Tramadol Withdrawal and Detox

Tramadol Info

• Tramadol Addiction and Abuse
• Tramadol Symptoms and Warning Signs
• Tramadol Treatment and Rehab
• Tramadol Withdrawal and Detox

Tramadol (and its branded versions such as Ultram) is prescribed by doctors as a narcotic painkiller for treating mild to severe pain. It is an addictive drug, and like most painkillers, tramadol is prone to causing physical and psychological dependence.

People who attempt to quit tramadol without medical supervision often experience severe withdrawal symptoms and complications. The physical and psychological discomfort associated with withdrawal during detox can often lead to relapse.

If you want to detox from tramadol, it is best to see an addiction specialist. The doctor will advise you to undergo a supervised opioid detox as part of an exclusive tramadol addiction treatment programme. This will help to relieve the difficulty of withdrawal symptoms and guide you through recovery and support.

Withdrawal and Detox

Tramadol is easily abused, because it is perceived to produce feelings of relaxation and calm. People who want to remain in this state use more of the drug than is healthy for them. If you take tramadol frequently, you’ll quickly develop a tolerance to the drug’s effects. This means the regular dosage will no longer have the desired effect, causing you to take more for it to be effective.

This is known as drug tolerance, which is common with most substance abuse cases. A dependency is created when alterations in the brain are fixed, so that it can no longer function ‘normally’ without the presence of tramadol.

Drug dependency can occur even when you follow a doctor’s prescription, but its effect is more rapid when the drug is abused. It is advisable to see a doctor regularly for advice about the use of prescription drugs.

For recreational users of tramadol, dependence produces withdrawal symptoms that prevent them from quitting, even when they try to do so. The signs are easy to recognise in a loved one or close friend. It’s advisable to call for professional help if you observe withdrawal symptoms. A guided detox process is the best way to attempt withdrawal from opioids.

What is Tramadol Withdrawal?

Tramadol works by targeting the centres of the brain that signal pain in the body and suppresses them. When the receptors are suppressed, the pain is relieved. However, abusers take large doses of tramadol to feel good. This inhibits the reuptake of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine, whilst activating opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS).

When abusers repeatedly take the drug, the brain builds a tolerance that demands a larger dose for the drug to be effective. Over time, tolerance escalates into dependence. A brain that is dependent on tramadol cannot function ‘normally’ if the drug is absent. It therefore reacts by causing the abuser to feel extreme physical and psychological distress. This distress manifests in symptoms of withdrawal.

Tramadol withdrawal usually occurs in physical and psychological phases. The physical side effects of withdrawal appear to mirror the symptoms of flu. They normally peak within a few days before tapering off, while the psychological side effects tend to stay a little longer.

Withdrawal is experienced differently by each user. Certain factors such as the history of drug usage and the user’s overall health status, determine the length and severity of withdrawal symptoms.

One major contributor to the duration of and severity of withdrawal symptoms is the abuser’s level of dependency. This is because a brain that is heavily dependent on tramadol will require more time to recover and ‘rewire’ its natural functions that have been altered by long-term drug abuse.

Your mode of administration is also a key factor in how dependent you might be. People who take tramadol orally (as a pill) are less likely to be as dependent as those who inject, snort or smoke the drug.

Risks of Withdrawal

Acute withdrawal symptoms can cause a myriad of physical health complications, ranging from minor flu-like symptoms to severe seizures. Prolonged withdrawal symptoms can lead to mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. Therefore, it is best to detox in a controlled facility with medical professionals present.

Acute withdrawal is the initial appearance of symptoms after abruptly discontinuing substance usage. The symptoms are usually the opposite of effects of the substance. For example, tramadol often makes people numb to pain, but during withdrawal, they tend to feel muscular aches and pain.

During acute withdrawal, patients are given medication to help relieve the feelings of discomfort, although this is not always the case. Withdrawal risks are higher for cases of severe addiction. The brain and body will often trigger intense reactions to make you resume the drug. The chance of relapsing is higher when you try to detox on your own, especially for opioids like tramadol.

