Tramadol dependence. Something to avoid

Doctors who are specialized in treating pain have different options when they must choose the right therapy for their patients. However, the decision is not easy. In general, patients who need these sorts of medical support suffer from chronic pain and it means they will cope with drugs that need special precautions when are prescribed.

Patients have pain for many reasons such as surgery, recent injuries or a range of several diseases. But if pain persists, patients should consult a pain medicine physician who will be able to manage their condition properly. These healthcare professionals can work together with family doctors in order to fulfill patients’ objective, get relief for their pain.

Drug dependence is related to a condition caused by the use of a substance when results in withdrawal symptoms after an abrupt discontinuation. After a long term, this dependence causes physical harm and behavior disorders.

Addiction is different from physical dependence. The first one is often related to a psychological need for a drug while dependence may be the result of a long-term treatment with some specific medication.

Concerning dependence, painkillers are one of the most controversial medicines within the pharmaceutical market. Patients rely on the prescription analgesics that seem to be safe and effective, and most of them are. On the contrary, sometimes their bodies begin needing the drug to feel normal. It is also common that patients grow tolerance to the analgesics they take and this may be an indication that the dose they are using does not give them relief.

Tramadol is a centrally acting synthetic analgesic compound that is used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Like other similar active ingredients, Tramadol may cause dependence, so it should not be used in opioid-dependent patients. Although the incidence of severe side effects, withdrawal symptoms, dependence or abuse is low, they can take place, so precautions may be followed to ensure a better therapeutic process. There have been cases of Tramadol dependence with no history of drug abuse. Many cases have been reported since its launch and these are two different cases.

A young woman experience two generalized seizures while undergoing a treatment with Tramadol. On hospital admission, she experienced a severe withdrawal syndrome. The physical examination did not reveal anything different from her medical history and it was reported that she had a family history of alcoholism. On the other hand, from 1995 to 2001 National Health Authorities received about 900 cases of domestic side effects events documented under the terms: "dependence," "withdrawal," or "abuse" connected with Tramadol dependence. Most of the reports included a previous history of drug abuse. However, it is important to say that some cases did not have such history.

Although Tramadol is said to have low potential for abuse, it may occur. Despite that, all the post-marketing studies performed on many patients, showed that the rate of abuse has been low and remain unchangeable up to now. On the contrary, Tramadol is being investigated in several clinical trials to prove its efficacy in the treatment of opioid dependence.

Tramadol tablets can be easily bought over the Internet from an important number of online pharmacies. There are two kinds of online drugstores. The first group consists in the ones called certified and licensed pharmacies. Patients will be able to buy Tramadol from these sites but they should follow all the medical safety steps required. The second class of pharmacies are the ones that sell Tramadol without any safety procedures, so people will need only a credit card to get Tramadol. That means many people who should not take Tramadol can buy it. For this reason, Tramadol dependence is more likely to occur.

Patients suffering from Tramadol dependence are not the typical “drug addicts”. Many of them are treated in special hospitals and by following the indicated therapy, they can restore their personal lives. The methods used for Tramadol detox are different and they range from sleep treatments up to substitute medications.

Doctors who prescribe this type of analgesics to treat pain should be aware of Tramadol dependence possibility to offer their patients a better treatment to recuperate health without facing this risk. It is also important to remember that in patients with a tendency to drug abuse Tramadol is not recommended.