When a Pill for Pain Becomes a Cause of Suffering
When a pill meant to ease pain turns into the source of deep suffering, its impact extends beyond the person taking it. Excessive addiction to anything—whether a drug, alcohol, social media, a person, or even solitude—only leads to harm. In the end, addiction leaves a person empty-handed.
Understanding Addiction
Addiction changes brain chemistry, affecting reward, motivation, and memory. It leads to tolerance (needing more for the same effect) and withdrawal when quitting. People continue using a substance or behavior despite its harm to health, relationships, and responsibilities. Addiction involves both a strong physical need and an uncontrollable desire to continue.
Tramadol: A Silent Destroyer
Tramadol, a prescription drug for moderate to severe pain, is a synthetic opioid. It interacts with brain receptors, altering pain perception. Commonly prescribed after surgeries or for chronic pain, its intended relief can spiral into dangerous dependency.
Side Effects of Tramadol
Tramadol can cause dizziness, nausea, constipation, and drowsiness. If misused, it carries a high risk of addiction. In severe cases, it can slow breathing or lead to serotonin syndrome when taken with certain medications.
Tramadol should be called ‘Trauma-dol’ because of the suffering it causes when abused. I feel compelled to address this issue due to the devastating impact of a family member’s excessive use of this drug on my family and me.
Trapped by Tramadol: A Personal Story of Dependency
A Habit That Became a Nightmare
Raising awareness about this issue is crucial because addiction destroys lives. This story began innocently enough. A 20-year-old girl started self-medicating with Tramadol for a mild headache after seeing her mother and uncle use the pills at home. One pill led to another, and 12 years later, she remains trapped in addiction.
At first, she took a pill after university, treating it as casually as a cup of tea. Tramadol provided stronger relief than regular painkillers, and soon, she enjoyed the comfort it brought. One pill a day became three, and her intake kept increasing. After marriage, her mood, behavior, and thinking changed drastically. During her first pregnancy, she began abusing the drug, sometimes taking 10 to 15 pills at once. A few months after giving birth, she suffered her first seizure.
Desperate Measures
Her family took her to doctors, neurosurgeons, psychiatrists, and psychologists, but she couldn’t break the habit. She feared admitting her problem would force her to quit. Over time, her seizures became frequent, occurring almost daily. The family tried everything—restricting her movements, taking her money, and keeping her home. But desperation took over. She began stealing, borrowing money in her brothers’ names, and even getting tablets on credit from local stores.
Failed Attempts at Recovery
Eventually, her husband admitted her to a rehabilitation center, hoping to break the cycle. However, as Eid approached, societal pressure made him bring her home after just a month and a half. He feared what people would think if they knew where she was. Unfortunately, stopping her treatment was a mistake. A few months later, she returned to the same habits, taking pills in secret despite repeated warnings.
A Life in Ruins
Now, with three children, her situation has worsened. She sold family belongings, lied to everyone, and took loans. Her family, exhausted, could do little but watch her ruin her life. Today, she suffers from deep depression, constant headaches, and loneliness, having burned every bridge with her loved ones.
Let me tell you something shocking—her dosage increased to 50 tablets at a time. Now, whenever she has a sudden seizure, we immediately know she has fallen back into the same behavior.
Main Factors Contributing to Addiction
1. Self-Prescription: A Dangerous Habit
In South Asian countries like Pakistan, self-prescription is common. Even for mild fevers, people take medicines without consulting a doctor. Antibiotics are used like candies, and many rely on advice from pharmacists, friends, or even Google. By the time they seek medical help, their condition has worsened, making treatment difficult. This habit leads to antibiotic resistance and masks serious illnesses until they become severe. The lack of strict regulations on selling medicines without prescriptions worsens this problem.
2. The Addictive Grip of Tramadol
Tramadol has a unique potential for addiction, even among those with lower body weight or younger age. Unlike other opioids, Tramadol affects both opioid receptors and neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine, creating a dual pathway for dependence. Even short-term use can lead to psychological and physical reliance. Studies show that due to its rapid onset and euphoric effects, younger individuals or those with a lower body mass index (BMI) are more vulnerable to addiction. Tramadol traps individuals in dependency before they even realize it.
3. Easy Availability of Drugs
One of the biggest problems in Pakistan is that almost all medicines are available without a doctor’s prescription. I personally witnessed this at a large and well-known pharmacy, where a customer received a psychotropic medication without a prescription. When I confronted the pharmacist, he apologized repeatedly, pleading with me not to report the incident.
Psychotropic medications are easily accessible, allowing people to misuse them without consequences. This accessibility can lead to severe consequences, even suicide. Shockingly, our FDA seems inactive, and no effective measures have been taken to regulate this issue.
Conclusion: A Silent Epidemic
Tramadol, once prescribed for pain relief, has quietly transformed into a silent destroyer. Families are left struggling with emotional and psychological wounds caused by addiction. The impact extends beyond the addicted individual—it reshapes relationships and creates a sense of helplessness among those who care the most.
Strict regulations, awareness, and proper medical guidance are the only ways to prevent more lives from being destroyed by this dangerous addiction.