What Happens If Alcohol Is Taken With Tramadol HCL?
Tramadol HCL is a prescription pain medication that increases the affect of narcotics on the body. Although not classified as a narcotic, tramadol has similar properties and acts on the central nervous system. Tramadol also has similar actions to antidepressants, affecting chemicals in your brain. Taking tramadol with alcohol can increase the side effects of the drug and cause serious central nervous system depression.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
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Tramadol and alcohol have similar side effects 2. Taking them together has an additive effect, meaning that the effects you normally have when taking the drug or drinking alcohol will be increased. Your normal dose of tramadol may be dangerous if you're also drinking alcohol.
Respiratory Depression
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Both alcohol and tramadol can affect your ability to breathe by depressing the centers in your brain that tell you to breathe. When you take both drugs together, you may breathe more slowly and shallowly. If you take large doses, you may be more likely to stop breathing altogether.
Dependence
Both alcohol and tramadol are drugs with a risk for dependence 23. If you already have problems with addiction to alcohol, you may have an increased risk for developing dependence to tramadol, as well. As with alcohol, stopping tramadol abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms 2. Stopping both at the same time could cause potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal from either drug can cause hallucinations, paranoia, panic attacks, agitation, confusion and unusual skin sensations such as:
- numbness
- tingling
Do not attempt withdrawal from either drug on your own -- you need medical supervision to prevent lethal side effects during drug withdrawal.
Suicide
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Both tramadol and alcohol have mood-altering properties 2. If you already suffer from depression or suicidal thoughts, taking this drug can increase these tendencies when taken with alcohol. Deaths have occurred in people with a history of emotional disorders taking tramadol who were also abusing alcohol.
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References
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Important Drug Warning
- Drug and Alcohol Dependence: Physical dependence on Ultram† (tramadol hydrochloride): both opioid-like and Atypical Withdrawal Symptoms Occur
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- Opiate and opioid withdrawal. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
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- Dunn KE, Tompkins DA, Bigelow GE, Strain EC. Efficacy of Tramadol Extended-Release for Opioid Withdrawal: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2017;74(9):885-893. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.1838
- Talih F, Ghossoub E. Moxonidine for tramadol withdrawal symptoms during detoxification. BMJ Case Rep. 2015. doi:10.1136/bcr-2015-210444
- Amato L, Minozzi S, Davoli M, Vecchi S. Psychosocial and pharmacological treatments versus pharmacological treatments for opioid detoxification. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(9):CD005031. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005031.pub4
- Park YM, Park HK, Kim L, Lee HJ, Kang SG. Acute-withdrawal restless legs syndrome following abrupt cessation of short-term tramadol. Psychiatry Investig. 2014;11(2):204-6. doi:10.4306/pi.2014.11.2.204
- Beyaz SG, Sonbahar T, Bayar F, Erdem AF. Seizures associated with low-dose tramadol for chronic pain treatment. Anesth Essays Res. 2016;10(2):376-8. doi:10.4103/0259-1162.177181
- Guerriero F. Guidance on opioids prescribing for the management of persistent non-cancer pain in older adults. World J Clin Cases. 2017;5(3):73. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v5.i3.73
- Takeshita J, Litzinger MH. Serotonin syndrome associated with tramadol. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2009;11(5):273. doi:10.4088/PCC.08l00690
- Simon LV, Keenaghan M. Serotonin Syndrome. StatPearls. National Institutes of Health. Updated November 24, 2019.
- Tramadol: Update Review Report Agenda item 6.1. Expert Committee on Drug Dependence Thirty‐sixth Meeting. Geneva. World Health Organization. Published June 16, 2014.
- Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Updated April 13, 2019.
Writer Bio
A registered nurse with more than 25 years of experience in oncology, labor/delivery, neonatal intensive care, infertility and ophthalmology, Sharon Perkins has also coauthored and edited numerous health books for the Wiley "Dummies" series. Perkins also has extensive experience working in home health with medically fragile pediatric patients.