Tramadol Overdose: Symptoms, Complications, and Recovery Process

Tramadol is an FDA-approved medicine to treat pain severe enough to require opioids. Although tramadol is unique among opioids, it can still cause misuse, addiction, and overdose. Learning the signs of tramadol overdose can help you potentially save someone’s life. Furthermore, it’s a sign of a lack of control over Tramadol use and the need to seek professional help to overcome Tramadol-related struggles. For this, you can count on Bright Futures Recovery Center. Our Palm Beach Addiction Center can help you not only overcome acute issues but also develop a mindset that can help you manage your Tramadol dependence.

What is Tramadol?

Tramadol is an atypical opioid analgesic that is chemically similar to codeine. It’s different from other opioids. While opioids impact your nervous system, tramadol also affects neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine. It works directly on opioid receptors by interrupting the way nerves signal pain between the brain and the body. This activation, however, increases dopamine, which can reinforce the act of taking tramadol in an effort to repeat the experience.

Tramadol is a strong painkiller sold under many names (e.g., Ultram, Ryzolt, and ConZip). It’s FDA-approved and typically prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain, for instance, after an operation or a serious injury. While it’s not usually recommended for chronic pain, it might also be prescribed for long-term pain if previous, weaker painkillers were not sufficient. It’s important to note that Tramadol cannot stop the pain completely, but it can dull it down, so you don’t feel it as much. Its off label uses include use for premature ejaculation and restless leg syndrome when other medications are not providing results.

This medicine is only available on prescription, and it comes in tablets, capsules, and liquid drops. Injections are rare and must be done in a hospital. Tramadol belongs to class IV controlled substances. Like any other opiate, it has a potential for misuse and addiction. Tramadol is misused for its rewarding opioid effects, including euphoria and feelings of relaxation. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2022 shows that among people aged 12 or older who used tramadol in the past year, 9.4 percent misused it. A research study also discovered that tramadol is sometimes used to adulterate illicitly manufactured fentanyl.

Can You Overdose on Tramadol?

Tramadol use exposes you to all the risks related to opioid use, overdose included. A tramadol overdose means that you have taken enough of this drug to experience serious or life-threatening effects. This can happen by accidental misuse (not following a doctor’s instructions or taking a medicine whose expiration date has passed). However, tramadol is more and more frequently intentionally abused. Other prescription drugs are commonly abused with tramadol (poly-substance use), increasing the odds of overdose taking place. Taking other substances, like benzodiazepines, other opioids, or other central nervous system depressants (including alcohol), increases the chances of experiencing tramadol overdose.

Those who have developed tramadol dependence or addiction are always at a higher risk of overdose. Those most at risk are:

• People with easy access to the drug (health professionals, those having it prescribed, and those buying it illegally)
• Those with a history of substance misuse
• Patients with chronic pain who rely on tramadol to manage their pain daily

Furthermore, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are several risk factors for overdose related to tramadol and other opioids:

• Taking high daily doses of prescription opioids.
• Combining opioids with alcohol and other depressants.
• Taking more opioids than prescribed.
• Taking illicit or illegal opioids (e.g., heroin or illicitly manufactured fentanyl, which can contain harmful or unknown substances).
• Medical conditions such as sleep apnea and reduced liver or kidney function.
• Being older than 65 years of age.

An additional risk for tramadol overdose is also, paradoxically, tramadol detox. If, instead of relying on professional drug rehab in Palm Beach, you decide to detoxify at home alone, you’re risking withdrawal symptoms being so uncomfortable and unmanageable that you lean back into tramadol use. Oftentimes, the slip into tramadol misuse tends to go overboard and ends up with a potentially fatal overdose.

Tramadol Overdose Symptoms

An overdose on tramadol (also known as tramadol poisoning or tramadol toxicity) has all the symptoms associated with overdose on other opioids but also has some specificities. Tramadol overdose symptoms can include:

• Respiratory depression (slow, shallow, or stopped breathing)
• Irregular heartbeats
• Signs of oversedation (sleepiness progressing to loss of consciousness or coma)
• Weak or limp muscles
• Cold and clammy skin, purple or blue lips and nails
• Hypothermia
• Slurred speech
• Extreme drowsiness or dizziness
• Constricted pupils or, in some cases, dilated pupils
• Seizures
• Psychological symptoms, including hallucinations, confusion, and paranoia

It’s not unusual for the first signs of tramadol overdose to be psychological and manifesting unusual behavior. From confusion and an inability to recognize people close to them to streaking or shouting to paranoia and visual and aural hallucinations. People overdosing on tramadol may also twitch their lips and jaw muscles.

One specificity of overdose on tramadol is that it can potentially trigger seizures and the possibly fatal state known as serotonin syndrome. While both of these conditions can occur even when tramadol is taken in therapeutic doses, it is more likely they will happen in cases of misusing tramadol or co-administering it with other drugs, like antidepressants or other drugs that affect the serotonergic neurotransmitter system.

Serotonin syndrome causes different symptoms, including

• Mental status changes (e.g., agitation, hallucinations, or coma).
• Autonomic instability (e.g., rapid heart rate, labile blood pressure, or low body temperature).
• Neuromuscular abnormalities (e.g., overactive reflexes, incoordination, or muscle rigidity)
• Gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea)

What Not to Mix Tramadol With?

