Tramadol is an analgesic drug that works much like morphine to control pain. It is habit forming, and the body can develop tolerance to the drug with prolonged use. As the body becomes tolerant to the drug, it takes more of the drug to achieve the same level of pain relief. Tramadol is best used as a short-term solution, and chronic pain conditions must be carefully managed to reduce the risk of tolerance and addiction. It is important to be aware of the signs of tramadol tolerance, before it leads to abuse and addiction.

Tramadol and Chronic Pain

Chronic pain conditions can be frustrating and debilitating, so, if a person responds well to tramadol after trying many other drugs, the temptation to use it for too long or in higher than recommended doses can be overwhelming. Patients who deal with chronic pain want relief, and, although tramadol provides that relief, use can also lead to tolerance and dependency. Tolerance means a user needs more of the drug to get the same level of relief. When a user becomes tolerant to tramadol, he or she may feel the need to take the next dose sooner that prescribed. The user may be tempted to take more than the prescribed dose. When either of these forms of abuse starts to happen, it is important to talk to a doctor or addiction professional. You or your loved one may be developing a dangerous dependence on the drug. Your doctor can determine whether a change in dosage is necessary, or it may be time to try a new drug to manage your pain.

Signs and Symptoms of Tramadol Dependence

Dependence is closely related to tolerance, and the signs of tramadol dependence indicate a need for help. The most obvious dependence indicator is the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms when drug use is discontinued. These symptoms may include the following:

• Anxiety
• Breathing problems
• Chills
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Tremors
• Trouble sleeping

Other signs that a person has a dependence on tramadol are increased use of the drug, a preoccupation with getting the drug and extreme agitation that is only relieved when taking the drug.

Preventing Tramadol Abuse

The best way to prevent tramadol abuse is to take the drug exactly as prescribed and only for the length of time determined by your doctor. When your pain no longer responds to the prescribed dose at the prescribed time, it is time to make a call. Never take more than the correct dosage or take a second dose earlier than you should without talking to your doctor first. Describe the symptoms to your doctor, and he or she can help you determine whether you need a different drug or if other actions should be taken. This will protect you or your loved one from abusing tramadol.

Learn More about Tramadol Tolerance and Abuse

If you take tramadol and think you might have a tolerance, abuse or addiction problem, we are here to help. Call our toll-free helpline to learn more about tramadol and what actions you should take next. We are here 24 hours a day, so please call any time.

Tramadol is an opioid analgesic (pain reliever) developed in the late 1970s. Tramadol is classified as an opiate agonist. Such medications work by changing the way the body senses pain. As a narcotic pain reliever, tramadol is associated with a high risk of tolerance and dependence. When patients are dealing with particularly severe pain, the prospect of giving up the drug that is managing that pain can be a source of great anxiety. Drugs like tramadol come to represent a solution to problems, and they may provide superficial relief that is temporary and artificial. Tramadol use is accompanied by a host of serious physical, psychological and social consequences. In many cases, tramadol addiction can transform a person into someone that friends, family and workplace acquaintances hardly recognize.

What Tramadol Does to a Person Physically

Tramadol is typically prescribed for the treatment for severe and/or chronic back pain. In some cases, the anxiety brought on by the thought of returning pain can drive an individual to abuse tramadol, taking it in higher doses than recommended by doctors. The eventual result is the need for increasingly higher doses of the drug in order to treat pain. This is known as tolerance and even if the user’s main goal is to prevent pain, it actually works against that end.

Additionally, using tramadol in excessively high doses or with excessive frequency can lead to hallucinations, seizures, nausea and vomiting. It can make a person feel as if he can hardly make it through the day. The lie of addiction is that a regular dose will allow one to function normally. On the contrary, individuals under the influence of drugs like tramadol are terribly impaired when it comes to everyday functions. This can affect work performance and make the addicts a danger to themselves and others.

What Tramadol Does to a Person Psychologically

Tramadol addiction can have profound psychological effects on a person as well. Addiction can make a person feel isolated and alone, resulting in anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. In addition, there is often a paranoia that arises as addicts become increasingly fearful of being caught or found out – meaning that they would be without tramadol, which they have come to see as the only solution to their problems. This results in addicts retreating into themselves, where there are only inner demons to cast them deeper into the hole of addiction.

What Tramadol Does to a Person Socially

As a person’s addiction to tramadol becomes stronger, relationships that were once important begin to fade. This is primarily because tramadol becomes the top priority in an addict’s life. Obtaining it by any means necessary and continuing to use it begins to take precedent over everything else, be it friendships, a marriage or a job.

