Sometimes the line between helpful and harmful is razor thin.
In cases like that, it can be extremely easy to cross over to the wrong side of the line—even if you have every intention of avoiding it.
Take, for example, the pain medication tramadol.
Tramadol is often prescribed for pain management after surgery and in other situations that require a medication stronger than can be acquired over the counter. In most cases, it is safe and effective.
That said, tramadol is an opioid. While tramadol is not as powerful as some of the other opioids more commonly associated with the opioid epidemic in the United States, it can still be problematic if misused.
Of course, most any drug can be problematic if it is misused. But in the case of tramadol, that invisible boundary between proper use and misuse is thin, indeed.
Let’s take a closer look at tramadol, the ways in which it can lead to the development of a substance use disorder, and what to do if you find yourself addicted to the drug.
Always Follow Label Instructions
We have all been reminded again and again to take our prescription medications exactly as they have been prescribed. Our doctors and pharmacist remind us to follow the label instructions and also let us know about any side effects or interactions with other medications that might pop up. They tell us whether we should take the medication with food or without, how many times a day we should take it, and how much we should take at a time, and what activities we should avoid while taking the drug.
Generally speaking, these instructions are easy to follow and easy to stick to. Sure, there may be some minor inconveniences. Maybe a medication has a tendency to upset your stomach or make you drowsy or make it harder to sleep. But the inconvenience is usually short-term—and the benefits of the medication make going through the minor issues worthwhile.
In the case of tramadol, however, some users find that the drug makes them feel good—often very good. And so, far from wanting to avoid the side effects, they find themselves craving them.
Suddenly, it seems mighty easy to ignore those carefully prepared instructions for the drug’s use. Instead, a person might find themselves:
- Taking more of the drug more often, hoping to sustain or increase the good feelings tramadol provides.
- Acquiring a stash of the drug by seeing multiple physicians, forging their own prescriptions, “borrowing” tramadol from other users (this borrowing often looks a lot like stealing), or searching out an illegal but reliable ongoing source.
- Trying out tramadol in combination with other drugs or with alcohol to see if they can increase the intensity or duration of the good feelings they have been experiencing.
Obviously, none of those behaviors line up with the label instructions. Instead, they put a person at real risk of developing a substance use disorder.
Good Feelings Change to Bad Feelings in a Hurry
As we have noted, a person who is misusing tramadol is probably doing so in the hopes of feeling good more of the time. But soon enough, abusing the drug will lead to a range of negative side effects. These may include:
- Changes in appetite, nausea and vomiting, and/or constipation
- Dizziness, drowsiness, and/or headaches
- Pinprick pupils and/or slurred speech
- Reduced coordination, muscle aches, and/or sweating with no apparent cause
- Increased symptoms of depression
- In extreme cases:
- Seizures
- Depression of the central nervous system, which can lead to loss of consciousness, coma, or death
- The development of serotonin syndrome (especially when tramadol is taken with antidepressants), which can lead to death
From Taking Too Much Tramadol to Tapering Off Of Tramadol
In a perfect world, a person could just decide that they have made a mistake by taking too much tramadol. They could simply stop taking it, and all would be well. But a “cold turkey” approach to quitting tramadol is not only unlikely to work but is dangerous as well.
Potential withdrawal symptoms include:
- Seizures and/or dangerous increases in your heart rate and blood pressure
- Agitation, panic attacks, paranoia, delirium, psychosis, and/or hallucinations
- Increased irritability, a runny nose, loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, and/or diarrhea
- Difficulty falling asleep and/or restless leg syndrome
The key to avoiding—or at least minimizing—these withdrawal symptoms is to taper off of tramadol in a medically supervised setting.
The Benefits of Residential Treatment for Tramadol Misuse
A fully accredited residential treatment center can provide medically supervised detoxification followed by a robust period of rehabilitation. In rehab, a person will participate in group and individual therapy. In doing so, they will acquire strategies for maintaining their sobriety over the long term.
Equally importantly, a residential treatment center can help you address any co-occurring mental health disorders contributing to your substance use disorder. Whether it is depression, anxiety, a trauma-induced disorder, or any of a number of other mental health challenges, rehab offers the opportunity to work on ways to improve a person’s overall mental health while also gaining an understanding of how mental health issues and substance use disorders can be intertwined.
Speaking of Residential Treatment: Safe Harbor Recovery Center Can Help
Maybe you have been resisting the idea that you need to get help for a substance use disorder. Perhaps you are embarrassed, or convinced you don’t really have a problem, or insistent that you can handle the situation on your own. Those are all understandable feelings.
But at Safe Harbor Recovery Center, we are committed to personalized, compassionate, and evidence-based care. We are here to help—not to judge. Accepting help is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength.