Tramadol Addiction Treatment

The risk of becoming addicted to tramadol is much lower than its occurrence with more potent opioids; however, there are cases where individuals end up needing treatment to regain their sobriety. Maybe you went to the doctor last year because you were having constant abdominal pain. After visiting numerous specialists and being subjected to a multitude of tests, they find an obscure tumor. The pain has not subsided, so they eventually put you on tramadol so that you can function through your day. You find that it really does help, and you can feel the moment that it washes over you. You have never been one to form bad habits, but then again, you were never one to take drugs on a regular basis either. That all changed after a month of taking tramadol. Your brain rewired itself around the consistent influx of the Tramadol, making you feel like you need it even after the resolution of the cancer and the pain. Once you recognized the issue, you immediately sought the assistance of the experts at a Tramadol Addiction Treatment facility.

What exactly is tramadol?

The body deals with pain by sending neurotransmitters to bind with the opioid receptors in the central nervous system. Tramadol works by replicating the body’s processes. This member of the opioid family is prescribed to control pain of every degree and is a milder drug than morphine by about one tenth. Doctors administer it for moderate to severe pain in acute situations and offer an extended release form that helps ease chronic pain. It can lead to abuse and dependence even if taken as directed.

What signs tell me I should seek treatment for Tramadol addiction?

A mental addiction can occur regarding a substance, thing, or activity. Someone can feel like they need it to function normally, since the drug has changed the way the brain releases chemicals. Physical dependence occurs when the body has adapted its function around the substance and will rebel when you try to stop using it withdrawal symptoms. Knowing that you have a problem and continuing to take it is a sign that you could be addicted to tramadol, but there are other signs pointing to the need to seek out a Tramadol Addiction Treatment program:

• Uncontrollable cravings to use it
• Taking increasing amounts to achieve the same effects (built up tolerance)
• Always concerned about maintaining a constant supply
• Neglecting financial, familial, and health responsibilities
• Continuing to use it despite its negative effects
• Committing crimes or risky behaviors to obtain tramadol

Whether you are analyzing your own behavior or a that of a loved one, the line between use and abuse is fine, and it may be hard to tell if an addiction has formed. This is especially difficult if there is a mental health component involved. Signs that an addiction may exist include:

• Personality changes (mood swings and anxiety)
• Changes in appearance (weight change, poor hygiene, and pinpoint pupils)
• Behavioral changes (paranoia, aggression, and secrecy)
• Malnutrition
• Insomnia
• Financial issues (stealing things to sell for money and constantly wanting to borrow money)
• Withdrawing from normal social activities
• Neglect of school and work

How do I choose a Tramadol Addiction Treatment program?

When a substance takes over the brain, it is almost impossible for someone to be able to stop using it on their own. It has literally changed the process by which the chemicals are released from the brain. It has changed how it tells the body to operate. One of the most challenging aspects of addiction is recognizing that you need help to become sober. Choosing a treatment facility for tramadol addiction must done carefully so that the program that is eventually chosen complements your personality. Being surrounded by activities and ideals to which you relate is the best way to achieve success in becoming and remaining sober. So, what questions do you ask when you are looking into a specific facility?

• Are they experienced at treating tramadol and opioid addictions in general?
• Would in- or outpatient suit your addiction better and what length program (30 days, 60 days, 90 days, one year, or longer)? This is dependent upon the frequency and duration of the abuse.
• What amenities do they offer?
  • pet-friendly
  • Teen, men, or women only facilities
  • Couples drug rehab
  • Holistic
  • Faith-based (Jewish, Christian, Catholic)
  • Tai Chi
  • Yoga and meditation
• How much will tramadol treatment cost, does insurance cover it, and what are other payment options?
• Where is it located and is it far enough away from triggers but close enough to home for a support system to be involved?
• Do they offer dual diagnosis treatment if a mental disorder is discovered?

What happens in Tramadol Addiction Treatment?

There is the possibility of immediate admission into a program in emergent situations; however, there is typically an appointment made that gives the potential patient time to put their lives in order. This is a tenuous time in which someone can easily change their mind if they feel that they are doing fine on their own. Perhaps if they know what to expect, they will feel less intimidated by the whole process.

The initial assessment helps the staff develop a customized plan based on the answers to questions regarding frequency and duration of use, mental status, health history, and more. Each facility has its own procedure and offerings, but there is general order that has been proven over decades to be effective.  

