Can You Overdose on Tramadol?

Tramadol is an opioid medication that can slow your breathing rates, reduce blood oxygen levels and cause an overdose. Without proper treatment, a tramadol overdose can be fatal.[1]

It’s difficult to know how many people die from tramadol overdoses every year. Organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention group tramadol with other unusual opioids like fentanyl, and separating the data is nearly impossible.[2] 

Anyone who uses tramadol should understand what an overdose looks like, how it’s treated and how to prevent it. While any opioid overdose is a serious situation, if you act quickly, the situation can often be effectively treated. In the long term, addressing opioid use disorder (OUD) can prevent future overdoses.

Yes, You Can Overdose on the Opioid Tramadol 

Take too much tramadol, and you can experience an overdose. Without prompt and appropriate care, these episodes can be life-threatening.[1] The rate of fatal opioid overdoses in the U.S. has increased annually, and some of these overdoses are likely linked to tramadol misuse.[2]

Tramadol is an opioid, and it works by attaching to mu opioid receptors in the brain and body. It latches loosely when compared to other opioids like morphine, but the connection can still slow breathing and heart rates. This action can lead to severe respiratory depression and death.[1] 

Researchers say tramadol overdoses often involve other substances, including depressants like alcohol.[3] Combining two drugs that slow your respiratory rate can lead to quicker and more powerful overdose episodes that are harder to treat. 

A Different Type of Response

Unlike traditional opioids, such as morphine, tramadol also works on the serotonin system.[3] People who overdose may experience symptoms that just aren’t typical with common opioids like morphine. 

In studies of tramadol overdose, characteristic symptoms include high blood pressure, fast heartbeat and seizures.[4] These signs are extremely dangerous, and they require quick treatment. 

Unfortunately, since they’re not commonly associated with an opioid overdose, some people may not get care for them until it’s too late. If people aren’t sure what to watch for, they may not recognize how serious their issues really are. 

How Much Tramadol Can Cause an Overdose? 

There is no overdose-proof amount of tramadol.[5] Every person is different. An amount that’s safe for you could be far too much for someone else, leading to an overdose. 

Regular tramadol use results in tolerance. People need more of the drug to get the expected effect. People who’ve taken tramadol for a long time can tolerate much higher doses than someone who has used the drug just once. 

Tolerance can fade with even brief episodes of sobriety. If you quit the drug for a week and then return to the dose you once took, your body may no longer be able to process it the same way it used to, and you could overdose. 

Many people who experience tramadol overdoses take very large amounts all at once. For example, doctors rarely prescribe daily doses larger than 400 mg.[5] In studies of people who overdose, the mean amount was 1,971.2 mg.[6] 

Remember, no amount is truly safe when you are misusing tramadol or any opioid. You could experience an overdose while taking a much smaller amount. Each person’s body is different.

Mixing tramadol with other substances, including central nervous system depressants like alcohol, can increase overdose risks. If you use tramadol, never take it with anything else. 

Who Is Likely to Become Addicted to Tramadol?

All opioids, including tramadol, can boost feelings of intense euphoria and well-being. Anyone who misuses these drugs can develop OUD. Researchers say shared risk factors can make substance misuse and OUD more likely.

Risk factors for tramadol misuse include the following:[7]

• Higher doses: The more tramadol you take, the more your risk of dependence and overdose increases. 
• Long-term use: Taking opioids for more than a few days increases your risk of misuse, and continued misuse can quickly lead to OUD. 
• Extended-release formulations: Tramadol products that release active ingredients over long periods are easier to misuse than other formats. 
• Physical health: People older than 65 and those with respiratory conditions or debilitating disorders are more sensitive to opioids and more likely to become dependent on them. This can make it harder to stop using them as well.
• Mental health: People with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, or a history of substance misuse are more likely to struggle with opioids. 
• Other substance use: Combining opioids with drugs like benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants and alcohol increases drug misuse risks. Complications and overdose are more likely when substances like these are combined.

Symptoms of Tramadol Overdose 

People who take too much tramadol can experience life-threatening toxicity and overdose. Understanding what these episodes look like can help you learn when to step in and offer support. 

Tramadol poisoning can cause the following symptoms:[4]

• Dizziness
• Nausea 
• Vomiting
• Headache 
• Agitation 
• Seizures
• Coma

Some people experiencing tramadol poisoning seem hyper-alert, awake and aware. Others may seem sleepy or sedated. The same drug can cause both sets of symptoms, and this can be confusing for people. 

Tramadol & Serotonin Syndrome 

Tramadol boosts serotonin levels within the body. At very high doses, though rare, people can experience serotonin syndrome where this vital chemical reaches toxic levels. 

Serotonin syndrome causes rigid muscles, shaking, flushed skin and confusion. It can also cause life-threatening heartbeat changes and shock.[4] 

Anyone who uses tramadol should be aware of this complication and get help as soon as symptoms appear. Serotonin syndrome is a medical emergency.

What to Do in the Event of a Tramadol Overdose

A tramadol overdose can be life-threatening, so it’s critical to get help right away.[1] Doctors can use medications like naloxone to kick tramadol off opioid receptors and ease symptoms. Sometimes, people need help in a hospital to breathe normally and allow their hearts to return to a normal rate. 

If you think someone has overdosed, call 911 right away. Tell the operator you think the person has taken too much tramadol, and ask what you should do next. 

If the person is unconscious and you have Narcan (naloxone) available, the operator may tell you to administer it. If not, just stay with the person until help arrives. Follow any instructions the operator gives you. 

Even if you administer naloxone and reverse the opioid overdose, further medical care is needed. In some cases, multiple doses of naloxone must be given, and the overdose could sometimes return after the naloxone wears off. An assessment from a medical professional is needed to ensure the person is safe.

Finding Tramadol Addiction Treatment 

Quitting tramadol misuse without help isn’t easy. A Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) program can offer key support that makes recovery possible. 

In a MAT program, doctors use therapies like Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) to ease withdrawal symptoms and lessen drug cravings. With regular medication management, you’ll feel less uncomfortable and more in control. 

You can work on developing healthier habits without the constant distraction and distress your chemical dependency can cause. Whereas recovery from OUD might have felt impossible before, MAT with Suboxone puts it within reach.

Bicycle Health administers MAT via telemedicine. Our team will learn about you, your tramadol misuse history and your prior treatment attempts. With that information, we’ll determine the proper Suboxone dose and provide a prescription you can fill at your local pharmacy. We’ll then manage your treatment via convenient virtual appointments.

Healing can begin as soon as you contact us to get started. Reach out today.