How Long Does Tramadol Stay in Your System?

Table of Contents
What Is Tramadol Used For?
For many patients, chronic pain can make daily physical and social aspects difficult, if not impossible. Over time, this pain can lead to isolation and an impaired mental state, all of which can decrease the quality of life.
As a result, patients are prescribed Tramadol for moderate to severe pain management which improves their day-to-day life.1 A study published in the National Library of Medicine states that:
“The purpose of managing pain is to reduce the trauma and improve the [patient’s] comfort with better quality of life. Tramadol is a centrally acting weak μ-opioid receptor analgesic and is a racemic mixture of (+)-tramadol and (-)-tramadol enantiomers.”1
In recent years, Tramadol has also become a popular prescription for aiding pain management in cancer patients. Proper prescription of Tramadol treats the mixed pain that occurs not only as a result of cancer but also from the curative procedures.2

How Long Does Tramadol Stay Your Body?
How to Detect Tramadol in the Body
Blood Test
Hair Test
Urine Test
Saliva Test
What Factors Affect How Long Tramadol Stays in the Body?
While different tests can detect Tramadol at different rates, other factors can contribute to how long it is detectable in the body. Many of these factors are external to Tramadol itself, meaning that each person’s experience will be different. These factors include:
Body Mass/Body Fat
Genetics
Metabolism
Since the body’s metabolism oversees breaking down the substance and removing it from the body, it plays a significant role in how long Tramadol is both active as well as detectable. Metabolism can be affected by factors such as age and activity level.
Urinary PH
Substance elimination is a chemical process usually involving weak acids. When the pH of urine is higher—more alkaline—the substance is removed from the body sooner.
Dosage
Tramadol dosage plays a large role in how long it will stay in the body. The higher the dosage, the longer it will be present.
In that same regard, frequent doses can take longer for the body to eliminate compared to single doses.
Type of Tramadol Used
There are two main types of Tramadol: immediate-release and extended-release. Which type enters the body has a large impact on its duration.
Immediate-release Tramadol includes injections and drops. The immediate-release type is often a smaller dosage and prescribed for acute pain. With immediate-release types, Tramadol begins working in the body usually within an hour and wears off within six.
Extended-release Tramadol is most often seen in tablets and capsules. This type includes a higher dosage that releases slowly throughout the day. Extended-release Tramadol is most often prescribed for chronic pain management.
It’s important to note that these approximate times are the duration of the activity, not presence. While Tramadol ceases activity after a few hours, it can still be detected within the body through screening.
If Other Drugs Were Taken
Is Tramadol Addictive?
Side Effects of Tramadol Abuse
When using Tramadol for pain, there is always a chance that side effects may occur. However, when substances, especially opioids, enter the body regularly and without professional supervision, there is an increased chance for adverse effects to develop.
Studies show that long-term Tramadol abuse can cause health issues, such as an increased risk for heart attacks.5
Other common Tramadol side effects include:
- Shallow breathing
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Clammy skin
- Muscle weakness
- Constricted pupils
- Seizures
- Cardiovascular complications
While Tramadol addiction can have multiple side effects while the substances are actively entering the body, there is also a potential for symptoms during withdrawal.
Tramadol Withdrawal Symptoms
If opioid use stops suddenly, someone with a Tramadol addiction may experience a variety of withdrawal symptoms. Unpleasant withdrawal symptoms are a common occurrence during the recovery for many opioid use disorders. Both the brain and body become accustomed to the presence of opioids, and during Tramadol addiction recovery, these substances are no longer available.
Tramadol withdrawal symptoms come in many forms, including the following:
- Irritability or anxiety
- Difficulty sleeping
- Increased blood pressure
- Dilated pupils
- Dilated pupils
- Sweating
- Chills
- Gastrointestinal issues
Treatment Options for Tramadol Addiction
Treatment for Tramadol addiction goes beyond focusing on the opioid use disorder itself: it also focuses on alleviating the discomfort associated with Tramadol’s side effects and withdrawal symptoms. As a result, there are several different options designed to provide and meet individual needs during the recovery process.
Detox
Therapies
Contingency Management
Contingency Management (CM) is one of the most common therapies for Tramadol addiction, as well as one of the most effective. It involves positive reinforcement by offering tangible rewards for abstinence. This form of therapy works best paired with others, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on helping a person with a substance use disorder recognize patterns in their behavior and develop a skill set beneficial to recovery. These skills teach clients to prevent and move away from triggering behaviors that lead to Tramadol abuse.
Medication
Resources
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30594783/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28955004/
- https://addictionresource.com/drugs/tramadol/how-long-stays-in-system/
- https://www.bmj.com/content/365/bmj.l1849
- https://doaj.org/article/33b8912b804c48aca9b0d7dcb4b9e946
If you or a loved one needs help, please call us at
623-523-4748 and our team at Blueprints For Recovery in Arizona will help.
Related Content
- Adderall Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
- Alcohol Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
- Heroin Signs and Symptoms of Addiction Coming Soon
- Hydrocodone Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
- Meth Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
- Oxycodone Signs and Symptoms Coming Soon
- Percocet Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
- Tramadol Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
- Xanax Signs and Symptoms Coming Soon
Learn More
- Tramadol and Alcohol
- Tramadol and Anxiety Coming Soon
- Tramadol and Bipolar Coming Soon
- Tramadol and Depression
- Tramadol Overdose
- Tramadol and PTSD Coming Soon
- Tramadol Signs
- Tramadol Withdrawal
In-Network with Most Major Insurance Providers