Tramadol Withdrawal Symptoms: What to Expect

The following symptoms are experienced during withdrawal:

The severity and length of addiction to tramadol can directly affect the intensity, presence and duration of the listed symptoms.

Timeline of Tramadol Withdrawal Symptoms

People often like to know how long the symptoms may last. The length varies with each individual, but it’s helpful to have a timeline in mind to help you prepare adequately.

Most tramadol dependent users experience three withdrawal phases during detox. In phase one (also known as acute withdrawal), the physical symptoms begin 12 hours after the last tramadol intake (though this could be shorter for more dependent users). The symptoms peak by the third day before tapering down. Overall, acute withdrawal lasts approximately five days.

Phase two lasts about two weeks. As the body works to purge all traces of the substance, it also seeks to reorder the balance of endorphin levels which were reduced during opiate dependence. The symptoms associated with this period are chills, dilated pupils and leg cramps.

In the final phase, the symptoms are more psychological than physical. Patients often experience restlessness, insomnia and anxiety. You may be advised to exercise (walk 30 to 60 minutes daily, practice yoga or use the gym), eat healthily, drink plenty of water and sleep more.

• Age. Older users tend to experience more unpleasant symptoms than younger ones. Doctors usually take this into consideration.
• Longer usage history. A prolonged history of drug abuse is a significant factor during withdrawal, because the brain (and body) will have changed its structure in the long-term.
• Co-occurring disorders. Mental health disorders such as bipolar and anxiety disorders often arise because of drug abuse. During detox, a physician will consider treating the psychological symptoms, as well as the physical ones.
• Poor support system. Detoxing without a good support system could exacerbate the experience for the patient. It’s therefore important to know that your family and friends are there for you.
• Negative attitude. People who go into detox with a negative attitude find it difficult to persevere. Without a strong mental foundation, withdrawal can subdue a person’s resolve to quit.

Detoxing in a safe, reliable environment takes all these factors into account and ensures you prevail and live a clean, sober life, free of tramadol addiction.

Tramadol: the Detox Process

Treatment options for people addicted to tramadol will vary, but it’s best to go for a rehab option that includes a detox programme for patients. There are often two stages of a comprehensive treatment programme:

• Detoxification from physical dependence on tramadol
• Education and therapy to correct psychological dependence

Detoxification includes a period where you slowly cease using the drug until it is completely washed from your system. You will also learn how the drug hurts you and interferes with your life. Rehab also provides support and therapy that builds you mentally to function without needing the drug.

Throughout this period, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms, but the medical team and counsellors will provide medication and care to help you pull through it successfully.

How to Safely Detox from Tramadol

Weaning or tapering is the gradual cessation of drug usage over a period of time. During detox, a physician will ensure you are carefully weaned off tramadol. The resulting effects are treated with medication to help you bear the discomfort.

Make sure you are in a facility with access to medical attention 24 hours a day during the course of treatment. Prior to actual detox, the doctor will ask questions about your drug usage history, the frequency and quantity consumed and other relevant information. This should allow them to gauge the severity of withdrawal and prepare adequately.

It’s important that the environment is safe and secure to prevent self-harm or relapse if need be.

Home Detox?

While it is risky, there are people who have successfully detoxed at home. If you must, it’s advisable to do so under the supervision of an addiction physician.

This is complicated, because full detox requires 24-hour medical attention and unless you can afford to have a doctor (or nurse) on call, problems could arise. In addition, people who detox at home tend to self-medicate and may use the wrong medicines. Conversely, using just any painkiller when you are detoxing from tramadol can jeopardise the whole treatment.

There is also the problem of psychological withdrawal symptoms. Unless you can contact an addiction psychologist at home, you could be at risk when going through certain mental disturbances unsupervised. Only a qualified doctor can prescribe the right antidepressants.

Therefore, while it is not uncommon, the cons of detoxing at home greatly outweigh the pros. Please see an expert before proceeding with this decision.

Medically Supervised Tramadol Withdrawal Detox

There are various ways to treat tramadol dependence, but medical supervision is the most recommended. This is performed in a hospital or rehab facility with a detox clinic and medical personnel available in case of complications.

