Tramadol: Things You Need to Know

Tramadol is a medicine used to treat moderate to severe pain and may be prescribed to patients suffering from osteoarthritis. This opioid medicine is a prescription-only medicine and doctors will prescribe it to you after checking the need. There are many facts about this medicine that you need to know as a user of Tramadol. We have listed the things you need to know about Tramadol:

Tramadol is available in many different brand names

Tramadol is an opiod analgesic medication used to treat moderate to severe pain. The medicine works in a manner similar to morphine in treating pain but it is much less potent. The medicine is available in many different brand names like Ultram, ConZip, Rybix, Ryzolt, and FusePaq among others. This medicine is a schedule IV controlled substance medicine.

Tramadol is a Pain Killer

Tramadol may be prescribed by a doctor to relieve pain in case of arthritis. The medicine may also be prescribed by doctors to relieve pain after surgery. It is prescribed only in case of moderate to severe pain.

Tramadol Can Be Addictive

Due to the habit-forming properties of Tramadol, it comes under the controlled substance act.

Since this medicine is addictive, people who have drug-seeking tendencies have a greater chance of being addicted to this medicine.  This medicine is structurally related to opiods like morphine and codeine. Since Tramadol is addictive, an attempt to stop using Tramadol should not be abrupt. This is because abrupt stopping of the medicine may cause a vast range of withdrawal symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, sweating, dizziness, anxiety, pain and tremors. In rare conditions, these medicines may also cause suicidal thoughts and depression as withdrawal symptoms.

The addictive effect of the medicine may be magnified if the medicine is consumed along with other medicines like buprenorphine, pentazocine, naloxone, butorphanol, and nalmefene. This is the reason why you must always consult a doctor to know the right dosage of Tramadol and whether it is a suitable medicine for you.

Tramadol Can Have a Wide Range of Side Effects

As a user of Tramadol medicine, you need to be aware of the wide range of side effects associated with the medicine. Here we have listed the mild side effects associated with Tramadol medicine:

• Dizziness and nausea are common side effects in users of Tramadol.
• Dry mouth, itchiness and headache are also possible side effects.
• Individuals may also encounter drowsiness, anxiety, and agitation.
• Weakness and decreased appetite are other side effects encountered.
• Stomach pain and heartburn may also occur as side effects.

Apart from this vast array of mild side effects, Tramadol can also result in certain serious side effects as listed below:

• A rare side effect is serotonin syndrome and this can be fatal.
• Respiratory depression is yet another life-threatening and serious side effect that may even prove fatal.
• Suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts are other possible side effects of Tramadol medicine.
• The medicine may also cause seizures as a side effect in some.
• In some people, the occurrence or worsening of central sleep apnea is a possible side effect.
• Some people may experience hypersensitivity or allergic reactions.
• Severe low blood pressure has also been encountered in some patients.
• Opioid withdrawal is another possible side effect of the medicine.

Tramadol Can Have Dangerous Drug Interactions

As a user of Tramadol medicine, you should be aware of the risks and drug interactions of Tramadol medicine. According to SecurePharmaOnline, medicine is known to pose some very serious side effects and is not safe for use for all. Here we have listed out the major drug interactions of the medicine:

People who are prescribed drugs that affect the cytochrome enzymes P450 (CYP450) should not be prescribed Tramadol medication. This is because Tramadol may show dangerous interaction with these medicines. The interactions usually begin while starting or stopping the drugs.

• Tramadol’s drug interactions may cause opioid toxicity and worsened side effects when the blood levels are high.
• Lack of pain control and opioid withdrawal are possible effects of interaction with Tramadol when blood levels are low.
• Many drugs have the ability to alter the blood levels of Tramadol.

It is necessary to check the drug interactions of Tramadol before starting the use of this medicine.

Tramadol is Available in Different Forms

Tramadol medicine is available in regular release tablet format and extended-release capsule format. The extended-release tablets are available in many different strengths like 100mg, 200mg, and 300mg. The regular release tablets are available in 50mg strength. You can save money on the tablets by choosing generic Tramadol medicines instead of their branded counterparts.

Tramadol Dosage May Vary Based on Age, Gender and Health Condition

The dosage of Tramadol prescribed for men and women could be different. Similarly, the dosage prescribed for children or the elderly may vary from the dosage prescribed to people in middle age.

Here are some warnings and possibilities to keep in mind while using Tramadol for children or the elderly:

For The Children:

• Even one dose of Tramadol in children can prove fatal due to the possibility of respiratory depression.
• Children below the age of 12 years should not be administered Tramadol medicine.
• Children who have experienced an episode of Tonsillitis and are 18 years of age should not be administered Tramadol.
• Adults with other respiratory health problems should not be prescribed Tramadol.

For Elderly

• There is a high risk of respiratory depression in the elderly and so great caution should be maintained while prescribing Tramadol to the elderly.
• The risk factor for the elderly increases because of the lowered performance of the liver and the kidney in the elderly.
• The chances of gastrointestinal side effects are also increased in the elderly.

Warnings for Pregnant Women

• Pregnant women should not be prescribed Tramadol as the child may be born Tramadol dependent and may require several weeks of treatment.
• Women who are using Tramadol should not breastfeed.

The right dosage of Tramadol should be prescribed after checking all the above-described factors. It is important to check the age, stage, and health of a person as well as the need for this medication before prescribing it.