Tramadol Overview
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 Dependency
Tramadol is a highly dependent drug. Often, tramadol addictions happen accidentally by patients unknowingly abusing their prescribed medication. When used for a prolonged amount of time, the body becomes used to the amount of drugs administered. 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. When taking this drug, the patient needs to do exactly as the doctor says to stay clear of addiction. It is important to talk to your doctor before getting off of tramadol to ensure that withdrawal symptoms do not occur.
Tramadol Side Effects
Patients taking Tramadol are at risk for certain side effects. Contact your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe and do not go away.
- Dizziness
- Sleepiness
- Weakness
- Headache
- Nervousness
- Agitation
- Uncontrollable Shaking
- Muscle Tightness
- Mood Swings
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Itching
- Sweating
- Chills
- Dry mouth
Some of the side effects may be more dangerous than the previous ones. Contact your doctor immediately if any of these symptoms occur:
- Seizures
- Sores on the inside of your mouth, throat, nose or eyes
- Flu-like symptoms
- Hives
- Rash
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling of body parts
- Hoarseness
- Hallucinations
Tramadol Abuse Prevention
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 Addiction Treatment
If you or a loved one is addicted to tramadol, 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 to hear about drug addiction treatment.
