Side Effects of Long-Term Tramadol Use

Long-term tramadol use can lead to numerous health risks, including addiction. All potent pain relievers come with some risk level, and tramadol is no different. This drug is used to treat moderate to severe pain and is intended for short-term use typically. Continuing its use long-term can create additional health risks. Knowing those potential risks and when detox is necessary can be valuable information for you or someone you know who’s been using the drug for an extended period.

While this type of opioid is considered safer than others, tramadol, used for an extended time, can lead to hallucinations, seizures, liver and kidney damage, and other health risks. Withdrawal symptoms can be dangerous, too. Long-term tramadol users should never attempt to quit using it at home. Instead, a medical detox can allow a long-term tramadol user to safely experience withdrawal symptoms while their physical and emotional needs can be met.

What Is Tramadol?

Tramadol is an opioid used as a pain reliever, typically for moderate pain. You may know it by the common brand names ConZip and Ultram. It’s taken by mouth in doses every 4-6 hours as needed. Prescription doses are determined by a medical condition, so they can vary. A physician may start you on a low dose and gradually increase it. Four hundred milligrams is considered the maximum amount a person can safely take daily.

What Are The Long-Term Effects of Tramadol Use?

Long-term tramadol use can lead to numerous negative consequences. As with any medication, adverse effects should be reported to your physician right away. The dose may need to be adjusted or a different medicine may need to be prescribed.

Tramadol is often considered a safer opioid when compared to others, such as OxyContin and Fentanyl. At the same time, even short-term use of tramadol can lead to side effects such as nausea, dizziness, vertigo, fatigue, and constipation. Long-term tramadol use can produce much more severe results. They include seizures, especially in people with epilepsy. Some long-term users may experience hallucinations, suffer liver and kidney damage, and become faint or dizzy due to slowed or shallow breathing.

Other long-term effects of tramadol use include a build-up of high levels of serotonin in the body. This serotonin build-up can result in agitation, coordination difficulties, loss of muscle control, rapid heart rate, rigid muscles, and sweating. Muscle weakness, fatigue, and low appetite are related to tramadol’s harm to adrenal glands. Sex hormone production can also be affected by long-term tramadol use, leaving a person with a loss of libido and fertility problems.

What Are The Dangers Of Tramadol Withdrawal

While ending long-term tramadol use is important, suddenly stopping the use of the drug will produce a variety of withdrawal symptoms. They range from feelings of discomfort to more potentially harmful conditions. These withdrawal symptoms can lead to relapse as well. Some most common withdrawal symptoms are anxiety, confusion, depression, fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, hallucinations, muscle pain and spasms, paranoia, seizures, and sleep disturbances. The potential harm from this type of withdrawal is why it’s recommended to only stop using under the supervision of a medical tramadol detox, the same is true for fentanyl detox. Medical professionals can help safely manage the discomfort from withdrawal symptoms, reduce their severity, and avoid complications.

Tramadol Detox At Restored Path

A comfortable medical detox is available for tramadol users in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. While the stay in detox varies depending on the type of drug and the needs of each person, a stay in detox is a relatively short and vital first step in achieving recovery. Many people who attempt to quit on their own return to using tramadol (or other opioids) within 24 hours. A visit to our drug and alcohol detox center in Dallas allows you or your loved one to receive support at a critical time and reduce the risk of relapse.

 

Restored Path Detox is DFW’s premier location for sophisticated medical detox. Conveniently located in Frisco, we provide a safe sanctuary for healing that is also a state-of-the-art detoxification facility for a wide range of substances. Our compassionate physicians and therapists want you to get well and are committed to removing any existing barriers to your care. Restored Path’s board-certified medical professionals and highly qualified RNs have extensive critical care experience and are available to monitor your detox program 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you or a loved one are struggling with drug or alcohol use, call us today and take your first step towards recovery: 469-827-0000.