Tramadol is a strong prescription painkiller, used to treat moderate to severe pain. You will usually be prescribed tramadol by a healthcare professional if you’ve suffered an injury or gone through an operation. You may also take tramadol for ongoing pain when less strong, over-the-counter painkillers haven’t been effective.

When you take tramadol the way you’re supposed to, as advised by your doctor or healthcare professional, it can be a very effective pain relieving drug that can significantly improve your quality of life. However, like with some other types of prescription drug, if you take tramadol for a prolonged period of time, or don’t take it in an appropriate way, it’s possible for a tramadol addiction to develop.

If you think you’re struggling with tramadol dependency, it’s important to understand that this condition is entirely treatable and you don’t have to suffer in silence. The most crucial step you can take is to seek specialist help for your tramadol addiction, helping you to overcome your dependency and get your life back on track. At Priory, we can help you to do this.

Is tramadol addictive?

If you take tramadol over a long period of time, your body may become accustomed to having this drug in your system which means that you can become dependent on it in order to function in your daily life. You may also experience withdrawal symptoms if you try to stop taking tramadol or are unable to obtain another prescription. Also, over time, you may develop a tolerance to tramadol, meaning that you need to take more of the drug in order to feel the effects you crave.

What are the effects of tramadol?

Additionally, people often find that taking tramadol causes them to feel other effects as well as its pain relieving properties. For example, it can make you feel pleasure, euphoria and relaxation – effects which some people can find to be very addictive. This can lead you to want to take tramadol over and over again, even when your pain has subsided, until you eventually develop a harmful addiction to this prescription drug.

This is why it’s so important to get help as soon as possible if you think you may have developed an addiction to tramadol.

Help is available for tramadol addiction - steps towards recovery

Our addiction rehab experts at Priory understand that tramadol addiction is a serious condition and it can have a negative impact on lots of different areas of your life, affecting you mentally, physically, socially and professionally.

Without prescription drug addiction treatment, your tramadol addiction may get gradually worse and can even lead to you developing other addictions and compulsive behaviours including other drug addictions, alcohol addiction, and behaviours such as gambling and compulsive internet use. This is why it’s so important to get support for your tramadol misuse.  

You really don’t have to struggle on your own with tramadol addiction. Our specialist addiction rehab centres and expert addiction treatment teams, consisting of psychiatrists, psychologists and counsellors, can help you to address your issues and take steps towards the drug-free life you deserve. In addition, our nationwide network of private UK hospitals and wellbeing centres mean you can access support in a location that’s near you.

It’s never too late to seek help; we can help you to regain control of your life. Contact Priory today to find out how we can help you every step of the way towards a positive way of life.

A free no-obligation addiction assessment

The first step in your addiction rehab journey will be for you to have a free, no-obligation addiction assessment with a member of our specialist team. We understand that admitting you have a problem and seeking help can be incredible daunting. That’s why we have tried to make this process as simple and straightforward as possible. Our tramadol addiction assessment gives you the chance to:

• Have a confidential discussion about your tramadol addiction and the symptoms you’re experiencing, with one of our addiction specialists
• Explore the tramadol addiction treatment options that are best suited to your unique condition
• Begin to develop an understanding of the tramadol rehab journey at Priory

Your addiction assessment will take place in a safe and compassionate environment. Ultimately, the purpose of this initial assessment is to answer any questions that you have on the treatment and recovery process, and help put your mind at ease.

What happens during tramadol addiction rehab at Priory?

Tramadol rehab at Priory usually takes place as part of our 28-day Addiction Treatment Programme. During this, you will stay at one of our hospital sites on a residential basis, where you’ll receive expert addiction treatment and help. While 28 days is the recommended treatment time for addictions, we can also consider flexible treatment lengths depending on your needs and individual circumstances.

The first step in your addiction treatment journey may be for you to have a medically assisted withdrawal detoxification process. This is the process by which all traces of tramadol are removed from your body in a carefully controlled environment, while managing any withdrawal symptoms you may get.

Following detox, you’ll then be ready to join our specialist individual and group therapy sessions, where we will help you to:

• Explore the causes and triggers for your tramadol misuse
• Learn healthy coping strategies for the future
• Take steps towards recovery and wellbeing

Our leading 28-day tramadol Addiction Treatment Programme consists of:

• Free, no obligation addiction assessment, allowing you to talk about your addiction in a discreet and confidential environment, learn about our treatment options and start your journey towards rehabilitation and recovery - book your appointment today. Some of our Priory sites require that you receive a consultant assessment prior to your initial addiction assessment
• Medically assisted withdrawal detox for your tramadol addiction, if this is needed. The purpose of this is to rid your body of all traces of tramadol, while minimising withdrawal symptoms
• Individual 1:1 therapy and structured group therapy programmes
• Family and couples therapy programmes
• Access to both on and off-site 12-Step support groups, individually tailored to your unique addiction
• Free aftercare for 12 months following treatment (aftercare is provided for life following treatment at Priory Hospital Roehampton and Manor Clinic)
• Free family support for 12 months following treatment (family support is provided for life following treatment at Priory Hospital Roehampton and Manor Clinic)

As well as providing residential addiction help, we can also offer outpatient and day care tramadol addiction treatment at Priory. Day care and outpatient treatment can be used as an entry-point to addiction rehab, or they can be used as a step-down if you’ve already gone through a residential programme. The type of treatment you receive depends on the level of support you need for your tramadol dependency. However, if a detox is needed, this will need to happen on an inpatient basis.

For more detailed information on our expert tramadol Addiction Treatment Programme, as well as the different types of addiction therapy we can offer, please visit our approach to addiction treatment page.

A highly qualified addiction treatment team

Our addiction treatment teams at Priory are made up of highly qualified experts, all of whom have lots of experience in treating a whole range of addictions, including tramadol addiction. We make sure that the support you receive with us is individually tailored according to your personal needs, meaning that you’ll be able to achieve the best outcomes for you. We are dedicated to helping you every step of the way towards a healthy, happy and fulfilling future.

Also, our treatment environments have been designed with you in mind, providing beautiful, calm and safe sanctuaries for you to address your issues. We are recovery-focused and patient-centred, helping you to achieve positive mental wellbeing and a sustainable recovery. You really are in safe hands with Priory.

This page was clinically reviewed by Sam Hickey (BA), Addiction Treatment Programme Manager at Priory Hospital Woking, in May 2022.