Get Help for Tramadol Addiction

If you or someone close to you struggles with tramadol addiction, getting help is the best decision you’ll ever make. Tramadol addiction has profound effects on a person. Rehab and therapy are the safest and most successful ways to recover. Call our 24 hour, toll-free helpline today to speak with a trained addiction counselor who can help you find the treatment you need. Tramadol addiction can turn a person into someone even she wouldn’t recognize. Call today and take advantage of a second chance.

Tramadol is an analgesic used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain. It acts much like morphine, and if used as prescribed is taken every 4-6 hours as needed. There is also an extended release form of tramadol for patients who need medication to consistently relieve pain for a long period of time. Some indicators that you may be addicted to tramadol are an escalation of use, the compulsion to seek out and consume the drug and a strong craving for the drug that can only be soothed by taking it.

About Isolation and Self-Image

Have you ever felt alone in the middle of a crowd of people? Have you ever felt that no one really knows you? Have you ever felt invisible? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are at risk for becoming isolated. People who have limited healthy social interactions often have no point of reference by which they can understand themselves and others. Without this point of reference many people make assumptions about themselves and believe such statements as the following:

• I am not pretty enough
• I am not friendly enough
• I am not smart enough
• I am not enough of a person to encourage normal social interactions

These thoughts are related to isolation but quickly have a negative impact on feelings of self-worth. This is a cyclical pattern, as isolation leads to negative feelings about the self which then leads to increased isolation.

Isolation and Tramadol Abuse

Your emotional health impacts your physical health and can present in many physical ways such as restless leg syndrome, acid reflux and fibromyalgia. All of these conditions are often treated with tramadol. When drug abuse is added to isolation and negative self-image issues, the cycle can quickly become uncontrollable. Drug use may seem like a quick fix, but it does not end isolation and only makes it worse. It is important for you to get help as soon as possible. You can approach any of the following for help or advice:

• Family members
• Close friends
• A school counselor
• A spiritual advisor
• Medical professional
• Addiction recovery specialist
• Call center counselor

Start a dialogue with someone that you trust so you can explore your feelings of isolation and break free from your drug abuse.

Get Help for Tramadol Addiction

Breaking out of the cycle of isolation is often frightening, especially if it is coupled with feelings of self-worthlessness and a tramadol addiction struggle. Let us help you with the fear, negative feelings and isolation that may have contributed to your addiction to tramadol. Call our toll-free helpline today to learn about the treatment options that are available to you. We are available 24 hours a day and want to help, so please call now.

Many drugs are first introduced on the market with claims that they are non-addicting (or less-addicting) alternatives to other drugs available. Tramadol is not an exception, as in 2009 the United States Food and Drug Administration warned that the manufacturers of tramadol had minimized the addictive nature of the medication, and in 2010 the Physicians Desk Reference added new warnings about the drug and its addiction potential. Since tramadol was first introduced on the market, the “Drug Abuse and Dependence” section of the information which must accompany any prescription has been modified three times.

Variables Affecting the Development of Tramadol Addiction

There is no one answer to the question of how long it takes to become addicted to tramadol. There are many variables that affect addiction. It is possible to even be addicted to tramadol at birth if a mother used tramadol during pregnancy. However, the majority of people who become addicted to tramadol become addicted due to a personal choice to use the drug for medical or recreational purposes. Factors that influence the addiction timeframe include the following:

• Differences in how bodies metabolize the drug
• Drug dosage
• Personal history of substance abuse
• Family history of substance abuse

For those who use the medication for pain relief purposes, development of physical dependence on the drug may take about three months. For those who abuse the drug, the process typically takes less time. Tramadol can be both physically and psychologically addictive, and the psychological part of the equation is dependent on personal variables.

How Do I Know If I Am Addicted to Tramadol?

Tramadol users may be unsure if they have become addicted to a drug. One hallmark of physical dependence on tramadol is that users experience withdrawal symptoms when the drug is not regularly consumed. As with addiction the timeframe for withdrawal symptoms to develop is dependent on many factors, but symptoms typically begin 12 to 24 hours after the last dose. Serious tramadol withdrawal symptoms may last a week or more. Full addiction includes not only physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms but also drug cravings and a loss of control over the habit which includes taking the drug despite negative consequences.

