Tramadol is a potent painkiller drug that carries the potential for addiction. Like many addictive painkiller drugs, people have taken to buying tramadol online. This article will explain why that’s not a good idea.
What Is Tramadol?
Tramadol is a prescription medication used for treating moderate to severe pain. It belongs to the opioid analgesic (an analgesic that blocks pain signals from reaching the brain) class of medications. Tramadol is available only through a doctor’s prescription as a pain relief option.
The drug has two mechanisms of action for moderate pain:
- It binds to the opioid receptors of the brain (similar to traditional opioids).
- It inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, neurotransmitters that regulate feelings of well-being and CNS arousal, respectively.
Tramadol can be found in both immediate (IR) and extended-release (ER) varieties and can come as a capsule, tablet, or oral solution. In adults, tramadol (IR) is most commonly prescribed in 50 milligrams. For tramadol IR, dosage strengths run between 100 and 300 mg, and it’s usually advised not to exceed 400 mg in a single day.
Tramadol is typically prescribed for the following conditions:
- Chronic pain
- Post-surgical pain
- Injury-related pain, like fractures or sprains
- Neuropathic pain
While tramadol is effective for pain relief, it carries the risk of dependence, abuse, and withdrawal symptoms, especially when used over a long period or in higher doses. Because of this, it’s classified as a Schedule IV substance under the Controlled Substances Act.
However, some argue it should be classified higher. A study from the Mayo Clinic found that surgical patients receiving tramadol had a higher risk of prolonged use compared to traditional opioids. It’s for this reason some have taken to buying tramadol online, likely to feed their addiction or make money off of others who crave the drug. Prescription opioids are addictive and are not recommended for long-term pain issues. Always consult your doctor before being prescribed tramadol. Never buy tramadol from an online source like internet pharmacies.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are a class of drugs that include both natural and synthetic substances used primarily for pain relief. They work by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, central nervous system, spinal cord, and other areas of the body, reducing the perception of pain. Opioids include prescription pain relievers like morphine, oxycodone, and tramadol, as well as illegal drugs like heroin.
Though effective for pain management, opioids carry significant risks, including dependence, addiction, and overdose, especially with long-term use or misuse.
Is Tramadol Addictive?
Yes, tramadol does carry the potential for addiction. In countries where it is available, tramadol abuse among adolescents and young adults has been estimated at between 8.8% and 12.3%. Famous cases of tramadol addiction include athletes like Chris Kirkland, who found himself buying tramadol online after becoming addicted to the drug.
While officially considered less potent than other opioids, it’s clear the drug still needs to be used carefully.
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Call 866-881-1184Is It Legal to Buy Tramadol Online?
As a controlled substance, it’s not legal to buy tramadol online without a prescription.
To legally obtain Tramadol, you need a prescription from a licensed doctor who has evaluated your condition. Purchasing it from unregulated sources or without a prescription is illegal and unsafe, as such medications may be counterfeit or harmful. Online pharmacies must require a valid prescription before dispensing controlled substances like tramadol.
Why Do People Buy Tramadol Online?
People may buy Tramadol online for several reasons, including:
- Convenience: Individuals may turn to buying tramadol online if they have difficulty accessing a pharmacy or prefer the ease of home delivery.
- Cost: Some may seek lower prices or discounts offered by online pharmacies compared to local pharmacies.
- Prescription Issues: Some individuals may not have a prescription or may have difficulty obtaining one due to various reasons, such as lack of insurance, not wanting to visit a doctor, or because they want to abuse the drug.
- Anonymity: People might prefer buying tramadol online to avoid the stigma associated with purchasing pain medications, especially if they have concerns about addiction or past substance abuse.
- Availability: Online sources may offer access to medications that are difficult to find at local pharmacies or may stock higher doses that are not available locally.
However, buying Tramadol online without a prescription poses significant risks, including the potential for counterfeit or unsafe medications, legal consequences, and health risks associated with misuse or incorrect dosing. It’s always safest to obtain medications through a licensed healthcare provider and pharmacy.
What Are the Risks of Buying Tramadol Online?
One of the main reasons it’s not a good idea to buy tramadol online with no prescription is because the sources that would sell it are unregulated and likely connected to organized crime. Illegal shipments of tramadol from Mexico have been intercepted by Customs and Border Patrol, indicating the cartels are adding the drug to their repertoire. And dealers inside the US have been mixing tramadol with fentanyl, which has led to fatal overdoses.
Aside from the risk of consuming fake or adulterated tramadol, medications purchased online may not have consistent or accurate dosages. This inconsistency can lead to underdosing, which fails to alleviate pain, or overdosing, which increases the risk of serious side effects, including overdose. And there is also the risk of legal consequences – buying tramadol online with no prescription is illegal, which means possible fines or criminal charges.
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Check Your CoverageTramadol Addiction Treatment Near Me
If you or a loved one are seeking treatment for tramadol addiction, South Coast Behavioral Health is here to help. The first step in treating addiction to tramadol is a medical detox. This means using drugs to manage withdrawal symptoms.
Our medical detox program in California is staffed by caring and compassionate professionals who can provide you with medications to manage your withdrawal symptoms.
At South Coast, we take pride in offering care that is closely tailored to specific issues. To that end, we offer gender-specific detox programs, with medical detox for men in Irvine, CA, and medical detox for women in Huntington Beach, CA.
After detoxing, proper treatment can begin.
Treatment for substance abuse takes place along an entire spectrum of care. Along that entire spectrum are various behavioral therapies, support groups, and the use of medically-assisted treatment (MAT).
These levels of treatment are, in order, as follows:
Residential Treatment in California
After successfully completing medical detox, you’ll receive inpatient treatment in Orange County, California, for tramadol addiction. There, you’ll receive medically-assisted treatment and dual diagnosis treatment to deal with any cravings or co-occurring mental health issues you may be battling.
We also offer residential treatment facilities in Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Huntington Beach for those who desire gender-specific tramadol addiction treatment. There, patients get round-the-clock medical attention and monitoring while living at the institution full-time.
In addition to individual and group counseling and medication management, you’ll also have access to leisure activities and family support services.
Partial Hospitalization in California
Most clients start tramadol addiction treatment with South Coast in our residential treatment program. After completing that, many desire something that still provides structure and support but with extra space and time to oneself. For that, we offer Partial Hospitalization in Newport Beach.
A step down from inpatient care but with more structure than conventional outpatient programs, partial hospitalization offers a good balance for those looking to ease back into normal life. Clients can receive care five to seven days a week for a number of hours each day, returning back to their homes in the evening.
This way, they can recover without putting their daily lives completely on hold, receiving intense therapeutic interventions like group and individual therapy, skill development, and medication management as necessary.
Intensive Outpatient Treatment in California
For those leaving inpatient residential treatment or partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are yet another gradual step forward on the road to tramadol addiction recovery.
With a focus on group therapy, individual counseling, and education, clients undergoing Intensive Outpatient Treatment in Newport Beach can meet three to five days a week. Each session lasts three hours.
This level of care requires the least amount of attendance at a facility.
Get Started Today
If you or a loved one are struggling with taking tramadol to relieve pain but wonder how long addiction treatment takes or have other questions, call us at 866-881-1184 or contact us here. Our highly qualified staff will be happy to help give you an idea of what to expect from your addiction recovery timeline, verify your insurance, and assist with any other questions you may have about the negative effects of tramadol.
