What is Ultram?

Martha wrote:

I hope someone can answer this question for me. I have had chronic pain for the last 8 years. I have been taking Ultram for the last 3 months. Why is it when you do a urine drug test, you test positive for morphine? I remember hearing a while ago that Ultram is a distant cousin to morphine. Could this be the reason??? Thanks. This is my first time here.

hotmommahb wrote:

Politics is the only reason tramadol/ultram isn't scheduled... because its mu-1 agonist properties is similar to that of morphine. I am glad it isn't scheduled tho :0)
Tramadol IS a narcotic in that it is opioid/opiate. It binds the mu-1 receptor... just like morphine. So that is why you have withdrawal type symptoms if you take more than the reccommended amount and then stop abruptly. It produces
Supposedly the reason why tramadol is not a "controlled" substance is because it has weak 5ht (serotonin) and NE (norepi) reuptake inhibition. The neurochemicals stay in the synapse longer...which some say make addiction less likely. 5-ht inhibition also makes people feel happier (its a pr0zac nation). NE or noradrenaline/norepinepherine reuptake inhibition is believed to make it harder to get addicted to.
The 5ht and NE's reuptake inhibition also helps with pain relief. Of course the mu binding part of tramadol accounts for its opiate type relief.
While tramadol isn't considered "controlled" (scheduled)... some states (OHIO at least)have pharmacies record it as tho it were.
Being a nerd who always reads Rx sample inserts (you laugh, but this helped me DRAMATICALLY during med school pharmacology!), Tramadol can cause dependence of the morphine type.
Bottom line, it is a safER alternative to traditional opiates, but don't be lulled into the belief that you can't become dependent or addicted to it becase you can!
It is really effective at pain relief! Just don't take too much.

john henry wrote:

<quoted text>
hotmom...you seem to know your business on drugs could you please answer a few questions for me?
In 2005 I had cervical surgery with two disks being removed and a Tit plate installed. After surgery I still had neck and shoulder pain, I had had it for several years, but it was unrelated to the surgical pain which the surgery fixed.
I was placed on hydrocodone 7.5 X 3/24 for almost one year. I then visited a pain clinic and they had me on oxycontin 40 mg X 2/24 plus 10 to 20 mg/24 of oxycodone for break through pain. They also put me on Cymbalta 150 mg/24 ? and Lyrica 60 mg/24 ? these two may be in reverse, I don't remember. Along with all this I was taking 150 mg/24 of Imipramine for depression/anxiety which I had been on since 1995.
I was in my third month of the above regiment when all hell broke loose and my depression and anxiety went ballistic. I was put into a mental ward for 24 hours to see how withdrawl would go, my psych stopped all meds except my Imipramine which she increased to 200 mg and also added Ativan 1 mg as needed. After a few weeks I was feeling much better and never really had any cravings for the codiene/opoids.
All this was about eight months ago and things have been well except for off and on again neck and shoulder pain. A few days ago though, six to be exact, I got up for work and noticed more than usual pain, each day has been worse with pain between my shoulder blades, like a tooth ache at times and like a hatchet in my back at others.
I visited my GP today 5/18/07 and he put me on Tramadol 50 mg X 3/24 and Nabumetone 750 mg X 2/24. What do you think about this? He knows my history on the oxycontin and thought Tramadol might be something I could tolerate.
Do you think that Tramadol is something that a person with depression can take, long term, without having an increased chance severe depression risk? And do you know anything about Tramadol time released, is it simular to oxycontin? What do you think??
Thank you for any time you can spend on my questions.

kydrby4ever wrote:

<quoted text>Im not the one you directed this towards however I was on that (ultram) for 1yr.... regardless of the drugs similarities to morphine, its relief will be better on muscular/tendons then disk/nerve pain... taken in low doses and taking days off (use aspirin off days)... its will work on the stated areas/issues but the body builds up a tolerance to it very fast and thats why I say rotate w/ aspirin/Ibuprophin, to avoid the quick tolerence ... if you up the dose on your own, it wont help, itll only be useless that much sooner, dont take it around the clock, only during the bad hrs, and the rest use Ibuprph.... It isnt time released it maintains for about 3hrs (they state 4-6) but no way do I believe that (my experience is 1st hand w/ that drug)... also it has a speedy affect on you so avoid in eves prior to sleep... take in am instead... its possible that they may have a t/r version, its been a few yrs since i used it but then it was immediate release only.... if you get some relief then id say discuss taking anti inflamatories/muscle relaxers in conjunction with tramadol.. it will help alot!! and they will help w/ sleep and are non narcotic... flexerill /soma are popular brands however SOMA has an abuse factor, especially when used w/ alchohol... excuse my typing, I can spell but my hands arent as fast as my brain..... good luck w/ your pain and keep us posted....

john henry wrote:

