Can I become addicted to tramadol?
Yes, tramadol has been found to be linked with drug abuse, addiction, and overdose. Even if you take your dose correctly as prescribed you are at risk for opioid addiction, abuse, and misuse that can lead to death.
Tramadol is a strong prescription pain medicine. It contains an opioid (narcotic) that is used for the management of pain when other pain treatments such as non-opioid pain medicines do not treat your pain well enough or you cannot tolerate them.
To address these concerns, the DEA placed all forms of tramadol into Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), meaning it does have potential for abuse. This limits the number of prescription refills you can have over a certain period of time.
References
- Ultram [tramadol] prescribing information. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Revosed Oct. 2019. Accessed Nov. 12, 2020 at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/020281s045lbl.pdf
- Tramadol product monograph. Drugs.com. Updated March 1, 2020. Accessed Nov 11, 2020 at https://www.drugs.com/tramadol.html
Read next
Can you take tramadol with acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin?
Yes, it is safe for most people to take tramadol with acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin if they are old enough (aspirin is not recommended for children less than 16 years and tramadol should not be taken by children under the age of 12). Continue reading
How much tramadol should I give my dog?
How much tramadol you give your dog depends on the size of your dog. Smaller dogs do not need as much tramadol as larger dogs need to relieve pain. If you give too much tramadol your dog is likely to have more severe side effects. The tramadol dosage for dogs is usually between 0.45 to 1.8 mg per pound of body weight (1mg to 5 mg/kg). The frequency varies depending on what you are giving it for. For general pain, it is given every 8 to 12 hours, but for cancer-related pain, it can be administered every 6 hours. Continue reading
How long does tramadol withdrawal last?
Symptoms of tramadol withdrawal can start 8-24 hours after the last dose. Untreated, withdrawal symptoms usually last for 4-10 days. Withdrawal is caused by stopping the drug suddenly. Continue reading
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Drug information
- Tramadol Information for Consumers
- Tramadol prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Tramadol (detailed)
Related support groups
- Tramadol (489 questions, 2,686 members)