Tramadol is a widely prescribed pain reliever that comes in tablet, capsule and liquid drop form that you can either swallow or inject directly into your body.
Tramadol can be a beneficial medication for many, but it also has the potential for addiction. Abusing or misusing tramadol is serious, so seek assistance immediately if you suspect an issue.
1. Relieves Pain
Tramadol is a painkiller that works by attaching to receptors in the brain, spinal cord and nerves. This blocks out pain signals so you experience less discomfort.
The medication also alters chemical messengers in your body, such as norepinephrine and serotonin. By blocking their reuptake, it prevents them from leaving your system and thus suppresses pain signals in the brain too.
The drug may come as tablets, capsules or liquid drops that you swallow. It may also be administered via injection.
2. Helps With Withdrawal
Tramadol, a painkiller prescribed to treat chronic pain, may help individuals addicted to opioids manage withdrawal symptoms. It works similarly to an SSRI antidepressant in that it temporarily increases dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain.
People who become dependent on opiates may experience intense and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking them. This could lead to relapse and make quitting difficult on one’s own.
Tramadol has recently been discovered to be an effective alternative to other medications used for withdrawal symptoms. A study compared it with buprenorphine and clonidine in terms of relieving opioid addicts’ withdrawal symptoms.
3. Helps With Anxiety
Tramadol works by increasing gamma-aminobutyric acid, a brain chemical that slows down your central nervous system. This may lead to feelings of calmness and relaxation.
Additionally, meditation helps lower your heart rate – an especially beneficial effect when feeling stressed out.
However, this drug is not meant to treat anxiety — it’s a painkiller and should be used as prescribed. Without guidance or supervision, taking it without medical supervision could lead to addiction and other severe side effects including intense withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, speaking to your doctor before starting any new medication is the best course of action. Oftentimes doctors will suggest multiple medications in combination with therapy in order to reduce anxiety levels and enhance quality of life.
4. Helps With Depression
Tramadol not only acts as an opioid painkiller, but it also inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin–neurotransmitters which may help alleviate symptoms associated with depression.
Drugs like this one have the potential for becoming addictive and dependence in those who take them long-term or at high doses. Furthermore, taking too much serotonin may cause a crash in serotonin levels within the body, leading to hallucinations or other serious side effects.
Tramadol is classified by the FDA as a Schedule IV substance, meaning it should only be used when other methods fail or cannot be used. Furthermore, anyone who may become addicted to tramadol should avoid its use.
5. Helps With Sleep
Tramadol works like endorphins, decreasing pain signals sent to the brain. Furthermore, it may help you sleep better at night.
Tramadol, though an opioid, is milder than more potent opioids such as oxycodone or morphine. It’s often perceived as less addictive and harmful than fentanyl.
However, tramadol should only be taken with medical supervision. Furthermore, using tramadol with other medicines that affect the central nervous system is not advised.
It can interfere with the brain’s production and use of serotonin, a chemical important in mood regulation and sleep regulation. Furthermore, it has the potential to reduce rapid eye movement (REM) sleep – the most restorative phase of slumber.