Tramadol: Risks and addiction

What is Tramadol?

Tramadol is the generic name for the brand drug Ultram. It is an opioid analgesic useful in treating moderate to acute pain conditions. Buy Tramadol Online in the immediate-release oral formulation and intravenous injections. The onset of analgesic effects usually starts within an hour for immediate-release tablets. It is available in single-ingredient medication and in combination with acetaminophen as an extended-release long-acting medicine.

Like other opiates, common adverse effects of Tramadol include itchiness, constipation, and nausea. Severe side effects may be decreased alertness, seizures, drug addiction, and increased risk of serotonin syndrome.

People with hepatic or renal impairment should take lower daily dosages. It is not recommendable for people who have suicidal ideation and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Tramadol binds to the mu-opioid receptors on neurons. This medication is also a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). It is also convertible in the liver to a stronger opioid O-desmethyl tramadol, binding to the MOR.

A west German pharmaceutical company launched tramadol under the name “Tramal” in the year 1977. The United States FDA approved tramadol for medical use in the mid-1990s.
Tramadol is one of the most prescribed medications in the country, with more than 10 million prescriptions every year.

What are the risks associated with Tramadol?

The common risks or effects associated with tramadol include dry mouth, dizziness, nausea, abdominal pain, indigestion, vomiting, vertigo, drowsiness, and headache.
Using Tramadol for a long duration at high doses is associated with the risk of psychical or psychological dependence. These dependencies lead to withdrawal syndrome and addiction.
Just like other opioid analgesics, tramadol also possesses a high risk of addiction and abuse.
Tramadol withdrawal symptoms include both symptoms of opioid withdrawal and SNRIs withdrawal.
Some common signs of tramadol withdrawal include tingling, numbness, tinnitus, and paresthesia. Psychiatric withdrawal symptoms include paranoia, hallucination, panic attacks, extreme anxiety, and confusion. Tramadol withdrawal usually lasts longer than that of other opiates.
Recreational use of tramadol can be very dangerous because of the risks of convulsions at higher doses.
Tramadol abuse, addiction, and misuse are some of the significant risks associated with its use.

What is Tramadol addiction?

Order tramadol online only on a doctor’s prescription. Taking the medication without prescriptions can cause addiction. People who misuse or abuse tramadol are at higher risks of addiction. After continual prolonged use, people develop tolerance to Tramadol. It leads them to take more and more drugs to achieve the same effects. Eventually, this causes the addiction to Tramadol.

Tramadol tolerant people need medication to do their daily chores. They start craving for the drug. Without Tramadol, they are unable to function correctly.

The medication is less addictive when compared to other opioid analgesics. It is a schedule-IV substance under the Controlled Substance Act, 1970.

People get addicted to Tramadol as it produces calming or euphoric effects. Those who are abusing the medicine feel happy and relaxed.

What are the signs of Tramadol addiction?

Here are seven signs and symptoms that show you are addicted to tramadol:

1. Physical dependence: Tramadol physical dependence can develop with its prolonged use. With the development of dependence, some withdrawal symptoms can occur such as panic, sweating, nervousness, runny nose, muscle spasm, cold chills, diarrhea, and seizures
2. Psychological dependence: A person addicted to Tramadol may experience psychological dependence. Individuals abusing the medication for a long time may develop compulsive cravings of Tramadol
3. Physical symptoms: Use of tramadol, even at recommended doses, can cause side effects. Abusing the drug causes many health problems such as muscle aches, drowsiness, constipation, sweating, weakness, headache, and fever
4. Compulsive use of Tramadol: People using tramadol compulsively despite its negative consequences such as relationship problems, health issues, financial issues, and neglecting personal hygiene
5. Getting High: People who have a tramadol addiction uses the drug to get high. Taking medicine for euphoric effects and feelings of well-being and peace comes in drug abuse
6. Use without prescription: If a person is using tramadol without prescription or at higher than prescribed doses, it means that the individual is abusing the drug. It leads to addiction.
7. Drug Seeking: drug-seeking behavior is the most common sign of addiction. Some tactics of drug-seeking include:

• Visiting different doctors for prescription
• Visiting emergency rooms to get Tramadol
• Repeatedly fake losing medicine to get more new ones
• Refusing to undergo tests or examinations for drug abuse
• Not providing medical records
• Tampering medications

What is Tramadol prescribed for?

