When dealing with chronic pain or recovering from an injury, the question now patients are asking is whether addiction is worth pain relief. Prescription drug medications are so strong that addiction is inevitable. The key is determining what your pain threshold is as well as the age of a patient. Age seems to be an important factor in the sense that a higher level of abuse exists, the younger they are. One such worry is the prescription medication called Tramadol (Tramal).
Is Tramadol A Narcotic?
Tramadol is a legal narcotic and a synthetic opioid analgesic or painkiller for short. Tramadol was designed in a laboratory based on the opium chemical structure. Tramadol is used to treat most pain including Rheumatoid arthritis, restless leg syndrome and fibromyaglia (muscle and connective tissue pain). Tramadol works by releasing serotonin and inhibiting the absorption of norepinephrine. The closest drug that resembles it chemically is considered codeine.
Tramadol addiction in younger users is of great concern. Because it is derived from opium, Tramadol has similar effects to heroin when abused. You can’t use Tramadol for extended periods of time and expect not to suffer Tramadol withdrawal symptoms. The doctor has to slowly reduce the dosage from say Tramadol hcl 50mg tablets to 10 mg tablets. If the scale down is not performed correctly, a patient can suffer from depression, anxiety, severe mood swings, sweating and in severe cases, seizures. These are some of the typical withdrawal side effects from recreational drug use.
Tramadol Side Effects
The side effects of Tramadol include nausea, vomiting, sweating, itching, headaches and constipation. There have been reports of drowsiness when using Tramadol but it depends on the individual so avoid operating heavy equipment. The main concern is addiction. Another side effect is the effectiveness of pain relief for dogs and cats. It is used to treat post operative, injury related and chronic pain mainly in dogs and cats. Tramadol is considered one of the most reliable medicines for pet pain.
Unfortunately your pets also feel the side effects since they share a similar biology to us humans. The most common side effects in cats and dogs are upset stomach, constipation and decreased heart rate. Tramadol has an ill taste for your pets but most owners hide the drug in food. There have been rare cases where dogs have been found to be addicted to Tramadol and also suffered withdrawal symptoms similar to humans.
Have a loved one suffered from addiction to this opioid?
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