Can You Snort Tramadol?

Tramadol is a synthetic opioid that doctors prescribe to treat moderate to severe pain. It is usually preferred instead of more potent opioids like hydrocodone or oxycodone. Despite being weaker than other opioids, tramadol is still habit-forming and addictive.

Tramadol is considered a Schedule IV controlled substance indicating a low to moderate potential for abuse.[1] It is only used for short-term treatment. Unfortunately, you can find tramadol in the street, which means many people abuse it to get high. One way people may abuse tramadol is by snorting it.

Snorting tramadol is dangerous and can lead to a variety of health risks, including nasal damage, serotonin syndrome, seizures, and overdose.

An addiction treatment program like the Mandala Healing Center can help you recover from tramadol addiction. Our facility offers treatment options like medical detox, evidence-based behavioral therapies, and relapse prevention planning.

In this article, you will learn:

• Whether you can snort tramadol
• What are the effects of snorting tramadol
• What are the dangers of snorting tramadol

Do People Snort Tramadol?

Tramadol is a prescription opioid that can lead to long-term addiction. If you have been abusing tramadol, you might begin to wonder whether snorting it will cause a more intense high. While insufflating tramadol will cause more potent effects, it puts you at an increased risk of life-threatening effects.

When tramadol is snorted, the blood vessels in your nose absorb it immediately. As a result, it quickly travels into your bloodstream to cause intense effects. Your brain will release high amounts of dopamine, leading to feelings of euphoria and pleasure.

As a result, snorting it increases your likelihood of developing an addiction. Additionally, it can be difficult to determine what dose you are consuming when you snort it. You could accidentally take a higher dose and suffer from a tramadol overdose.

What are the Effects of Snorting Tramadol?

When snorting tramadol, the effects will begin quickly and be more potent. You can expect to experience the following:[2]

• A rush of euphoria or pleasure
• Dizziness and drowsiness
• Changes in mood
• Irritability or nervousness
• Headaches
• Shakiness or tremors
• Nausea and vomiting
• Itchiness
• Muscle tension
• Breathing difficulties
• Dry mouth and heartburn
• Sedation or loss of consciousness

Tramadol attaches to your opioid receptors to cause effects like euphoria, dizziness, drowsiness, and sedation. When you are high on tramadol, your pupils might become small or pinpoint. It is also common for your skin to feel itchy and to experience nausea.

Risks of Snorting Tramadol

While snorting tramadol can lead to pleasurable effects like euphoria and drowsiness, it is also incredibly risky. If you struggle with tramadol abuse, it is important to be aware of the dangers of snorting the drug.

Sinus Damage

Snorting any substance can lead to nasal damage. You have to crush up a pill to create a powder, leaving jagged edges that can scratch the inside of your sinuses.

Snorting tramadol can lead to the following types of sinus damage:

• Difficulty smelling
• Frequent nosebleed
• Increased infections in the sinuses
• Trouble swallowing
• Damage to the soft palate in the mouth
• Destruction of the septum

Serotonin Syndrome

Tramadol causes your brain to release more serotonin. If you are abusing it, you could cause your brain to release too much of it, leading to serotonin syndrome.

The symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include:[3]

• Muscle rigidity and spasms
• Excessive sweating and tremors
• Fast heart rate and high blood pressure
• Rapid breathing
• Agitation and confusion
• Seizures

If you believe you have developed serotonin syndrome, contact emergency medical services immediately.

Seizures

The way that tramadol affects your neurotransmitters can lead to an increased risk of seizures, especially when you are snorting high doses. According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), 50% of people who abuse tramadol will experience a seizure.[4]

Unfortunately, seizures can be life-threatening without immediate medical intervention. If you experience symptoms like loss of consciousness, stiff muscles, or jerking motions, contact 911 immediately.

Overdose

Lastly, when you are crushing up tramadol pills to snort them, it can be hard to determine what dose you are taking. It is easy to accidentally take too much at once, leading to an overdose.

Opioid overdoses are life-threatening and require immediate medical intervention. Contact 911 if you notice the following symptoms:[5]

• Bluish tint to lips or fingernails
• Weakened pulse or heart rate
• Labored, slowed, or stopped breathing
• Choking or gurgling noises
• Loss of consciousness and sedation
• Seizures
• Coma

Find Help for Tramadol Abuse and Addiction

Prescription drugs like tramadol are not intended to be snorted. Not only can you develop an addiction, but you can also experience dangerous conditions like serotonin syndrome or suffer from an overdose. As a result, you should seek help from a drug rehab program if you snort tramadol.

At the Mandala Healing Center, we offer clinically proven treatments for tramadol addiction. During our program, you will receive medical detox, evidence-based therapies, psychological support, and more. Our addiction experts use a compassionate approach to substance abuse recovery to ensure you feel comfortable opening up about the root causes of your addiction.

Contact us today for more information on how to recover from tramadol addiction.

References:

1. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ): Tramadol
2. Medline Plus: Tramadol
3. Merck Manuals: Serotonin Syndrome
4. The National Library of Medicine (NLM): Tramadol
5. The World Health Organization (WHO): Opioid Overdose