Studies have identified drowsiness as one of the primary side effects from taking tramadol. Furthermore, this can disrupt REM sleep stages which help restore our bodies during restful stages of restfulness resulting in insomnia or leading to deeper restless stages that cause even greater problems with sleeping patterns.
You should contact your physician if you experience seizures; liver or kidney disease; mental illness; or if there is an obstruction to your stomach or intestines that prevents normal digestion and leads to decreased breathing.
These conditions could put you at risk of serotonin syndrome – an potentially life-threatening condition which causes breathing difficulties.
Can Tramadol Cause Sleepiness and Disrupt Sleep Patterns?
Understanding Tramadol’s Effects on Sleep
Tramadol, a synthetic opioid used for pain relief, interacts with the central nervous system to alleviate discomfort.
While effective in managing pain, this medication can have certain side effects, including drowsiness and sleepiness. Studies focusing on the immediate-release form of tramadol have revealed that drowsiness was reported in 16% to 25% of patients.
Short-Term Sleepiness and Dizziness
One common side effect of tramadol is drowsiness, which can be accompanied by dizziness or lightheadedness. These effects are typically temporary and tend to diminish within a week or two as the body adapts to the medication.
Long-Term Impact on Sleep Patterns
However, prolonged use of tramadol can potentially affect sleep patterns. While the drug induces drowsiness and sleepiness during the day, it has been known to disrupt the REM sleep stage, leading to difficulty in falling asleep at night. This disruption can result in insomnia, causing individuals to struggle with getting adequate rest.
Consulting Your Doctor for Side Effects
If you experience any side effects while taking tramadol, it is crucial to consult your doctor to determine their underlying cause. Interactions with other medications, misuse, or dosage adjustments could contribute to these effects.
Seeking medical guidance will help identify the best course of action and potential solutions to alleviate or manage the side effects.
Exercise Caution While Taking Tramadol
Due to the potential drowsiness and dizziness caused by tramadol, it is important to exercise caution when performing activities that require alertness and coordination. Refrain from driving, operating heavy machinery, or engaging in hazardous activities until you are familiar with how the drug affects you personally.
Being informed about the potential effects of tramadol on sleep and overall well-being can empower individuals to make informed decisions in consultation with their healthcare providers.
What Are The Other Side Effects Of Tramadol?
Seizures
If you experience seizures while taking tramadol, inform your physician immediately. Seizures can be life-threatening side effects of this medication and should always be reported immediately to a healthcare provider.
Seizures could also be indicative of other medical conditions; inform them if you experience other symptoms like uncontrolled high-pitched crying, shaking of one part of your body or vomiting. Also be sure to notify them if you have a history of seizures before taking this drug.
It is essential that the recommended dosage of tramadol be adhered to and not exceeded. Furthermore, you should avoid alcohol consumption or taking other drugs concurrently as this combination could potentially result in dangerous side effects.
A 29-year-old male presented to the Orthopedic OPD complaining of severe low back pain, for which he was prescribed tramadol hydrochloride 37.5 mg twice daily for five days. Within 24 hours after admission he developed generalized tonic-clonic seizures; EEG findings demonstrated slowing in 12 subjects; while brain MRI revealed signal abnormality in subcortical white matter.
Tramadol is a “bimodal” agent, meaning it acts on both opioid and monoaminergic (serotonergic and nonadrenergic) pathways of the CNS to provide moderate to severe chronic pain relief associated with rheumatic diseases and neuropathies.
Earlier studies suggest tramadol may increase seizure risk when given in excessive quantities to individuals predisposed to seizure disorders or combined with medications known to increase seizure risk, such as antidepressants or alcohol.
Difficulty waking up
Sleepy awakenings may be an innocuous side effect of tramadol use; however, frequent instances could signal an underlying medical problem and should be taken seriously as possible treatments can include lifestyle adjustments and medications to combat this symptom. If this problem affects you personally, there may be solutions available through lifestyle modifications and treatments to address it.
Sleep apnea and narcolepsy are common sleep conditions that may leave you waking up feeling exhausted; medications are available to treat these disorders and help restore restful restful slumber – aim for seven to nine hours each night! If this proves challenging for you, visit a medical professional and schedule an appointment asap.
Tramadol can have an enormous effect on sleep structure. For one study, participants received either a placebo (predrug placebo-night) or 50 or 100 mg tramadol doses as drug placebo-nights; researchers noted that both doses disrupted their participants’ restfulness but with higher doses having greater results.
Avoid taking other medications that could interact with tramadol and cause drowsiness or breathing difficulties, including certain antidepressants and MAOIs (phenelzine and tranylcypromine are examples) because this may increase your risk of serotonin syndrome which could prove life-threatening.
Make sure your physician knows about any other medicines you are taking.
Difficulty breathing
Tramadol can sometimes cause severe and potentially life-threatening breathing issues when taken in excessive quantities or mixed with certain drugs such as benzodiazepines, opioids or sleep medications. Children under 12 years and those who have undergone tonsil or adenoid surgery should avoid taking this medicine.
Long-term use of tramadol may result in addiction for some individuals. If this applies to you, contact your physician as soon as possible if you suspect an addiction has developed; treatment options for addiction exist and could provide support services that could assist.
Some of the most frequently reported side effects of tramadol may relate to how it affects your central nervous system, including slow breathing, low blood pressure or reduced heart rate, as well as symptoms such as drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting or constipation.
Your doctor will closely monitor both the initial dosage of tramadol as well as any increases to it, and any subsequent dosage adjustments. They will also conduct routine blood tests to make sure that your kidneys are working effectively.
If you are taking tramadol liquid form, make sure that a pharmacy dosing cup or oral syringe is used instead of household spoons to ensure an accurate dosage and prevent overdosage. This will ensure an exact dosage without risk of an accidental overdose.
