Opiate addiction is a serious issue in the U.S. and all around the globe. Countless people are abusing their prescribed medication for both non-medical and medical reasons and seeking addiction treatment. In fact, over 1.7 million American adults are suffering from some kind of disorder due to opioid abuse.
But there is one problem that rises above the rest. Researchers worry that treating opioid withdrawal with other drugs can cause an even bigger problem. Medications like naloxone, methadone, and buprenorphine can be equally abused.
Although they treat opioid withdrawal issues, it is possible for patients to become addicted to them. That’s why scientists are focusing on a new possible treatment that can help patients cope with their opioid addiction: tramadol.
A couple of years ago, the JAMA Network Journals published a tramadol study and its impact on opioid withdrawal. This is a detailed overview of their randomized clinical trial. The goal is to examine the properties of this medication and the benefits it can offer.
What Did the Study Find About Tramadol?
Tramadol seems like a promising alternative. It can be an effective treatment therapy for individuals struggling with opioid addiction.
Based on the reports, extended tramadol release helped suppress withdrawal more effectively than buprenorphine or clonidine. The drug can be used instead of other medications for managing opioid withdrawal.
But, to really understand the impact of this medication, it’s important that you dig deeper and analyze even the simplest of details. Here is all you need to know.
What Are the Results Promising Compared to Other Meds Usually Prescribed?
If you are familiar with opioid withdrawals, then you probably know doctors often prescribe medications to curb the symptoms.
Buprenorphine and clonidine are the two most popular medications for managing opioid withdrawal. However, they can easily be abused, which is why researchers need a similarly potent but less addictive alternative.
That’s why they decided to compare tramadol with buprenorphine and clonidine. Here is what the research had to say.
Buprenorphine is often the go-to option for withdrawal control. It can curb symptoms and help patients overcome their opioid disorder. But, a huge number of patients are abusing these medications.
Out of the 78 participants evaluated in a Massachusetts study, 8% stated they abused the drug to get high. The majority, about 90-97%, used the substance to prevent withdrawal and cravings, while 40-50% relied on it to treat depression, pain, and anxiety.
That’s why many doctors are adamant about prescribing these medications. Some physicians even choose clonidine over buprenorphine solely for that reason.
Clonidine can stabilize blood pressure and hyperactivity levels. Although it’s an off-label medication for managing opioid withdrawals, it’s much easier to administer since it doesn’t require any unique permissions.
But the fact is, doctors need a more reliable alternative. Specifically, they need something that can have the potential to reduce opioid withdrawal, and that’s not as taxing on the human system. That’s why researchers have started analyzing the analgesic tramadol hydrochloride.
Based on the reports, tramadol has opiate-like effects, but its potential for abuse is relatively low. This makes tramadol an excellent candidate for testing. The study focused on analyzing the impact of tramadol versus any other drugs for opioid withdrawal.
The clinical trial had a 7-day opioid taper as a part of 26 to 28 days of constant medical supervision in an inpatient detox facility, like the one at Stonegate Center located just west of Fort Worth, Texas. Exactly 103 volunteers enrolled in the trial, all of which had an opioid-induced disorder.
Not all volunteers completed the taper period, but those who did noticed significant changes. The volunteers who finished it were 90% on buprenorphine, 72% on tramadol, and 66% on clonidine.
First, their health state was stabilized with the use of morphine for 7 to 10 days. Then, the volunteers received either tramadol, clonidine, or buprenorphine. After the medication, patients spent another week with placebo treatments.
The results were evident. Tramadol was more effective than buprenorphine and clonidine in managing opioid withdrawal issues.
Do keep in mind that it is normal for people who are physically dependent on opioids to start experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms when they quit. It’s a debilitating struggle that can take a toll on both emotional and physical health.
People who can’t deal with the problem on their own often try a medical detox. This is a typical treatment option for managing this disorder. They need help to overcome the withdrawal and reintegrate into society.
To boost your odds for success, it’s important to enroll in a supervised medical facility, like long-term opioid addiction treatment center in North Texas, such as Stonegate Center Hilltop, a gender-separate rehab center for women.
If you plan on seeking the latest treatment, a 24/7 inpatient medical detox for opioid abuse is exactly what you need. With this program, you get access to a safe and structured environment specifically tailored to your needs.
In a supervised facility, you will be able to take control of your self-destructive habit and get your life back on track.
What Other Medicines Are Usually Prescribed During Opioid Detox and Why Did Researchers Look at Tramadol as an Option?
According to clinical studies, Tramadol is an old medication and a safe analgesic. But, its potential properties are still controversial. There are so many opportunities that haven’t been explored yet.
Since opioid addiction continues to be a serious problem, researchers need all the information they can get to create a more reliable withdrawal treatment. That’s why it was important to study the productivity of tramadol.
More research is necessary to evaluate its impact on relapse and other medications. The truth is, scientists have a lot to think about, especially how tramadol can benefit opioid addiction treatment.
What’s important is that people understand all those other possible medications they can expect during the entire detox process. You have:
- Lofexidine
- Clonidine
- Buprenorphine
- Supplements
Lofexidine is the first approved medication for opioid detox, stated the National Institute on Drug Abuse. This oral tablet is designed to curb the withdrawal symptoms and help patients cope with the discomfort and pain. But it is not the only one.
