"Crazy, remember how we were talking about Tramadol the other day?"
"Yes, I remember."
"Well I talked to the doctor about it. He said it's NOW a narcotic and I can't have it because it's been changed to a narcotic and he doesn't prescribe narcotics."
Tramadol has recently been reclassified as a scheduled drug because of its addiction potential. The drug itself has not been reformulated in any way. I explain this to the patient. He seems satisfied.
Later in the day, the doctor of this patient calls me. He wants to "inform" me that I made a mistake telling the patient what I told the patient about Tramadol.
"Don't you do your continuing education?" he asked. "Tramadol is now a NARCOTIC. I thought you should know."
I'm sure glad he set me straight.
File this doctor under "never recommend to anybody."
ReplyDeleteseems like tramadol walks and talks like a narcotic
ReplyDeleteOh no! My dog was just prescribed this for severe arthritis. We got two weeks worth Thurs. in 5 days we are taking her with us on a 10 day vacation. That means we would need an early renewal. Hope our vet can do it. I didn't even think of controlled substance issues with pet meds.
ReplyDeleteWell if digitalis or Coumadin isn't scheduled.......why tramadol&Soma is, I couldn't say. But buzz wise it's not innocuous
ReplyDeleteusually see tramadol described as a "synthetic" opiate.
ReplyDelete