Prescription painkillers are more likely to be abused these days than any other illicit drug. The new “teen high” for prescription drug abuse these days is the generic Ultram, otherwise known as Tramadol. Ultram (Tramadol) is a non-opioid analgesic used for moderate to moderately severe pain. Known as the street term, “ultras,” teens and preteens are accessing the drug through the family medicine cabinets. Addiction experts predict that kids as early as eight years-old are experimenting with Tramadol.

“While this particular drug was, a few years ago, only rarely mentioned by the teens, it does seem to have exploded in popularity over the past year,” said Rick Kirkham, who chronicled his addiction to crack cocaine in the 2006 documentary “TV Junkie” and now educates students about drug use. “Kids are now much more educated on the more ‘out of the cross hairs’ prescription drugs readily sitting in their family medicine cabinets,” he told ABCNews.com.

Tramadol Addiction

Tramadol is a highly dependent drug; therefore, addiction and developing a tolerance has a likelihood of occurring in teens. When this happens, the initial effects of the drug are harder to obtain and require more of the drug to achieve those effects. Quitting enables withdrawal symptoms and because of the perpetual severity of those symptoms, teens and preteens will continue taking the drug. Teens, and even younger kids, feel indestructible and immune to the problems of Tramadol abuse that others experience. Some will only experiment and that’s where it stops. Some will continue taking the drug and this is where intervention and help is needed.

Warning Signs of Prescription Drug Dependency

It is impossible to predict which teens will experiment and stop and which ones will develop serious problems. Knowing what your teen is doing and who they are doing it with will help in being aware of the things they are involved with and who. The following are some warning signs of teenagers at risk for developing serious prescription drug dependency:

• A family history of substance or alcohol abuse
• Depression
• Low self-esteem
• Feel like they don’t fit in and are not popular with the mainstream
• Frequently feel sluggish and have difficulty sleeping
• Aggressive and rebellious attitude toward authority figures

Tramadol Addiction Help

If you or someone you know battles with an addiction to Tramadol, please call our toll free number at (888) 371-5704. Someone is available 24 hours a day to assist you with any questions or treatment questions you may have.

It can be hard for a veterinarian to gauge how much pain your pet or other animals are in. There are many tell tale signs that will show a veterinarian the level of pain an animal may be experiencing, but the best way is through the owner because they are so close to their pets.

Scientifically it is hard to prove what level of pain an animal can be in, but we do know it varies from species to species. One way a veterinarian will often determine if an animal is in extreme pain is by simply pinching an animal’s claw or toe. It the animal doesn’t react immediately, it can be determined logically that the pain the animal is experiencing clearly overrides the test.

Why Use Tramadol with your Pets?

Tramadol for pets and other animals is highly regarded and effective for veterinarian use, especially in mammals. It is administered for post-operative, injury related or chronic pain such as cancers. It is also very effective for treating older animals that endure joint pain, such as hip dysplasia or spinal arthritis.

Because of the chemical makeup of Tramadol, it is especially effective for treating animals because of its non-bitter taste, which can be easily masked in foods or liquids. Tramadol is also recommended as a wonderful alternative to NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), which can be toxic to cats.

Bellow are some of the forms of Tramadol used for animal administration:

• Tablets
• Capsules
• Oral syrups
• Liquids
• Ampoules
• Powders for reconstitution

Although Tramadol use has been primarily used to treat mammals, data has also shown its effectiveness on marsupials; however, Tramadol use on reptiles and amphibians is currently unknown.

Tramadol not only treats pain, but can also serve a dual purpose in treating anxiety, especially if a pet or animal has experienced an injury related trauma. This may also be effective in the field where a wild animal may have to be treated and transported.

Tramadol Dosage

The dosage of Tramadol given to your pet will vary according to its specific pain control program given by your veterinarian, species and/or weight of the animal. Keep in mind that as much as we’d like to think our four legged friends are like the rest of us, they cannot effectively communicate when something is wrong.

Here is a common recommendation for dogs and cats:

• Dogs: 1 to 2mg given twice per day
• Cats: .5 to 1mg given twice per day

Tramadol Side Effects

There can be many different reactions to animals being treated with Tramadol. Although Tramadol is a very effective pain treatment program for your pet or animal, you should use extreme caution on the amount being administered and follow your veterinarian’s instruction.

Side effects of Tramadol use in animals are as follows:

• Constipation
• Upset stomach
• Vomiting
• Shallow breathing
• Decreased heart rate
• Sedation
• Loss of appetite

Tramadol is in a group of drugs called opiate agonists. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain by changing the way the body senses pain. Tramadol can either be taken as a normal tablet or an extended-release (long-acting) tablet to be taken through the mouth. The regular tablet can be taken with or without food every four to six hours, or as needed. The extended-release tablet should only be taken once a day around the same time every day.

When using extended-release the patient either needs to always take it with food or always take it without food. The extended-release tablets should only be taken whole. It is dangerous to split, chew, crush, snort or inject the dissolved form of the tablet. It is important to only take the medication as the doctor prescribes because it is a highly dependent drug.

Tramadol Teen Use

Tramadol is a relatively easy drug for teens to abuse because it isn’t hard to obtain. Tramadol preteen abuse is more and more common because of the new drug awareness. Many can simply open their parent’s medicine cabinets and sneak a few pills. It does not have as intense of a high as other drugs, but it does have a similar high to that of opioids, such as hydrocodone or morphine. It is also a highly dependent drug, so teens that use tramadol often become addicted and could build up a tolerance. When this happens, the user has to take more to receive the initial effects. This is a dangerous thing to do because when a user does not take the medication, withdrawal symptoms will occur. Many teens will continue to use tramadol to avoid suffering the effects of withdrawal.

Tramadol Abuse Warning Signs

It is important to understand the warning signs of prescription drug abuse. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if someone is abusing prescriptions or if they really need the medication. There are certain warning signs to look for when you think someone is abusing prescription medications:

• “Losing” prescriptions often so they have to go to the doctor to get a new one
• Getting prescriptions from more than one doctor
• Taking higher doses despite warnings
• Stealing prescriptions
• Forging prescriptions
• Selling prescriptions
• Excessive mood swings

Tramadol Abuse Prevention

It is important to keep your prescription medications clearly labeled and away from children and those with a history of drug or Tramadol abuse. Keep all medications in a locked cabinet. Dispose of all unused pills properly. The federal government suggests flushing opioid painkillers down the toilet. Other unused medications can be mixed with coffee grounds or kitty litter and thrown away. Failure to follow the steps can lead your teen to becoming dependent on prescription drugs.

Tramadol Addiction Help

If you or a loved one needs Tramadol abuse help,  it is important to seek help. Tramadol is a highly dependent drug. Once addicted, the effects are devastating. But, there is hope. If you are interested in receiving information on tramadol detox or rehab, please call our toll free number at (888) 371-5704 for more information on drug addiction treatment.