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Can Tramadol Lower Blood Pressure? Reduce Hypotension

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Can Tramadol Lower Blood Pressure

Pain medications are abundantly available in the market, but one pain remedy stands out. It has been seen as one of the most effective for a long time by doctors, and it is Tramadol. It is an opioid painkiller, which means it might have some risks. But patients report having lower blood pressure due to this pain medication. Tramadol is not meant to lower your blood pressure, but there can be some instances and interactions that can lead to it. This blog will analyse the possibilities where blood pressure can be affected by opioids and answer the question: can Tramadol lower blood pressure?

How Tramadol and Lower Blood Pressure Relate?

What is Tramadol?

Tramadol is an analgesic opioid drug that is used to treat moderate-to-severe pain issues. You can find this drug in many forms, like immediate and extended-release tablets, capsules, liquid solutions, and intravenous injections. One can get this drug with other brand names too, such as Utram, Ultram XR, Qdolo, and Conzip. It is not possible to buy Tramadol on your own as it has to be prescribed by your doctor. The mechanism of Tramadol involves binding with μ-opioid receptors, and as it binds with the receptors, Tramadol makes them release serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmitters into the brain. These block pain signals and induce relaxation and calmness.

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood Pressure can be described as a cardiovascular function that makes the blood push against the artery walls. This makes circulating blood all around the body much easier for the heart. Your blood pressure going up and down all day is completely normal. This allows the heart to fulfill the needs of every organ as it supplies blood to them. Anything above the reading of 120 (systole) by 80 (diastole) millimetres of mercury (120/80 mmHg) is considered hypertension or high blood pressure, and below 90/60 mmHg is seen as low blood pressure or a condition of hypotension.

How Do Medications Cause Low Blood Pressure?

Some drugs can lower your blood pressure, and they involve their own mechanism. For instance, let us take calcium channel blocking drugs like Amlodipine and Isradipine. They can widen the blood vessels for better blood flow, but it can also reduce the blood pressure too much. This whole process is better known as vasodilation. Beta-blockers are another form of drug that is used for lowering the blood pressure by slowing the heart rate, but sometimes they can drop the blood pressure too much. Besides these medications used to treat depression, Parkinson’s disease, and painkillers, can also lower your blood pressure.

Can Tramadol Lower Blood Pressure?

You might be one of those patients who wonder does Tramadol lower blood pressure. One of the instances that makes Tramadol affect our blood pressure is during orthostatic hypotension. What happens here is when you stand up after sitting or sleeping for a long time, your blood pressure might drop instantly. Another reason can be the mechanism itself, where the neurotransmitters play a crucial role. When Tramadol releases neurotransmitters of norepinephrine and serotonin, it significantly slows down the nervous system. When the CNS slows down, it affects various functions in our body, and heart rate is one of them. This can lower the blood pressure, too.

Do Interactions Help Tramadol Lower Blood Pressure?

Perhaps the more convenient way Tramadol can lower your blood pressure is through certain interactions. These interactions can interfere with the mechanism of the drug or can amplify its side effects. Blood Pressure is not a direct side effect of Tramadol, but interacting with these drugs can affect our circulation process.

Sedatives

Sedative and hypnotic drugs like tranquillizers can interact with Tramadol and depress the nervous system, causing low blood pressure.

Tricyclic Antidepressants

Together, Tramadol and certain tricyclic antidepressants like Imipramine can lower blood pressure as both can dangerously depress the CNS.

Diuretics

These water pills are used to lower blood pressure by decreasing the volume of liquids in our blood. Mixing it with Tramadol can increase hypotension further.

Calcium Channel Blockers

Amlodipine and similar calcium blockers can lower blood pressure through vasodilation. They are also known to interact and amplify the mechanism of Tramadol, which can definitely cause hypotension.

Alcohol

Alcohol has to be avoided when taking Tramadol because together the combination can depress the nervous system dangerously, slow down the heart, and critically lower the blood pressure.

Other Opioids

Having Tramadol with other opioids like Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, and Morphine can depress the nervous system so dangerously that there can be severe hypotension.

What To Do If Tramadol Causes Hypotension?

The immediate steps should be taken with care if your blood pressure falls because of Tramadol. It has a few side effects, which you can feel as a result of the hypotension. 

Immediate Steps

  • Sit down on a chair and lower your head below your hips so that the blood reaches the brain.
  • Lie down on your bed if you are at home.
  • Call someone in your home to assist you. If you are alone, call up your neighbour.
  • If you have a blood pressure monitor at home, then take a reading. This might help afterwards.
  • When you feel better after a while, do not get up right away. Hold something firm and sturdy by your side and stand up slowly.
  • Take a glass and drink plenty of water. The electrolytes in it will help blood flow.
  • If you feel the symptoms after all this, call for emergency help.

Side Effects that you may feel

  • Loss of consciousness
  • Fainting
  • Breathing issue
  • Chest pain
  • Confusion
  • Hallucination
  • Improper mobility
  • Slow heart rate

Alternatives for Pain That Do Not Affect Blood Pressure

Many alternatives to Tramadol can help you if you have low blood pressure. These are painkillers that are much safer than Tramadol, as it is an opioid. But one must be careful when using these substitutes.

Antidepressants

  • Amitriptyline
  • Duloxetine

Anticonvulsants

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

  • Trillsate
  • Salsalate

Analgesic Pain Relievers

  • Acetaminophen
  • Tylenol

Topical Creams

  • Lidocaine
  • Capsaicin

Natural Alternatives

  • Valerian Roots
  • Boswelia
  • Feverfew
  • Turmeric
  • Ginger

Conclusion

You can answer the question now that can Tramadol lower your blood pressure. If you take Tramadol as per your doctor’s instruction you will never have hypotension. Misusing the drug may raise or lower the blood pressure. It completely depends on how you use the medication. Mixing Tramadol with other drugs can certainly lead to conditions like orthostatic hypotension. Follow the steps when you face the symptoms of low blood pressure due to Tramadol. Consult your doctor before taking the alternatives.

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