• Detox
  • This is the elimination of the drug from the body. The discomfort can range from mild to life threatening, but a facility offers round the clock monitoring and medications to alleviate the danger, if necessary. It can take between 25 and 40 hours for tramadol to leave the system.
• Inpatient rehab is an option.
  • Patients live at the facility and attend counseling sessions that helps them resolve the reasons behind what led them down the path of abuse.
• Outpatient rehab is another option that can also occur after someone successfully completes an inpatient program.
  • Patients live at home but attend counseling sessions at intervals during the week.
• Group and individual counseling
  • Psychotherapy sessions use talk therapy and other means to resolve past traumas and teach coping mechanisms. Also teaches someone to recognize and avoid their triggers to prevent relapse.
• Aftercare
  • It can be difficult for a previous addict to transition back into a normal routine, so sober living homes and halfway houses help them find peer support from others who are facing similar situations.

What methods of therapy are effective in Tramadol Addiction Treatment?

Going through detox is almost never enough to rid an addict of their desire to use Tramadol. Life can be stressful, but it can also bring a great deal of joy. Substance abuse programs want nothing more than to help people in recovery find that joy once again. That occurs with a combination of therapies that include:

• CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) - Patients are taught the coping mechanisms to learn how to face the stresses that life brings. When they apply this, it helps them change their damaging thoughts and behaviors to productive ones.
• DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) – A form of CBT teaching the patient to recognize what triggers them to use and how to avoid them and manage them when they arise. Converting negative to positive behaviors will help them live a full life. This is highly effective in those in dual diagnosis treatment.
• MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment) – Using medications to reduce intense cravings and the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms.
  • Metocloperimide – reduces nausea and vomiting
  • Loperamide – reduces the occurrence of diarrhea
  • Clonidine – allevaites anxiety and sweating
  • Valium – lessens anxiety and insomnia
  • Methadone - relieves withdrawal symptoms and prevents the euphoric effects. It can be acquired at methadone clinics for extended use.
  • Suboxone – relieves withdrawal symptoms and prevents the euphoric effects and can be acquired at suboxone clinics for extended use. Less addictive than methadone.
  • Naloxone – reverses the affects of overdoses.
  • Ibuprofen and acetaminophen – eases muscle aches
• MM (Matrix Model) – An encouraging and supportive relationship is formed between therapist and patient. This has proven to improve self-esteem.
• REBT (Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy) - Learning how to manage common self-defeating emotions, like guilt and shame.
• MI (Motivational Interviewing) – MI has been highly effective helping individuals who were initially against being admitted to rehab. They adapt and become involved in their own recovery.
• CM (Contingency Management) – Incentives help patients maintain sobriety and remain in Tramadol treatment with certain behaviors, such as a clean drug test or attending counseling sessions.

Can I afford Tramadol Addiction Treatment?

How can you afford NOT to go? Can you afford to lose everything in your life and still enjoy it? Choosing a facility can be stressful and figuring out finances to pay for it can be enough to send some people back to their drug of choice. They need not feel this way with the options that are available to anyone who needs the help.

Humans deserve as many chances as it takes to be able to have the mindset to live a fulfilling and happy life. This is the goal of not only every addict but also of every Tramadol Addiction treatment program.

90 days of outpatient rehab can run up to about $5,000 with a luxury program running a tab of $10,000. Inpatient rehab involves supplementary food and housing so on average costs extra at approximately $6,000 for a 30-day program. Costs can be $20,000 for renowned programs with longer term treatments having a price tag between $12,000 and $60,000. Rates of inpatient treatment depend on the frequency and duration of the visits. This sounds intimidating but there is always hope in the wide selection of payment methods to choose from: 

• Health insurance – Each plan covers a different length of time in a facility and is the most common payment method.
  • Medicare and Medicaid
  • ACA (Affordable Care Act) or Obamacare
  • Private insurance coverage can be found in most of the major companies — including Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem, Aetna, and many more.
  • Veterans who attend VA treatment programs have government funded insurance that covers it.
• Scholarships and Grants – SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) helps patients and families pay for the cost of rehab and offers a vast array of helpful information.
• Sliding scale payments customized to income levels.
• Savings - IRAs, 401k plans, home equity, and other accounts.
• Fundraising organizations manage donations with those who wanting to help also being able to make payments directly to the facility.

Millions of people face the physical and mental need to use mind-altering substances every day just to be able to live their life. You may have made the decision to take that first pill, but it was necessary for the pain you experienced every second of every day. It did help alleviate the pain in the beginning. You did not choose to be diagnosed with cancer, nor the pain that accompanies it. Finding pain remedies to get you back to the life that you once enjoyed starts with removing the thing from your daily regimen that has begun to ruin it … tramadol. Instead of spiraling down the road of addiction even further and completely losing relationships and finances, find a thorough resolution in a Tramadol Addiction Treatment program.