Some Medicare plans allow you to get a 90-day supply of medication by mail. This could help you save money and reduce trips to the pharmacy.

It is important not to share this medication with others, as it may cause serious side effects such as slowed or stopped breathing, coma and death. Tramadol can also interact with other drugs and alter its blood level.

What is tramadol used for?

Tramadol is a pain medicine that changes into a strong opioid drug in your body. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain. It may also be used to relieve pain after surgery. This medication works by altering the response of your nerves and brain to pain. This medication can be habit-forming, so it should be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor and for the shortest time possible. It is not for use in children under 18 years of age, and it should never be shared with other people. It can cause very serious side effects, including slow or shallow breathing, shivering, confusion and drowsiness. If you have these symptoms, get emergency medical help right away.

This medication can interact with certain other medications. Inform your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, and dietary supplement you take. Tell your doctor whether you use alcohol or smoke. They may influence how much tramadol is absorbed by your body. Tramadol may increase your risk of seizures, especially if you take other seizure medications or have a history of them. This drug can increase blood pressure, heart rate and your pulse. Be careful when operating machines or driving.

Rarely will this medication cause a very severe allergic reaction. Get medical attention immediately if any of these symptoms of an allergic reaction are present: itching, swelling (especially in the mouth, face, or throat), difficulty breathing, and hives.

Your doctor may lower the dose or switch to another medication if you are suffering from liver disease. Your doctor may recommend regular blood tests in order to monitor the health of your liver.

Dosage

Tramadol, an opioid pain reliever. Tramadol works by binding with the mu opioid receptor which reduces the transmission of signals that cause pain in the brain and the body. The drug also helps to reduce pain by working with brain chemicals. The FDA has approved tramadol for use as a treatment for moderate to severe pain.

This medication should not be used in children younger than 17 years old. It may cause life-threatening side effects such as breathing problems in these people. Tramadol was not studied on pregnant women. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before taking this medicine.

Before prescribing this drug, your doctor will order blood tests that measure the liver’s function. They may also be ordered to monitor its effectiveness after it has been prescribed. Do not drink alcohol or take other drugs that can affect your liver while taking this medication. Included in this are prescription, over-the-counter, herbal, vitamin, and other products.

This medication should be avoided if you suffer from a genetic disorder called an ultra-rapid metabolic rate. This condition causes you to create a stronger breakdown product of tramadol, which increases your risk for dangerous or fatal slowed breathing (respiratory depression) or overdose. This medication is also not recommended if you have certain other medical conditions.

This drug can cause dizziness or drowsiness. It can impair your reactions, including when driving a car or operating machinery. You should not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you. You may also feel unsteady or dizzy when you stand up or sit up in a chair or bed. It can also interact with other medications, such as sedatives or antidepressants. This medication can cause dangerous increases in serotonin.

Side effects

Tramadol may cause breathing difficulties, sedation and other serious side effects. It can also interact with other medications, causing dangerous side effects. Inform your pharmacist or doctor about any prescriptions and non-prescription drugs, as well as vitamins and herbal supplements. Tell them also if you use alcohol or illegal drugs. You may have to adjust your dosage or even stop taking your medicine.

Your doctor will check your blood pressure, kidney function, and heart rate regularly while you are taking this medicine. Your doctor will lower the dosage or change your pain reliever if you’re dehydrated. If you suffer from a mental illness, this medication may increase the risk of seizures. You should be closely monitored by your doctor for changes to your mental health.

This medication can be used for a long time during pregnancy, which may cause the baby to experience withdrawal symptoms. These include high-pitched cry, unsatisfactory feeding, shaking, irregular sleep patterns and seizures. The condition, called neonatal withdrawal syndrome, can have life-threatening consequences. Inform your doctor that you plan to get pregnant or are currently pregnant.

If you have liver disease, your body may not process this drug well. You may be asked to reduce your dose or to switch to a medication that is shorter acting.

This medication can cause constipation. To help prevent this, drink plenty of fluids and eat fiber-rich foods. Speak to your doctor if constipation persists. You can also try over-the counter products such as Senokot (senna). Tramadol can be affected by certain medications. Your doctor will tell you which medications to avoid or limit while taking this medication. This medication comes with a special Medication Guide. Read it carefully and follow the instructions.

Overdose

Like many opioids, tramadol can cause breathing problems that are life-threatening if it is taken in larger than recommended doses. This occurs when people become tolerant to the drug, and need higher doses in order to get the same effects. This increases their chances of overdosing. Children are at an even greater risk, as is anyone with certain medical conditions (e.g. COPD or asthma, as well as genes which make breathing problems more likely. People should avoid drinking alcohol or taking other medicines that slow breathing, such as benzodiazepines, while on tramadol.

Seek immediate medical attention if you suspect a drug overdose. Call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. If someone is not breathing or unresponsive, the emergency services will administer naloxone which reverses the life-threatening effects of opiate overdoses. It is available free of charge and without prescription from the Australian government for anyone who might experience or witness an opioid overdose. You may also be advised by your doctor to keep naloxone in the house, especially if there are young children living with you or if anyone else is using prescription or street drugs.

Tramadol is fatal when combined with substances that can affect the liver or central nervous system. It can also be lethal if used with some antidepressants, including SSRIs (e.g. fluoxetine) and other monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as linezolid, phenytoin, and rifampin. If mixed with stimulants such as amphetamine or methamphetamine, it can prove fatal.

The majority (82%) of tramadol related ED visits in 2011 resulted with the patient treated and discharged. Some patients, however, were transferred to a hospital (16%) or admitted (8%). Others were discharged against the advice of their doctors (5%). This medication must be prescribed only by licensed practitioners. The FDA mandates a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS).

Precautions

Tramadol can slow or stop your breathing, especially when you first start taking it or after a dose increase. Your doctor will closely monitor your breathing while taking tramadol. This could be life-threatening. Speak to your doctor if you suffer from slowed breathing or asthma or a lung condition such as chronic obstructive respiratory disease (COPD). It is also not safe to use this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a head injury or brain tumor.

Tramadol can cause drowsiness. While taking this medication, avoid drinking alcohol and using medications that make you drowsy. Long-term tramadol use during pregnancy may cause the baby to experience withdrawal symptoms (neonatal withdrawal syndrome). Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This medication should not be used during labor and delivery because it can pass through the baby’s nose and into their bloodstream, causing dangerous side effects such as tremors, irritability, breathing difficulties, coma, and death.

Store this medication in a secure place to avoid theft, misuse or an overdose. Keep it away from heat and moisture, at room temperature. Do not store in the bathroom, near children or pets. Tramadol is a powerful pain reliever. Ask your pharmacist for disposal instructions.

Tramadol has been classified as a controlled substance and FDA assigned it a REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy). This ensures that only licensed practitioners can prescribe and dispense this drug. Anyone who knowingly offers this medication for sale jeopardizes patient safety and is in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The FDA has given this medication a BLACK BOX Warning, which means that there is a high risk of life-threatening or serious adverse reactions. It also requires special handling.