I would put some infromation together so everyone will have a better understanding of it .

It is addicting
You do have ephoria
It should NOT be used by ANYONE with addiction issues.

What is the most important information I should know about tramadol?
Physical Dependence and Abuse

ULTRAM may induce psychic and physical dependence of the morphine-type (μ-opioid) (see DRUG
ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE). ULTRAM should not be used in opioid-dependent patients. ULTRAM
has been shown to reinitiate physical dependence in some patients that have been previously dependent on
other opioids. Dependence and abuse, including drug-seeking behavior and taking illicit actions to obtain
the drug, are not limited to those patients with prior history of opioid dependence

You should not take tramadol if you have ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol.
Seizures (convulsions) have occurred in some people taking tramadol. You may be more likely to have a seizure while taking tramadol if you have a history of seizures or head injury, a metabolic disorder, or if you are taking certain medicines such as antidepressants, muscle relaxers, or medicine for nausea and vomiting.

Take tramadol exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger doses or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Do not take more than 300 milligrams of tramadol in one day.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. A tramadol overdose can be fatal. Overdose symptoms of a tramadol overdose may include drowsiness, shallow breathing, slow heartbeat, extreme weakness, cold or clammy skin, feeling light-headed, fainting, or coma. Tramadol may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Tramadol should never be given to another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it. Tramadol can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Do not stop using tramadol suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, sweating, nausea, diarrhea, tremors, chills, hallucinations, trouble sleeping, or breathing problems. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication. Do not crush the tramadol tablet. This medicine is for oral (by mouth) use only. Powder from a crushed tablet should not be inhaled or diluted with liquid and injected into the body. Using this medicine by inhalation or injection can cause life-threatening side effects, overdose, or death.

What is tramadol?

Tramadol is a narcotic-like pain reliever.

Tramadol is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Tramadol extended-release is used to treat moderate to severe chronic pain when treatment is needed around the clock.

Tramadol may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.


What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tramadol?

You should not take tramadol if you have ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol, if you are currently intoxicated (drunk), or if you have recently used any of the following drugs:
alcohol;

narcotic pain medicine;

sedatives or tranquilizers (such as Valium);

medicine for depression or anxiety;

medicine for mental illness (such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia); or

street drugs.

Seizures have occurred in some people taking tramadol. Your risk of a seizure may be higher if you have any of these conditions:

a history of drug or alcohol addiction;

a history of epilepsy or other seizure disorder;

a history of head injury;

a metabolic disorder; or

if you are also taking an antidepressant, muscle relaxer, or medicine for nausea and vomiting.

Talk with your doctor about your individual risk of having a seizure while taking tramadol.

Before taking tramadol, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

kidney disease;

liver disease;

a stomach disorder; or

a history of depression, mental illness, or suicide attempt.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take tramadol.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tramadol may also cause serious or fatal side effects in a newborn if the mother uses the medication during pregnancy or labor. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Tramadol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Tramadol should not be given to a child younger than 18 years of age.
Tramadol may be habit-forming. Tell your doctor if you feel the medicine is not working as well in relieving your pain. Do not change your dose without talking to your doctor. Do not stop using tramadol suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, sweating, nausea, diarrhea, tremors, chills, hallucinations, trouble sleeping, or breathing problems. Talk to your doctor about how to avoid withdrawal symptoms when stopping the medication. Store tramadol at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep track of how many pills have been used from each new bottle of this medicine. Tramadol is a drug of abuse and you should be aware if any person in the household is using this medicine improperly or without a prescription
Seizure Risk
Seizures have been reported in patients receiving tramadol within the recommended dosage range. Spontaneous post-marketing reports indicate that seizure risk is increased with doses of tramadol above the recommended range. Concomitant use of tramadol increases the seizure risk in patients taking:

•Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI antidepressants or anorectics),
•Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and other tricyclic compounds (e.g., cyclobenzaprine, promethazine, etc.), or
•Other opioids.
Administration of tramadol may enhance the seizure risk in patients taking:

•MAO inhibitors (see also WARNINGS - Use with MAO Inhibitors),
•Neuroleptics, or
•Other drugs that reduce the seizure threshold.
Risk of convulsions may also increase in patients with epilepsy, those with a history of seizures, or in patients with a recognized risk for seizure (such as head trauma, metabolic disorders, alcohol and drug withdrawal, CNS infections). In tramadol overdose, naloxone administration may increase the risk of seizure.

Suicide Risk

•Do not prescribe ULTRAM ER for patients who are suicidal or addiction-prone.
•Prescribe ULTRAM ER with caution for patients taking tranquilizers or antidepressant drugs and patients who use alcohol in excess.
•Tell your patients not to exceed the recommended dose and to limit their intake of alcohol.
Serotonin Syndrome Risk

The development of a potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome may occur with use of tramadol products, including ULTRAM ER, particularly with concomitant use of serotonergic drugs such as SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs and triptans, with drugs which impair metabolism of serotonin (including MAOIs) and with drugs which impair metabolism of tramadol (CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 inhibitors). This may occur within the recommended dose. (See CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY-Pharmacokinetics).

Serotonin syndrome may include mental-status changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations, coma), autonomic instability (e.g., tachycardia, labile blood pressure, hyperthermia), neuromuscular aberrations (e.g., hyperreflexia, incoordination) and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea