Tramadol is a centrally acting synthetic opioid analgesic with a good tolerability profile. It is a Step 2 option on the World Health Organization’s pain ladder and has about 1/10th the potency of morphine.
This medication can interact with certain medications. Tell your doctor about all of the medications you take, including vitamins and herbs.
What is tramadol xr?
Tramadol hydrochloride extended-release tablets are a prescription medication that contains a strong opioid painkiller. It is used to treat moderate to severe pain. This medicine works by changing the way your brain and nervous system respond to pain. This can ease your discomfort, and reduce swelling and fever. It can also help with other symptoms of illness, such as nausea and vomiting. This medication is not for use in children younger than 12. It is also not for people who have had certain medical conditions, such as liver or kidney disease, or a history of drug or alcohol addiction.
Abuse and misuse of tramadol hydrochloride extended-release tablet can lead to overdose and death. This risk is higher if you mix it with other drugs, especially those that depress the central nervous system (CNS). It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions exactly.
This medicine may cause drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how it affects you. Drinking alcohol can increase these effects. If you are pregnant, using this medicine for a long time can cause withdrawal in the newborn. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Take this medicine with or without food as directed by your doctor. Swallow extended-release tablets whole; do not chew, crush or suck them. If you can’t swallow them, ask your doctor to give you a special pill grinder. If you have liver or kidney problems, or are older than 65, your doctor may ask you to take less of this medicine.
Keep this medicine in a safe place where others cannot get it. Selling or giving away this medicine is against the law.
This medicine interacts with some medications, including amiodarone, cimetidine, clozapine, erythromycin, ketoconazole, nefazodone, phenytoin, and ritonavir. This medicine can also cause an unusual reaction with certain x-ray dyes. It can also decrease the effectiveness of antidepressants such as fluoxetine and paroxetine. Talk to your doctor about other drugs you are taking, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbs. This includes any that you are planning to start or stop taking.
Dosage
The dosage of tramadol xr depends on your medical condition and response to treatment. Your doctor may start you on a low dose and gradually increase your dose. It is important to follow your doctor’s instructions exactly. Do not increase your dose or take this medication more often than prescribed. It is also important to properly stop this medication when your doctor tells you to.
Tramadol can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you are taking. This can cause dangerous side effects or prevent the drug from working well. Tell your doctor about all of your medications and any other supplements or herbs you are using.
Your doctor will need to check your blood pressure, kidney function, and blood cell count before and during treatment with this medication. They will also want to know if you have a history of liver disease or heart problems. This medication is not recommended for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. It can cause severe and sometimes life-threatening breathing problems in newborns. It can also pass into breast milk and harm your baby.
You should not drive or operate machinery while taking this medication, especially if you are feeling dizzy, weak, or upset. It can slow your reaction time and affect how well you think. It is also possible to overdose on this medication. If you are at risk of overdose, your doctor may prescribe a medication called naloxone to help with the effect.
This medication can also cause slowed or shallow breathing in some people. This is more likely to happen if you are taking other drugs that can slow your breathing (such as antidepressants or sedatives) or if you are elderly, very ill, or dehydrated. If you experience slowed or shallow breathing, get emergency medical help right away.
This medication can interact with certain other drugs that can change how your body processes serotonin, such as MAO inhibitors. MAO inhibitors include phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and linezolid. This can cause a serious reaction that includes symptoms such as muscle rigidity, spasms, changes in mental state including delirium and agitation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, and coma.
Side effects
Tramadol XR is unlikely to cause side effects when taken at recommended doses for pain relief. However, side effects can happen if you take too much or if you are taking this medication with certain other drugs. In these cases, you may need to be hospitalised for treatment.
Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent. Your doctor will give you specific advice about how to manage side effects when you are taking tramadol XR.
Some of the most common side effects of this medication include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, constipation and headache. You can usually manage these side effects if you do not let them get too serious. Other side effects of this medication are rarer but can be serious, including hallucinations, slowed breathing and seizures. These should be reported to your doctor as soon as they occur.
This medication is not recommended during pregnancy because it can cause withdrawal in newborns. It can also pass into breast milk and could cause a range of serious health problems in the baby, such as slowed breathing. It is not known whether this medication can safely be used in breastfeeding. If you do decide to breastfeed, talk to your doctor before starting this medication.
Tramadol is a controlled substance in the United States. This means that you will need a prescription to buy it. You must not share this medication with anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you. It is illegal to give this medication to anyone who is not prescribed it by your doctor. This could lead to addiction and serious harm.
This medication can interact with some other medications, including antidepressants and other medicines that can affect the central nervous system. If you are taking any of these medications, your doctor will monitor you closely for signs of a reaction, such as slowed breathing, low blood pressure, a fast heart rate or confusion. St John’s wort can increase the levels of serotonin in your body, which may lead to a dangerous condition called serotonin syndrome. This can be life-threatening.