I have fibromyalgia and several hernia repairs therefore a lot of belly pain not to mention generalized pain. My doc wont give me tramadol because of the antidepressants I'm on. Does anyone know of any other pain medication besides over the counter that will help my severe pain? I can't take ibuprofen due to belly upset. Please let me know of a pain medication or a antidepressant that is safe to take with tramadol. Thank you!
Is there a good non narcotic pain med besides tramadol?
Question posted by CountryLover on 5 April 2012
Last updated on 19 February 2021
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
19 Answers Page 2
eddiejones14
4 Nov 2014
tramadol is a narcotic pain reliever
ssassy1
5 June 2015
Tramadol is NOT a narcotic. It is however related to the opiate family.
Good_willed_Nature
2 Sep 2015
Actually, it is not a narctoic at all, it's a "narcotic-like" pain reliever. I have seen it prescribed many times for things like Fibromyalgia and even anxiety, mostly for chronic pain though. I read a third party review about the stuff at overthecounterpainpillsonline. blogspot. com after I had been looking for alternatives to pain relief from traditional narcotics. Being a nurse, I know that you should be careful of what you put in your body, however, I have literally seen prescriptions for Tramadol... It's legit
shamika
28 Sep 2015
The FDA have listed as a narcotic since last summer around this time. I been on this med 5-6 yrs now.
hobstr1
21 April 2016
A very good substitute although synthetic tramadol 50mg is doing the job for me . I would like to see a smaller dosage available because frankly I don't like taking this junk ! I took Darvocet 100 years ago and ended up having two heart attacks, it wasn't listed as a possible side effect at the time it was prescribed and was removed from the market after the fact !
AzCorals
15 July 2016
YES, Tramadol is a narcotic. "Tramadol is now a controlled substance in all 50 U.S. states. On July 7, 2014 the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced that tramadol has been placed into schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) effective August 18, 2014"
Vwidiot198
13 Aug 2016
It is in fact now consider a narcotic; since 2014
KStevensMorone
15 Oct 2016
AzCorals is absolutely right. It was officially classified as a narcotic on 7/7/14.
stolzyboy
26 Oct 2016
Just because it's scheduled does not mean it's a narcotic. There are many non narcotic drugs that are scheduled.
MarshaKennedy
9 Jan 2017
Correct, it is synthetic but awful close to Vicodin, I know it is horrible to try to get off them after you have taken them a while, they do show up in drug screens also...
Nikkiallan
22 June 2017
Tramadol IS a narcotic now. It is on the list with the DEA its classified as a 4. I know this because my reg doctor coukdnt prescribe it anymore and sent me to a pain clinic
Lexilu58
11 Dec 2017
No it’s not but it affects your brain the same way. The issue you have is the drug interaction with your Zoloft.
Chattybaby
9 Jan 2018
Hello. I was diagnosed with Lupus SLE and Discoild Lupus and RA in 2007. My main issue is with SLE. I was first given Tramadol and was on it for about 2 yrs then they said it causes seizures which I didn't have at the time, didn't start having them until 3 yrs after begin off of them had went into a bad flare which I'm still in. Dr put me on Vicodin 5, 10 which neither really completely helped the pain, just dropped it down a notch.
I have been on oxycodone 10s and 20s and oxycontin every 12hrs. I have a high metabolism also. I hate taking narcotics. I'm currently on Percocet 10-325 1 every 4hrs although I have taken 2 at times.
I don't get high off of them, no different feeling than taking a aspirin and like I said they only take my pain from a 10 to maybe an 8. Oh I currently have 7 fractures on my spine, one on my tailbone and that's after having kyroplastic surgery where they put medical cement in 4 fractures to get them off my spine. I've had 2 epadurals with 2 days relief. I need help. I need relief. Any suggestions other than back surgery?
mystifies1
16 June 2018
Tramadol is a non-narcotic medication even though the effects it produces are similar to narcotics. This is the primary reason many people still question the classification for Tramadol as being a narcotic drug or not.
