Here we go again.

[mikewilliams]

i heard that driving while taking tramadol will be against the law ! In which case why were we prescribed in the first place, and Doctors are now effectively withdrawing this painkiller from use.

[Jtal19305]

Hello,

Yes I have taken Tramadol. It will not really impair your driving once you get used to the medication. However, I find that Tramadol does not work well for my pain (nerve pain in left thigh, and feet). And I find it has more side effects compared to other pain meds, at least for me. I take Oxycodone 10 mg and this has helped me the most. I experience little side effect of this medication. Like all opioids, one will develop a tolerance over time, and the effectiveness will decrease. Due to the all the negativity surrounding opioids, most doctors do not like to increase the prescription over time. This is too bad for those in real chronic pain as the people who abuse the medications or take them recreationally are being conflated with legitimate users of the meds. Also, in the reporting of issues, little information is given on medication involved, the amount, and whether it was taken as prescribed. In most of the cases I read about where people have died, it has involved Fentanyl, which I do not recommend unless you are in late stage cancer pain. Of course, any medication should be taken carefully as prescribed, and alcohol should be completely avoided. Good luck, I hope you get some relief.

Jerry

[Bananas5]

From the gov uk site.....

Prescription medicines

It’s illegal in England and Wales to drive with legal drugs in your body if it impairs your driving.

It’s an offence to drive if you have over the specified limits of certain drugs in your blood and you haven’t been prescribed them.

Talk to your doctor about whether you should drive if you’ve been prescribed any of the following drugs:

amphetamine, eg dexamphetamine or selegiline

clonazepam

diazepam

flunitrazepam

lorazepam

methadone

morphine or opiate and opioid-based drugs, eg codeine, tramadol or fentanyl

oxazepam

temazepam

You can drive after taking these drugs if:

you’ve been prescribed them and followed advice on how to take them by a healthcare professional

they aren’t causing you to be unfit to drive even if you’re above the specified limits

[shuggy54]

Hi, at this moment the are not against the law and i do not know why they would, if they are taken as prescribed by the doc there should be no prob.

[cyberbarn]

Everyone is different. I am not safe to walk to the car let alone drive after taking over the counter co-codamol! If you are worried about it talk to your GP.

[JeffMett]

Hi, I used to take Tramadol and did hear that could effect your driving but I do know you can become addicted to it and it made me ill when I came of to go on a stronger pain killer. It could effect your driving if you take to many of them but to many Paracetamol would effect your driving as well. I think my Doctor took me of them because I was addicted to them.

Jeff

[clifetta]

I have taken Tramadol for years and have continued driving without any problems. I would be completely housebound without my car, as I cant walk very far. The only side effect I experience with Tramadol is constipation. The thing is is how it affect YOU personally as different people will experience different side effects. I know I would not drive after taking Diazepam as that drug seems to affect my concentration wheras with Tramadol my thinking is clear.

[Hidden]

It is illegal to drive with tramadol in your system. I know somone who has been done for it and I have had to stop taking it or stop driving. £1000 fine and loss of license if caught. Don't risk it please. Thanks

[Delzek]

Hi sorry to say this but any opiate prescribed or not is illegal to drive whilst on in the UK! You can drive if prescribed and it's below the legal limit of driving whilst on the drug and there is a discretionary allowance if you can prove it doesn't affect your ability to drive! Oramorph and Zomorph have new leaflets that give you the warning although it doesn't state what the legal limit is! I called DVLA and they did not know !But they contacted my GP and asked for my last two years medical history and if the GP believed I would be capable of driving in a safe manner on my medications! Thankfully I am and have taken the ADI test passed with flying colours

[Hidden in reply to Delzek]

Well that's different to what my GP told me with tramadol. You are suppose to to tell the DVLA about any medications you take and I know of three people who have had their licence removed from them for taking tramadol. They also said if you have an accident the insurance company will invalidate your insurance. I suppose best thing is to ring DVLA. The new law that was brought in for medication clearly states that too many opiates in your system is like too much alcohol on the your system. I myself only felt I couldn't drive late at night and have been taking tramadol for about 6 years. But it's not worth the risk to me or others.

[morphalot]

You could ring the DVLA to go the full information, or talk to your GP about it. The doctor isn't withdrawing the tramadol, but he m be withdrawing driving. You need to check it yourself.

[Delzek]

You have to notify DVLA if the medication you are taking is on their lists of notifyable medications, sometimes it also requires you to state your illness! Your GP will tell you if you have to notify the DVLA as they are also required by law to notify them on certain ailments and medications, Tramadol is on the list but as long as you have notified them and your GP gives them the ok you can still drive,you will also get a blue card stating the prescription you have and DVLA have been notified, if ever you are stopped by the police

[JerryR]

I think you’ll find that the law has been changed to lower the legal amounts of certain drugs in your system when driving. This is to deal with drug abusers not those who require to take the drugs and are prescribed by a doctor.

My understanding is, and to really simplify things, say a driver was taking a prescribed dose of tramadol and stopped by the police and found to be above the legal limit, it is now a statutory defence to be able to show you were prescribed that dose and your doctor didn’t believe there was any cognitive impairment and said you could keep driving. If that’s the case, you should not be prosecuted.

So, if you’re taking the prescribed amount and your doctor says you’re ok to drive, although you might be taking above the legal driving limits, you should be ok and not be prosecuted.

[Hidden in reply to JerryR]

A doctors prescibing medication does not make you amune from prosecution. As a former civil servant who dealt with this stuff. If your driving and stopped or have an accident their is no way the police won't prosecute you for being impaired through drink or drugs including prescription drugs. If you have taken them for a long time you get use to them it doesn't mean that they don't affect you. I just don't won't anyone to get into a situation where they can get hurt or just someone else. A doctor can only advise you. You don't have to inform DVLA but that's your choice. Thanks be safe

[GreenHunter]

It is not illegal to take tramadol and drive. you should ask your GP the safe driving level for this drug. I am taking a similar drug / combination of drugs and have an HGV licence so every 5 years I have to have a thorough medical and declare all medications I am taking and then the DVLA decide whether you can drive or not. so Mike ask your GP mate because certain drugs do not stop you from driving, it's the amount you take

Hope this helps

Ray

[mikejames in reply to GreenHunter]

Your right GreenHunter i will..cheers Mike