Can Tramadol Make The Pain Worse?

Can tramadol make the pain worse? Is it true? Isn’t it a safer pain medication? Find out the answers here.

Can Tramadol Make the Pain Worse?

Tramadol won’t make your pain worse. It’s a pain reliever drug as it contains narcotics or opioids. Unfortunately, opioids are drugs that have made headlines over the last few years because of their link to opioid addiction in the US.

Approved for treating pain in adults, tramadol can relieve moderate to severe pain.

The dose varies from one patient to another. But it’s recommended to use the lowest effective dose.

This drug prevents the uptake of two neurotransmitters — norepinephrine and serotonin. By preventing their absorption, the drug can further its pain-relief effects.

Is Tramadol a Controlled Substance?

In 1995, this drug was approved by the US FDA as a non-controlled analgesic. But in 2014, tramadol was placed into schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act. With the said law, all forms of tramadol are now controlled substances in all 50 US states.

Because it’s now a controlled substance, you can only refill it up to five times in 6 months. After five refills, you need a new prescription.

Can Tramadol Cause Side Effects?

For many individuals, this drug is well-tolerated to relieve pain. However, it may cause side effects to some people. There are more than 50,000 emergency department visits because of tramadol use.

The most common side effects of tramadol would include the following:

Dizziness

Headache
Dry mouth
Nausea and vomiting

Constipation
Itching Drowsiness
Serious side effects may also arise, such as the following:

Addiction
Slowed breathing
Ultra-rapid metabolism of tramadol

Seizures
Suicide
Severe hypotension

Abnormal heart rhythms
Opioid withdrawal

Does It Interact With Other Drugs?

It has drug interactions. It’s especially true if you’re an ultra-rapid metabolizer. This condition causes your body to create active M1 metabolites from the said drug faster than others.

Before you take tramadol, make sure to talk to your doctor about how this drug will interact with the other drugs you are using.

Will Tramadol Cause Addiction?

As mentioned, tramadol is an opioid drug. Just like any opioid, tramadol can lead to dependence, addiction, and abuse. Thus, if you have a drug-seeking behavior in the past, then you’re at higher risk of abusing this drug.

Consult with your doctor about your risk of tramadol addiction.

Because of the side effects of using tramadol, you may want to use natural painkillers. However, you need to talk to your doctor if you wish to stop using tramadol and resort to natural alternatives.

Natural Alternatives to Tramadol

Willow Bark. It eases inflammation, thereby, relieving aches and pains. It is known to have chemical slain, which is the main ingredient of aspirin. You can buy a dried willow bark and brew it like tea.

Turmeric. It’s a spice that you find in curry. It has curcumin, which is a powerful antioxidant that protects the body from free radicals, which can damage tissue and cells.
Cloves. They can spice up your dishes. But, surprisingly, they can be used as a medicine to relieve pain associated with toothaches, inflammation, and headaches.
Acupuncture. Researchers found in this study that acupuncture can relieve pain associated with migraines and osteoarthritis.

Is It Safe to use Essential Oils as Pain Relievers?

If tramadol doesn’t ease your pain, you may try to apply essential oils. They can help in treating inflammation, headaches, sleep disorders, depression, and respiratory issues.

You may try lavender essential oil. It has an effective analgesic component. This study found that lavender essential oil can reduce migraine pain.

If you can’t find lavender oil, you may try rose oil. It has been shown to relieve pain related to periods. But it has to be paired with conventional treatment.

Bergamot can also help reduce pain. It can treat neuropathic pain that’s resistant to opioid pain medications.

Before you try these natural painkillers, you need to inform your doctor. It’s especially true if you have been using tramadol.

When you try these essential oils, though, make sure to dilute them before applying them to your skin. Another way to use essential oil is to add it to a hot bath.

Remember that these natural alternatives to tramadol may be effective for certain causes of pain.

Pain is a sign that something is wrong with your body. Thus, the cause of the pain must be treated first.

Seek out a healthcare provider to determine the source of your pain.

Conclusion

Can tramadol make the pain worse? No, it can’t. It’s an analgesic that can relieve pain. However, if you have not been relieved from using this drug, then talk to your prescribing physician. You may also want to try those natural alternatives to treat your pain.

Do you need a quick fix for your pain? If you do, you might want to try these natural alternatives to paracetamol.