4.45 - watching interesting BBC news programme

[minesawhiskey]

Woke up as usual. Switched on the t.v. and watching BBC news programme on drug addiction. Am sure it just said 4/5 heroin addicts in USA started on strong opiate painkillers. My doc might prescribe me Tramadol, is it really that strong, addictive and dangerous?

[TheAuthor]

Hi my friend,

I think most medications can be addictive if we take too many or for too long? I also think there are people who can become addicted easier than others? If you are really worried about becoming addicted to Tramadol it may prove beneficial to discuss this issue with your doctor or medical specialist?

I have pasted you an excerpt below form the US based website, *drugabuse so I sincerely hope that you find this useful:

*Tramadol (brand name: Ultram) is an opioid analgesic (painkiller). It is prescribed to treat moderate to moderately severe pain and is considered a safer alternative to other narcotic analgesics like hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab) and methadone.

Additional medications containing tramadol include Ultram ER, an extended release formulation for round-the-clock pain relief, and Ultracet, a combination of tramadol and acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Tramadol was originally considered to have a much better safety profile than other opioid analgesics like morphine or hydrocodone. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) originally approved tramadol for use in 1995, and recommended it not be classified as a controlled substance. However, due to mounting evidence of abuse among the general public, as well as evidence of withdrawal symptoms upon cessation, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published revised rules in 2014 making tramadol a federally controlled drug (Schedule IV).

When taken orally in pill form, the liver metabolizes tramadol into several chemicals including O-desmethyltramadol, which produces much more potent effects than tramadol itself. Taken orally at high doses, tramadol can produce a euphoric high similar to another commonly abused opiate medication, oxycodone (OxyContin).

I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck and please take care of yourself.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[minesawhiskey in reply to TheAuthor]

Hi, many thanks for the reply. The news article did mention the hydrocodone as a big culprit. Much useful information.

Thanks Steven

[TheAuthor in reply to minesawhiskey]

Good luck my friend.

[casper57 in reply to minesawhiskey]

been taking tramadoll for 4 years...on and off....suit me fine...no problems

[peck]

I think the saying 'We are what we eat' can apply here as well.You are what you take...bottoming in my opinion. I do not think all people that require opiates will become a hero in addict. This is my opinion. Take care. Peck.🐤

[ozthyroid in reply to peck]

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[Coastwalker in reply to ozthyroid]

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[Mandandm]

Hi, all opioids are addictive if they are abused, I have gone through most of the stronger ones on the market and presently on Fentanyl, which is the strongest of them all because of chronic pain problems after going through cancer and too much kimio in to short a time, saved my life but at a huge price, also the docs think I may have fibro on a 16 out of 18 trigger points, so it doesn't help with the pain as you can imagine. I don't take heroine of even drink alcohol for that matter and have been on opioids for over ten years so don't worry about it.

Don't worry about the tramadol as it is a very mild opioid with paracetamol, you won't turn into a drug addict or start taking heroine because of it. So if your doc has said take Tramadol, then just take it as it will ease the pain and help you.

Hope you feel better soon

Mandan

[minesawhiskey]

Hi, thanks for all the replies everyone. Now that I've woken up and managed to have a think , getting worried about that statistic in the programme would be similar to worrying that surely 5/5 alcoholics became addicted , well, due to to drinking alcohol obviously! I've drunk alcohol all my life and have never been addicted.

[Joyia]

This is the reason I am very wary of any prescribed drugs and prefer an alternative route whenever possible, of course I am aware that sometimes there may be no choice. The USA has more people addicted to prescribed medicines than anywhere else in the world but we are fast catching up here. It starts with the mindset that there is a quick fix as opposed to checking out one's food choices, vitamin levels and lifestyle, this really must be the first port of call, sadly mainstream medicine does not always have the time or inclination to do this as opposed to reaching for the prescription pad. Look at the celebrities that have died because of addictions due to over-medication and the general public is following suit.

I just beg everybody to research and see if there is any other avenue you can follow before succumbing to prescribed drugs. If they cannot be avoided then again research what is being offered and find out if there are any other choices.

Wishing everybody well.

[minesawhiskey in reply to Joyia]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I've not actually been prescribed Tramadol or Amitripyline yet. For now though I might just try and get more powerful co-codomol as I believe that's possible and I don't feel addicted to the ones I'm on. I could do with something to lighten my mood, does anyone have any suggestions for more natural anti-depressants?

[Joyia]

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is very good for stabling moods, have a listen to Jon Kabat-Zinn on You Tube, the NHS use his teachings on Mindfulness and thousands are finding this helpful including me, it may be worth a referral to your local Psychological Services to find out if they run any free courses.