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Does Tramadol Cause Insomnia?

Even when taken as prescribed, Tramadol has been known to cause side effects, including insomnia. If you’re abusing Tramadol, the side effects become stronger.

tramadol treats moderate to severe pain

Even when taken as prescribed, Tramadol has been known to cause side effects. One of the most common side effects of Tramadol is insomnia. How can a potent painkiller lead to disrupted sleep? Most painkillers cause severe fatigue and sedation. Tramadol disrupts normal sleep cycles when taken as prescribed – the individual taking the drug is more liable to fall asleep during the day and stay awake at night. However, insomnia is far more commonly a side effect of Tramadol withdrawal. Those abusing this medication for any length of time will experience a host of unpleasant symptoms upon ceased use, including sleep-related issues like restlessness, fatigue, and an inability to fall asleep.

Tramadol and Insomnia

The National Library of Medicine recently published a study that focused on the effects of Tramadol on sleep patterns. The study was randomized, and researchers gave healthy subjects between one and two doses of Tramadol before they went to bed in hopes of better understanding the relationship between the two. Eight volunteers received a placebo one night and a 50mg or 100mg dose of Tramadol the second night. It was discovered that 100mg of Tramadol significantly reduced rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep) for two full nights, the kind of deep sleep humans need to recharge and feel well-rested. The study confirmed that when an individual was given a 50mg dose of Tramadol, sleep was interrupted during the night they were given medication. When an individual was given 100mg of the medication, sleep was harshly interrupted for two full nights. Although this is only one example, it has been proven that Tramadol interrupts sleep. With continued use, it is likely to cause insomnia eventually.

Tramadol detox is another story entirely. It is widely known that insomnia is one of the predominant symptoms of Tramadol withdrawal, along with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cold sweats, muscle aches, and stomach cramping.

Absolute Awakenings and Tramadol Addiction

At Absolute Awakenings, we have extensive experience treating Tramadol withdrawal symptoms and the side effects of Tramadol abuse and addiction. Our team of experienced professionals knows how disruptive and aggravating attempting to deal with a lack of sleep can be, especially in early recovery. Our prescribing physicians will work with each client and prescribe a non-narcotic sleeping aid to help with insomnia whenever necessary.

Of course, medication is not the only solution – we also work to instill healthy coping mechanisms – ways to calm the body and the mind so that achieving a good night’s sleep is more likely. Some holistic approaches to treating insomnia include yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises. If you have been struggling with Tramadol abuse or addiction and you are ready to stop experiencing the painful and disruptive side effects due to painkiller dependence, give us a call today. We are standing by to help you in any way we can and get you started on your journey of Tramadol addiction recovery.

References

  1. Dhesi M, Maldonado KA, Maani CV. Tramadol. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022. Accessed January 17, 2023. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537060/
  2. Walder B, Tramèr MR, Blois R. The effects of two single doses of tramadol on sleep: a randomized, cross-over trial in healthy volunteers. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2001;18(1):36-42. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2346.2001.00772.x
  3. Basics on Sleep. WebMD. Published November 16, 2022. Accessed January 17, 2023. https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-101

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At Absolute Awakenings, we take information integrity seriously. We have dedicated our resources to ensure that all content published to our blog is medically sound. As such, all content on our blog has been thoroughly reviewed by a doctorate level clinician such as a Medical Doctor, or Psy.D, so that you can trust all of the data we publish.

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