Learn More about Tramadol Addiction and Recovery

If you or a loved one struggles with tramadol addiction, give us a call. Our toll-free helpline is available 24 hours a day, and we can answer your questions about addiction or help you find an addiction treatment program that meets your needs. We can discuss your options with you and check your insurance coverage if you wish. No matter how long you have been addicted or how long it took your addiction to develop, help is available. Call now.

Similar to codeine and morphine, tramadol is the popular brand name for a prescription painkiller. Some of the drugs more popular usages are for the treatment of disorders like restless leg syndrome or certain types of fibromyalgia. Tramadol is an opiate. This means that the drug’s primary active ingredient is derived from opium. Most popular prescription pain medications are opiates as opium is one of the most effective substances for pain management available. Unfortunately, the use of medications like tramadol is always associated with a risk of tolerance and dependency.

Tramadol Dependency and Addiction

Patients or recreational drug users who ingest consistent doses of the drug are at risk for dependency and addiction because of the way that tramadol relieves pain. The opium in the drug stimulates certain receptors in the brain to block the transmission and reception of pain signals. Additionally, opiate substances trigger reward centers in the brain which accompanies pain-relief with a general sense of wellbeing.

Over time, the brain has the ability to develop a rapid tolerance to the drug. Generally speaking, this means that the more someone uses tramadol, the less effective the drug will become. This creates a consistent need for higher and more frequent doses to produce the same level of symptom management. This is known as tolerance, and is usually followed by dependency. Dependency is when people believe that they need consistent doses of the drug to maintain feelings of normalcy.

Cultural Influences on Tramadol Abuse

A common scenario exists in which popular prescription drugs designed for the treatment of physical pain make their way into the hands of recreational drug users who primarily use them to block emotional pain or provide feelings of euphoria. The popularity of prescription opiates combined with social factors and scenarios that not only facilitate, but also encourage tramadol use creates many new addictions each year. Attempts have been made by the federal government and drug manufacturers to decrease the drug’s potential for illicit use, but are generally no match for the power of social perception and peer pressure.

Additional Resources for Tramadol Addicts

If you find that you have become addicted to tramadol, we can help. We are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions and point you toward quality rehab facilities. The call is toll free, and we may be able to work with your insurer. Don’t let the demands of friends, family members or stress control you anymore. A drug-free life is possible. Please call us today.

Tramadol is an analgesic used to relieve mild to severe pain. Though favored for its lower rate of addiction in comparison to morphine, tramadol is still a narcotic that can quickly lead to addiction. Tramadol addiction shows itself when a user abruptly stops taking the drug and begins to experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include the following:

• Anxiety
• Nausea
• Chills
• Sweating
• Tremors
• Diarrhea
• Hallucinations
• Insomnia

Although the symptoms that accompany tramadol withdrawal can be painful, a tramadol user who goes without treatment for his or her addiction will face more and longer-lasting problems. There are many areas of a tramadol user’s life that will be affected by untreated drug addiction such as body, finances and personal relationships.

The Physical Impact of an Untreated Tramadol Addiction

When people discuss a drug addiction, an overdose is generally one of the topics that arise. Overdosing on tramadol is a real possibility. Once users become dependent on the drug, they will often increase their use in order to obtain the same effects it had as when they first started using it. This is a recipe for disaster and may result in death. Tramadol has also been known to cause seizures.

The Financial Impact of an Untreated Tramadol Addiction

The life of a tramadol user is difficult. As the repeated use of tramadol gradually changes the pathways of the brain, the user craves more. Tramadol is not cheap and can only be obtained by either prescription or illegal means if the user wishes to continue the habit. The expense of buying dose after dose adds up and drains any savings a user might have had. The tramadol user may soon resort to more desperate measures such as theft or going into debt. The individual may choose purchasing tramadol over paying bills.

The Impact of Untreated Tramadol Addiction on Family and Friends

Tramadol addiction can be just as hard on a user’s family and friends who must watch the individual struggle and suffer. The family and friends of a tramadol user may feel helpless to stop the addiction but showing their hurt and support can help propel a user into treatment. It may be that the motivation a drug user needs to seek rehab is not to act for them but for the people they are hurting.

You Do Need Help with Tramadol Addiction

A tramadol user needs help, and addiction cannot be ignored. If you or a loved one is struggling with tramadol use, please call our toll-free helpline. Our counselors are available 24 hours a day to help you find the help you need to end addiction. Don’t let tramadol addiction worsen. Call now.

Tramadol is an analgesic opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain. Although tramadol isn’t considered an addictive drug, it has been shown to have some addictive qualities.