While tramadol dependence is not as dangerous as opiates such as heroin or morphine, a patient can develop severe symptoms at any time. A hospital provides a controlled environment with suitable resources to handle a withdrawal crisis. There is also easy access to proper medication for pain, headaches and psychological disturbances. Unlike people who detox at home, there is limited (or no) access to tramadol. Therefore, the chances of relapsing are almost non-existent.

Medically supervised tramadol withdrawal detox is offered by many inpatient rehab centres in the UK.

Medications Used During Tramadol Detox

• Methadone. Methadone is used for moderate to extreme opiate addictions. As an opiate, methadone binds to the same receptors in the brain as tramadol, but it doesn’t produce the ‘euphoric’ effects. The medicine suppresses cravings and tempers withdrawal effects.
• Buprenorphine (Suboxone). Like methadone, buprenorphine binds the same opioid receptors in the brain and its potential for addiction is very low. People who use this drug can take it home with them, instead of reporting to the clinic every day.
• Naltrexone. Although naltrexone is a common anti-alcoholism medication, it also works for opiate addiction. It blocks the receptors in the brain that produce pleasurable sensations, thus subduing the urge to use tramadol. It has mild side effects (nausea and headaches) and is administered as an injection once a month.

Rapid Detoxification Programmes

Traditional detox programmes usually last for 7 to 14 days to completely remove all traces of the chemicals left from drug dependence. Here, under the supervision of a doctor, you will be treated for withdrawal symptoms and any other issues that may arise.

For people who would like to hasten the detox process, a rapid detox programme is a system carried out in a clinical setting. Instead of waiting for the body to eliminate the remnants of tramadol, you will be placed under an anaesthetic and a rapid elimination process is performed within four to six hours. After that, you’ll remain in the hospital for another 24 to 48 hours.

During this process, you’ll be placed under general anaesthetic and medications will be given intravenously to hasten withdrawal. There will be qualified doctors present to make sure there are no complications. When you wake up, another drug (Naltrexone) will be administered regularly for several months after detox.

There is a debate about the potency of rapid detox programme (RPD); while there are little or no withdrawal symptoms, RPD is very expensive and going under general anaesthesia could pose its own risks.

Guided Tramadol Therapy

Most doctors believe that drug addiction also stems from psychological influences. For this reason, an addiction counsellor helps patients identify the underlying cause behind their addictive behaviour.

Therapies may also be used to educate you on how to change your orientation towards tramadol consumption, as well as beat any cravings you encounter.

Popular therapeutic solutions include:

Before choosing a rehab centre for recovery, ensure you understand and agree with the type of treatment programme they offer.

Live a Sober Life Again

Addiction prevents you from doing the things you love and living a life of happiness and fulfilment. If you are dependent on tramadol or any drug, it can make you feel trapped and less motivated to continue. Fortunately, it is not late to change course and take control of your life. With the right guidance, treatment and support, you can live a sober life again.

Preventing Relapse

Some rehabilitation centres provide a post-rehab aftercare programme that helps former abusers build their strength and resist the urge to relapse. It usually involves building a strong support system and maintaining contact with narcotics anonymous groups. You also get to discuss your challenges with others and learn different ways to abstain and maintain sobriety each day. During this time, you can continue to see a therapist if you wish.

Find a Treatment Centre

The quality and type of treatment centre you choose is critical to the success of your recovery. When making a choice, ensure you look for things that matter in a clinic or rehab centre.

It is important to verify that a hospital is accredited for rehabilitation treatment. Another key factor is the type of treatment programme employed. Do you prefer traditional or alternative therapy? Sometimes, your preferences can affect the way you respond to certain procedures.

FAQs

Can Medications Help?

Yes. Medically supervised tramadol withdrawal detox aims to help abusers go through withdrawal with alleviated physical and mental discomfort. The doctors administer treatment that targets certain parts of the brain and body to reduce pain. Some medications like methadone and naltrexone mimic the actions of tramadol by blocking the opiate receptors in the brain. Methadone is not addictive, so it is safe for treatment purposes.