Can tramadol be used for sleep?

Sep 19, 2024

If chronic pain is what’s causing your insomnia, tramadol could be pretty effective. “Tramadol 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,” says Dr. Alex Dimitriu, double board-certified in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. “Secondly, 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.” In one study, patients with moderate or severe pain from osteoarthritis showed “significant improvements” on the Chronic Pain Sleep Inventory after taking tramadol.

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