Though there are some medications out there with more serious side effects of dependency due to their higher opioid content, Tramadol is also known to cause addiction and neonatal dependency on the drug. A change in the diameter of the umbilical vessels is caused due to the painkillers, and this will have an effect on the flow of blood to your baby. This is why it is best to stay away from painkillers in general during your pregnancy unless you have no choice but to take them.
If the blood flow is restricted, your baby will not get enough nutrition, which will either result in restrictions in growth and in extreme and unfortunate cases, the death of the child. So, can you take tramadol while pregnant? Only if prescribed by your doctor when there is no other choice. It is best to stay away from it as it is not considered safe due to lack of proper study.
In tests done on animals, it showed that Tramadol has the possibility of causing moderate to severe damage in the foetus. Respiratory depression and collapse in the foetus is a very serious threat, and so the use of Tramadol is strictly forbidden during delivery. If you have taken Tramadol, let your doctor know about it and so that you can get the proper advice on how to go about it from there.
If at all your doctor feels you need it, the smallest possible dose will be prescribed to you. But most doctors will prescribe something that is less harmful. If you take them frequently and you want to stop, it is not advised that you stop taking it cold turkey. If the drug is stopped cold turkey, you are likely to experience irritation, anxiety or panic, diarrhoea , chills, hallucinations and so much more. Here are some of the complications or side effects associated with taking Tramadol during pregnancy:.
The central nervous system responds to pain differently because Tramadol changes this aspect, making it very easy to abuse the drug. Due to the potent and opioid components in this drug, it is addictive in nature, something that is very dangerous for babies. If this drug is used consistently, there is a high chance that babies will become dependent on it. Even after the drug is discontinued, babies will still experience withdrawal symptoms one month after birth.
Babies can also experience birth defects or premature births. A few other symptoms include irritability, jitteriness, seizures and abnormal muscular activity. If this drug is mixed with other medication it may cause uncontrollable shaking and seizures can result.
Even when taken in the correct dose, Tramadol has been known to cause side effects such as abdominal pain, itchiness and rashes, joint pains, depression, severe headaches, nausea and more. Like some other medications, Tramadol can be transferred into the breast milk. Symptoms of NAS are temporary, but may require close monitoring and medical treatment depending on their severity.
Tramadol abuse is not just dangerous for a developing baby, but for maternal health as well. Pregnancy can be a challenging time, fraught with bodily pains, aches, hormonal changes, and rapid mood swings.
Having a drug or alcohol problem can make these symptoms even worse. Over time, tramadol abuse can have physical, mental, and psychological effects that can add to the challenges of pregnancy. People who abuse tramadol often suffer from conditions such as malnourishment, which can endanger maternal health and fetal development.
Having higher stress levels, which is common during pregnancy, can also make a person more vulnerable to abusing drugs more frequently or in higher doses. This can put a person at higher risk for overdose, risking serious and potentially-fatal consequences. Although someone who is pregnant may be concerned about their drug abuse, having concerns is not always enough to be able to stop.
Addiction is a powerful disease that can make the idea of quitting a drug feel unattainable, out of reach, and hopeless. The first step to overcome tramadol abuse is to contact your doctor. Although talking about a drug problem can be difficult, reaching out to a doctor is the best way to find out what type of support and treatment you will need to help you recover. The type of treatment recommended by your doctor may depend on several factors, such as:.
If you have been taking tramadol as prescribed to treat acute or chronic pain, your doctor will likely create a tapering schedule for you to safely reduce your dosage until you are no longer taking the drug. If you are addicted to tramadol, a more intensive treatment program is likely to be recommended. The most supportive setting to receive intensive treatment for opioid abuse is an inpatient treatment program, which can offer hour supervision and support for people recovering from drug abuse.
Effective treatments offered within inpatient programs for opioid addiction may include:. Medical detox services: Medical detox services provide a safe and supervised setting for patients to undergo opioid detox and withdrawal. Under the supervision of medical professionals, patients may be treated with medicines to ease withdrawal symptoms and be monitored for other health concerns. Medication-assisted therapy: Medication-assisted therapy MAT is currently the most effective treatment for overcoming opioid abuse and dependence.
Some studies have identified the possibility of effects on the fetus. Further studies are needed to work out whether these problems were caused by tramadol or by other factors. When deciding whether to use tramadol during pregnancy it is therefore best to weigh up how necessary tramadol is to your health against any possible risks to you or your baby see below , some of which might depend on how many weeks pregnant you are.
It is important to appropriately treat pain in pregnancy. For some women with severe pain, treatment with tramadol in pregnancy might be considered the best option. Your doctor is the best person to help you decide what is right for you and your baby. Recreational social use of tramadol in pregnancy is not advised. If you are pregnant and use tramadol recreationally you should speak to your doctor or midwife about this. If necessary, they will be able to get you help and support to safely stop using tramadol.
If you have taken any medicines it is always a good idea to let your doctor know that you are pregnant so that you can decide together whether you still need the medicines that you are on and to make sure that you are taking the lowest dose that works.
It is mainly during this time that some medicines are known to cause birth defects. Two studies have been carried out that, together, include around 1, babies born to women who used tramadol to treat pain in early pregnancy.
The first small study provided no evidence that use of tramadol in pregnancy increases the risk of the baby having a birth defect. However, the second larger study suggested that babies born to women who used tramadol in early pregnancy were at increased risk of birth defects such as heart defects and talipes club foot.
Further large studies are therefore required before we can say whether use of tramadol in early pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects in the baby.
A single small study of around women using tramadol to treat pain in early pregnancy showed that they were about four times more likely to have a miscarriage than pregnant women not using tramadol. Further larger studies are therefore required to confirm this finding. No studies have investigated whether rates of stillbirth are increased in women who take tramadol in pregnancy.
A single small study of around women taking tramadol in the first trimester to treat pain provided no evidence that use increased the risk of preterm birth. Further large studies that include women taking tramadol at later stages of pregnancy are required before we can rule out that use of tramadol increases the risk of preterm birth.
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