Is it dangerous taking tramadol and alcohol together?

[thatselementary]

If someone had taken 2 tramadol and alcohol together, could they sleep it off or is it possibly dangerous? I don't think it's that dangerous but friend thinks it is.

Sorry, I think it is but friend doesn't. Was typing whilst cooking

It is dangerous because both Tramadol and alcohol can both cause respiratory depression, not to mention the fact alcohol would massively exacerbate the sedative/woozy effect of tramadol.

They shouldn't be taken together.

@Eileithyiaa she has depression and we FaceTimed about an hour ago and she said she'd done both. I said it wasn't smart but not sure what else I can do?

It's always more risky than not, which is why you are told very clearly not to do it. But my question I guess would be why are you taking the two together, how much and how often? It isn't sensible, but a small amount of alcohol with, say, dinner, for a special occasion probably isn't going to kill you (but that isn't to say you should take the risk, just that any risk is lower). If you do it regularly and/or with a lot of alcohol, then you are playing a dangerous game.

@Moondust001 I haven't but my friend has today taken 2 within 2 hours and had alcohol. I told her it was really risky but I don't know what else to say.

[quote thatselementary]@Eileithyiaa she has depression and we FaceTimed about an hour ago and she said she'd done both. I said it wasn't smart but not sure what else I can do?[/quote]
Crossed with your post. She did this an hour ago? What are the chances she has stopped drinking if she was drinking then? But what, indeed, can you do? You've told her not to do it. Is she likely to listen if you tell her again?

My worry is that she'll take another. I think she drank around 3/3:30, took 1st one before and 2nd one after but said they weren't working.

I hate the feeling tramadol gives, took two once and never again! I felt hammered! I would probably give her a call and check she is okay in abit? Also as pp said depends if she is carrying on drinking as she will get more drunk

Btw I took two as I thought the first one wasn't working, so took a second and they both hit at the same time then

[quote thatselementary]@Moondust001 I haven't but my friend has today taken 2 within 2 hours and had alcohol. I told her it was really risky but I don't know what else to say. [/quote]
If she lives with someone, then you could alert that person to watch her. I suspect though that this isn't the case - and I suspect that what she's done isn't the first time either. She will probably be ok, but she is being wildly stupid and what she is doing could put her in a coma or kill her. Unfortunately, I have never worked out how to stop people doing stupid things either. The best you can do is to tell her the consequences of her actions because, like most people, she didn't read the information sheet that comes with medicine. But you can't force her to be sensible.

I'm only on Zapain & amitriptyline and won't drink with them. Tramadol is hardcore.

Tramadol is hardcore

Yes, it is. And it also isn't an aspirin. You don't take a bit more because "it isn't working". You should take your lowest dose on a regular basis, and if that doesn't moderate the pain levels you increase the amount taken at the dosing intervals, up to whatever maximum the GP has advised and no more. Even if you are taking immediate release tramadol, the effects of it are cumulative - you need to take doses consistently to gain the full effect, because only about 20% of the dose is a "painkiller", and the other 80% operates to inhibit chemicals in the brain that control how the brain responds to pain - in other words, it doesn't stop the pain, but it stops your brain registering the pain.

You mention in your OP that your friend thinks it's dangerous yet she has still done it - and you're concerned she may take another. Is she taking them together because she knows it's dangerous?

I would give her another ring, see how she is feeling and if she has taken/drank anymore. She really needs to stay away from both tramadol and alcohol otherwise she is putting herself at great risk.

She should look out for signs such as: difficulty breathing, increased heart rate and cold sweats.

Does she live with anybody? The trouble is, she could go into a coma and would be incapacitated to the point where she couldn't call for help.

I take tramadol regularly for chronic pain, I do drink alcohol but not a lot at all, maybe 2 glasses of wine a night once a month. I’m fine with that but I probably have a high tolerance.

If your friend feels her painkillers aren’t working she needs to see her GP also is she on antisdepressants?

@Eileithyiaa no, I said after that she doesn't. She didn't take anymore but now has a headache and feels sick.

I take the slow release Tramadol at times but basically I know the days I'm taking it are almost going to be a write off. They knock me sideways. They're incredibly strong I hate to think what effect mixing them with alcohol would have

I once mixed them, thinking it wouldn't be much different to an aspirin. Threw up 3 times and felt spaced out all day. Wouldn't do it again! Really wouldn't advise it although did you say it was 2 tramadol she took? That's unlikely to be too dangerous