Tramadol and Alcohol
What is Tramadol?
Tramadol is a synthetic medication in the opioid family of medications. It is sold under the brand names Ultram and Ultracet. It works similar to morphine by blocking pain receptor sites in the brain. It is available only by prescription, and is prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain. It is prescribed for pain after surgery, injury or chronic pain. It is often prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia patients.
Tramadol Advantages
Tramadol is different than other opiate pain medications because it also affects the serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain. This can boost mood levels and increase the pain threshold. Another major benefit of tramadol is that it does not trigger the release of histamine. Those that suffer from allergies know what it is like to live with uncontrolled histamine release and how it can affect your life. For this reason alone, many patients chose tramadol over other opioid pain medications.
Tramadol Disadvantages
Tramadol is a narcotic, so it does have negative side effects. Taking tramadol puts you at risk of developing a tolerance or an addiction the same as other morphine based medications. Those with a history of alcohol or drug addiction should not take tramadol if there are other pain relievers available. Patients with a history of drug or alcohol abuse need to be monitored closely to reduce the risk of overdose or developing a tolerance to the medication. Since tramadol has such a high risk of dependency, it is not prescribed for mild pain, even for those who have no history of drug or alcohol abuse.
Tramadol should never be mixed with alcohol. Combining the two can cause an unsafe drop in respiratory rate and depress the central nervous system. These can cause low blood pressure, shallow breathing, decreased heart rate, nausea, dizziness, seizure, coma and even death. A person’s breathing can be so labored they could need life-support to prevent death. Mixing alcohol and tramadol can also affect a person’s cognitive abilities. This can cause the patient to make poor choices regarding dosage, and can jeopardize their lives.
Additional Precautions
If you are taking any antidepressants or other psychiatric medications, tell your doctor what you are taking. These can lead to serious problems, so your doctor may prescribe a different medication to treat your pain. Those suffering from depression, a mood disorder or high-risk for suicide should not take tramadol. Tramadol can aggravate depression or mood disorders and lead to serious consequences, including suicide.