As a result, you may experience agitation, loss of muscle control, rapid heart rate, rigid muscles, sweating, and coordination difficulties. Serotonin syndrome occurs due to excessive serotonergic activity that disrupts the normal function of the central nervous system. Risk of respiratory depression is heightened with use of alcohol, benzodiazepines, or hypnotics.Īlthough not well-researched, there are anecdotal reports of tramadol-induced hallucinations, particularly in elderly users. In turn, this can lead to fainting, dizziness, and confusion. While the risk of respiratory depression as not as severe as that associated with other opioids, tramadol can cause slow and shallow breathing. While typically associated with and studied in men, androgen deficiency can affect women as well and produce many of the same symptoms. This can lead to a host of potential symptoms including loss of libido and sexual enjoyment, fertility problems, decreased muscle and bone mass, and mood disturbances like depression. Research suggests that long-term use of opioids, including tramadol, can lower these sex hormone levels and and cause androgen insufficiency. As a result, a multitude of vital functions are compromised and you may experience symptoms such as muscle weakness, fatigue, and low appetite.Īndrogens are sex hormones, particularly testosterone, associated with secondary sex characteristics in men as well as bone and muscle development, metabolism, and sexual and reproductive health. Chronic tramadol use is associated with adrenal insufficiency, which means that your body’s ability to produce these substances is diminished. These hormones play a variety of critical roles, such as controlling blood pressure and heart rate, allowing your body to sufficiently metabolize nutrients, and maintaining immune system function. The adrenal glands are endocrine glands responsible for producing a number of hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, and aldosterone. High doses may increase risk of seizure for some, but a number of studies “demonstrate that seizures may also occur in therapeutic ranges-especially in association with consumption of other drugs such as alcohol, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, and antipsychotics.” Overall seizure risk is estimated to be between 8 and 35%, but research suggests that risk increases over time, which means that long-term users are particularly vulnerable. While the risk is particularly significant for those with epilepsy, they can occur even in those with no prior history of seizures. Tramadol is known to cause seizures in some users. Long-term tramadol use, however, can cause much more severe damage: While these may not appear to be significant at first, they can interfere with your quality of life and functionality. As your dose increases, so too does your risk for adverse events associated with short-term use, including nausea, dizziness, vertigo, fatigue, and constipation. However, like other opioids, it presents a host of dangers, particularly as tolerance builds and you graduate to higher doses over time. Tramadol, also known as Ultram, has managed to keep a relatively low profile in the world of addiction in part because it is an atypical opioid and not technically considered a narcotic. ![]() So what are the long-term effects of tramadol addiction, and how can you prevent them? Exploring the answers to these questions can give you greater insight into the dangers of your drug use and how to keep yourself safe, regardless of whether your addiction began therapeutically or recreationally. What you may not be aware of, however, are the risks that accompany that addiction. Of course, if you are struggling with tramadol addiction, you are no stranger to its addictive nature. ![]() In fact, tramadol was not even classified as a schedule IV controlled substance until 2014, despite nearly two decades of data indicating significant abuse potential. Tramadol has historically been considered perhaps the safest opioid in existence, particularly in comparison to high-profile opioids like Ox圜ontin and Fentanyl whose risks of addiction are widely recognized even by those with only a cursory knowledge of drug abuse. When we talk about addiction to opioids, tramadol isn’t typically the first thing to come to mind.
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