Ultram Addiction, Abuse, and Symptoms

How Ultram affects the brain

Like other opioids, Ultram changes the way the brain and nerves interpret pain signals. Not only does Ultram relieve pain, but it also slows down the user’s respiratory rate and creates a sense of calmness. When Ultram attaches to opioid receptors, it also increases the amount of dopamine in the brain, activating a circuit involved in reinforcing behavior. The brain views the pleasurable feelings created by Ultram as a “reward,” prompting the user to seek out opportunities to enjoy this reward again and again. Over time, the individual develops a tolerance for Ultram, which means they have to take higher doses to experience the same pleasurable sensations.

Behavioral signs of Ultram usage and abuse

Ultram usage and abuse may not have any obvious signs at first. Once an individual develops an addiction or dependence on Ultram, however, several behavioral signs may appear. Mood swings, a loss of interest in pleasurable activities, problems maintaining relationships with friends and family members, and spending more time alone than usual are all signs that someone may be abusing Ultram. For working adults, Ultram abuse may make it more difficult to manage work-related obligations and family responsibilities. The individual may miss more days of work than usual, show up late for work on many occasions, or start behaving unprofessionally in front of colleagues and clients.

Behavioral signs of Ultram abuse are almost the same in adolescents as they are in adults. Any sudden change in behavior is cause for concern, especially if an adolescent suddenly wants to spend more time alone, breaks curfew, or starts behaving in a secretive manner. An adolescent’s grades may suffer due to missed homework assignments, poor grades on tests and quizzes, skipping school, or a lack of class participation. Adolescents who abuse Ultram may also end long-term friendships and start hanging out with new friends.

How Ultram affects the body

Once Ultram enters the bloodstream, it is metabolized into O-desmethyltramadol, a substance that affects an individual’s rate of breathing. Some people metabolize Ultram much faster than others, leading to a more significant effect on respiratory rates. The respiratory effects of Ultram can be dangerous for anyone who already has reduced lung function. For example, Tantry et al. published a case report on a patient who suffered severe respiratory depression when he was given tramadol to relieve pain following a surgical procedure. The man had to be intubated for about 10 hours before he could breathe on his own again.

Early physical effects of Ultram

Ultram starts working quickly, within 30 to 60 minutes of administration, producing a wide range of effects. Some of these effects are considered undesirable, while others put the user at risk for overdose.

Severe and long-term physical effects of Ultram

Ultram can cause dangerous side effects if mixed with alcohol or other medications. The American College of Cardiology warns that Ultram should never be mixed with alcohol, sedatives, narcotics, tranquilizers, antidepressants, medications used to treat anxiety, or medicines used to treat any mental health disorder.

Some users experience seizures while using Ultram, especially when taking higher doses than prescribed. Seizures are more likely to occur in people who have metabolic disorders, a history of head trauma, or a history of seizures. The chance of seizures also increases when Ultram is combined with muscle relaxants, narcotics, antidepressants, or medications used to relieve nausea and vomiting.

In some users, the chronic use of Ultram can lead to loss of consciousness. This loss of consciousness may be preceded by a seizure, resulting in the hospitalization of the user until he or she can be stabilized. Loss of consciousness increases the risk of injury in people who use or abuse Ultram. For example, someone who loses consciousness may break a bone or sustain a head injury.

Ultram is no longer considered a "safe" opioid, making public health officials concerned about increasing rates of use

According to the 2018 World Drug Report issued by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, healthcare providers and law-enforcement professionals must “raise the alarm” about the dangers of tramadol addiction. Tramadol use is increasing all over the world, but the problem is especially pronounced in Africa. Tramadol addiction is now a crisis that affects many of Africa’s most vulnerable citizens, making it critically important for officials to find ways to divert this substance from non-medical users, while also ensuring that people with a legitimate need for pain relief have access to tramadol and other opioids.

Tramadol use is also increasing in the Middle East, partially due to increased rates of tramadol use in Africa. Drug traffickers smuggle tramadol to markets in various parts of Africa; from those markets, some of the supply is trafficked to Iran, Israel, and other countries in the Middle East. Much of this trafficked tramadol comes from Asian laboratories, although some of it is diverted from legitimate sources.

Law-enforcement officials frequently seize tramadol from drug traffickers, but the large supply of tramadol available has made it difficult to stop illicit tramadol sales. As a result, 68 tons of tramadol were seized in 2016. The amount of tramadol seized in African countries accounts for 87% of the total seized worldwide.

Ultram misuse is also a growing problem in the United States

According to the 2016 World Drug Report, approximately 1.6 million individuals aged 12 and older admitted that they had misused tramadol within the past 12 months. This represents approximately 0.6% of the U.S. population.

Parents, educators, and public health officials are concerned about increased rates of prescription misuse among adolescents in the United States. The Monitoring the Future Study collected data by surveying students in the eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades. Students were asked if they had misused each drug or type of drug within the past year or at any point in their lives. In 2019, 14.6% of the students surveyed reported that they had misused some type of prescription drug at some point in their lives. When asked if they had misused narcotics other than heroin, 5.3% of the students stated that they had misused a prescription narcotic at least once. Tramadol is a narcotic-like substance, not a true narcotic, but the results of the study still demonstrate how important it is to talk with adolescents about prescription misuse.