<quoted text>
I appreciate your response ky...thanks, and I will post about how things go with the tramadol.
It's a tough situation when one has to deal with clinical depression and pain issues also.

kydrby4ever wrote:

<quoted text>SUBUTEX IS WRITTEN FOR W/D AND DETOX, HOWEVER VERY SOON IT WILL BE FOR LOW LEVEL PAIN AND DEPRESSION... I know if a dr puts you on 2mg every other day, it will work for the pain and minimal side effects, you will feel like your"having a good day" im including a link w/ comments on subutex and the comments from the forum posters, the upside is that it can be taken every other day and opiates will not work when your on it, easy to walk away from and your view of life(mood) will be very much positve, having a good day, all the time... and it does suppress pain!!! good luck keep me informed... http://www.naabt.org/forum/post.asp...

john henry wrote:

<quoted text>
Thanks... I will talk with my shrink about this and see what she thinks. She was on vacation when this pain issue reappeared so I haven't been able to talk with her about the Tramadol, she may not like it. We'll see.
I'm not sure where the pain is coming from, I have always thought the c-6 c-7 disk was where the long term pain in my right shoulder and neck was coming from but nothing has ever shown up in mri's or mylogram <-- was a real bad experience.
The depression is the big issue for me. opoids, being depressants, cause episodes when they are out of my system, not so much on lower dose hydrocodone 20 30 mg/24, but pretty severe at higher doses in the oxycontin t/r form.
After I speak with her I'll let you know what she thinks. She is a very respected psych, she is head of the geriatric/psych department at a fairly large hospital system in Nashville. She has been my doctor since 1994, and I love her...she's really great.
I just turned 50 in April and live a pretty active life, this pain is for the birds!
Thanks again...

XYZ wrote:

People saying that Ultram is only "psychologically" addictive have obviously never been on it. Someone who's been on Ultram off and on for several years, I have experienced horrible withdrawals. I did not self-medicate, I took the dose prescribed. Never more than 8 a day. However, since Ultram also has SSRI (anti-depressant) properties, when you've been taking it a sufficient amount of time and then stop, not only do you go through opiate withdrawals but you ALSO go through SSRI withdrawals. Think of it as going through a codeine withdrawal and a Paxil withdrawal at the SAME time. People do not realize how horrible the withdrawals can be.

Mel2552 wrote:

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I'm on day 8 from withdrawals from Tramadol, how much longer can i expect this? I went cold turkey from 8 - 50mg. a day and i still feel sad and very off balanced and sick to my stomach???

Mel2552 wrote:

I'm just wondering how long withdrawal symptoms will last? It has been 8 days and it's a little better but i'm still very sad and still feel sick to my stomach and off balanced all the time.

Mel2552 wrote:

I'm just wondering how long withdrawal symptoms will last? It has been 8 days and it's a little better but i'm still very sad and still feel sick to my stomach and off balanced all the time.

john henry wrote:

kydrby,
You mentioned early about a "speedy affect" with Tramadol, last night was my third evening taking this drug, 3 X 50/24, I took a 50/mg at about 6:00 PM and I didn't go to sleep till abt 1:00 AM this morning. I also felt kind of numb all over, very strange.
Do you think the above symptoms are due to the Tramadol?
I also read that Tramadol is quick release and that Ultram is Tramadol time release, do you know anything about this?

kydrby4ever wrote:

<quoted text>as far as my knowledge goes tramadol is the active ingredient in ultram, the brandname maker of the drug, any script written for tramadol is the generic for ultram... if your bottle says tramadol, beneath it it should say generic for ultram... if the drug kept ya from sleeping either take it sooner ,earlier, which is an issue, waking up in pain, or take something w/ it 1/2 xanax or anything to assist sleep, I hate to tell people to add alchohol but w/ pain med, its guaranteed to help sleep, just one measured drink! dont pound either or both...1 and 1 = good sleep....

Mesmer wrote:

I have been taking only a small dose of Ultram for 5 months (50-100mg a day). I am trying to get off of it. I have been weaning myself off slowly, going from one pill then yesterday I only had a half of a pill and today I want to die!!!! It's not like I was taking 10 a day! Only 1 pill a day and I am having HORRIBLE withdrawel. I feel like suing the doctor who very flippantly prescribed this pill over the phone and told me it was safe. Does anyone know how long these withdrawel symptoms last on people who were only taking very little?

darcy Elvidge wrote:

My husband tore his miniscus in his knee. The doctor put him on the drug Ultracet which is ultram. He got extremely dizzy and could not get off the couch . He was on it for 4 days and Saturady morning October 2, 2004 he died saying he was so dizzy. His last words.

darcy Elvidge wrote:

My husband tore his miniscus in his knee. The doctor put him on the drug Ultracet which is ultram. He got extremely dizzy and could not get off the couch . He was on it for 4 days and Saturady morning October 2, 2004 he died saying he was so dizzy. His last words.