Tramadol Overdose Symptoms and Treatment
Tramadolis the generic name for the drug Ultram, which is an opioid painkiller medication prescribed to treat moderate to moderately severe pain in adults.1
Opioid medications have a high addiction potential, and overdose can be deadly—in fact, a startling 17,536 people died in 2015 due to opioid painkiller overdose.2 Learning how to recognize the symptoms of a tramadol overdose may one day mean the difference between life and death.
Signs and Symptoms
People who abuse tramadol in any way put themselves at some risk of overdosing, though toxicity is rare when the drug is used in isolation. Typically, overdose occurs in the case of tramadol use in combination with other drugs, such as other opioids or antidepressants (SSRIs, in particular). If a user presents with any of the following symptoms, call for emergency medical help immediately:3,4,5
- Respiratory distress
- Irregular heart rate
- Irregular heart rhythm
- Changes in pupil size
- Unconsciousness
- Vomiting
- Pale or clammy skin
- Hyperthermia
- Muscle rigidity
- Muscle pain
- Limp or weakened body
- Purple or bluish color to nails and lips
- Seizures
It is important to remember that an overdose can become life-threatening. Waiting to call for emergency help may mean the difference between life and death for a suffering individual.
Risk Factors
Abusing tramadol is the main risk factor when it comes to overdose. People abuse the drug by:
- Taking it without a prescription.
- Consuming it at higher doses than prescribed.
- Using it in a way other than intended (for example, snorting or injecting).
Doing any of the above puts a person in danger of overdosing. Abusing tramadol can also lead to the development of a tolerance, meaning the user will need more and more of the drug to get the desired effects. Tolerance can cause the user to take increasing doses, which further increases their risk of overdosing.
Relapse is another major risk factor for tramadol overdose. When a recovering person relapses, they do not have the same level of tolerance as they had before becoming abstinent. They may attempt to return immediately to their pre-abstinence dose, which may be too high for their body to handle without the built-up tolerance. This can result in a deadly overdose.
Combining tramadol with other drugs can lead to a new, more dangerous, symptom profile that also increases the person’s risk of overdose. When taken with certain kinds of drugs, such as alcohol, the breathing and heart rate problems associated with abuse may be pushed to lethal extremes.
Another risky combination is taking tramadol while concurrently taking antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), venlafaxine, and bupropion.6 This combination can drastically heighten the risk for seizures and serotonin syndrome, which is an atypical type of overdose involving neuromuscular hyperactivity, autonomic hyperactivity, and disrupted mental functioning.6
The only safe way to take tramadol is to closely follow the doctor’s prescription guidelines since abusing it may lead to tolerance, dependence, addiction, or even a deadly overdose. Never share your prescription with someone who does not have a doctor’s recommendation and never take it in a way other than intended.
What to Do If You Overdose on Tramadol
If you or someone you care about experiences any of the above symptoms after ingesting tramadol, call 911 immediately.
Tramadol overdose can be a deadly condition, and only medical professionals can ensure the best treatment for the suffering individual. While waiting for emergency crews to arrive, note everything you can about the person’s condition to report to the medical team. In addition, ensure that the overdosing person is awake and upright if you can. If they have stopped breathing, a trained individual should perform CPR.
Once the medical team arrives, the person’s heart rate, breathing, temperature, blood pressure, and other vital signs will be closely monitored and symptoms addressed as required. Sometimes the use of a medicine that blocks the effects of opioids, naloxone, may be administered.7 Naloxone can quickly block and reverse the dangerous effects of opioid overdose, which may save the person’s life.
Overdose prevention begins with professional treatment. Don’t wait until it’s too late—a tramadol overdose can be fatal. Formal treatment programs can provide the sobriety support needed to get clean and stay abstinent. Call our treatment support hotline at to find the right program and begin your recovery journey today.