No, it isn't so addictive that it needs to be a controlled substance. Keep in mind that the DEA, a notoriously corrupt agency, is in the process of losing its favorite prohibited drug - marijuana (THC) - as its 'go to' for funding, arrests, and property confiscation. Tramadol was a logical choice to fill the void (for the DEA) left by marijuana legalization. However,
I have Crohn's Disease and I've been taking Tramadol for about 4 years (ever since infliximab, 'Remicade', stopped working for me) at the same dosage (five 50 mg pills per day) during all that time. It reduces the pain, inflammation and bloating of Crohn's with no side effects (for me, anyway), no addiction, and no tolerance increase. It isn't an opiate, per se. It's a synthetic opioid that operates to reduce pain in much the same way that opiates do, but without the 'high' that opiates induce. Using tramadol to get 'high', or using it addictively is like an alcoholic drinking mouthwash for its relatively small alcohol content. You wouldn't call mouthwash with alcohol 'addictive' and schedule it as a controlled substance would you? But everybody is job-scared, and nobody wants to oppose the DEA, so health care professionals tend to err on the side of 'caution' with regard to Tramadol -- even though it's been used for several decades with no particularly or necessarily bad downside to it (both here and in Europe). It's virtually impossible to accidentally, or even purposely, overdose to the point of death with Tramadol. Unfortunately, the drug enforcement industry is big business, and Tramadol is now a part of the DEA's 'agenda'.
Last edited: Dec 25, 2016