Article at a Glance:
- Tramadol is an opioid and controlled substance that is commonly prescribed for pain.
- The drug carries an FDA Black Box Warning for increasing the risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome, a potentially fatal complication in newborns.
- Tramadol should be avoided during breastfeeding because of an increased risk of overdose in a nursing infant.
Due to possiblesafety concernsin a fetus, people should avoid using opioids like tramadol during pregnancy. Theseconcerns involveboth the possibility of birth defects as well as neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome if the opioid is taken close to the baby’s birth.
Tramadol is an opioid pain-reliever prescribed to people who suffer from moderate to severe pain, typically from a surgery or injury. Though it contains less opioid content than other prescription drugs — such asoxycodone,hydrocodoneandmorphine— it is still addictive and should be used with caution, especially during pregnancy.
What Is Tramadol?
Tramadol is an opioid pain medication. It may be prescribed to patients who struggle with pain from chronic illnesses, including fibromyalgia, arthritis and cancer. Like all opioids, tramadol works to relieve physical pain by binding to the brain’s opioid receptors and triggering the flow of dopamine. Taking tramadol requires a doctor’s prescription, but even when used as directed, tramadol can still cause a substance use disorder. This makes tramadol aSchedule IV controlled substance.
What Are the Side Effects of Taking Tramadol While Pregnant?
Tramadol’s side effects in a pregnant person are similar to side effects in nonpregnant people. Theseinclude:
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- Constipation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Indigestion
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
- Headache
- Drowsiness
However,tramadol crosses the placentaand can cause additional, possibly serious, side effects in your baby.
Can Tramadol Affect Fertility?
Evidence suggests thatlong-term tramadol use can reduce male fertility. Although somedata suggestthat female fertility can also be reduced by tramadol, the overall evidence remains unclear.
How Can Tramadol Affect Your Baby?
Because tramadol crosses the placenta, the risks of taking tramadol while pregnant include exposing an unborn baby to the drug. Like other opioids, tramadol carries an FDA Black Box Warning for causing neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in a newborn baby.
Becauseopioids have been linkedto birth defects, doctors will often avoid prescribing tramadol to pregnant women. These include neural tube defects, heart defects, intestinal abnormalities, poor fetal growth, stillbirth and preterm birth.
Does Tramadol Use During Pregnancy Lead to NAS?
Taking tramadol while pregnant can lead to the development of NAS. This condition can occur when an expectant mother consumes opioids, like tramadol, especially in the final months of her pregnancy. NAS can develop in babies whose mothers took large amounts of tramadol to ease prenatal pain or who were addicted to opioids during their pregnancy. In either scenario, prenatal opioid use can cause a baby to be born addicted to drugs and experience severe withdrawal symptoms upon birth. As they can be severe,NAS symptomsoften require immediate medical attention and can include:
- High-pitched crying
- Excessive sweating
- Irritability
- Jitteriness
- Abnormal muscular activity
- Seizures
In addition to these painful symptoms, NAS may be responsible for low birth weight, heart defects and various developmental challenges.
Is Tramadol Safe To Use While Breastfeeding?
The FDA states that tramadol isnot safe to use during breastfeeding. This is because of the risk of side effects in a nursing baby,including:
- Excessive sleepiness
- Problems breastfeeding
- Slow or shallow breathing
- Limpness
- Death
What Are the Risks of Taking Opioids While Pregnant?
Taking opioids while pregnant impacts the mother and fetus together and can put the pregnancy itself at risk. In general, opioid use during pregnancymay increase the risk of:
- Spontaneous abortion
- Low birth weight
- Preeclampsia
- Premature rupture of membranes
Weighing the Benefits and Risks of Taking Tramadol While Pregnant
Expectant mothers and their doctors must carefully weigh the benefits against the risks of taking opioids like tramadol while pregnant. Althoughexperts recommend avoiding opioidsif possible during pregnancy, they recognize that some people may need opioids to control pain.
Ultimately, before a woman chooses to take opioid pain-relievers like tramadol during pregnancy, the mother’s health must be considered alongside the potential risks to her unborn baby.
What Are Some Alternatives to Tramadol for Pain While Pregnant?
Experts recommendthat pregnant women should seek out non-pharmacological remedies for pain while pregnant if possible. These can include:
- Using a heating pad
- Taking warm baths
- Eating a balanced diet
- Engaging in light exercise
- Investing in massage therapy
- Attending prenatal yoga classes
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