Synthetic Drug Found in Nature (Tramadol)

[Ruby the Liberal]

My Dentist first prescribed Tramadol for me years ago after a root canal. After my breast cancer surgery, it is my pain killer of choice for phantom pain (other than smoking to sleep through it) so I have an open prescription now as it is considered mild but more effective than any other pharma for my pain. I still have a cabinet full of Oxy that I won't touch (side effects are relentless) - so this lit up a lightbulb for me. I only take about 3 a month, but nothing works better when the nerves go sideways during the day like I was just tazered.

Who knew.

In another example of nature beating chemists, the African plant Nauclea latifolia has been found to be a natural source of the synthetic opioid tramadol. First marketed in 1977, tramadol is frequently used to relieve moderate to moderately-severe pain. While other synthetic drugs have later been found in nature, this is the first instance where the discovery involves clinically viable concentrations.

Colloquially known as the ‘African peach’ or ‘pin cushion tree’, N. latifolia is a flowering, sub-Saharan evergreen that grows widely across Central and West Africa and is used by local populations to treat a wide variety of ailments – including epilepsy, malaria, general pain and many infectious diseases.

To uncover the source of the plant’s reported pain killing effect, the researchers fractioned methanolic extracts of the plant by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The resulting fractions were then tested in an assay using live mice, revealing the fraction with the greatest analgesic properties.

‘Our results indicate that high amounts of the analgesic drug, tramadol, can be obtained through a simple extraction procedure from Nauclea latifolia found in Cameroon or sub-Saharan areas,’ says Michel De Waard, a neuroscientist at the Université Joseph Fourier. De Waard adds that the root of the plant could be viably used as a source of tramadol because of the significantly high concentrations of the drug – over 1% of the original dry content.

More at: http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/2013/09/african-plant-natural-source-tramadol

[Warpy]

1. Good, I live on the stuff

Well, the dose isn't that high, but it's the only way I can cope with pain from RA and back spasms that turned out to be from a broken neck I blew off because it didn't hurt that much more than usual.

If you can tolerate it, it's great stuff for both acute and chronic pain and I love it because it doesn't give me a buzz. I hate the buzz. I just want to be as close to normal as I can get.

[LiberalEsto]

2. My daughter had a seizure on Tramadol last week

She was given a prescription for Tramadol for a low back injury. It evidently reacted with two SSRIs she was taking. There was no warning from the pharmacy about the potential drugs' interaction.

When I did some research, I found that combining Tramadol with SSRIs can cause seizures -- and can even be fatal.

Good thing my daughter wasn't driving when she had the seizure.

[murielm99]

3. I break out in hives from tramadol.

A seizure is much worse. Tramadol is not for everyone.

I have to get something from the doc this week for a low back injury. I am seeing the doc on Thursday. She knows I can't take tramadol.

[TexasTowelie]

4. Oddly enough, I was reading about tramadol within the last few days.

I was checking on some research because my physician started me out on Effexor while I was in the hospital last month (manic depression and other problems lead me to overdose). I had some hellish dreams (like being on a people conveyor running at 200 mph in a loop around Dallas).

Anyway, I clicked on the article about Tramadol and read about it naturally occurring in the pin cushion tree. It's kind of odd that it popped up so soon after reading an article about it though.

[RainDog]

5. Are you just taking an anti-depressant?

Because SSRIs can trigger mania in bipolar people without some compensatory med for mania. (Off label anti-convulsants or lithium, etc.)

[TexasTowelie]

6. I've been on six different ones in the past decade.

Paxil, Wellbutrin and Cymbalta in the past. I stopped taking Lexapro about two years ago and was switched to Escitalopram, then to Citalopram since the cost was too much. The mania that I experienced was related to being unemployed, facing homelessness and a slew of medical issues (diabetes, chronic anemia, neuropathy, podiatry issues, shortness of breath). The imminent homelessness was what triggered my overdose though.

I'm with my brother right now, applying for SSDI but not receiving any medical treatment right now. I'm trying to apply for the jobs in the meantime but the stress definitely gets to me. The good news is that I received a call from a recruiter today and passed through the first stage. I have an interview via Skype tomorrow afternoon. I'd definitely prefer to be working again rather than be on SSDI, but I also have doubts about my ability to handle a lot of stress. It's for a 6 month contract with the possibility of being hired full-time so I'm going to make the attempt. The alternative is living with my brother until I get disability and that is another stressful situation. If I get the job though, then I can hopefully get back on my own and be reunited with my pet cat.

[RainDog]

7. best of luck to you!

I'm so sorry about all the troubles you've had.

There's a lot of misery going around out there - I'm glad you have some family support.