How Long Does Tramadol Stay in Urine?

Tramadol is a popular opioid pain medicine that’s sold in the States under the name Ultram. It’s typically used to treat pain ranging from the moderate to the severe and is sometimes given to treat chronic pain. As experts in toxicology and drug testing, we have examined how various medications—including Tramadol—are detected and metabolized through standard urine testing protocols. Tramadol usually takes about an hour to take effect when taken in tablet or suppository form and just minutes when injected directly into the bloodstream. When compared dose-by-dose to morphine it’s about one-fifth the potency, which puts it roughly on par with codeine. Tramadol is frequently combined with acetaminophen to enhance its efficacy.

A Brief Introduction to Tramadol

First launched in Germany in 1977 by Grunenthal BmbH under the brand name “Tramal,” Tramadol celebrated 40 years on the market in 2017. It achieved widespread success and was licensed in Australia, the UK, and the US approximately 20 years later, going by various names including “Tramadol” in America. Tramadol is a synthetic pain reliever classified as an opioid rather than a true opiate.

Its exact mechanism is not fully understood, though it is generally believed to bind to opioid receptors in the brain, similar to morphine, thereby cutting off pain signals. While the drug has many advocates in the medical community, it does carry side effects, some serious. These include constipation, nausea, itchy skin, and reduced alertness.

Some patients with depression have reported that Tramadol increased suicidal thoughts, and large doses may complicate existing liver conditions. The drug is not recommended for elderly patients due to a heightened risk of respiratory issues, cognitive impairment, and balance problems. Breastfeeding women should also consider alternatives. While Tramadol is less addictive than morphine, it is nonetheless abused by opioid addicts and remains a controlled substance in many jurisdictions. Street names include Ultras, Chill pills, and Oxycontin lite.

Why do Companies Test for Opioids like Tramadol?

Companies now test for opioids like Tramadol due to the escalating opioid addiction crisis and the heightened awareness of its risks. In the past they were considered to be fairly low brow, and meek versions of hardcore painkillers like morphine and their addictive qualities were largely dismissed.

That has all changed in recent years as more and more people have succumbed to opioid addiction. High profile stories have chronicled mothers passed out behind the wheel of their car after overdosing on opioids while their young children sat helplessly in the backseat unaware what was going on and otherwise professional looking men lying unconscious on city streets. As a result, the Federal Government has recently declared an opioid crisis in the US and if companies weren’t on the testing bandwagon before they are now.

Will Tramadol Show Up My Urine?

Tramadol typically won’t show up on a standard 5-panel drug test that screens for opiates, but it may appear on more comprehensive 10 or 12-panel tests that specifically look for opioids. As such you shouldn’t worry too much about the drug showing up on your results. However – and this is important – opioids are commonly looked for on 10 and 12-panel drug tests and an increasing number of companies are instituting a more thorough screening regime in the face of the growing opioid crisis.

So, even if your company gave you a 5-panel test last time and you passed with no problem it doesn’t mean they won’t change to a 10-panel test this time. In fact, with the recent declaration of a national opioid crisis, you can be sure more comprehensive screenings are on the way for just about everyone.

Read More: How Long Do Opioids Stay in Your System?

How Can I Pass a Urine Drug Test For It?

Tramadol has a half-life of about 6.5 hours and will typically take anywhere from 2 to 4 days to clear your system to the point that it’s undetectable in a urine sample. As such anyone undergoing a urinalysis for opioids on short notice is going to be in a very tight spot. While there aren’t any miraculous procedures you can go through that will flush Tramadol from your system at an accelerated rate there are some steps you can take that may increase your odds of passing a drug test:

• Stop using – Easier said than done most of the time we know but if you want to keep your job, it’s the only surefire way to go. Many companies have policies that explicitly state the amount of lead time they have to provide before a drug screening. With some, it can be as much as a week. If your company is good enough to provide you sufficient warning you’d be wise to stop as soon as you learn drug tests are coming. With as much as a week clean before the screening, you stand a better than even chance of passing it.
• Secure a substitute sample – Some people unwilling to stop in the days leading up to a test turn instead to others to provide a substitute urine sample they can submit as their own. While this may seem like a good idea, in fact, it’s extremely risky because you can never actually be sure what someone else has in their system.
• ****Use synthetic urine – For many people the only reasonably dependable way to pass a drug screening they’re otherwise sure they’ll fail is to submit a synthetic urine sample. Synthetic urine is available through a number of online outlets and is virtually indistinguishable from real human pee. However, the preparation of synthetic urine takes a lot of time and must be carefully carried out. In case you fall short on either the two, prepare for trouble.
• Take detox drinks – If you are given a week to clear your system, then detox drinks may be one thing to consider taking as they can effectively reduce the amount of Tramadol and other urine-based drugs given that you follow the procedures. If the testing is on short notice, detox drinks can still be helpful in flushing out the toxins out of your system quickly and may give you a higher chance of passing the test.

My Main Takeaway

The sound of implementing a 10- or 12-panel drug test for opioids like Tramadol makes anxiety for some people worse as their career is what’s mostly at stake. But, it shouldn’t be the end of your hopes for your career yet.

To pass a random urine drug test, you need to stop taking the drugs first. Do self-rehabilitation then regularly take detox drinks such as Rescue Cleanse to help you reclaim your drug-free system. Detox drinks can surely be one of the most dependable options when it comes to staying in your current job position and keeping your body fit and healthy.