For managing mild withdrawals, doctors often suggest clonidine, methadone, or buprenorphine. Clonidine is a popular medication that can provide relief for dizziness, cramps, insomnia, sweating, and tremors.
Buprenorphine is often used for moderate cases of opioid withdrawal and can help with the cravings. Methadone is another practical alternative for detoxifying the body, particularly for patients who have strong cravings and discomfort.
To boost the immune system, these medications are often paired with vitamin C and B supplements. In fact, supplements are the key to managing opiate withdrawal. They help replenish any nutrient deficiencies, speed up the natural rejuvenation process, and calm the physical and mental discomfort.
Together, medications and supplements work perfectly to get the body back on track.
How Does Tramadol Mitigate Withdrawal Symptoms in Opioid Users?
Tramadol is mainly used for treating the wound, joint, and muscle pain. But, when it comes to managing opioid withdrawals, it’s a little bit more complex than that.
The duration and severity of opioid withdrawals are different for everyone. It depends on how long you’ve abused the drug, its half-life, and your current health state. Tramadol acts as an analgesic.
The way the drug works is relatively simple. It can minimize the discomfort and help patients successfully complete their treatment, published the National Institutes of Health. By interfering with the opioid receptors, hormones (serotonin), and norepinephrine inhibitors, tramadol changes the pain pathways in the human system.
The medication is metabolized in 2 phases, with phase I being the slower one. Tramadol is metabolized in the liver and excreted through the urine. It creates an opioid-like effect with a lower risk for abuse, unlike some of the more popular medications.
Patients who received 200mg to 400mg of tramadol showed a moderate improvement in stabilizing their opioid withdrawal.
If you want more information on the way drugs to work during detox, contact an opioid abuse rehab center in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, like Stonegate Center. Our experienced and masters-level personnel can provide you with all the help you need.
What Are the Benefits of Tramadol for Opioid Withdrawal?
Tramadol has a lot to offer for managing opioid addiction. It can have some amazing properties, which could definitely come in handy.
Its most impactful benefits are the ability to:
- Suppress the symptoms of opioid withdrawal
- Show low risk of abuse
- Effectively prevent sweating, pain, restlessness, gastrointestinal problems, goosebumps, and anxiety
- Be useful for patients with low opioid dependence
- Prevent relapse
- Be used as a potential substitute for methadone
- Be superior to buprenorphine
While scientists used different approaches to analyze the effect of tramadol on the human body, it seems that these results have a lot of potentials. It is an effective treatment option for managing opioid withdrawals.
If you or a loved one is suffering from opioid abuse, a long-term opioid addiction treatment center in North Texas can help. Seek on-time treatment to ensure constant sobriety and preventing a relapse. Remember, the sooner you start with treatment, the better. It’s a lot easier to defeat the disorder before it gets out of control.
What Are the Risks of Being Prescribed Tramadol?
Every medication comes with risks. Some have minor side effects, while others can cause a range of different health complications. Tramadol is no exception.
There are over 44 million Tramadol prescriptions in the U.S. For people to be able to make the most of this medicine, they need to know what to expect. That’s why it’s important to evaluate both the risks and benefits of taking tramadol as a withdrawal control medicine.
What most people don’t realize is that tramadol is unique. It can help with pain and withdrawal symptoms but it also can cause some side effects, interact with medications, and contribute to various health risks.
Here is a detailed overview of each possible risk and its impact on overall health:
Since tramadol acts on the opioid receptors, it will directly influence the central nervous system. The drug is capable of alleviating and suppressing any uncomfortable pain sensations and helps patients achieve a state of calmness.
However, regular interferences with the chemical messengers in the brain can cause a series of structural changes in the neurological pathways. It’s important that people understand these changes and manage them on time.
Consult with a doctor first and avoid taking any medications on your own. Or check out Stonegate Center Creekside, our opioid abuse rehab center for men in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, if you’re looking for lifelong sobriety. We can help you no matter how complex the issue might be!
What Does New Research Say About Tramadol Being Used in Opioid Detox Centers?
Tramadol does have a major value as an opiate agonist, especially for managing opioid abuse. The use of such medication may open up the possibility for another future treatment that doctors could feel more comfortable prescribing.
It’s not as addictive as other medicines but can still deliver some excellent results. With an option such as this, experts may become more willing to prescribe medications for treating opioid withdrawal symptoms.
If you are looking for a drug rehab center, check out our 90-day opioid addiction treatment facility for women in Texas, called Stonegate Center Hilltop. You will learn how to get rid of your addiction and live a healthy and normal life.
Is It Being Prescribed or Used in Any Other Supplementary Fashion?
Since the study was published, countless physicians from around the country have asked for advice on how they can implement tramadol in their treatments. Besides, anything that could prove more useful than before can be worth the try.
It’s important to point out that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) only recently moved the medicine to a schedule IV controlled substance from an unscheduled medicine. That means that doctors could see tramadol as a viable alternative.
Final Thoughts
Opiate withdrawal can be a debilitating problem. Doctors can manage it by suggesting proper medications that curb the symptoms. Tramadol is one such medication that only recently managed to hit the headlines.
There is plenty of evidence that supports the use of tramadol for managing opioid withdrawal. This medication is a valuable component for treating mild to moderate withdrawals, which could be used in an outpatient setting.
But more research is still necessary to study the full extent of tramadol for this particular health issue. The more data, the easier it is to implement this drug for long-term care.
References
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170712110443.htm
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0740547218304720
