A
consultant pharmacist, Dr Clever Okeke, has warned that the use of
Tramadol to get high or for delayed ejaculation could lead to depression
and irrational behaviour.
Okeke told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday, February
12, that some youths and adults use Tramadol when they want to feel
‘high’ or achieve delayed ejaculation.
We gathers that Okeke stated that even though Tramadol is meant for the
treatment of severe pains, it is sometimes abused because of the
euphoric feeling that comes with its use.
“Tramadol belongs to a group of analgesics called Opioid Analgesics. It
is the lowest in the class of cocaine. “It has a very strong analgesic
effect which is used for strong or severe pains.
“But you find that because of the opioid effect- the euphoric effect-
which is one of the side effects, it makes the user feel high. The pain
goes away but the euphoria remains,” he said.
Okeke also disclosed that some users may be tempted to seek out the drug
after the completion of treatment because of the ‘good’ feeling
experienced while using it to kill pains.
According to the pharmacist, the recommended dose of Tramadol is 50mg to
100mg with a maximum of 200mg in severe cases. “Anything above 200mg
will cause a massive euphoric effect,” he added.
Okeke, however, noted that because cocaine was not easily accessed, some
people resort to using an overdose of Tramadol to get the desired
‘high’ effect.
“Getting high or achieving delayed ejaculation cannot be gotten with the
recommended dose,” he added. He also warned that high doses could cause
convulsions and seizures.
Okeke called on parents to closely monitor their children, by watching
out for signs like prolonged sleep, hyperactivity or any irrational
behaviour.
