How Long Does Tramadol Stay in Your System

How Long Does Tramadol Stay in Your System Addiction Drug Use Opioids Print How Long Does Tramadol Stay in Your System? Tramadol in Your Blood, Urine, Hair, Saliva By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on February 10, 2020 Verywell / Cindy Chung More in Addiction Drug Use Opioids Cocaine Heroin Marijuana Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery In This Article Table of Contents Expand Effects Duration Factors That Affect Detection Time Elimination Symptoms of Overdose Getting Help View All Back To Top Tramadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic medication used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain. It is available under brand names including ConZip, FusePaq Synapryn, Rybix, Ryzolt, and Ultram. Knowing how long it stays in your system can help you understand the precautions needed to avoid drug interactions and possible overdose. There is a special concern with this medication being used for children, so discuss this with your doctor. Like Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (diazepam), Tramadol is classified as a Schedule IV drug in the United States, meaning it has a low potential for addiction and abuse, even at prescribed doses, though addiction is still possible. Tramadol is not screened for on standard 5-panel and 10-panel drug tests, however, it will show up on other drug tests for prescription pain medications. How Long Does Tramadol Stay in Your System? Blood: Up to 48 hoursUrine: 24 to 72 hoursSaliva: Up to 48 hoursHair: 30 to 90 days How Long Does It Take to Feel the Effects? Tramadol works on the pain receptors in your brain and throughout your central nervous system, inhibiting the reuptake of two neurotransmitters: serotonin and norepinephrine. The pain relief effects begin about an hour after a dose and peaks in two to four hours. There are also extended relief versions of tramadol that dispense dosages in phases over a longer time frame. This means that a single extended relief pill acts longer in your system. While its active, tramadol depresses breathing and causes the pupils to constrict. It reduces motility in your digestive system so food takes longer to digest and you are likely to experience constipation. It dilates your blood vessels, and you may have flushing, itching, sweating, red eyes, and experience dizziness or faintness when you get up after having been lying down. How Long Does Tramadol Last? According to the FDA, the half-life of tramadol in the blood is between five and nine hours, and even longer for people who have been taking multiple doses. The half-life is the time it takes half of a dose to be eliminated by the body. Complete elimination takes about five to six times as long as the half-life. Tramadol is broken down in the liver and excreted mostly by the kidneys in the urine. About 30% of the dose is excreted unchanged, 60% excreted as identified metabolites, including M1 and N-desmethyl tramadol, and 10% excreted as unidentified metabolites. Blood Blood tests can detect tramadol most quickly after its been used, typically up to 48 hours after last use. Urine Tramadol is typically detectable in urine for one to four days. Because the drugs metabolites are eliminated through urine, a urine test typically shows a higher concentration of tramadol than other drug test types. Saliva Tramadol can be detected in saliva for up to 48 hours after the last use. Hair A hair follicle test can detect tramadol in your system for 30 to 90 days. False Positive Testing While there arent many substances that can trigger a false positive for tramadol, tramadol and its metabolites can trigger a false positive for other substances such as PCP and buprenorphine. As a result, you will want to alert your testing facility in advance that you are prescribed tramadol. Factors That Affect Detection Time About 7% of people are poor metabolizers of tramadol, due to reduced activity of the CYP2D6 isoenzyme of cytochrome P-450. For people in this population, it takes significantly longer to break down tramadol as well as tricyclic antidepressants and other drugs. As a result, they have a more active drug in their bloodstream for a longer time. These people are at risk if taking other medications that further reduce the actions of the enzymes that break down tramadol. In addition, there are other factors that can affect the drugs detection time, including: Dosage: Higher doses will take longer to metabolize.Frequency of use: Tramadol accumulates in the body as more doses are taken; if some of the previous doses havent completely broken down, your body will likely take longer to metabolize additional doses.Metabolism: A slower metabolic rate will increase the amount of time it takes tramadol to break down; activity level, diet, and body composition can all affect metabolism.Reduced kidney or liver function: Impairment of the organs the body uses to get rid of waste will increase the amount of time tramadol stays in your body.Age: People over the age of 75 metabolize more slowly, may take additional medications that affect metabolism, and are also at a higher risk for impaired kidney or liver function. All of these factors usually result in a slower metabolism for older people. Drops vs. Injections vs. Pills The pill form of tramadol is absorbed slower by the body as well as excreted more slowly than either the drop or injected form. How to Get Tramadol Out of Your System Contrary to popular belief, exercising or drinking water will not help you metabolize tramadol significantly faster to beat a drug test. The only way to get tramadol out of your system is to stop taking the drug and allow your body time to process and eliminate it. If you suspect an overdose of tramadol, administering Narcan (naloxone), often available at local health departments as a nasal spray, will inhibit the dangerous effects of too much tramadol on the respiratory system, though it will not speed up the elimination of the tramadol. Keep this in mind as it may be necessary to administer the second dose of naloxone if enough tramadol remains in the body. Symptoms of Overdose To prevent an overdose of tramadol, you must only take the amount prescribed as prescribed on the schedule prescribed. It is dangerous to crush or cut extended relief tablets or capsules as doing so will release a larger dose all at once. Symptoms of a tramadol overdose can include: Constricted pupilsBlue or purplish-black fingernails and lipsPulse (heartbeat) that is slow, erratic, or not detectableSlow, shallow, erratic, or stopped breathingUnconsciousnessMaking a snore-like gurgling noise or choking soundsNon-responsive to outside stimulusMuscle weaknessCold, clammy skinSeizures Tramadol interacts with many other medications, which can lead to life-threatening health concerns including breathing problems, sedation, and coma. Of special concern are interactions with benzodiazepines, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and alcohol. Discuss all medications you take, plan to take, or plan to stop taking with your doctor so these can be screened and adjusted to prevent a dangerous interaction. Do not drink alcohol, take medication containing alcohol, or use street drugs while taking tramadol or you risk a serious, possibly life-threatening interaction. As with the case of all opioid drugs, tramadol overdoses can be treated with  Narcan (naloxone)  if they are detected early enough. If you think someone has overdosed, call 911 immediately, administer naloxone, and begin CPR if possible. Understanding Opioid Overdoses Getting Help If you stop using it suddenly, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, muscle aches and pain, excessive sweating, and insomnia. Tramadol withdrawal can begin one to two days after the  last dose, peak after day three, and subside within one to two weeks. Your doctor will give an appropriate discontinuation schedule when its time to stop using tramadol to avoid these symptoms. Tramadol carries a high risk of dependence, even when taken as prescribed. Treatment options for  opiate use disorder  include: Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with  buprenorphine  or methadoneHarm reduction  psychotherapyPrograms designed to help get you off of opiates in a sustainable way When transitioning off of opioids like tramadol, your doctor may prescribe other medications to ease withdrawal symptoms and prevent breakthrough pain. If you want to stop taking tramadol, start by talking to your doctor for advice and assistance or contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 1-800-662-4357. They also have a free,  online tool  to find treatment options in your area.