Tramadol is an interesting drug, its main metabolite, O-Desmethyl Tramadol, is responsible for the majority of the effects, being it is many times stronger than tramadol itself. One way to increase the potency of tramadol is to INDUCE the CYP2D6 enzyme, unlike most opiates, in which you want to inhibit the CYP2D6 enzyme. Unfortunately, inducing the CYP2D6 enzyme, which we want to do is in the case of tramadol, requires only a few specific drugs, which are very hard to come by. Also, by inducing the CYP2D6 enzyme, the overall duration of the tramadol will be shortened, which is a step backwards. Additionally, most medical professionals will tell you that it is very hard to induce the CYP2D6 enzyme. A full list of CYP2D6 inducers is available here:

http://www.uspharmacist.com/oldformat.asp?url=newlook/files/Feat/druginteractions.cfm&pub_id=8&article_id=704

See Table 2

So what am I saying, its very hard if not impossible to increase the potency of tramadol? No, of course not. We have another option. What we can do, looking at the same link as above, referring to Table 1, is INHIBIT the CYP3A4 enzyme. But why would we want to do this? Simple. O-Desmethyl Tramadol is broken down by the CYP3A4 enzyme, so by taking CYP3A4 INHIBITORS, we can extend the period that O-Desmethyl Tramadol is active in our body. CYP3A4 inhibitors are much easier to come by, specifically two of them. The first is grapefruit juice which contains (6, 7 -dihydroxybergamottin) as well as other flavonoids, especially bergapten, which inhibited CYP3A4 activity by 67%, quercetin, which inhibited CYP3A4 activity by 55%, and finally naringenin which inhibited CYP3A4 activity by 39%. So a few large glasses of 100% white grapefruit juice is the best way to inhibit the CYP3A4 enzyme, and is the best way to increase the potency of tramadol.

http://www.ualberta.ca/~csps/JPPS4(3)/S.Wanwimolruk/grapefruit.htm

Moreover, quinine is an inhibitor of the CYP3A4 enzyme, and a one liter bottle is available for under one US dollar. Unfortunately, I do not have the percentages for the amount that quinine inhibits the CYP3A4 enzyme, but it certainly does. That information can be found by following the first link and referencing Table 1. It may be more effective to take straight quinine, but for those with limited access to it, the tonic water is an easy solution. Unfortunately, the amount of quinine in each bottle is not listed, so the amount you must take is unknown to me.

In summary, Grapefruit juice and quinine are CYP3A4 INHIBITORS, so they can be taken to extend the effects of tramadol. Grapefruit juice is favored, but it MUST be 100% white grapefruit juice to work. A bottle can be purchase for under four US dollars. Also, quinine INHIBITS the CYP3A4 enzyme, and is a cheaper, but less effective way to increase the potency of tramadol.

On a personal note, I will only smoke cigarettes while on tramadol, as I find it increases the effects for a few moments, but of course nothing like I mentioned above. Also, during the last two or three hours of the tramadol experience, I feel two to three drinks MAXIMUM really does a huge part in adding to the experience. It is important to remember that you want to add to the experience, not over-power it. This may be because ethanol has been suggested to induce the CYP2D6 enzyme, but this a fairly uncommon belief. I feel a little alcohol just mixes well with tramadol, and does not increase the potency.

I hope this helps anyone interested with tramadol and any information on the exact amounts of grapefruit juice or quinine needed to produce the best effects would be a great addition to this thread. I'll research more myself, but 3 or 4 big glasses, one before dosing, and a few more during the experience will help quite a bit. I also would suggest dosing as follows: 150mg tramadol, wait 4 hours, dose an additional 50mg, wait 3 more hours, dose final 50mg, totaling 250mg, along with the grapefruit juice before and throughout the experience.

Hope this will help someone, and keep inhibiting that CYP3A4 enzyme!!

Enjoy your seizures

^^With 250mg, that's part of the point of this thread. You can take lower doses, way below the Max. accepted dose of 400mg a day. This is only 250mg, so by increasing the potency, you can take less tramadol, and loer the potential of a seizure

/Thread

I hate to point out the obvious but what u say pretty much somes up what we already know about opiate potentiation via the use of inhibitors. Since your first stated process is diffifult to achieve it is semi unrelevant, but i was still unaware of the info so i did gain something.

^^ Glad somebody got something out of it. Either way, I find the tables a very helpful list of inducers and inhibitors, so if the basic idea is already known, I know some people will get use out of those links, which will also work in different ways for a bunch of opiates, so as I said, if the thread or links help anyone, thats all I'm after

um....i currently take 500-600mg to feel my desired effect.....ive done it roughly 30-40 times now, at that dose. iv never had any side effects, except puking once, and in that case i hadnt eaten before hand.

what actually says the daily dose is 400mg? fda?

Although you essentially summarized all ready known information, thanks for bringing it to our attention, I guess.

Also, to induce seizures the dosage CAN be lower than 400 mgs in select individuals. However, I've taken double that on occasion and, besides essentially passing out, nothing has come of it.

Personally, I like to take it every other day; it seems to hit me more strongly, and not cause a tolerance to build up. Then again, I only take it for about a week straight and then lay off of it for a while, but still.

Then again, I also enjoy taking about any other pill besides tramadol if I have something else.

My script, which is perscribed by a doctor, although we've never met, says max 400mg a day, so there must be some legitamecy behind it. I started using this formula because I have been taking 250mg a day, 4 days in a row, than a 3 day break, so tolerance is building, I need to increase potancy all I can.

And I realize sezures can happen at this dose, but like I said, much less of a chance at 250mg than at 400mg+

Thanks for all the positive reponses, and this being my first shot with the grapefruit and tonic, drank half a bottle of each, and I'm keeping the more intense part of the high all the time, instead of having waves like I do with the tramadol alone.

Thanks again for discussing this

whats the script for btw?

^^ 180 50mg tabs, about every two months, but I can reorder after a month at the earliest...

Thank God for the power of the internet :)

$134 for it, but it last me 2 months, being high 4 days a week, so $3.75 for a 10 hour high, not bad in the long run...

insurance wont cover it? and what do you need it perscribed for?