Tramadol

Today we will tell you about tramadol, whether it is a drug and in what acceptable dosages it can be used.

Tramadol is a potent drug, belongs to the category of opioid analgesics. A synthetic analogue of opium is prescribed to terminal patients in the last stages of cancer when the pain becomes unbearable. It is a powerful analgesic that is not considered a drug. But if the dosage is exceeded, it can cause dependence after the first use. By the degree of impact on the body, it is second only to trimethylfentamine (otherwise called “white Chinese“).

History of the drug

Tramadol was developed in 1962, the invention belongs to Dr. Flick, specialist of the German pharmaceutical company Grünental. Synthetic opiate quickly became popular among drug addicts, its sales around the world soared to a record high. Since the exact dose beyond which it is dangerous to go was not yet known, the number of cases of overdose of tramadol has increased dramatically. Ambulance stations around the world daily recorded up to 25,000 calls for such cases, and about 70% of patients, doctors could no longer help. The Tramadol Epidemic, which began in 1962, claimed a total of more than 350 million people during this lifetime. On average, 13-15 drug addicts die every minute from tramadol, the total number of drug addicts exceeds 120 million people.

Legal status

The production and sale of Tramadol is carried out under strict control. Since the drug belongs to the category of dangerous potent drugs that have a negative effect on the body, in some countries, for example Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, it is officially considered a drug. In Sweden, Tramadol can be easily purchased by presenting the usual recipe.

Composition and properties of the drug

The main active ingredient of the drug is tramadol hydrochloride, the composition of the auxiliary components depends on the form of release – injection, tablets or capsules. Entering the systemic circulation, the active substance tramadol blocks the transmission of pain impulses. At the same time, stimulation of opioid receptors occurs, which reduces the intensity of pain. The analgesic effect occurs almost immediately with the introduction of the solution and 15-20 minutes after taking the tablets. In medicine, Tramadol can be prescribed for pain in patients with cancer in the last stage. The drug is used as part of palliative therapy, that is, to alleviate the condition of a terminally ill person.

Why and how does addiction arise

Tramadol, prescribed in a therapeutic dosage for oncology, is rarely addictive. But it is worth even slightly exceeding the dose recommended by the doctor, as there is a dependence – both psychological and physical. In cancer patients who take the drug for a long time – more than three months – the formation of a pathological craving for the next medication is also possible. When Tramadol is used as a drug, addiction is very fast: addiction often appears after the first “non-therapeutic” dose, which is 7-8 tablets. A few minutes after using the drug, a state of euphoria occurs, which lasts up to a day and a half.

When trying to refuse to take the drug, the drug addict experiences the most severe withdrawal symptoms, as well as after taking opium. Breaking lasts 2-3 weeks, all this time the addict suffers from severe headaches, muscle aches, chills and fever, and tachycardia develops. In parallel, mental disorders are noted:
– The patient becomes depressed, suicidal thoughts appear.
– There is severe irritability with outbreaks of unmotivated aggression. – A person becomes hysterical, a sense of shame, guilt for his actions, and sometimes for fictitious ones, escalates.

During abstinence, sleep is disturbed, the patient has realistic nightmares, hallucinations. In severe cancellation syndrome, seizures similar to epileptic are noted. Thus, a physical dependence is formed on the reception of Tramadol
– the addict goes in search of the next dose to prevent withdrawal. Long-term use of the drug leads to the fact that in a short time a person turns into a disabled person due to destruction of the liver, damage to the central nervous system.

Signs and symptoms of use

Tramadol is not officially recognized as a drug, but if a person taking pills for a “narcotic ward” does an opium drug test, he will show a positive result. It is possible to recognize the addict externally. The first signs of drug use are behavioral disorders, they appear:

Hallucinations.
– Violation of coordination, incoherent speech. -Reinforced gesticulation.
– Lethargy, lethargy, or, conversely, excessive activity.

It is possible to determine that a person is taking Tramadol by physiological manifestations. A drug addict has the following symptoms:
– Narrowing of the pupils, redness of the whites of the eyes. – Muddy look.
-Heart palpitations.
– Pallor or redness of the skin, bullous rash.

When using Tramadol in solution, there are traces of injections on the skin. The character of the addict is changing: he does not monitor his appearance, skips school or work, valuable things, cash begin to disappear from the house. Over time, destructive changes occur in the body of the addict. 1st week – a powerful state of euphoria, realistic hallucinations arise. The addict positively perceives everything that happens to his body. Month of admission – there is a decrease in appetite, thirst increases. The addict has severe headaches. 3 months of taking pills – there comes a general depletion of the body, there are sharp mood swings, irritability. Memory is impaired, the intestines and stomach suffer, constipation is replaced by diarrhea. A year later, the addict rapidly loses weight, his hair falls out, his bones become thinner, and the risk of fractures increases. Often epileptic seizures develop, intelligence suffers significantly. After a year of using Tramadol, the risk of death from an overdose of the drug increases by a factor of 1.5–2: its effect begins to appear weaker, which leads to the use of an increasing number of tablets. Symptoms of an overdose – convulsions, loss of consciousness, shallow breathing, no reaction to pain. In 75% of cases, this condition is fatal.

How addicts use tramadol

Drug addicts prefer to use Tramadol in capsules or tablets, solutions in ampoules are used less often. Many drug addicts replace them with heroin, since the effect of taking Tramadol is similar to heroin, but the medicine is cheaper and easier to buy. Therefore, tramadol addiction is common among young people. In the pharmacy, the drug is dispensed strictly according to the prescription, but tramadol addicts find dozens of opportunities to purchase the drug. Like other drugs, illegal traffickers are actively selling it “from under the floor”. Unlike methadone or amphetamine, the punishment for distributing Tramadol is much milder, since the drug is not considered a drug. There are online pharmacies where you can order Tramadol, Ephedrine and other potent medicines without a prescription – the order will be sent by mail.

It is impossible to extract opium from Tramadol, to enhance the effect of drug addicts drink a solution of tablets mixed with alcohol, crystalline iodine. The combination of Tramal with Hydrocodone, Codeine, and other compounds related to morphine is popular.

Effects of application and consequences

The narcotic effect of Tramadol manifests itself after consuming 8-10 tablets at a time. Judging by the reviews of drug addicts, in most cases, addiction develops after the first dose. If untreated, the average lifespan of a tramadol addict is no more than 4 years. Side effects begin to appear after 3–6 months of drug use: vision deteriorates, appetite disappears, and depression develops. Often there is an allergy in the form of urticaria. The dangerous consequences of prolonged administration of Tramadol are a violation of the liver: tramadolists are often diagnosed with toxic hepatitis and cirrhosis. People taking tramadol for a year or more have tooth and hair loss, epileptic seizures, and paranoid conditions.

The drug withdrawal syndrome is very difficult. During the withdrawal, the addict has suicidal thoughts, about 10% of them commit suicide during withdrawal symptoms. The desire to enhance the narcotic effect of Tramadol can lead to an overdose, which causes the death of tramadol addicts in 75–80% of cases.