Is Tramadol a 'true' narcotic or just a pain reliever? - page 2

I have MS plus I was in a car accident today. I was NOT hurt badly but, did get mild whip lash and banged my head pretty good. Any way the 2 Tramadols I took didn't do much so. because I was told that Tramadol is NOT narcotic, I took 2 Tylenol 3's on TOP of that. I am fine, but kind of scary!

Tramadol is usually referred to as non-narcotic, although the term "narcotic" is sort of antiquated and is of little use since there are so many meanings. Historically, narcotics referred to sedating drugs. More often though, people are referring to legal classifications when they use the term "narcotic" as a drug which is a scheduled substance. Under the Federal definition, tramadol is not a narcotic, although some states have made it a schedule IV drug. So whether or not it's a "narcotic" depends on what state you are in (see how the term isn't all that useful?)

Very interesting... We had a patient who had a long history of an active heroin addiction and he kept complaining of a headache that he couldn't specify location, intensity etc. Doctor decided patient was drug seeking and gave him Tramadol (in our narc cupboard as pharmacist said "drug seekers think it's good and we pretend it is so we can give it to them") as it was a "weak" drug according to doc, and hopefully would act as placebo effect.
So I've always assumed it was something like...codeine with paracetemol... for mild pain but has a name on the streets for being a "good drug".