Author: John Carter

How To Wean Off Tramadol: What To Expect Tapering Off Tramadol

Detoxing from tramadol should always be done under the supervision of a healthcare professional. This is because withdrawal can be uncomfortable and, in some cases, dangerous. A healthcare professional can provide a safe and effective plan for gradually reducing the dose of tramadol, which can help to minimize withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, if medically appropriate, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with detox medications may be prescribed. Someday you may face a sudden, short-term health problem such as surgery or an injury. If an opioid is prescribed, let your healthcare team know if you had any trouble tapering off opioids in the past.

Individual Factors

This, in turn, causes the user to continually take more of the drug to achieve the desired effect. If you or a loved one struggles with tramadol, The Recovery Village will work with you to ease you off the drug. This may involve slowly decreasing your tramadol dose over time or changing you to a different drug if medically appropriate. Withdrawal from tramadol and other opioids can be very uncomfortable. Withdrawal symptoms may be relieved by restarting opioid therapy and then gradually reducing the dose, or tapering.

Make sure any person caring for you knows where you keep naloxone and how to use it. Tramadol should not be given to a child younger than 12 years old. Ultram ER should not be given to anyone younger than 18 years old. Do not give tramadol to anyone younger than 18 years old who recently had surgery to remove the tonsils or adenoids.

Tramadol withdrawal can be scary, but success is possible with support. At The Recovery Village Atlanta, we believe the best way to help you recover from tramadol is to support you every step of the way. We offer a holistic continuum of care, from detox to help wean you off tramadol to rehab to help keep you off the drug for good. Your care team can help you assess your withdrawal risks, as well as help you find a detox program that can keep you safe, comfortable, and meet your recovery needs.

Is Tramadol an opioid?

1. Gradually weaning off a drug gives your brain time to readjust to the chemical changes occurring and is less traumatic than simply going cold turkey.
2. This is particularly true in cases where anxiety, agitation, or restlessness is present.
3. Tramadol detox can take place in various settings, from inpatient hospitalization to regular outpatient appointments.

You may have withdrawal symptoms when you stop or lessen the use of opioid medicine. Symptoms may vary depending on several issues, such as the speed of the opioid taper and how long you’ve used opioid medicines. Tapering over time can help lessen withdrawal symptoms or keep you from having them. Because this is not an all-inclusive list, it is imperative that if one experiences any of these symptoms or any other abnormal side effects, they contact their doctor immediately. Furthermore, one must seek help through a medical professional before detoxing off tramadol so that these and any other withdrawal symptoms can be mitigated or avoided. A tramadol tapering schedule gives the person a hands-off role in the planning process so they can concentrate on the recovery itself.

It is impossible to predict precisely when your symptoms will start, how long they will last, or how severe they will be. Since tramadol is used for pain, you are unlikely to miss a dose. Skip any missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose.

Tramadol Withdrawal & Detox Centers

Tramadol can cause tolerance and dependence whether you are misusing it or taking it therapeutically. When you become physically dependent on a drug, you experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it. Tramadol can slow or stop your breathing and may be habit-forming. MISUSE OF THIS MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Do not take more tramadol than prescribed as an overdosage can be fatal. Tramadol treats pain severe enough to require opioids and may be used as an alternative to other forms of pain relief that did not relieve pain well enough or were not tolerated.

Tramadol Detox Medications

Although tramadol is a synthetic opioid, it is considered to be “weaker” than other opioids, like morphine. Symptoms of tramadol withdrawal often resemble the flu and are usually similar to symptoms of withdrawal from other opioid drugs and some antidepressants. The onset, duration and intensity of symptoms may vary significantly from person to person depending on physical differences and the severity of their dependence. These symptoms are similar to the withdrawal symptoms caused by cessation of certain types of anti-depressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. The effects likely stem from the way tramadol affects levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain. These are the same withdrawal symptoms people experience when withdrawing from more potent opioids, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine and heroin.

If you have withdrawal symptoms, tell your healthcare team right away. Follow all instructions about how to manage your withdrawal symptoms. How long it takes to taper off your medicine depends on the type and dose of the opioid you’ve been taking and how long you’ve been taking it.

Warnings About Tramadol Withdrawal

Methadone is a first-line medication prescribed to prevent and treat opioid withdrawal. However, since methadone is about 30 times stronger than tramadol, methadone would generally not be used to taper down the much weaker tramadol. In a substitute taper, the opioid is replaced by a different opioid.

Symptoms of tramadol withdrawal can start 8-24 hours after the last dose. Tramadol is a type of medication known as an opioid, which is used to treat moderate to severe pain. In short, it changes the way your brain and nervous system respond to pain. However, even when used as prescribed, there’s a risk of developing a dependence on tramadol. This isn’t a sign of personal weakness or a character flaw, but rather a potential side effect of long-term use of this type of medication.

Research shows that a combination of medication and counseling is the best approach to opioid addiction. Some people work one-on-one with a drug counselor or psychiatrist who can prescribe medication. All of these methods have been shown to encourage long-term sobriety. However, rising tramadol prescribing rates may be contributing to increased dependence and misuse.