{"id":629837,"date":"2024-09-19T11:23:14","date_gmt":"2024-09-19T15:23:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=629837"},"modified":"2026-03-27T10:39:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T14:39:41","slug":"tramadol-for-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/tramadol-for-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"Can tramadol be used for sleep?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tramadol<\/a> (brand name: Ultram, Ultracet) has a long track record as a heavy-hitting painkiller. This prescription opioid analgesic medication can knock out pain and also shares some properties with antidepressants. However, as tramadol may cause drowsiness, those struggling with sleep difficulties might wonder if it could help promote restful sleep. There\u2019s a chance, but tramadol isn\u2019t the most reliable or safe sleep aid in most cases. Here\u2019s why.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Does tramadol help you sleep?<\/span><\/h2>\n

If pain keeps you awake, then tramadol can help by relieving it. Apart from pain relief, it also depresses the central nervous system (CNS), giving it sedative effects that might make it seem appealing to people with sleep disorders. However, tramadol can disrupt your normal sleep patterns and even cause insomnia or<\/span> sleep disturbances.<\/span><\/p>\n

This comes from tramadol\u2019s <\/span>mechanism of action<\/span><\/a>. It works by binding to certain opioid receptors, changing the way the body perceives pain. It also boosts the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and serotonin, which play a role in sleep. Like other opioid medications, its mechanisms slow the central nervous system, which can lead to sedation.<\/span><\/p>\n

But sedation isn\u2019t the same as natural, healthy sleep. During natural sleep, your brain goes through several stages, each with important functions for cognitive health. Sedation doesn\u2019t follow the <\/span>same cycles<\/span><\/a> and can disrupt <\/span>brain connectivity<\/span><\/a>, potentially depriving you of sleep\u2019s benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Besides all that, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has labeled tramadol as a class<\/span> IV controlled substance<\/span><\/a> because it has a potential for dependence, abuse, and misuse. \u201cTramadol affects the same receptors as other opioids, so people experience similar physiological or mental effects as well as withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking it,\u201d says Dr. David Hendricks, assistant medical director at <\/span>Mountainside<\/span><\/a>. That\u2019s why doctors typically only prescribe it for short-term use and can only prescribe a <\/span>maximum of five refills<\/span><\/a> in six months.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tramadol is only approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pain treatment, not sleep disorders. Even so, it\u2019s sometimes prescribed <\/span>off-label<\/span><\/a> for sleep. Off-label prescriptions are ones intended to treat a condition for which the drug isn\u2019t officially approved.<\/span><\/p>\n

How much tramadol should I take for sleep?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Because tramadol isn\u2019t recommended as a sleep aid, there isn\u2019t a recommended dosage for that use. However, the typical <\/span>dose of tramadol<\/span><\/a> for adults with moderate-to-severe acute pain is 50\u2013100 mg in immediate-release tablets every four to six hours. For adults with moderate-to-severe chronic pain, the typical dosage is 100\u2013300 mg in extended-release tablets daily. The doctor may adjust this dosage depending on your specific condition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How effective is tramadol for sleep?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Tramadol typically starts working within an hour, and its effects can last around six hours (or 12\u201324 hours for the extended-release version). So you may begin to feel sleepiness pretty soon after taking it. But as we already discussed, sedation isn\u2019t the same as natural sleep. So, as a sleep aid, it\u2019s not very effective.<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, if chronic pain is what\u2019s causing your insomnia, tramadol could be pretty effective. \u201cTramadol is an interesting drug because it works in two ways. First, it is a weak synthetic opiate, which can relieve pain – but this also means it can be addictive,\u201d says <\/span>Dr. Alex Dimitriu<\/span><\/a>, double board-certified in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. \u201cSecondly, it works on the serotonin and norepinephrine systems in ways similar to some antidepressants. Most of the research on tramadol and sleep involves pain, so, unsurprisingly, tramadol improves sleep quality by reducing pain.\u201d In one <\/span>study<\/span><\/a>, patients with moderate or severe pain from osteoarthritis showed \u201csignificant improvements\u201d on the Chronic Pain Sleep Inventory after taking tramadol.<\/span><\/p>\n

How does tramadol affect your sleep?<\/span><\/h2>\n

As we\u2019ve already mentioned, tramadol helps sedate you rather than encouraging normal sleep. And in some cases, it can disrupt your sleep more than it helps.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tramadol makes you sleepy, which may cause long or frequent daytime naps, throwing off your entire rhythm. Studies have shown that it also might cause sleep disturbances. So it might knock you out on the couch by 2:00 p.m., but that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s helping you get sleep or any of the benefits that come with it.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to a <\/span>European Journal of Anesthesiology<\/span><\/a> 2001 study, researchers found that \u201cpeople who took tramadol had less stage four restful REM sleep and woke up feeling more tired,\u201d says Dr. Hendricks. \u201cOver time, lack of restorative sleep can lead to symptoms of insomnia like increased fatigue, depression, stress, and anxiety.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0 <\/span>American Academy of Sleep Medicine<\/span><\/a> says that chronic opioid use can decrease your sleep efficiency and reduce the amount of rapid eye movement sleep you get. <\/span>REM sleep<\/span><\/a> is important because it\u2019s <\/span>commonly associated with<\/span><\/a> concentration, mood regulation, neurotransmitter replenishment, and short-term memory transfer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not only that, but tramadol can cause <\/span>respiratory depression<\/span><\/a>, which might lead to sleep-related breathing problems like obstructive sleep apnea. One <\/span>study demonstrated<\/span><\/a> that 75\u201385% of patients who take opioids have at least mild sleep apnea, and 36\u201341% have severe cases. This can lead to frequently disrupted and poor-quality sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other <\/span>common side effects of tramadol<\/span><\/a>, which might keep you up at night, include:<\/span><\/p>\n