Tramadol
About Tramadol
Tramadol is used in the treatment of moderate to severe pain. Pain is an unpleasant sensation caused by an injury or illness. Pain may be acute (short term) or chronic (long term). It can be general (overall body pains) or localized (pain in a specific area of the body).
Tramadol contains Tramadol, which works by mimicking the action of endorphins (pain-reducing chemicals) in the brain and spinal cord. Thus, it inhibits the transmission of pain signals from nerves to the brain. Also, Tramadol improves the effect of serotonin and noradrenaline (chemical messengers in the brain and spinal cord) and helps in relieving pain.
Tramadol will be administered by a healthcare professional; do not self-administer. In some cases, you may experience nausea, dizziness, headache, vomiting, dry mouth, drowsiness, constipation or sweating. Most of these side effects of Tramadol do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects worsen or persist, please consult your doctor.
If you are known to be allergic to Tramadol or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Tramadol is not recommended for children suffering from breathing problems. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding or have a history of fits, please inform your doctor before taking Tramadol. Do not consume alcohol with Tramadol as it may increase the risk of side effects. Avoid frequent or high doses as it may lead to addiction.
Uses of Tramadol
Medicinal Benefits
Tramadol is a pain killer that works by mimicking the action of endorphins (pain-reducing chemicals) in the brain and spinal cord. Thus, it inhibits the transmission of pain signals from nerves to the brain. Also, Tramadol improves the effect of serotonin and noradrenaline (chemical messengers in the brain and spinal cord) and helps in relieving pain. Tramadol is used to relieve pain after surgery, pain caused by an injury or illness.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Tramadol
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Drowsiness
- Constipation
- Sweating
Drug Warnings
If you are allergic to Tramadol or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Tramadol is not recommended for children suffering from breathing problems as it may worsen the symptoms of tramadol toxicity. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding or have a history of fits, please inform your doctor before taking Tramadol. Do not consume alcohol with Tramadol as it may increase the risk of side effects. Tramadol may cause withdrawal symptoms if stopped abruptly. Avoid frequent or high doses as it may lead to addiction.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Tramadol may interact with anticonvulsant (carbamazepine), medicines used to prevent nausea (ondansetron), antidepressants (fluoxetine, doxepin), antipsychotics (droperidol), narcotic analgesics (morphine, codeine) and blood thinners (warfarin).
Drug-Food Interaction: Avoid alcohol consumption with Tramadol as it may increase the risk of adverse effects such as drowsiness, dizziness and difficulty in concentrating.
Drug-Disease Interaction: If you have severe kidney or liver problems, fits and breathing problems, inform your doctor before taking Tramadol.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consumption of alcohol with Tramadol as it may cause drowsiness or increase the risk of side effects.
Pregnancy
cautionTramadol is usually not recommended during pregnancy as chronic use of Tramadol during pregnancy may lead to withdrawal symptoms in newborns. However, please inform your doctor if you are pregnant before taking Tramadol.
Breast Feeding
cautionTramadol may be excreted into breastmilk. Please consult your doctor. Your doctor will decide if Tramadol can be given to breastfeeding mothers or not.
Driving
unsafeTramadol may cause dizziness, blurred vision or drowsiness in some people. Therefore, avoid driving if you feel drowsy, dizzy or experience any vision problems after taking Tramadol.
Liver
cautionTake Tramadol with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionTake Tramadol with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
cautionTramadol should be used in doses recommended by a doctor for children above 1 year. It is not recommended for children with breathing problems as it may worsen tramadol toxicity symptoms.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Do regular exercises such as swimming or walking.
- Drink plenty of water while taking Tramadol to avoid dry mouth.
- Maintain a fibre-rich diet and eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to avoid constipation while taking Tramadol.
- Avoid consumption of alcohol and quit smoking.
Special Advise
Patients with severe liver or kidney insufficiency should avoid taking Tramadol.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Pain: It is an unpleasant sensation caused by an injury or illness. Pain may be acute (short term) or chronic (long term). It can be general (overall body pains) or localized (pain in a specific area of the body). Pain is highly subjective as some people have a high tolerance for pain while others have a low tolerance. Pain may be caused by cramps, headache, bone fractures, stomach pain, arthritis (swelling of one or more joints), muscle strain, cuts, flu, irritable bowel syndrome (intestinal disorder causing stomach pain, diarrhoea or constipation), fibromyalgia (muscle pain with stiffness and tenderness), certain disease conditions, or medical procedures.
FAQs
Tramadol belongs to a class of medicines called opioid analgesics (pain killers) primarily used in the treatment of moderate to severe pain.
Tramadol works by mimicking the action of endorphins (pain-reducing chemicals) in the brain and spinal cord. Thereby, inhibiting the transmission of pain signals from nerves to the brain. Also, Tramadol improves the effect of serotonin and noradrenaline (chemical messengers in the brain and spinal cord) and helps in relieving pain.
Tramadol may cause withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, restlessness, difficulty in sleeping, palpitations (feeling your heartbeat), feeling sick, shivering, sweating, high blood pressure and shaking when you stop taking Tramadol suddenly. Your doctor will reduce the dose gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Tramadol may cause dry mouth as a common side effect. It is not necessary for everyone taking Tramadol to experience this side effect. Drink plenty of water, suck on sugar candy or chew sugar-free gum to prevent dry mouth. If the condition worsens or persists, please consult a doctor.
Tramadol may cause fits, especially when taken in high doses or if you have a history of fits. Therefore, it is recommended to inform your doctor if you ever had fits as it may increase the chance of getting fits.
You are not recommended to take Tramadol with antidepressants (medicines used to treat depression) and antipsychotics (medicines used to treat bipolar disorder and psychosis) as co-administration of these medicines with Tramadol may increase the risk of fits. However, please consult a doctor before taking Tramadol with other medicines.
Yes, Tramadol may cause addiction especially if taken for a prolonged time. Therefore, Tramadol should be given only for a short duration under strict medical supervision, particularly to patients who are susceptible to drug abuse. Take Tramadol only as advised by a doctor as overuse or misuse of Tramadol can lead to overdose or death.