Dusty8
22 Oct 2018
Tramadol isn't a narcotic it is synthetic narcotic, which isn't the same, I don't see why everyone keeps saying it is addictive. I stopped taking it and took Celebrex for a few months and didn't have a problem with stopping it. I can't take any pain product that is Aspirin related as it causes Kidney disease. So I am looking for something that I can take as The CDC has it on their list and I will have to go into the Pain Management every month the get a prescription and the office visit costs $45. per mo.
johnnywaude
18 Aug 2014
I take diclofenac because of severe face pain,75mg once a day I didn't realize how well it worked till I stopped taking it. I am going to get a refill right now.It also seems to help with the nerve pain better than opiates.I am going to a pain clinic next week though anyways.the pain is driving me crazy. The brand name is volteren generic (diclofenac sodium).
Delila
19 Aug 2014
Hi, i also moved on to Diclofenac (after discontinuing Tramadol), and found it very helpful. I combined it with Paracetamol &/or Ibuprofen when i was in a lot of pain
curls58
31 Aug 2015
I heard not to take extra ibuprofen when taking diclofenac. You might want to check.
Delila
1 Sep 2015
Ok thanks for that. I know there are no interaction risks by taking both Ibuprofen and Diclofenac... but i'm seeing my doctor on Thursday so i will ask for his opinion. I will report back...
shamika
28 Sep 2015
It don't have no affect on me anymore. I've max out.
mju
20 Jan 2016
I took it for endometriosis, until I had a hysterectomy, and I was told not to take it any longer than necessary because it could cause alcers.
mju
20 Jan 2016
Yes ibuprofen in high doses is not good for your stomach either!
I'm taking 800 mgs right now because I have osteoarthritus in my feet, knees, shoulder, and probably in my back/which has been broken twice.
Until I can see my PCP.
AzCorals
15 July 2016
Diclofenac does absolutely nothing for me.
white queen
6 July 2014
I have the Butrans transdermal pain patch. There r 3 strengths. I am on strongest and also on effexor xr 225 mg. My pain is so bad they allowed me to take tramadol 50 mg only when necessary due to possibility of seizures. I take up to 3 tramadols a day. Also muscle relaxers and fioricet with codeine for tension headaches. My body is a tank and handles meds well. Hope this helps!
mimijean1313
19 May 2015
Sorry to bother you but I just have a few questions. I suffer from severe chronic pain in my back due to two birth defects. I have never heard of Butrans. Could you please tell me more about it and also do you prefer Ultrim or Ultracet? You can't imagine how your answers could help me. Thank you so much for your help.
shamika
28 Sep 2015
My body & pain tolerance is an armor tank too. I've max out on pain meds & became immune to them so many times that I've stop counting.
ssassy1
5 Nov 2015
Can I ask a personal question? What is causing you so much pain?
Beachgirl1211
15 Oct 2016
My body is the same way. I've been through so much n was functioning a lot better before the docs took away the Lortabs and Tramadol. I'm on an anti depressant and anti anxiety meds. Have been for years. I never over dosed. Not once. Those Meds never harmed me. It's one of those things u say if it's not broke then don't fix it. But, the doctors did. I had 2 nerve ablations performed for lower back pain and I swear that made me hurt even worse. It aggravates me to no end how doctors refuse to listen to their patients.
seattle1014
14 Feb 2017
I randomly searched for the strongest non-narcotic pain reliever for a spine injury. I read your post, obviously from 3 years ago, but I saw you mentioned Effexor ER 225 MG. That is THE MOST DANGEROUS anti-depressant to be on. In 2008, I had been on that at 150 MG for a year and a half, when this idiot Dr. took me off of it ubruptly and gave me samples of 50 MG of Seroquil. I questioned the safety in that with this build up, but he said just stop. 48 hours, my body went into shock, and I had a nervous breakdown. I was told later, you basically have to be hospitalized to come off it like that. So I'm worried your Dr. might not have your best interests in mind. When I read that dosage, my heart sunk. I still battle the panic/anxiety disorder the breakdown caused to this day. I'm praying for you! Don't know your present condition, but I DEFINITELY don't want you to suffer as I have because of the Effexor ER. All Dr.'s since have told me that is the hardest anti-depressant to come off of. God bless.
