Tramadol
 

Mrs Synth has just been prescribed these, probably for some months. Anyone got any experience on their long term effects, or addictiveness?

Mrs Max was on them for some time found them very addictive and had to have the dose reduced slowly to come off them, also they are a very effective pain killer

Synthetic,

I used Tramadol for around six months after a nasty motorcycle accident resulting in multiple severe orthopaedic injuries followed by multiple operations. I was advised by the medics to use it as a 'on demand' pain killer in addition to a Paracetamol and Codeine pain killer.

I sometimes went for two or three days without taking it, other times taking it for a week solid. The docs always said something along the lines of 'if you feel you can do without it then do without it!'

I never had any problems other than it did sometimes make me drowsy almost to the extent of acting as a sleeping pill if taken at night. I never felt addicted/dependant as such, although there were times I would look forward to taking it, which maybe a tell tale sign of the start of dependancy. I didn't have any withdrawal problems when I stopped taking it.

Overall I would say that it was beneficial without any problems worth worrying about (just my personal experience).

All the best,

Sim

Tramadol is a synthetic opiate-like pain-killer.
It is used as a substitute for codeine (and sometimes, morphine) in patients that cannot use these drugs, or are resistent to them.
Tramadol has a lower addiction risk compared to opiates, and a safer side-effect profile.
It has been used extensively in Europe, and is widely used in WA.
If you'd like to know more, do a web search on tramadol, or PM me.
RD.

Thanks for the replies Guys.

I took Tramadol occasionally over a number of months for pain from Kidney Stones...

As a pain killer, they were excellent...twenty minutes or so after taking the pill, a feeling of utter relaxation spread from the feet upwards!!

Two side effects though...with the drug taken, I just could not sleep...although I didn't really care, given the sense of relaxtion that was induced...

Secondly, I always suffered nausea for the next day or two...nothing serious, but enough to put me off food for the day.

Hope this helps.

There again, the naughty boys amongst us who think they know better might take double the dose on the first day in order to get to steady state quicker. If you are taking the stuff, that's what you are aiming for. It could take days to get a decent blood level if you mess around like you suggest.

The whole idea of clinical trials etc. with drugs is to determine an optimal dosing regimen, that provides efficacy and safety.
Drugs are prescribed in the manner in which they are so that these things occur.
Messing about with part doses/alternate days etc. is rubbish, may be dangerous, and is a waste of time and money.
TAKE THE DRUGS AS PRESCRIBED. That's why your taxes help pay for the education that Doctors have received!
RD.

I was proscribed Tramadol for a bad back injury some time ago. Very effective but I was on a large dose for three months plus. I decided to stop using in favour of another drug on the advice of a GP and in doing so discovered that I had become dependant.

It is addictive and it took me three months or more to become completely free of the 'after effects' all of which were not very nice to say the least.

Needless to say I was un employed at the time because of the injury. Knowing what I do from this experience all I can say is that anyone who uses it and fly's - in any capacity - is foolish.