Tramadol and insomnia go hand in hand, as disturbances in sleep patterns are one of the most common side effects of tramadol consumption. The drug usually affects sleep architecture, decreasing the duration of restorative sleep and simultaneously causing fatigue, sleepiness, and exhaustion.
Read along to discover the relationship between tramadol and insomnia in detail—specifically, how tramadol can cause insomnia, what some of the common consequences of using this drug are, and more.
What Is Tramadol, and How Does It Work?
Tramadol is a synthetic opioid classified as a Schedule IV drug, often used for alleviating moderate to moderately severe pain.
Tramadol comes in several forms, including immediate and extended-release capsules and tablets, injection solutions, powders, and suspensions for oral use.
It is considered a milder, safer analgesic compared to other pain medications like oxycodone or hydrocodone. As a result, it’s widely prescribed and sold under numerous brand names, including Ultram®, Ultram ER®, ConZip®, Ryzolt®, and Qdolo®. On the streets, it goes by Ultras, Trams, Chill Pill, and Trammies.
However, despite its advertised safety, tramadol can cause addiction and dependence, just like any other opioid. Its mild antidepressant properties further exacerbate this—the drug inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, regulating mood and causing feelings of pleasure and euphoria.
Due to its addictive properties, tramadol is not recommended for long-term use or the treatment of chronic pain. It’s important to take it exactly as prescribed to minimize the risk of adverse effects, dependence, or overdose.
Side Effects of Using Tramadol
The common side effects of using tramadol include:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Heartburn
- Dry mouth
- Sleepiness
- Headaches
- Drowsiness
- Constipation
Typically, these side effects go away on their own after a few days. However, you may also experience severe side effects, which may be a medical emergency.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms:
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Shallow breathing
- Increased heart rate
- Lack of coordination
- High blood pressure
How Does Tramadol Affect Your Sleep?
Tramadol affects your sleep by causing difficulties falling asleep and disturbances in normal sleep patterns. In some cases, this can lead to the development of insomnia and prolonged feelings of fatigue, drowsiness, and exhaustion.
This may be counterintuitive since tramadol is considered a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. By binding to opioid receptors, it blocks the transmission of pain signals to the brain and slows down its overall activity. As a result, you may feel sleepy, calm, and somewhat sedated after taking the drug.
Nevertheless, tramadol doesn’t improve sleep and may negatively affect its architecture. A study by B. Walder et al. from the Geneva University Hospital showed that the drug decreases the duration of deep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and prolonged stages of lighter sleep. Consequently, tramadol users are less likely to feel well-rested and refreshed.
Furthermore, tramadol’s effect seems to be dose-dependent. A different study by Hungarian researchers concluded that lower doses promoted wakefulness in the first hours after intake, while higher doses initially induced sleep and then caused wakefulness.
Finally, since tramadol is a respiratory depressant like other opioids, it can lead to sleep apnea—a potentially life-threatening condition in which breathing briefly stops. It’s worth noting that this is a relatively rare occurrence, though, and it usually happens among patients who use tramadol regularly.
The Dangers of Tramadol-Induced Insomnia
Tramadol-induced insomnia is dangerous for both the body and the mind, as it deprives the organism of much-needed rest. Deep sleep benefits physical health, aids memory consolidation, enhances emotional regulation, and improves cognition.
Therefore, when you have tramadol-induced insomnia, you may experience the following:
- Weakened immune system. Sleep and the immune system are tightly intertwined—people who have insomnia tend to fall ill more frequently than those who sleep regularly. That’s because sleep promotes the production of immune cells, the first line of defense against pathogens entering the body.
- Higher risk of diabetes. Chronic insomnia can disrupt the hormonal balance in the body, thus affecting the levels of sugar in the blood. As a result, people who don’t get enough sleep are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes or worsening their condition if they already have it.
- Heart issues. Although the connection between insomnia and heart problems isn’t fully understood, it indeed does exist. A likely explanation is that sleep disturbance activates the body’s stress response, gradually weakening the heart.
- Decreased cognitive performance. Insomnia affects memory, decision-making, alertness, and reflexes, making you slower and more reckless than usual. For that reason, people who suffer from sleep deprivation are at a greater risk of making careless mistakes and experiencing car accidents.
