Mixing Gabapentin & Tramadol | Effects & Dangers

Mixing gabapentin and tramadol can produce adverse and even life-threatening effects. Since the two medications are both depressants, combining them can lead to respiratory depression, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and severe sedation.

Gabapentin (Neurontin) is an anticonvulsant/antiepileptic drug used to treat seizures, restless leg syndrome, alcohol and cocaine withdrawal, insomnia, diabetic neuropathy, and mood disorders. 

Tramadol (Ultram, ConZip, Ultram ER) is an opioid analgesic drug used for the pain management of moderate to severe pain and postoperative pain.

Both gabapentin and tramadol can be used in the treatment of chronic pain and nerve pain and both are central nervous system (CNS) depressants. Because of these similarities, and how the two drugs interact, taking them together is not recommended due to the risk of adverse effects.

One of these adverse effects is that gabapentin can increase the effects of an addictive drug like tramadol.

Mixing Gabapentin & Tramadol

Tramadol works like most opioids by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and blocking pain signals from the body. This is what leads to the pain relief this drug is meant to produce.

Gabapentin works by increasing the amount of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the central nervous system and decreasing the amount of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Both drugs are central nervous system depressants. This means that when they are taken together, they can depress the central nervous system so much that it can lead to severe sedation and difficulty breathing.

Effects Of Mixing Gabapentin & Tramadol

Mixing gabapentin and tramadol together can lead to a number of life-threatening effects, which is why it’s not recommended that the two be taken together. 

Some of the side effects of mixing gabapentin and tramadol may include:

• slowed breathing/respiratory depression
• drowsiness
• weakness
• nausea and vomiting
• fatigue
• difficulty concentrating
• seizure
• sedation
• coma
  

Dangers Of Mixing Gabapentin & Tramadol

Beyond the effects of tramadol and gabapentin, the combination can also lead to an increased risk of overdose, drug interactions, and dependence and addiction.

Overdose

Taking two drugs together often makes it much easier to overdose, and the same can be said when mixing gabapentin and tramadol. Whether you’re mixing them together at low doses or in high doses, a life-threatening overdose is a possibility.

A gabapentin and tramadol overdose can include symptoms such as:

• black/blue lips
• black/blue fingers
• vomiting
• paleness
• gurgling
• clamminess 
• loss of conscious
• unable to wake up
• slow heart rate
• undetectable pulse
• difficulty breathing

If you or a loved one experience any of the signs and symptoms above, call 911 immediately. You may need emergency medical help ASAP.

Dependence & Addiction

The risk of addiction increases when you mix tramadol and gabapentin because both drugs have the potential for habit-forming abuse. 

Tramadol is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and gabapentin is classified as a Schedule V controlled substance in Alabama, Kentucky, and Michigan. 

Taking tramadol and gabapentin together is considered a form of drug abuse. The more you abuse the two drugs, the more likely you are to build up tolerance, dependence, and eventually addiction.

Drug Interactions

There are also other drugs that shouldn’t be mixed with tramadol and gabapentin. The drugs that shouldn’t be taken with tramadol include:

• anticoagulants
• bupropion
• cyclobenzaprine
• dextromethorphan
• digoxin
• diuretics
• lithium
• mirtazapine
• over-the-counter supplements
• promethazine
• 5-HT3 receptor antagonists
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

The medications that shouldn’t be mixed with gabapentin include:

• antidepressants
• antihistamines
• alcohol
• medications for anxiety
• naproxen
• opioid pain medications like hydrocodone or codeine
• sedatives
• medications for seizures
• sleeping pills
• tranquilizers

Make sure your healthcare provider knows all of your medical conditions before they prescribe you any new medications.

If you or a loved one struggle with polysubstance abuse, you don’t have to start on your road to recovery alone. To learn about our addiction treatment options, please contact us today.