Tramadol detox
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Last Updated:
September 12th, 2023
Tramadol, also commonly known as Ultram, is an effective prescription opioid for fast-acting pain relief. While it helps physical ailments, using this drug in the wrong way can lead to tramadol addiction and can have severe consequences on your mental and physical health. Fortunately, there are several options available in the UK which offer tramadol detox, the first stage in the recovery journey. Read on to learn how detox treats tramadol withdrawal symptoms and how it can help you begin your recovery.
The stages of Tramadol addiction
Whilst it is possible to try tramadol detox on your own or at home, it presents many more risks than seeking the assistance of a healthcare professional. If you have a long history of tramadol abuse, you may experience chronic tramadol withdrawal psychosis if you suddenly stop taking tramadol altogether.
This mental health condition is an extreme response to withdrawal from this opiate and can produce symptoms such as paranoia, anxiety, derealisation, depersonalisation and hallucinations. If you do not detox from tramadol safety, the disturbing symptoms of tramadol withdrawal psychosis could discourage you from detoxing altogether.
Therefore, we would always advise you to seek help from a medical professional or addiction support worker at tramadol rehab. Their expert care and support will help you manage tramadol withdrawal symptoms and ensure that your detox is safe.
Typical symptoms of tramadol withdrawal
Tramadol may be a weaker drug than heroin or fentanyl, but it is still a powerful opioid drug. Studies have found that tramadol can produce GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in the brain, a neurotransmitter which can have a strong effect on your emotional faculty as it reduces nerve transmission. This is how tramadol can become so addictive if it is overused.
Here are some of the ways in which tramadol withdrawal can affect your physical and psychological wellbeing:
How tramadol withdrawal affects your body
- Breathing problems
- Bodily pain and weakness
- Flu-like symptoms (sweating, coughing, runny nose etc.)
- Constricted pupils
- Blue fingernails and lips
- Goosebumps and clammy skin
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Drowsiness
- Tremors and seizures
How tramadol withdrawal affects your mind
- Constant cravings
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Paranoia
- Depression
- Psychosis (in cases of tramadol withdrawal psychosis)
What happens during inpatient tramadol detox?
If you are considering attending a treatment programme at an inpatient detox centre for tramadol detox, you may be wondering what you can expect. At our private inpatient rehab clinics, tramadol detox will be the first thing you do during your treatment programme.
Our empathetic and patient medical team will be by your side throughout your tramadol detox to administer reduced amounts of the substance over an extended period of time. This will help to ease possible withdrawal symptoms as your body undergoes withdrawal from tramadol.
Dispelling common myths about Tramadol
Sadly, there are several myths about tramadol detox, which can give people negative or distorted preconceptions about what they can expect from detox. So, would like to bust some of these myths to give you a more accurate picture of what tramadol detox is like in a detox centre:
“Tramadol detox takes a long time…”
The length of tramadol detox is different for everyone. Depending on the extent of your tramadol abuse, detox can take anywhere between several days to a couple of weeks. Should you attend private rehab with us, you will join a 7-day, 14-day or 28-day programme where you will start tramadol detox under the care and support of our medical team.
“Tramadol detox is painful…”
It is possible that you may experience some unpleasant withdrawal symptoms during the beginning of your detox. Nonetheless, you should not let this put you off tramadol detox. Tramadol withdrawal symptoms are usually at their most severe within the first two weeks of detox. After this, your symptoms will gradually decrease. Our highly-trained staff members can manage your pain thanks to their medical expertise.
“Tramadol detox will make things worse…”
At UKAT, we know all too well how people can become desperate for access to drugs when in the clutches of Tramadol abuse. So, you may be concerned that having access to tramadol during detox will only worsen your struggle. However, you need not worry. Our medical team work around the clock to regularly monitor your tramadol intake as you gradually wean off the drug. We are dedicated to providing safe tramadol detox to our clients.
How does tramadol detox help recovery?
Tramadol detox is an immensely important part of your recovery, as it helps you to remove this substance from your system and begin to heal from addiction. At one of our inpatient clinics, you will not be alone during your tramadol detox. Instead, you will receive professional medical care and constant emotional support from our team of medical professionals.
Following withdrawal, your dependency on tramadol will be greatly reduced because your body will have adjusted to functioning without it. Many of our clients report that once they have completed tramadol detox, they have a renewed sense of purpose and motivation to change their life for the better. You will be able to focus on your recovery from tramadol abuse and get in touch with your personal dreams and ambitions.
What to do after tramadol detox ends
You should be very proud to complete tramadol detox; it is such a significant first step to taking back control of your life. In the context of inpatient rehab, the next steps after tramadol detox are the remaining components of your treatment programme.
Tramadol detox helps your body to physically heal from tramadol abuse. After detox, the holistic treatments, group sessions and psychological therapies in your treatment programme help you to heal mentally as our therapists teach new methods for coping with cravings, triggers and any underlying psychological causes of addiction. Additionally, our aftercare programme allows you to bond with other people who are also on a recovery journey.
Here at UKAT, we strive to provide holistic treatment programmes to help you work through the physical and psychological factors of your struggle. If you would like to learn more about tramadol detox and what your treatment programme with UKAT could look like, reach out to our admissions team and take your first step toward recovery today.