Tramadol: The Drug Claiming More Lives Than Any Painkiller Should

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The word addiction refers to any behaviour that is deemed “out of control.” In some cases, addiction can be minor, such as being addicted to television, shopping or talking on the phone. But in a lot of cases, addiction is related to drugs. The most common drugs that addiction is related to are marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy.

While society focuses on those major drugs, which are absolutely necessary, there is another crisis that is rising and seems to be completely ignored – painkiller addictions. To be more specific, there is one painkiller that has actually claimed more lives than heroin and cocaine.

According to Northern Ireland’s state pathologist Professor Jack Crane, the painkiller Tramadol has killed more people than heroin and cocaine. This may be shocking to many people, but read on and find out more about this drug and you’ll see why it needs to receive more attention.

Tramadol is a prescribed pain-reliever. It is one of the most potent painkillers on the market and is generally used to treat around-the-clock pain. It is part of the opioid group and does most of its work in the central nervous system of the body.

Tramadol: The Drug Claiming More Lives Than Any Painkiller Should chatuphot/shutterstock.com

Need to Know Information: Tramadol can be very harmful if you have the following health issues: breathing problems, blockage in your intestines or stomach and if you consume alcohol on a daily basis. If you suffer from any of those three issues, your doctor may not prescribe Tramadol to you because it has the ability to slow or even stop your breathing.

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Side Effects of Tramadol: The following are some of the less common symptoms that you may experience after taking tramadol: nausea, bloating, blood in the urine, chills, increased blood pressure, abdominal or stomach pain, difficulty urinating, fainting, heart rate increased, and loss of memory. It needs to be noted that these symptoms can also be caused by other health issues, so if you only experience one of these symptoms, do not panic, but do consult your doctor to get further information.

Side Effects of Tramadol WIN12_ET/shutterstock.com

The following are symptoms you will experience if you decide to overdose on Tramadol: difficulty breathing, change in consciousness, reduced muscle tone, severe fatigue, shortness of breath, unusual tiredness, and irregular heartbeat. As you can see, a lot of those symptoms can be life-threatening and even lead to other health issues. Again it needs to be noted that experiencing some of these symptoms does not mean you are overdosing, but it does mean you should go see your doctor for a further evaluation.

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Other Issues: If you are a pregnant woman, it is not recommended that you take this painkiller. It has the ability to cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms for the newborn.

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Many people do not like swallowing pills, so they crush them up and inhale them or add them to a beverage or even dilute them and inject them. Make note of this, Tramadol needs to be taken orally (by mouth). If you crush it up, inject it or inhale it, it can cause life-threatening side effects, overdose or even death!

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How to Take Tramadol: If you have made it this far down the article, you are realizing the dangers of this painkiller and you want to know how to properly take it. It’s simple; follow the directions that are printed on the label. The directions are not there simply as a guideline, they are there for you to do exactly what they say. Tramadol has the ability to be habit-forming even at regular doses, so if you decide to start overdosing on it, the chances of you becoming addicted to it skyrocket.

How to Take Tramadol SteveHeap/shutterstock.com

For chronic pain, doctors recommend adults start with 100mg once a day. Do not increase the dosing on your own, consult your doctor and they will tell you if you can increase it. For moderate or severe pain, doctors will recommend you take 50 to 100mg every six hours. Again, do not increase the dosage without consulting your doctor first.

How to Take Tramadol Bluskystudio/shutterstock.com

If you miss your dose, then take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time to take your next dose, just skip it and continue going back to your regular dosing times. Do not take a skipped dose and a regular dose at the same time.

How to Take Tramadol JulijaSapic/shutterstock.com

Another helpful note is you should stop taking all other painkiller medications once you begin taking Tramadol. The last thing you want is a negative reaction to other medications you are taking which can cause life-threatening health issues.

How to Take Tramadol Iuskiv/shutterstock.com

Precautions: When you are prescribed Tramadol, you need to make sure that you tell your doctor about every type of medication you are currently taking. As I have mentioned earlier, it can cause seizures and can also cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome – which can cause a high fever, rapid heart rate, and high blood pressure.

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This painkiller has also been reported to increase suicidal thoughts. It is imperative that the second you start to feel really depressed or have thoughts about harming yourself go see your doctor immediately. Also keep track of any unusual changes in behaviour that you have never experienced before, especially if they begin to worsen. These may include anxiousness, nervousness or becoming angry and violent.

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