Experts at opioid addiction rehab clinics are warning that the risk of overdosing on tramadol increases if you mix it with other drugs, even everyday cough or cold medicine. It’s important that you warn your doctor about taking any other medicines, whether prescribed or over the counter, as they can increase the odds of experiencing side effects or even result in a tramadol overdose. This is especially the case when taking medication that contains codeine, which is similar to tramadol. Furthermore, it’s important to note that combinations of tramadol and acetaminophen overdose have been associated with acute liver failure.

Tell your doctor if you’re taking any of the following medicines:

• for mental health problems (e.g., depression)
• to reduce tension or anxiety
• for pain relief
• to help you sleep
• to treat symptoms of an allergy
• to help prevent blood clots
• to treat an infection

It is also very well known and typically can be found in warning pamphlets: mixing prescription drugs with alcohol is very dangerous, especially if prescription drugs are depressants. A mix of depressants and alcohol can result in severely slowing down breathing and lethal consequences. This is the case with the tramadol and alcohol combination, which significantly increases the chances of experiencing an overdose. Additionally, both alcohol and tramadol can make you feel sleepy, putting you in danger if you are driving or working with machines.

Similarly, combining recreational drugs with tramadol can lead to serious side effects, including overdose. Serious side effects and even tramadol overdose can happen if you mix tramadol with cannabis, MDMA, ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamines, or LSD. You might feel more sleepy or dizzy, experience a fit or a seizure, have breathing or heart problems, and even previously explained serotonin syndrome. It’s very important you disclose to your doctor if you’re using any of these drugs, even occasionally.

Finally, studies on taking herbal remedies or complementary medicines with tramadol are lacking. Furthermore, testing these substances differs from prescription medicines, casting doubt on their effectiveness. To be safe, tell your doctor or a pharmacist if you’re taking any herbal remedies, vitamins, or supplements.

Emergency Response to Tramadol Overdose

It might be frightening seeing someone experiencing an overdose, especially if you yourself do not have experience with substance use or you have never had to react in a medical emergency. It can be unexpected to witness an overdose, as the indicators of a tramadol overdose can sometimes be challenging to identify. The most important thing is to recognize when severe, life-threatening symptoms occur and react immediately. Here is what you should do:

• Call 911 immediately. A tramadol overdose is life-threatening, and you should get medical assistance as soon as possible. The dispatcher can also guide you in providing first aid and monitoring the person until professional help arrives.
• If possible, administer naloxone as a temporary overdose treatment. Naloxone comes in the form of an injection and a nasal spray. Administering the second form doesn’t require any training. Simply spray the content into one nostril of a person struggling with overdose.
• Ensure the person is breathing. Whether you administered naloxone or not, make sure that a person is awake and can breathe. To avoid choking, turn the person on their side and remove any sharp objects.
• Monitor breathing and heart rate. If you notice a heartbeat slowing down, you might have to perform CPR if you’re trained to do so.
• Stay with the person until medical help arrives. Once they do, they’ll be taking over.

While this is an emergency reaction to an acute situation, the person will likely need professional help to learn to manage tramadol use and prevent tramadol overdose from happening again. if you have any impact on a person’s life, encourage them to seek help from a professional addiction treatment center in Florida.

Recovery Process After a Tramadol Overdose

Any opioid addiction treatment, tramadol addiction treatment included, ought to start with detox, aiming to cleanse the body of any traces of tramadol. Withdrawal symptoms are typically not life-threatening, but they can be very uncomfortable and go through several stages. Some even experience prolonged withdrawal symptoms lasting for several weeks, known as PAWS syndrome. Struggling with a long withdrawal timeline can be overwhelming if you’re going through it alone.

Detox is a good start, but it is typically not enough to completely overcome tramadol-related issues. The next step should be customized treatment programs that include psychotherapy and participation in support groups. These aspects of tramadol treatment ensure lifelong and sustainable results by equipping you with skills and a mindset that help you address any potential future challenges.

Nowadays, you can count on flexible treatments like outpatient or partial hospitalization programs in Palm Beach. These levels of care allow you to maintain your daily routine by scheduling your occasional treatments out of the facility several times a week or for a limited time. With the outpatient program, you get to be outside of the facility most of the time. In the case of a partial hospitalization program, you get to spend your nights at home. The best tramadol treatment program for you depends on your needs, circumstances, preferences, and previous progress.

Seek Professional Help for Tramadol Use

If used responsibly, tramadol can help those struggling with pain. Its effects on neurotransmitters can easily result in dependence but also severe and even deadly consequences. Tramadol overdose is one of the potentially lethal consequences of misuse (whether accidental or intentional). You can prevent it by educating yourself on responsible tramadol use, following instructions when it comes to tramadol use, and avoiding taking any substances while on tramadol. Learn how to react if someone is experiencing a tramadol overdose. You might potentially save their life.

If all of this sounds overwhelming, or you are struggling with opioid (including tramadol) dependence or addiction, turn to others for help and support. For professional assistance, you can always count on Bright Futures Treatment Center. Our professional staff can guide you out of dependence to a drug-free life. Call us and learn to manage your tramadol intake.

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537060/

https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt42731/2022-nsduh-annual-national-web-110923/2022-nsduh-nnr.htm

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0735675724007216

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4268194/

Featured image:

https://www.pexels.com/photo/blue-drinking-glass-with-water-and-white-medicine-pills-3683071/

Photos used:

https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-round-tablets-on-white-surface-3683037/

https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-gray-tank-top-lying-on-bed-3768582/

https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-psychologist-taking-notes-during-appointment-7176026/

https://www.pexels.com/photo/syringes-with-needles-15754966/

https://www.pexels.com/photo/an-elderly-woman-taking-her-medicines-4057762/