Struggles that Accompany a Secret Addiction

Individuals struggling with an addiction often do anything to keep it a secret. A tramadol addiction is serious and affects the body both physically and psychologically. If you are struggling with a tramadol addiction, you are probably afraid to let your loved ones know. You are afraid of rejection, retaliation, and other repercussions that may come along with revealing your secret. You struggle with the feelings of shame and failure. You feel alone. Trying to hide your addiction often causes more guilt because you have to lie to keep it a secret. The guilt can lead to using more pills, and the cycle will continue, unless you make the choice to ask for help.

Who to Talk to about Your Tramadol Addiction

It is always difficult to discuss an addiction. You might be struggling with the decision to talk to your family or friends because you are afraid of what they might think of you, but know this — loved ones who truly love you will support and help you through your addiction. You can reveal your tramadol addiction to any of the following that you feel closest to:

• Parents/siblings
• Spouse/significant other
• Other trusted family members
• Friends
• Pastor/clergyman
• Counselor/therapist

These are just a few options among many. Make sure that the individuals you tell are people that you trust.

Why Discuss My Secret Tramadol Addiction?

Some of you struggling with a secret tramadol addiction might be wondering why you should share your secret. By telling another individual, you are taking the first step toward recovery. The following are a few ways that revealing your secret will help you in the following ways:

• Give you accountability
• Give you support and encouragement
• Help you not feel so alone in your addiction
• Help you feel more confident when you seek treatment
• Relieve the stress, guilt and loneliness that accompany secrecy

Dangers of Keeping Your Tramadol Addiction Hidden

You may feel that by keeping your addiction a secret, you are helping yourself and your loved ones. However, by not revealing your addiction, you are enabling yourself to continue the addiction. The following lists a few dangers of your addiction and keeping it a secret:

• Negatively affects major organ systems including the following:
  • Central nervous system
  • GI tract
  • Cardiovascular system
• Death
• Stress and guilt of hiding your secret
• Continual lying and secrecy to keep your tramadol addiction hidden.
• Loss of trust/relationships with family and friends
• Inability to function and cope without tramadol
• Continued addiction

Help for Your Tramadol Addiction

If you are suffering from a tramadol addiction and are keeping your addiction hidden, call our toll-free helpline today.  Our professionals are available 24 hours a day to help you find a tramadol addiction treatment center that works for you.  In addition, they can talk you through the process of revealing your addiction to loved ones.  If you are worried about the expense of treatment, we will find out what your insurance will cover at no cost to you.  Make the choice today to reveal your secret addiction and change your life forever.

Tramadol is a pain-relieving opioid marketed under a number of brand names including Ultram. It has been promoted as less addictive than other drugs in its class. However, since tramadol first appeared on the market the “Drug Abuse and Dependence” portion of the printed information accompanying it has been modified three times as new data on its addiction potential has been revealed. The following information is currently attached to any tramadol prescription:

• Tramadol may cause both physical and psychological dependence
• Tramadol is associated with development of tolerance, dependence and withdrawal symptoms
• Dependence and abuse of the drug are not limited to patients with a prior history of related problems

Tramadol Tolerance and Dependence

Opioids like tramadol relieve pain by affecting the levels of neurotransmitters in the body. Generally they increase the amount of dopamine available, and the body responds by producing less. As the body produces less on its own, more of the drug needs to be taken to produce the original effects. This is known as drug tolerance and is the first stage in the development of dependence or addiction.

You can recognize physical drug dependence when users need to take the drug to avoid withdrawal symptoms. Tramadol withdrawal symptoms begin 12 to 20 hours after the last dose is taken, and acute symptoms can last for a week or more. Those who are dependent on tramadol need to taper their medication gradually and be monitored and assisted through the process.

Addiction to Tramadol

Although dependence is part of addiction and can lead to drug abuse, it is possible to be physically dependent on a medication and not have a full addiction. Signs of addiction include drug cravings and continual use of a substance despite negative consequences. Other warning signs of tramadol addiction include the following:

• Taking the medication in any manner in which it was not prescribed, such as more frequently, in a higher dosage or in a different form
• Obtaining prescriptions under false pretenses or “doctor shopping” to obtain more of the medication than one doctor is willing to prescribe
• Taking the drug for any reason other than for a prescribed medical condition
• Obsessing about usage of the drug
• Changing priorities so that use of tramadol becomes more important than responsibilities or other activities once enjoyed

Treating Tramadol Addiction

Tramadol is a serious but treatable medical condition. Although it is best to address the problem as soon as it is recognized, it is never too late to seek help. Call our toll-free 24 hour helpline and let work with you to identify the best recovery solutions. Our trained counselors can provide information and support and can verify your insurance benefits. Reclaim your life. Call now.

