Posted by brynb on July 18, 2014, at 9:10:38
In reply to Re: Tramadol becomes schedule IV substance next month » Beckett, posted by Phillipa on July 17, 2014, at 20:08:40
Hi guys-
I don't believe Tramadol shows up in urine or blood tests. Like other pain meds it does work on the mu receptors, but it's much "softer", really more of an"atypical" analgesic. It's has weak but rapid-acting SNRI properties, meaning you feel the antidepressant effects immediately, like within an hour. It's also has weak NMDA antagonist properties (works on glutamate, the largest receptor). It was originally designed to be "non-addictive", but naturally, *some* people do get high from it and have trouble getting off it.
My experience has been purely positive. It helps neuropathic/arthritic pain in my legs and arms, and, added to my Lexapro and Ativan, has been an amazing AD. I stumbled on it when I took it for the first time a few years ago for pain. I haven't had to raise my dose, and like any (psych) or other med, it's not a bad withdrawal if done correctly.
Feel free to correct me if my description of how it works chemically isn't right-on--that's not my forte.
I will say I think it ridiculous that it's scheduled. I've never experienced a high from it (and I had a substance abuse problem). The only thing to be careful of with Tramadol is that if you take SRIs or NRIs you need to stick to a low Tram dose as to avoid serotonin syndrome AND seizures.
-b
Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
poster:brynb
thread:1068252
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140717/msgs/1068466.html