Tramadol is an opioid painkiller. While some legitimate pharmacies may sell tramadol online, they always require a valid prescription from a doctor. Many other fake pharmacies sell the drug illegally.
If you suffer from severe pain, you should see a doctor and never attempt to self-medicate by purchasing prescription drugs online.
If you purchase tramadol from a fake pharmacy online, you could receive drugs that aren’t actually tramadol at all. If the pills are cut with powerful substances like fentanyl, overdose, and even death are possible.
What is Tramadol?
Tramadol is an opioid analgesic that is generally prescribed for moderate to moderately severe pain.
It is narcotic-like in its ability to relieve pain, but it does not have the same high risk for abuse generally associated with opioids. This does not mean it has no risk of dependency. When used consistently, tramadol will cause physical dependence. If abused, it is likely to cause psychological dependence as well.
It’s important to use tramadol only as prescribed. If you don’t have a prescription for the drug, you should not use it in any way.
Is it Ever Legal to Buy Tramadol Online?
There are some pharmacies that sell prescription drugs online.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) offers guidelines to be sure you are purchasing prescription drugs from a legitimate pharmacy. They should require a physician’s prescription, and they should be licensed by the state. Ask if they are licensed and require a doctor’s prescription. They should also have a licensed pharmacist available to answer any questions.
The pharmacy you choose should be based in the U.S. Overseas pharmacies are likely to be fake.
Fake Online Pharmacies
The majority of online pharmacies are scams. They may offer an instant prescription from a “doctor” after you answer a few questions. This is not a valid prescription.
Even if you believe you are making a legal purchase, it does not usually protect you from the law. Make sure any drug purchase you make is fully legitimate, both for health reasons and to avoid legal penalties.
Legal Risks of Purchasing Tramadol Online
There are many risks to purchasing a prescription drug online. First, there are legal risks associated with illegal purchases.
- It is a felony to import drugs over the U.S. border except through very specific channels. Many online dealers are based in foreign countries. This potential criminal charge will be in addition to any other criminal charges that can be brought against you for the illegal purchase of controlled substances.
- Systems are in place to screen packages for drugs, and they are growing in capability. Even if many illegal goods get through the system, it’s more likely you will get caught if you repeatedly purchase illegal prescription drugs online.
If a law enforcement agency hits an online store and manages to seize their servers, they may also acquire enough data on your purchases to charge you with a crime.
Online Tramadol Scams
There are two primary scams surrounding tramadol.
One promises a variety of types of tramadol at various price points and dosages; the other promises a version of tramadol without any withdrawal effects.
In both cases, you will likely receive either nothing or similar-looking but useless pills. It may take a while to realize you have been duped. Some of these sites will completely max out your credit card once they get your information.
If you receive “tramadol” pills that have been cut with other substances, you could be in unknown danger by taking them. A dealer may cut tramadol with cheaper, more dangerous chemicals. These substances are meant to mimic the real effect of tramadol, so users won’t notice it isn’t a legitimate drug. They may even try to make the “tramadol” more addictive, so you come back to buy more.
Fake prescription painkillers are being increasingly cut with fentanyl.
This incredibly powerful opioid can be deadly in very small doses. If you receive tramadol that has been cut with fentanyl, you could experience a fatal overdose.
Risks of Tramadol Abuse
It is worth noting again that tramadol is not just a drug that can be willfully abused with no consequence. Even if you are abusing real tramadol, you are going to grow physically and psychologically dependent on it.
This drug will wear on your body in a myriad of ways. Even though it is a less potent opioid, it still carries the potential for physical harm, including overdose, if abused chronically or at high levels. If tramadol is mixed with other substances, like alcohol, overdose is more likely.
