Written by Felix Chidi Wobialor
"After you go say you be hard man,only 200mg,you no dey see road again,they all laughed!!!
It is the talk of the town, yes! it is currently the anthem on the mouth and lips of the youth.
We have turned it into joke,but gradually it's taking over the youths and robbing them of their usefulness.Others say it enables them to last long in bed, it boost our energy for us to perform well in our daily activities hence the rush on this drug, tramadol!
Obviously, one of the ill plaguing Nigeria today is the misuse of drugs specifically "Tramadol" and other forms of substances which are either poorly regulated or banned for use in the country.
It is in the light of this unfortunate situation that I'll carefully examine the menace, causes, effects of using the un-prescribed drugs and suggest ways to ameliorate it.
Tramol as is popularly known had been in existence for the purpose of pain relieve use to mitigate the extreme pain one goes through in the process of a successful surgery or operation.
How is Tramadol Abused?
Any non-medical use of tramadol can be considered as abuse. Tramadol is apparently abused for its euphoric effect and its potential ability to lengthen the ejaculatory latency period.
Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common male sexual disorder. Perceived or real premature ejaculation is associated with sexual anxiety and altered sensitivity to serotonin (a chemical present in the brain that sends signals between nerve cells in the brain).
Tramadol begins to produce effects one hour after dosing, which reach a peak at 2 to 3 hours. Tramadol itself has an elimination half life of 6.3 hours, M1 has a half life of 7.4 hours. As such, tramadol is longer acting than codeine, hydrocodone, and other opiates, with efects which may last up to 8 hours. Tramadol is typically given every 4 to 6 hours when prescribed for pain. Steady state blood levels are generally reached within 2 days with regular dosing (every 6 hours).
Effects of Tramadol Over use
Although these effects may be less pronounced, or unattainable in the opioid tolerant individual. Subjective effects may include analgesia, anxiolysis, wakefulness or trouble sleeping, a sense of motivation, relaxation, a sense of well being and a positive effect on mood. Tramadol is much less sedating than typical opioids, due to its effects on norepinephrine (i.e. noradrenaline).
Side effects may include miosis, constipation, nausea and vomiting, respiratory depression, myoclonus, headache, ear ringing, orthostatic hypotension, sweating, and hot flashes. Little or no significant histamine release has been observerved in studies, though itching has been reported by individuals. As with any opioid, tramadol can cause respiratory depression which can be harmful or fatal, though this is rare with tramadol, and occurs mainly in naive individuals with excessive doses. One hazard which sets tramadol apart from other opioids is the very real risk of serotonin syndrome and grand mal seizure - Doses in excess of 400mg in 24 hours is likely to provoke seizures and in severe cases death.
Are abusers justified then?
Even though there is some evidence to support the use of Tramadol in the short-term management of premature ejaculation, this should not be encouraged because the risk involved is higher and there are better and safer alternatives. Besides, abusers rarely follow any medical advice in using tramadol.
In our case, abusers who withdraw often suffer from a heightened form of premature ejaculation. Abusers are then forced to resort to it, this time at higher doses. According to scientific studies, however, opioids misuse can lower the levels of the male sex hormone (testosterone), suppress sexual function in men and cause erectile dysfunction (impotence) later in life. They can also contribute to low libido and difficulty with orgasm in both men and women.
