Is Tramadol Considered a Narcotic?
Tramadol hydrochloride (
Ultram®) is a prescription pain medication. Depending on who you ask (and how you define the word "narcotic"),
tramadol may or may not be considered a narcotic.
The word "narcotic" means different things in different situations (and to different people). From a medical standpoint, narcotics are medications that cause drowsiness and dulling of the senses and are usually used in reference to opioids (
morphine and other similar drugs such as heroin). However, most law enforcement officials (and most of the general public) use the word "narcotic" to describe any addictive medication or illegal substance, such as cocaine or marijuana, even if they are actually stimulants.
No matter what definition you choose, it is not entirely clear if tramadol is a narcotic. Tramadol is an opioid drug, because it binds to opioid receptors. However, it does not seem to be as addictive as other opioids, although
tramadol addiction and abuse may occur. Legally, this medication is not considered a narcotic because it is not listed as such in the Controlled Substances Act.
Is Tramadol a Controlled Substance?
Controlled substances are drugs (either legal or illegal) that are listed in the Controlled Substances Act. These drugs have the potential to be abused and are subject to specific rules and regulations that are stricter, compared to medications that are not controlled substances.
Tramadol is not listed in the Controlled Substances Act, even though it is an opioid medication with the potential for abuse. Originally, tramadol was marketed as a medication with weak narcotic effects and little potential for abuse. As a result, many healthcare providers came to view tramadol as a relatively safe medication for people who were at risk for drug abuse, such as people with previous problems with drug or alcohol abuse. However, research has since demonstrated that this medication works primarily through morphine-like activity, and numerous cases of abuse and dependence have been reported. Now, the prescribing information for tramadol contains several different warnings about the potential for abuse.
Even though tramadol is not a controlled substance at the federal level, states may individually classify it as such. As of December 2008, Kentucky has classified tramadol as a controlled substance. It is possible (even likely) that other states may also do so. It is even possible that tramadol will be reclassified as a controlled substance on the federal level as well.
