Health test after Tramadol addiction

[KeepKalm]

Is it possible to embark on some kind of brain health check up in Bangkok after a long period of heavy, long term Tramadol addiction?  A good friend began abusing these drugs aprox 10 years ago, after being prescribed Tramadol for a back injury.  The abuse started almost immediately, taking more than the prescribed dosage and eventually leading to double the maximum allowed dosage per day for several years.  At one period for 5 or 6 months he was taking between 25 and 30 pills per day, although it was mostly around 15 50 mg pills per day, intermittently for several years.

 

He has been clean for 6 months now which is a great achievement, however he has concerns he may have caused long term damage to his brain chemistry or nervous system in some way.  He feels fine generally, but just a little run down most days and maybe not as sharp as he once was, in his words not mine.  He has had a few health issues this year, none of which are serious in any way but it does make me wonder if the abuse over the years has taken a toll on his functions somehow because for many years he has been quite healthy, physically. 

 

I had a quick read around the internet and it seems there might be cause for concern for brain damage after heavy opioid abuse.  I understand Tramadol is one of the lower grade opioids, but I imagine the damage can be just the same as the stronger stuff and this was very high levels for quite a long time.

 

Maybe one of the private hospitals offers a service to check the brain, a scan of some sort.  Or possibly test the endocrine system, serotonin levels that kind of thing?  He has had a full health check up at a good hospital in Singapore and everything was in good working order, all vital organs and body functions are fine.   

 

is there a facility/test I could point him to, just as a suggestion?  

 

 

[Sheryl]

There is no test or screening that can do what you have in mind. Scans will not show anything, except in really advanced impairment which it does not sound like he has.  Any damage that may have occurred would be to individual nerve cells and this does nto show on a scan unless it is so severe that whole sections of the brain atrophy.

 

If he were  having signs of actual dementia there are cognitive tests that can be done but it does nto seem indicated now. In addition, the most they can do is establish a baseline against which future decline can be measured.

 

There is also no treatment other than staying away from drugs and alcohol, getting enough rest and good nutrition.