The seemingly innocuous painkiller Tramadol is becoming a popular drug around the world. Tramadol is available in long-acting or extended-release tablets and capsules. If not taken as prescribed by a doctor, this substance can cause severe side effects, including respiratory distress and even death. Keep reading to learn more about how this medication works and how long Tramadol stays in your system.
If you or a loved one are struggling with opioid abuse and looking for a Tramadol addiction treatment program in Florida, Lighthouse Recovery Institute can help. Contact us at 866.308.2090 today for more information.
What Is Tramadol?
Tramadol is a synthetic opioid pain reliever available in pill or capsule form to treat moderate to severe pain. It’s sold under the brand names Ultram and Conzip. Tramadol is often a treatment for pain after surgery. It may also be prescribed for chronic pain caused by conditions such as cancer or neuropathy. However, like other opioids, Tramadol can be habit-forming and lead to dependence and addiction.
Tramadol is available in different forms and strengths, including tablets, capsules, drops, and injections. The half-life of Tramadol is about eight hours, meaning that eight hours after taking the drug, the concentration of Tramadol in your system should be cut by half. Generally speaking, injections and drugs are fast-acting. They start working in 30-60 minutes and last for about six hours. Time-release or slow-acting tablets and capsules take longer to start working, but the effects last up to 24 hours.
How Long Does Tramadol Stay in Your System?
Overall, it takes two days for Tramadol to leave the system. Of course, just because the drug is out of your system, this doesn’t mean it can no longer appear in drug tests for Tramadol:
- Blood tests: for up to 48 hours after the last dose
- Urine tests: between 24 and 72 hours after the last dose
- Saliva tests: for up to 48 hours after the last dose
- Hair tests: between 30 to 90 days after the previous dose
What Makes Tramadol Last Longer?
Several factors affect how long Tramadol lasts in a person’s system. Things like duration of use, age, sex, organ function, and liver impairment can interfere. These include:
- The build-up of Tramadol over a period of time
- How often you take Tramadol (higher doses will take longer to leave the system)
- The route of administration (drops or injections leave the system faster than pills)
- Your metabolic rate
- Reduced kidney or liver function
- Being over the age of 75
Warning Signs and Symptoms of Habitual Tramadol Abuse
Knowing what to look for and recognizing warning signs of Tramadol addiction is vital to preventing accidental drug overdose and the ability to determine when someone needs help. Some symptoms of opioid addiction include:
- Intense cravings for the substance and an inability to control the use of them, even if the person wants to
- Sweating
- Shaking
- Chronic constipation and nausea
- New or worsening problems at home, work, or school
- A “high,” euphoric feeling or feelings of discontent
- Tiny pupils
- Slurred speech
- Shallow breathing
Opioid abuse can have several severe consequences, including the risk of death from an accidental overdose.
Symptoms of Tramadol Overdose
The combination of Tramadol with other substances places people at a higher risk of suffering seizures. Tramadol abuse can cause seizures, even in people with no previous history. Furthermore, around71% of people in emergency rooms from Tramadol-related complications say they used the drug with other sedatives and painkillers. Signs of Tramadol overdose might include:
- Sleepiness
- Unconsciousness
- Coma
- Seizures
- Respiratory depression
- Abnormally low blood pressure
- Slow heart rate
- Sweating or clammy skin
- Weak muscles
- Pinpoint pupils
If you suspect someone is experiencing an overdose, call 911 immediately and get them medical attention.
How to Get Tramadol Out of Your System
Since Tramadol can develop physical dependence, don’t stop taking Tramadol abruptly without supervision. This can trigger withdrawal symptoms, which doesn’t mean you have a Tramadol addiction. After a drug screening to detect Tramadol, a professional will recommend a medical detox program with medication-assisted treatment to help the body safely eliminate Tramadol from the system. Tramadol addiction treatment includes detoxification programs to help people tamper off the substance from their system. Then, most patients move to inpatient rehab or outpatient treatment programs to continue their recovery. Here, a combination of individual and group therapy can help people develop the skills they need to fight their addiction. Sometimes cognitive-behavioral therapy is used to combat addiction behavior and help people treat the underlying issues that might trigger their addiction.
What If I Developed an Addiction?
Because withdrawal from Tramadol can be so challenging, treatment often starts with detox. In most cases, specialists recommend medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help manage withdrawal symptoms. Once the initial detox process ends, most addicts attend inpatient or outpatient drug rehab programs. Speaking with an addiction treatment specialist as soon as possible is the best way to start seeking help for addiction. At Lighthouse Recovery Institute, our drug addiction recovery programs include:
- Medical detox—In this clinically supervised detox process at treatment centers, we ensure the patient’s safety and make the withdrawal phase as comfortable as possible by minimizing withdrawal symptoms and using medication-assisted treatment services to guarantee a complete detoxification process.
- Dual diagnosis treatment—Since many long-term addicts often struggle with mental health disorders, a dual diagnosis program can get them the help needed to treat both conditions simultaneously.
- Intensive outpatient treatment programs—When patients seek addiction treatment while maintaining daily obligations like work, school, or caregiving, IOPs are a more flexible option that still gives people access to the help they need.
- Long-term recovery programs—With long-term recovery assistance, patients can have the ongoing support they need to maintain long-lasting sobriety. Recovery programs are crucial to relapse prevention.
Break Tramadol Addiction at Lighthouse Recovery Institute
If you or someone you love is struggling with drug abuse, ask for help immediately. Please, call the Lighthouse Recovery Institute today and speak with our addiction specialists to learn more about our comprehensive and personalized addiction treatment programs. Don’t hesitate to call for advice, diagnosis, or treatment questions. So, call us at 866.308.2090 today and learn more about our rehab programs.
