Drug Uses

Tramadol is used to relieve moderate to moderately severe pain. It also may be used to treat pain caused by surgery and chronic conditions such as cancer or joint pain. Tramadol works by decreasing the brain's perception and response to pain. It also reduces the size or magnitude of the pain signal passed from one nerve to another. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

How Taken

Tramadol comes as a tablet to take it orally. It usually is taken every 4-6 hours as needed. It may be taken with or without food. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Tramadol exactly as directed. Tramadol can be habit-forming. Do not take a larger dose take it more often, or for a longer period than your doctor tells you to.

Warnings/Precautions

Before taking Tramadol, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease; liver disease; or a history of alcohol or drug dependence. You may not be able to take Tramadol, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above. Tramadol is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether it will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. It is also not known whether Tramadol passes into breast milk. Do not take Tramadol without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. If you are over 75 years of age, you may be more likely to experience side effects from Tramadol. The maximum daily dose of Tramadol for people over 75 years of age is 300 mg. Tramadol is not approved by the FDA for use by children younger than 16 years of age.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Possible Side Effects

Although side effects from Tramadol are not common, they can occur. The most frequently reported events were in the central nervous system (Migraine, Speech disorders) and gastrointestinal system (Gastrointestinal bleeding, Hepatitis, Stomatitis, Liver failure). Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away: dizziness, headache, drowsiness, blurred vision, upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: fast heartbeat, redness, swelling, and itching of the face, numbness or tingling of the hands and feet, difficulty breathing, changes in urination, seizures.

Storage

Dispense in a tight container. Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted to 15 - 30°C (59 - 86°F).

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention. Symptoms of a Tramadol overdose include difficulty breathing; shallow, weak breathing; and seizures.

More Information

Do not drink alcohol while taking Tramadol. Alcohol may cause a dangerous decrease in breathing and/ or liver problems when used during treatment with Tramadol. Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Tramadol may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities. Avoid sleeping pills, tranquilizers, sedatives, and antihistamines except under the supervision of your doctor. These drugs may increase drowsiness caused by Tramadol.

Disclaimer

This drug information is for your information purposes only, it is not intended that this information covers all uses, directions, drug interactions, precautions, or adverse effects of your medication. This is only general information, and should not be relied on for any purpose. It should not be construed as containing specific instructions for any particular patient. We disclaim all responsibility for the accuracy and reliability of this information, and/or any consequences arising from the use of this information, including damage or adverse consequences to persons or property, however such damages or consequences arise. No warranty, either expressed or implied, is made in regards to this information.

Other info about Tramadol at Wikipedia.org and other resources:

TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE AND ACETAMINOPHENtablet, Film Coated [Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.]
Updated Date: Mar 5, 2010 EST (Source: DailyMed Drug Label Updates for the last seven days (since May 20, 2007 EST))

Simultaneous quantitation of morphine, 6-acetylmorphine, codeine, 6-acetylcodeine and tramadol in hair using mixed-mode solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Authors: Barroso M, Dias M, Vieira DN, López-Rivadulla M, Queiroz JA A simple procedure has been developed and validated for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of several opiates (morphine, 6-acetylmorphine, codeine, 6-acetylcodeine) and tramadol in hair. The analytes were extracted from within the matrix via an overnight incubation with methanol at 65 degrees C, and afterwards the samples were cleaned up by mixed-mode solid-phase extraction. The extracts were derivatized with N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide with 5% trimethylchlorosilane and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the selected ion monitoring mode. The method was linear from 0.05 (lower limit of quantitation) to 50 ng/mg (40 ng/mg for tramadol), with correlation coefficients higher...

TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDEtablet [Contract Pharmacy Services-PA]
Updated Date: Mar 1, 2010 EST (Source: DailyMed Drug Label Updates for the last seven days (since May 20, 2007 EST))

Editorial Comment
The authors performed a well-designed, randomized, double-blinded study demonstrating decreased postoperative need for analgesia in 8- to 12-year-old boys after circumcision under local anesthesia with 5% tramadol (2 mg/kg) plus epinephrine, compared with those receiving prilocaine (1.5 mg/kg) plus epinephrine. The authors noted that a higher percentage of patients in the tramadol group required additional injections (45% vs 30%) for analgesia during the procedure. Although this difference did not reach statistical significance, the study is limited by the relatively small number of only 20 patients in each group. I would like to see the authors continue this study with a larger number of patients, so as to feel comfortable accepting that the immediate analgesic effect with tramadol is equ...

Reply
Tramadol is an exceptional compound, which is produced as a racemic mixture composed of 2 isomers with a different spectrum of activity. It activates both opioid and nonopioid systems, which are mainly involved in the inhibition of pain. The effect of the nonopioid component of tramadol is mediated through α2-agonistic and serotoninergic cascades in the central nervous system by inhibiting the reuptake of norepinephrine and 5-hydroxytryptamine, respectively, and possibly by displacing stored 5-hydroxytryptamine from nerve endings. Recent studies have disclosed the local anesthetic action of tramadol. Altunkaya et al compared the local anesthetic efficacy of 5% tramadol with that of 2% prilocaine injected intradermally in the excision of the lesions of size < 1 cm. They obtained a local an...