May 14, 2021Tyler Collins
Have you ever been in so much pain that you were willing to take anything just to make it go away? If you have been through severe pain before, you probably asked (or begged) your doctor to give you medication to ease the symptoms you were going through. And during this time, the last thing on your mind is how addictive these drugs can be. One popular drug that is being used as a pain reliever is tramadol.
A prescription medication used to treat moderate to severe pain, tramadol is an opioid analgesic that was generally considered as a safer alternative compared to benzodiazepines or other opioids like oxycodone. The drug is believed to have a lower risk for abuse that is why it is prescribed for pain.
The problem, however, is that once you start taking painkillers like tramadol, you could end up taking more and more medication just to function. It could then develop into a habit even if you don’t really need to take the drug anymore. Instead of using non-drug therapies to recover, some patients continue to use prescription meds to cope with any lingering pain.
You may begin to worry whether this is developing into a tramadol addiction. So, is tramadol addictive? Is it possible to get addicted to tramadol even if there is a low risk for abuse? These are some questions that many people struggle with when it comes to painkillers like tramadol.
If you’re wondering whether the drug tramadol is addictive, the answer is yes. Yes, tramadol is addictive. In recent years, it has been found that there is actually a high risk for dependence and abuse especially if tramadol is taken with other substances.
The Unintentional Route to Tramadol Addiction
There are mainly two ways to get addicted to the drug tramadol. The first is addiction due to recreational abuse of the drug. Many people who are addicted to opioids use tramadol as an alternative especially because drugs like oxycodone or codeine have become more difficult to acquire. Not only is tramadol easier to source, it can even be cheaper than other opioids.
Tramadol is supposed to provide a calm and euphoric sensation, so people who are struggling with opioid abuse see it as an alternative drug. Because the potency is not that high as other opioids, users often take high dosages or mix the drug with other substances. This practice heightens their tolerance for the drug and can rapidly lead to dependence on the drug.
The second way a person could be addicted to tramadol is if they have a legitimate prescription and they continue taking the drug even after the prescribed period by the doctor. This often happens to people who falsely think that tramadol is a safe painkiller that is not addictive. A lot of people are not even aware that tramadol is also an opioid and could be habit-forming.
When you continue to take any drug after your prescribed dose, including tramadol, this could lead to drug dependence. It is very important to be cautious regarding self-medicating or taking drugs without the proper advice of your doctor because this could lead to dangerous consequences.
The alarming thing is that you might not even realize that you are already addicted to the drug. The misconception that tramadol is not addictive might give you a false sense of security and lead you to think that taking tramadol for an extended period is safe. When you eventually realize that you’re addicted, getting rid of your drug habit can prove to be very difficult.
Treating Tramadol Addiction
Tramadol addiction is a serious problem that can lead to dangerous and even fatal consequences. It’s important for people who need help in this area to seek out the support they deserve.
If you’re addicted to tramadol, it’s time to get help. You can find the resources and support you need on our website or you can call our hotline to speak with us. It doesn’t matter if your addiction is new or long-term, we’ll work with you to develop an individualized plan that will help you break free from this destructive cycle.
We know how difficult it can be to admit there’s a problem in the first place, but please don’t wait any longer. The sooner we start working together on getting better, the more likely we are to succeed in our journey towards recovery. Don’t let substance abuse take over your life anymore.
Contact Lighthouse Treatment Center today.