Making the decision to confront someone about their tramadol addiction is not an easy process, especially if you are dealing with a family member or close friend. You may understand the addiction, or you may feel as though you don’t even know how to begin thinking about it. Either way, learning a little bit more about the nature of tramadol use and the context surrounding an addiction can increase the chances of a successful conversation and a successful rehabilitation.

What Is Tramadol?

Tramadol is a synthetic pain reliever that is primarily used for the alleviation of moderate to severe pain. Medicinally, it can be prescribed to patients after a surgery or traumatic event. The drug can also be prescribed for the treatment of conditions like fibromyalgia.

Like many other prescription pain relievers, tramadol is an opiate. Opiates are derived from opium and stimulate opiate receptors in the body. Depending on the dosage, this generally leads to a feeling of euphoria accompanied by respiratory depression. When taken in prescription doses for short periods of time, tramadol can provide effective pain relief, but when the drug is used in higher than prescription doses or in recreational scenarios the risk of dependence and addiction is present.

How Does Tramadol Addiction Begin?

Because of its high addiction potential, tramadol is designed for short-term use. When a patient uses the drug for long periods of time or in high doses, the body begins to build a tolerance to the drug. In an attempt to protect itself, the body begins to counteract the effects of the substance. Eventually this means that the longer a person uses tramadol, the more of it they will need to provide the same levels of pain management. Tolerance ultimately leads to dependence, a situation that causes a person to become physically and psychologically reliant upon tramadol to function and feel normal.

What Should I Say about Tramadol Addiction?

It is important to think about the words you will use when to talking to someone about their addiction to tramadol.  You need to have a game plan, but you also need to think about the importance of listening.  Your ability to genuinely listen to someone can go a long way in showing them that you are acting with their best interest in mind. Confrontational conversations that leave a person feeling attacked can often push someone even further into addiction.

When it is your turn to talk, be mindful of your body language and tone throughout the conversation. Continue to reinforce the fact that you are acting in the tramadol user’s best interest Asking questions about how the addiction began and why it has been allowed to continue can also be helpful in your attempt to understand the nature and circumstances of addiction.  If the user seems willing to entertain the idea of rehab, talk with them about the research you’ve done, and remind them of your ability and willingness to help throughout the process.

We Can Help You Talk about Tramadol Addiction

Is your loved one struggling with tramadol addiction? Would you like to learn more about how to approach them and what recovery resources are available? Call our toll-free helpline to talk to experienced and knowledgeable counselors. We are available 24 hours a day to provide the information you need when you need it. Call now and help your loved one today.

Tramadol is an analgesic that is used to relieve pain and to treat the symptoms of restless leg syndrome and fibromyalgia. Tramadol is often abused, because it creates a morphine-like high that can last up eight hours.

Tramadol Abuse

Tramadol is easier to obtain than drugs such as morphine and OxyContin, as these substances are regulated under the Controlled Substances Act. In 2008, over 26 million tramadol prescriptions were dispensed. Although widely prescribed, tramadol can be just as lethal as other opiates.

Tramadol is addictive, especially over long-term use. The long-term effects of taking tramadol include seizures and cognitive impairment. Tramadol has often been cited as one of the more difficult drugs to stop using. Withdrawal symptoms associated with ending tramadol use includes the following:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Severe mood
• Suicidal thoughts
• Restless leg syndrome
• Insomnia
• Nightmares
• Tremors

Effects of Tramadol Abuse on Personal Life

The effects of tramadol abuse do not only affect a person’s body. People who abuse this opiate are likely to develop a strong psychological dependence on the drug. Additionally, when someone begins using a drug, they may falsely assume they are the only ones affected by their habit. Friends and family also suffer when a loved one is struggling with drug abuse. Tramadol can make users reclusive or aggressive, and they begin to value time spent finding and using the drug over time spent with family.

Looking for Tramadol Abuse Help?

There is hope for tramadol abuse recovery. Treatment is available, and there are programs designed to help an individual overcome this dangerous habit and move forward in life. Call our toll-free helpline to learn more about tramadol and your options for recovery. We are available 24 hours a day, so there is no wrong time to call.