Is Tramadol a Muscle Relaxer or Painkiller?

TL;DR – Tramadol is a painkiller, not a muscle relaxer. It’s used to treat moderate to severe pain.

The prescription medication Tramadol has recently been re-investigated for whether or not it is as safe of medication as its reputation as being less addictive than other types of medicines in its same division. Tramadol is not a muscle relaxer. But it may be confused as one by people who use it.  It is a pain medication often prescribed to less vigorous individuals, like children, pregnant mothers, senior citizens, and others who do not need potent pain medication.

TL;DR: Tramadol is a painkiller, not a muscle relaxer.

What Is Tramadol?

Tramadol is a prescription painkiller that is also an opioid. For many years Tramadol had the reputation as being a less risky opioid pain reliever to prescribe to particular candidates. 

Tramadol was not even scheduled as a narcotic by the Drug Enforcement Agency until after  2014. Tramadol is not as strong as Vicodin or other less potent opiate pain killers. But it is an opioid prescription medication that can be abused and people do become addicted to Tramadol. It stimulates the brain’s opioid receptors and can affect someone the same way heroin or other prescription pain killers that are opioids. There is not any opioid drug or medication that cannot cause addiction.

How to Identify Tramadol? 

Tramadol is typically prescribed in pill form. The doses range from 50mg, 100mg, 150mg, 200mg, and 300mg tablets. Tramadol is the pharmaceutical name for this medication. The brand names for Tramadol include Ultram, Ultram ER, and Conzip. Tramadol is reserved for small injuries, pain from dental work, younger people and children, or the elderly who cannot tolerate strong pain medications.

Different Street Names For Tramadol

There is a market for it on the street for people who are using Tramadol to get high. Tramadol is also very commonly found inside veterinary hospitals, where many of the illegal acquisitions come from.

The street names for Tramadol include:

  • Trammys 
  • Ultras
  • Dolls
  • T-dolls
  • 627’s
  • Tammie’s 

What does Addiction to Tramadol Look Like? 

Anyone who is addicted to Tramadol is likely also abusing other kinds of opioid drugs. It is important to note that Tramadol has a reputation as a drug to make someone have energy. And generally speaking, there is evidence that opioid drugs cause a person to feel hyper in some cases. Overall if someone is addicted to Tramadol, they prefer to be sedated and to feel relaxed.

There are at least five signs that someone is abusing and might be addicted to Tramadol. They will look like 1) Taking more Tramadol than prescribed 2) Hiding their tramadol use 3) Obsession on having or getting more Tramadol 4) Lying to their Doctor about why they need Tramadol 5) Abusing other drugs or prescription pain killers. 

Tramadol pills

More About What does Addiction to Tramadol Look Like

Other signs of addiction not just to Tramadol are the same as other addictive behaviors, such as borrowing or stealing money, hanging out with drug-using friends, driving, or drinking alcohol while taking Tramadol, appearing tired and agitated a lot. Additionally, a person addicted to Tramadol will eventually experience physical withdrawal symptoms when not taking it every day. Tramadol withdrawal symptoms are severe and will require immediate medical attention. 

Tramadol Detox and Treatment Program

Since addiction to an opioid can be reversed with safe and effective detox medications for Tramadol withdrawal, the safest way to help a detoxing person is to get them admitted to a Tramadol detox and treatment center. In addition, the National Institutes of Health describe that Tramadol detox symptoms mimic other opioid withdrawal symptoms.  

In most cases, the Tramadol withdrawal symptoms consisted of classical opioid withdrawal, but in some cases were accompanied by withdrawal symptoms not normally observed in opiate withdrawal. Physicians and other healthcare professionals need to be aware of the potential of Tramadol /Ultram to induce withdrawal of the classical opioid type when assessing the individual and that atypical withdrawal may also occur. (NIH)

Find Help For Tramadol Addiction at Allure Detox

The Allure Detox program for Tramadol addiction begins with a medically managed detox where the individual is provided safe medications to help them rest and detox quickly. All patients in the Tramadol detox unit will also be admitted into an evidence-based program for Tramadol addictions or dependency.

Published on: 2021-08-23
Updated on: 2023-12-19