and is non habit forming?
Tramadol - what is a good musle relaxer that is does not effect the neurotransmitters in the brain?
- Asked
- 13 Oct 2011 by helpmybody
- Updated
- 15 October 2011
- Topics
- pain, back pain, muscle pain
Answers
LaurieShay
13 Oct 2011
Hey helpmybody,
Tramadol is not a muscle relaxer. It is a pain killer that does effect neurotransmitters, as you said. Muscle relaxers that maybe of use to you include Flexeril or Skelaxin. These should not cause a problem with the neurotransmitters of the brain.
Best wishes,
Laurie
helpmybody
14 Oct 2011
affect the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, they are very different. The tramadol affects the mu opoid receptors in the brain while the Effexor does not. While the tramadol does have antidepressant properties by affecting the two neurotransmitters mentioned
this is a response you give to someone else? Im confused on your take about tramadol effecting neurotransmitters?
LaurieShay
14 Oct 2011
Tramadol is a pain reliever that also has serotonin/ norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) properties. The Effexor is a SNRI. So the tramadol and Effexor are similar in regard to how they may affect these neurotransmitters. On the other hand, muscle relaxants of which tramadol is not, affect the ability of muscles to contract and do not affect the serotonin or norepinephrine in the brain synapse. Is that what you are asking?
helpmybody
14 Oct 2011
Thanks LaurieShay, I had just misread your first response, however Its clear now. I did know that tramadol was a pain killer because ive taken it before but i thought you had responded to me saying that it DID NOT affect the nueros in my brain but in fact you had said that it did, just as i had read before. Anyway sorry for the confusion on my part. Ive had disc fusion done in my neck this year and am searching for some type of musle relaxer for my neck soreness and stiffness that i still have. I could say its pain sometimes.I was on 10/325 hydrocodone for aprox 2-3 yrs before the surgery and after the surgery found out I was severely addicted to them! I have a history of alcoholism and drug addiction in my past (free from for 10 yrs now) and so im really suseptable and sensative to any mood or mind altering drugs. I am not taking them anymore, Thank God, however im still , as I said in some pain and am taking several xtra-stregth excedrin a day.
I know I can cut down on them with a gud mucle relaxer ( because its my upper back muscles that hurt) but lots of info I read about them say are habit forming as well, such as carisprodol. I just got back from my M.D. last week and told him i wasent taking the hydro and why and told him I needed just a musle relax and wanted something that wouldnt affect me (addiction wise) I ask him about the carisprodols and got some from him cus I had taken them a year or so ago before surgery. after taking them I had severe anxiety attacks and thats when I looked them up on this sight and saw they effected my neuros. Ive learned a lot just from digging into this very helpfull sight and finding this stuff out on my own. Im not a doctor or in any related field @ all. I have just recently learned that if I take anything that seems to affect these neuros in my brain I get my old craving back for the opiods and the anxiety comes back. Anyway if you are a doctor of in this field @ all, I do appreciate any input you have. Thanks again.
LaurieShay
14 Oct 2011
I do work in the medical field though I am not a doctor. BUT I want to share that carisoprodol is not a good choice for someone with a tendency toward addiction. It has the nickname "solid alcohol" and is easliy abused. I recommend you investigate Flexeril or Skelaxin. Please don't start taking the Soma (carisoprodol) regularly.
amandastenosis
15 Oct 2011
No she is right! Tramadol has a mild SSRI like effect along with it's pain killing action. It affects the neurotransmitters reuptake of serotonin. So please if you are already on an SSRI, or have had a bad reaction to a SSRI be careful. In addition the muscle relaxer I use is called methocarbamol. It is a bit stronger than Flexeril, and does not seem to affect neurotransmitters much, in fact at first I was prescribed both tramadol and OMG the spelling methocarbamol together as a good combination. This drug seems to work well for me anyway.
I hope you find relief... Amanda
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