Physical Dependence and Addiction to Tramadol
Physical dependence and addiction to tramadol often go hand in hand, but they don’t always have to. Similarly to other opioids, tramadol first causes dependence, which is characterized by tolerance and flu-like withdrawal symptoms. Addiction comes later when your need for tramadol gains a psychological component as well.
Tramadol abuse may be less common than other types of opioid addiction, but even so, approximately 1.5% of Americans with a tramadol prescription misused it in 2013. This was a significant increase compared to 2002 when tramadol abuse stood at 0.4%.
Furthermore, tramadol was the 41st most commonly prescribed drug in 2021—not as frequently prescribed as hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine, but still among the most common opioids.
ANR Opioid Dependence Treatment
Accelerated Neuro-Regulation (ANR) is a highly effective opioid dependence treatment that can help you fully overcome tramadol dependence in a matter of days.
Developed by Dr. Andre Waismann, unlike rapid detox ANR focuses on directly addressing the root cause of opioid dependence rather than only flushing the drug out of your body and managing withdrawal symptoms. In other words, it re-regulates the endorphin-receptor system and returns the brain to its pre-addiction state.
As a result, ANR has an extremely high success rate and significantly minimizes the likelihood of relapse. It also effectively eliminates uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, allowing the patients to return to their normal lives approximately 36 hours after the beginning of the process.
The treatment itself takes only 4–6 hours. During this time, the patient is placed under deep sedation and monitored by board-certified anesthesiologists and highly experienced medical staff. The re-regulation process occurs at this stage and is entirely painless and discomfort-free.
Start your journey toward recovery today by contacting us and scheduling a consultation.
Key Takeaways
Tramadol and insomnia are undeniably correlated, as the drug frequently affects sleep patterns and causes difficulties falling and staying asleep.
Let’s take a brief look at the key points we’ve covered today:
- Tramadol causes insomnia, fatigue, and exhaustion by decreasing the duration of deep, restorative sleep and prolonging the stages of light sleep.
- Although it’s a CNS depressant, tramadol can’t be used for sleep, anxiety, or any chronic conditions due to its habit-forming properties.
- Tramadol addiction isn’t as common as other types of opioid addiction, but its consequences can be just as severe.
Tramadol and Insomnia FAQ
Stopping tramadol can cause insomnia along with other withdrawal symptoms, such as chills, diarrhea, nausea, restlessness, and stomach and muscle pain. However, you can skip this uncomfortable phase altogether by undergoing the ANR procedure, which restores your central nervous system balance.
Tramadol can make you sleepy for a few hours after ingestion, but the actual duration of this side effect depends on whether it is immediate or extended-release. Other factors, such as your metabolism, age, or body weight, may also affect it.
It’s not advisable to take any sleeping aid with tramadol due to potentially harmful drug interactions between the two substances. Both tramadol and sleeping pills are CNS depressants, so using them together can result in severe side effects and an increased risk of overdose.
You may struggle to fall asleep after taking tramadol because this opioid affects brain chemistry, potentially leading to insomnia and changes in sleep patterns. It’s not entirely clear why that is the case, but it is one of the most common side effects of the drug.
You should avoid driving, operating heavy machinery, or performing any tasks that require cognitive alertness for at least a few hours after taking tramadol. If you are unfamiliar with this drug, it’s best not to engage in these activities until you learn how your body reacts to it.
Yes, tramadol is addictive, although it’s considered safer than opioids such as oxycodone or hydrocodone. Nevertheless, it’s a habit-forming medication that has a potential for abuse, especially when misused.
You shouldn’t drink alcohol with tramadol, as combining the two dramatically increases your risk of overdosing and experiencing severe side effects. Generally speaking, it’s best to avoid consuming any other CNS depressants with tramadol, be they alcohol, sedatives, or other opioids.
It’s not recommended to take tramadol while pregnant, as the baby can be affected by neonatal withdrawal syndrome. In other words, the baby would be exposed to tramadol through the placenta and potentially experience severe withdrawal symptoms after birth.
