Tramadol is a strong painkiller from the opioid group of medicines. This drug is prescribed to treat severe chronic pain, when no other medication works.
This medication may increase the risk of seizures in some people. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have a history of seizures.
The medication may interact with other drugs, vitamins and nutritional supplements. Tell your doctor about all of the products you use.
What is tramadol used for?
Tramadol, a powerful pain reliever, is available in many strengths. It works by changing the way your brain and nervous system respond to pain. It helps you to reduce the need to take other drugs to manage your symptoms. If you use this medication for too long or take it in excess, side effects may occur, such as breathing difficulties.
This can cause extreme sleepiness. It can be dangerous to drive, or to do any other activity that requires you to pay attention and focus. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about this side effect. While taking this medication, you should avoid alcohol and other substances that make people sleepy.
This drug can increase your risk of seizures. Tell your doctor if you are on seizure medications or have had a previous history of seizures. If you are having surgery or any other medical procedure, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking this medication. This medication can slow or stop your breathing, and can lead to death if not taken correctly. It is particularly dangerous if taken with medications which can cause sleepiness, like sedatives and antidepressants.
Long-term use of this medication increases the risk of addiction or overdose. This can lead to mental or physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking the medication suddenly. You should only take this medication for the shortest amount of time that is needed to control your pain.
Your doctor will want to test your blood regularly if you have been using the medication for some time to determine how your kidneys and liver are functioning. If these are not functioning well, your doctor may lower the dose or prescribe a different pain medication.
It is not advised to use this medication in children under 12 years old, because it may increase the risks of breathing difficulties. This medication has not been tested for safety during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. This drug passes through breast milk, and can harm nursing babies.
What is the tramadol effect?
Tramadol is a pain reliever that works by changing the way your brain and nervous system respond to pain. It’s in a class of medications called opiate (narcotic) analgesics.
Tramal is a synthetic opioid that acts on the central nervous system to block pain signals from reaching your brain. Tramal also blocks the reuptake norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine. This boosts mood and reduces anxiety. Only available by prescription, it comes as a tablet or capsule. This medication is prescribed when painkillers don’t help enough, or can’t be combined with another medicine you take.
You can take this medicine orally as prescribed by your physician, and up to four times a day if necessary. You can take it with or without eating. If you have nausea, it may help to take this drug with food. It is important to use this medicine as directed because not using it or stopping it too soon can increase your risk of having serious or life-threatening side effects, including dangerously slow breathing and inability to stay awake. Your dose may be increased slowly over time to prevent side effects from building up too quickly.
Constipation can occur when you take this medication for long periods of time, or at high dosages. Drink plenty of water, and consume foods rich in fiber to reduce the side effects. Talk to your doctor if constipation becomes severe.
Tell your doctor if you’ve ever had a mental disorder or addiction. Tramadol is habit forming, and can increase your risk of death and overdose even when taken as directed. Tramadol is not advised for women who are pregnant or nursing mothers, as it can pass into the breast milk. This could harm an infant.
This medication should not be used in children younger than 12 years of age. These children may experience seizures. This medication should not be used in people with certain conditions, including a severe liver or kidney disease; an overactive thyroid; or a neuromuscular disorder (disease that affects the nerves that control your muscles). You may also experience breathing difficulties if you suffer from a lung disorder such as chronic obstructive respiratory disease or asthma.
Tramadol can have side effects.
Tramadol is in a class of medications called opioid agonists. It is a controlled substance that requires your doctor’s close supervision because it can be misused or lead to addiction. It is prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain. Your doctor may prescribe tramadol by itself or in combination with other drugs. Your doctor will perform tests before you begin taking tramadol to determine how your kidneys and liver function, as well as to ensure that you don’t have any conditions which would prevent you from using the drug safely (e.g., liver disease, kidney issues, mental illnesses). You will be asked by your doctor about any family histories of drug or alcohol abuse.
You may need to take a smaller dose if you’ve had a previous history of kidney or liver disease. Tramadol can cause a serious, life-threatening breathing problem or coma if you take too much of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. People with a mental illness or depression history, as well as those older than 75, are at greater risk.
This medication can affect your behavior or thinking, so it is important to talk with your doctor about any changes you notice. You should not drive or do any activity that requires alertness until you know how tramadol affects you. You may also feel sleepy so you should find safe ways to sleep when taking tramadol. Some people can have constipation while taking tramadol, so they might need to drink plenty of water or eat more fiber-rich foods. If you don’t improve after trying this, talk with your healthcare provider about over-the-counter constipation medicines like senna (Senokot).
This medication can pass into breast milk and might cause serious side effects in a nursing baby. Some of these side effects include confusion, seizures, slowed heartbeat, and a slowed respiration. Tramadol should not be used while nursing. Tell your doctor immediately if you decide to stop breastfeeding. You will be advised by your doctor on how to deal with pain when you are nursing.
How should I prepare my doctor for tramadol treatment?
Tramadol, when taken properly, is an effective and safe pain reliever. If tramadol is misused, or abused it can cause addiction, and even lead to overdose. To prevent this, it is important to follow all the instructions given by your doctor and read all medication guides. Never share the medicine. It can have life-threatening, serious side effects. This medication should be kept in a place that is out of reach for others. It is against the law to sell or give away this medication. You should tell your doctor immediately if this medication is being taken more frequently or longer than recommended. Also, get medical help immediately if you have a fever or diarrhea, find it hard to control your movements (twitching, shaking, spasmodic jerky contractions of your muscles), or feel sweaty and have excessive sweating. This may be a sign of a serious side effect or a sign of a severe overdose.
Tramadol can slow your breathing or make it shallow. It can be very dangerous for people with breathing problems such as asthma and bronchitis. This can be harmful if you take other medications that have an effect on breathing such as tranquilizers or sedatives.
This medication should not be used in children 12 to 18 years of age who are obese or have a neuromuscular disease, lung disease, or obstructive sleep apnea (condition in which the airway becomes blocked or narrow and stops for short periods during sleep). This medication should be avoided by teenagers who have a head injury, brain tumour, or head trauma. You may require a reduced dose or extra monitoring if you suffer from any of the conditions listed above.
Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check how your body is responding to this medication. It is important to tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The medication may pass through breast milk, causing withdrawal symptoms for a child. You should not breastfeed while taking this medicine.
Tramadol comes in two forms: extended-release capsules and tablets, and immediate-release tablet. The immediate-release version works quickly to relieve your pain. Extended-release tablets are designed for use around the clock and last 12 to 24 hours. Do not chew, crush, or break these pills. You can swallow them with water. Combination products are available that include this medication with acetaminophen or NSAIDs.