Tramadol addiction has been in the news recently, as it has become one of the latest drugs to be put on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s 2024 banned substance list for international sports from 1st January 2024. [1]
But what is tramadol and what are the effects and risks of a tramadol addiction?
Tramadol is a narcotic drug that is used for moderate to severe pain relief. As it is an opioid, it should only be used if non-opioid pain relief has not treated the pain.
There are two types of tramadol: extended-release and immediate-release. The immediate-release is for pain of less than a week’s duration, and the extended-release is for pain lasting more than a week. [2]
Tramadol also has other off-label uses such as for premature ejaculation and restless leg syndrome. [3] [4]
While tramadol is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medication, tramadol abuse and addiction is a risk due to the potency of the drug.
The effects of tramadol can induce similar substance cravings as other opioid drugs like fentanyl, oxycodone and morphine. [5]
According to the DSM-5, signs of a substance use disorder include: [6]
It is reported that tramadol has the potential to affect the GABA (neurochemical) pathway system in the brain which leads to a decrease in the production of neurotransmitters such as dopamine. [7]
This system is what is usually associated with substance abuse and addiction.
A prior history of any substance abuse can usually contribute to a tramadol addiction.
There are a number of different physical effects of taking tramadol, ranging from common to more serious.
If you have any of the last two effects of tramadol use, you should contact a health professional to seek medical attention.
Alongside the physical effects of using or having an addiction to tramadol, there are also many mental effects of tramadol.
Once thought of as a fairly low-risk drug, tramadol is now known for being high-risk due to its potential for abuse and adverse effects.
The use of tramadol should be avoided if you have a history of substance abuse and drug abuse or mental health disorders. It should also only be used if you have tried other non-opioid types of pain relief for your chronic pain.
If you overdose on tramadol, it can lead to negative consequences, some even fatal. If you use it regularly, you are likely to begin an addiction to tramadol or have tramadol dependence and long-term effects on your health.
Anyone can overdose on tramadol if they take too much of it. A fatal overdose can occur through an accidental overdose, just as it can be deliberate.
It is important to seek help immediately from medical professionals if you or someone you are with might be at risk of a tramadol overdose.
Withdrawal happens when you suddenly stop taking a drug that you’ve been regularly using.
As tramadol is a drug in the opioid family, withdrawal symptoms will closely mimic symptoms of other opioids such as oxycodone.
At a rehab for a tramadol substance use disorder, you would be given medications to help you manage the tramadol withdrawal symptoms, so that you are more comfortable.
There isn’t much documentation on the length of time for a tramadol withdrawal, however, withdrawal symptoms typically reach their peak within 36-72 hours following the last use. Symptoms can last for up to 8 days.
During this stage of your recovery from this opioid addiction, you will receive medication such as lorazepam and clonidine to help reduce any restlessness or anxiety that you might be feeling.
There are many treatment options for your substance use disorder so that you can begin your recovery journey.
To beat an opioid addiction, a tramadol addiction, you must first go through a tapering stage of withdrawal from the drug.
Following the withdrawal period, you can then attend therapy to help you maintain long-term recovery. This could be cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, or even music therapy.
This is an extremely important stage of the recovery process.
Before you leave rehab, you will be given relapse prevention strategies so that the recovery process can continue once you are at home.
Here at Rehab 4 Addiction, you can contact us 24/7 for further advice and support with your short-term or long-term tramadol use and can help you access treatment for tramadol addiction.
Call us today at 0800 140 4690 for help with the effects of tramadol addiction.
[1] https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2023-09/2024list_en_final_22_september_2023.pdf
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537060/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4417346/
[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10221285
[5] https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_1966/ShortReport-1966.html
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3767415/
[7] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871616309413
[8] https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/tramadol/side-effects-of-tramadol/
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