Adam_ver
9 March 2017
@seattle1014
I am on Efexxor and tried to get off it myself. It was horrible. My doctor did tell to ween off gradually. You should tell your DR what kind of stupid advice he is giving. Especially since it caused you so many problems. I'm still on it, I haven't found an alternative. Good Luck
Thor283
10 April 2012
The only pain meds I know of other than opiates are also antidepressant meds. I mean something like Cymbalta. That kills pain quite well after awhile. But the main reason I answered you was to tell you that Tramadol is not exactly non-narcotic. Oh, maybe if you start to look at the molecule under an electron microscope it doesn't look like an opiate molecule. I don't know. What I do know is many people who were so hopelessly addicted to it some of them never succeeded in quitting it. One woman was even a drug counselor who had to keep her addiction to Trammies top secret or she'd lose her job. She was on it over 7 years and was unable to stop it at all. She could take Percocet and quit that after her pain was gone, but not the Tramadol. So don't think of it as non narcotic. It's just as addictive as Percocet, Vicodin, or any of the rest. I just want you to know that.
Anndavis41
6 June 2016
Avoid tramadol at all costs I'm currently going through withdrawal it's the worse thing I've ever felt and I was only on them for around 8 weeks and only 4 pills a day :(
cobbt173
1 Aug 2016
I used Tramadol 4X/day for three years when the doctor weaned me off I had no desire for it except then I still needed something for the pain. It's been 8 weeks and I haven't felt any urge to use it again.
KStevensMorone
15 Oct 2016
Consistent use of tramadol (especially higher doses, used more frequently and specifically those that can't stand their pain and take more than prescribed) have been known to cause seizures. Research it: there unfortunately are more cases of this than you think. I was shocked to find this out, but it's true- tramadol has been known to cause this and more cases are showing up in recent years.
Inactive
19 Oct 2016
tramadol is just a pill doctors prescribe, so we will think they are concerned.
You can get better relief from an aspirin.
Darren J
16 Jan 2017
Ok, I am going to put this argument to rest. Ultram/Tramadol IS I repeat IS a Narcotic PERIOD end quote, I have been on this med since 04 and have had TWO Mid carpal Instability Surgeries. At one time granted it WAS a NON Narcotic, not as of the date of this writing it IS in fact Classified as a Narcotic. Yes it sucks one, has with drawls which I never remember having gone though. All in all it is about personal tolerance. AS for Me I have yet to find ANY medication that truly works but IF I had to choose it would be Ultram.
Pbesaw
9 March 2017
This is true but you probably need to confirm with your work place if they consider it a narcotic during drug screens. Some employers do and some physicians do. But technically most can write the script not sure if it can be called in over phone like most scripts. Probably varies state to state.
Honestanna
5 Oct 2017
There is something for nerves that works really well. I can't think of the name of it. It's prescribed for pain but it's for preventing seizures and relaxing nerves. I will try to get back to you as soon as I remember
autumn06b
1 Nov 2017
My doctor gave me Duloxetine which is generic Cymbalta for fibromyalgia and lower back pain. I've tried to take it twice now and both times it made me nauseous, extremely groggy and just not feeling well. I have enough pain without adding these symptoms on top of them. Plus it did nothing for my pain at all.
Related topics
pain, back pain, fibromyalgia, tramadol, narcotic, antidepressant
Further information
- Tramadol uses and safety info
- Tramadol prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Tramadol (detailed)
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.