Posted by Elizabeth on February 11, 2002, at 8:56:59
In reply to Re: tramadol not all that bad, posted by cisco on February 9, 2002, at 14:45:25
> You're right. I was using scare tactics regarding Tramadol. I wanted to make sure that Reese was aware of the problems associated with this drug.
Yeah, I know -- just doing a reality check. :-)
I seriously don't think the risk of seizures, in particular, is nearly as bad as you make it out to be. And that's the only serious risk. Tramadol does cause withdrawal symptoms for many people who take it for a long time, but this is subject to a lot of variation -- it's not comparable to withdrawing from heroin (or, for that matter, methadone).
It's *much* easier to convince an American physician to prescribe Ultram than it is to convince them to prescribe a controlled opioid, even a mild one like buprenorphine.
In regard to efficacy, there are quite a few people who may not notice much effect from Ultram for pharmacokinetic reasons. Ultram didn't work for me at all (probably because of said pharmacokinetic reasons), but I don't think it should be demonized. It *does* work for a lot of people, and there have been documented, published cases in which it was used successfully for psychiatric disorders, so prescribing it as an AD is not at all "absurd." It *does* work for a whole lot of people. It's a mild opioid, which means it's not going to have as powerful an effect as fentanyl (or even hydrocodone), but don't be so quick to write it off completely.
> Utracet! What a lovely name. What a lousy drug. Brilliant - Tramadol and Paracetamol. What will they think of next?
Well, to play devil's advocate, Ultram at least has *some* effect (its active metabolite is really responsible for most of its effect, I think). I'm not so convinced about paracetamol/APAP.
> How about Tylecet? Acetaminphen and Paracetamol.
*giggle*
> Are there like these huge stockpiles of Paracetamol somewhere? Where diabolical chemists are feverishly trying to create new 'Cet' compounds?
Because in the U.S., that often reduces their Controlled Substance status. Ultram isn't a controlled substance here right now, but the approval of Ultracet signals that it probably will be soon.
> I think we will see Tylenol banned some day. Ten million blown out livers can't be wrong!
As far as I can tell, the principle behind "cet"ing a drug is to make it safer by adding a toxin. (I really don't buy the idea that if someone needs oxycodone for pain control, the APAP in Percocet will make any difference.)
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:93364
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020208/msgs/93722.html