Tramadol is a generic medication prescribed for the treatment of moderate to moderately severe pain conditions. It is available in both the immediate-release and extended-release formulations. Extended-release Tramadol helps manage severe pain on an around the clock basis. It is an opioid pain-relieving medicine that acts directly on the brain. Its pain-relieving actions generally begin within an hour for the immediate release form.

Tramadol got approval for medical use in the 1990s in the United States of America. The medication is marketed under various brand names such as Ultram, ConZip, and Ryzolt. The wholesale cost of Tramadol is less than $0.05 per pill in America.

How to use Tramadol?

Tramadol comes in three formulations: immediate-release tablet, extended-release tablet, an extended-release capsule. It is an oral medicine.
It is generally taken every 4-6 hours, with or without food. Take Tramadol properly as prescribed by the healthcare provider.
Do not take a higher dose or more than prescribed doses of Tramadol as it can develop dependence and addiction or can cause fatal overdose and side effects.
Doctors may start a low dose of Tramadol and slowly increase its dosages to make sure that medicine has maximum therapeutic benefits and lesser side effects.
Never stop taking Tramadol without consulting your doctor. Tramadol is an opioid for which people may develop tolerance and dependence. If you stop the medication cold turkey, it can cause withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can be mild to severe differently for every individual.
Gradually decrease the dose that you are taking to avoid symptoms of withdrawal caused due to Tramadol.

What precautions should I follow while taking Tramadol?

You need to follow the following precautions while receiving Tramadol treatment:

• You should not take Tramadol if you have a hypersensitivity to it, any other opioid, or any inactive ingredient of the medicine. See the label or ask a medical professional for a complete list of all the components of Tramadol.
• Under no circumstances, you should take Tramadol if you are using an MAO inhibitor or if you have used it in the last 14 days.
• Tramadol interacts with other medications and drugs to produce undesirable effects. Your doctor needs to know all about the prescription, non-prescription, and other medications and drugs that you are taking.
• Inform your prescribing pharmacist or doctor about your current and previous medical conditions.
• If you are pregnant or planning to do so while on Tramadol therapy, tell your doctor as the medicine can harm the fetal.
• Breastfeeding mothers should avoid taking Tramadol as it passes through the human milk and can cause symptoms of withdrawal in the nursing infant.
• Tramadol may decrease your fertility. So, it would be best if you were very cautious while taking it in your fertile years. A doctor or pharmacist can tell you all the risks of fertility while taking Tramadol.
• It would help if you had a proper conversation with your doctor about all the warnings and precautions associated with the use of Tramadol.

Does Tramadol cause any side effects?

Like all other medications, Tramadol has both positive and negative impacts. The most common side effects caused due to Tramadol include nausea, vomiting, indigestion, stomach pain, dizziness, drowsiness, vertigo, headache, and constipation.
When compared to other opioids, Tramadol does not have severe respiratory depression.
The long-term impact of Tramadol use is dependence and addiction. The medicine can cause physical and psychological dependence that results in abuse, misuse, and diversion.

Some frequent side effects of Tramadol include:

• Nervousness
• Uncontrollable shaking
• Muscle tightness
• Heartburn
• Hives, rash
• Difficulty swallowing
• Decreased sex drive
• Irregular menstruation

Does Tramadol have any drug interactions?
Tramadol has severe drug interactions that can affect its effectiveness or increase its side effects. Common drugs that interact with Tramadol include:

• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Opioids like pethidine, oxycodone, tapentadol, fentanyl
• Migraine medications
• Antibiotics like linezolid, isoniazid
• Herbal medicines like St. John’s wort, passiflora
• Stimulants like amphetamines, phentermine, phenethylamine